Houston County School System Implement New Transfer Policy

In a unanimous decision Houston County School board members ended all cross county and out of districts transfers. Superintendent Tim Pitchford said from now on students in Houston County School will have to attend school where they live.

Since the school system didn't have a traditional school zone the transfers were never a problem--that's until the extra student s started over crowding the classrooms and costing the school system millions.

"Geographically many of our schools were close to borders of other counties and it was convenient for the parents and teachers for those students to attend our schools, but it was creating an undue hardship for our teachers," explained Pitchford.

Schools like Rehobeth and Wicksburg have experienced the most growth---while enrollment at schools like Webb Elementary and Houston County has dropped. Pitchford said the schools are losing at least 100 students a year.

"At some schools the enrollment was dropping and almost to the scary range. I would never consider closing them but some other superintendent might," continued Pitchford.

The new rule went into effective immediately. Students who have already transferred into the school system are grandfather in. Pitchford said they will also make an exception to families with more than one child enrolled in Houston County Schools.

The new school zones are now based on the Houston County Schools traditional bus route.