Because of the 2020 Census, the Chattooga Board of Education may have to look at redrawing school district lines in the county – but that is not a sure thing at this point, according to School Supt. Jared Hosmer.

Supt. Hosmer told WZQZ News that he placed a legal notice in last week’s newspaper to clear the way for the board of education to change district lines if necessary.

Hosmer said he contacted the state reapportionment office about the changes from the 2020 Census and how they would affect school districts in the county.  Hosmer says that the changes – if any – would be very minimal and would not affect any of the current board member’s seats.

The likelihood of any changes this year is slim.  The state legislature is already close to halfway through the legislative session and the redrawing of school district lines would require a bill passed by both houses of the General Assembly.  Hosmer says that even in the event that changes did come this year, they still would not go into place until 2023 and would in no way affect the upcoming school board elections this year.

Supt. Hosmer added that in the few places where there would be changes in school district lines, those changes would be minimal.

Hosmer said that any redistricting changes would have to be first approved by the board of education before being sent to the state legislature.