The Pasco County School Board has approved controversial rezoning plans.
The changes will affect middle and high school attendance zones in both the eastern and southwestern portions of the county along with a new elementary school zone in south-central Pasco.
District officials said the rezoning is necessary to ease overcrowding, and also to fill new schools Bexley Elementary School and Cypress Creek Middle/High School.
Dozens of parents and students attended Tuesday night's board meeting to voice their concerns.
They talked about neighborhoods being split up, children being forced to leave friends and activities behind, transportation issues and safety concerns. Several asked the board to take more time to investigate other possibilities.
Board members said it wasn't an easy decision and they said there is no way to make everybody happy.
They said the plans they approved are designed to prevent certain schools from being rezoned over and over again in the future.
The new zones will take affect next school year.