SUFFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- After months of discussion, the Suffolk School Board has approved a partial rezoning of area elementary schools and middle schools.
Florence Bowser Elementary and Colonel Fred Cherry Middle School are expected to open this September.
School Board members deliberated over which students will go to the two new schools.
More than 600 students are set to attend Cherry Middle this fall.
However, the School Board has decided to move some students from John Yeates Middle School to Cherry Middle School this fall.
Bowser Elementary will open this fall to 850 students. All students from Driver Elementary School will be rezoned, while 250 students from Creekside Elementary School will move to Driver Elementary.
Current high school zones have been left untouched.
The goal for the school board was to meet certain objectives for racial diversity and create more efficient bus routes while reducing the use of portable classrooms at schools.
The new zoning plans will take effect starting in September.