After hearing from several citizens who were not happy with newly drawn elementary school attendance lines, the Lexington District One school board decided last week to put off its decision.

The board has been considering where to put attendance lines for elementary students in Lexington for the Lake Murray Elementary School which is set to open next fall.

The school will draw students from Lexington Elementary and Midway Elementary schools. The new lines would mean some students would have to change elementary schools, some going from Midway to Lexington Elementary.

Parents of those children, particularly in Palmetto Hall subdivision, are upset over the move.

Board member Bert Dooley suggested tabling the measure until at least next month so he could take some more time to consider proposals that different groups have sent to the district.

Board member Leonard Bliss said he protested having his children moved seven years ago when he could see White Knoll Middle School from his house but his children had to go to Saxe Gotha.

“I was out here holding signs to protest then, so I understand how parents are up set about this,” he said.

Board member James Compton said he did not mind waiting, but he was troubled by the implication that somehow Lexington Elementary was not as good as other elementary schools in the district.

“The same things go on at each schools, and we go to a lot of trouble to make sure they are equal,” he said.

He was critical of parents who “say everything is fine as long as it does not affect me. No one is objecting to moving to Midway or Lake Murray elementary schools. It is a selfish attitude,” he said.

Seven people spoke at the board meeting, with five of them opposing the lines as drawn.

Luke Byers, a resident of Palmetto Hall, said people in that subdivision have grown close together and do not want to have their families disrupted by making their children move to a different school. Those children currently attend Midway, and under the proposal, would have to go to Lexington Elementary.

“We chose to move there so out children could attend Midway. I believe in parental choice as far as which school to attend. It is in inalienable right,” he said.

He also questioned the district’s numbers and the division of students in the three schools.

Rick Inman, also a resident of Palmetto Hall, wanted to keep the line where it is now, which runs along the 14 mile creek. He said leaving Palmetto Hall in the Midway district would not create an over population at Midway.

“There is no compelling reason to change the line from where it is based on your own criteria,” he told the board.

William Galardi said he would liked for the community to have had a chance to have more input before the lines were drawn.

Others opposed to the lines had similar concerns, feeling that it would cause an unneeded burden by disrupting their children’s lives.

Two people spoke in support of the lines, and they raised questions about whether people had the perception that Lexington Elementary is not quiet as good as the other two schools.

Loretta Smith, whose children attend Lexington Elementary, said she was upset “that parents are upset about having to attend Lexington Elementary.”

“We should realize that Lexington schools are the best in the state and Lexington Elementary is a fine school,” she said.

She added that she did not really believe it was an act of snobbery on the part of the objecting parents, “but our feelings are hurt.”

Dooley said he did not agree that parental choice concerning where their child attends school is an inalienable right.

“With the growth we have I don’t think there can be any guarantees. My own children had to change schools, but I still feel I need more time to give this thought,” he said.

Board members said that with the growth the district is experiencing, there will be more new schools in coming years and some will have to be moved again.

Board chairman Mickey Wingard said the lines as drawn were what the staff thought was best.