At least one elementary school in Albemarle County is starting the year off over capacity.
Agnor Hurt Elementary School is more than 100 kids over capacity this school year. Administrators say the burden will not be on the students, and they're working to change this for the future. That means redistricting could be in the county's future.
Enrollment is well above the projected levels at Agnor Hurt, which school administrators say is a matter of more people moving into the area and sending their children to the school.
Agnor Hurt parent Chas Biediger said, "I'm a little scared because I don't know… where my family might sit with it. But I'm pretty confident, I know that any school that they go to in the county will be a great school."
The county is considering sending some of the students to Broadus Wood Elementary or Greer Elementary, as early as next school year.
Albemarle County Schools Chief Operating Officer Josh Davis said, "It's the most cost efficient way, if there [are] seats available at a neighboring school, we want to move students into those seats first before spending millions of dollars to an addition to a building."
Administrators are now accepting recommendations for parents who wish to serve on a redistricting board and work throughout the school year to come up with recommendations for the superintendent.
Doug Granger, the assistant principal at Agnor Hurt said, "Most classes range between 17 and 23 kids and the school feels small to them, but it is time for some changes."
For now, the school is working on how to cope. "We've been able to make class sizes really small, work with Boys and Girls Club, ACAC, our own after-school program to make sure kids are taken care of well to and from school," explained Granger.
Parents also have confidence in the school. "I feel like they've got it under control right now. I have three students in different grades and I feel like they have support staff to take care of it," said Biediger.
The county says it would be least a year before any kids were switched to other schools. Throughout the planning process there will be several public forums, so parents can ask questions and give feedback.
Parents who are interested in serving on the redistricting committee are asked to contact their school's principal.
