TAMPA, Fla. — Nearly a week before the first community meetings are scheduled to be held on Hillsborough County Public Schools' possible boundary changes, more than two dozen residents gathered at Charles B. Williams Park to discuss concerns about what it could mean for their neighborhoods.

"When I saw all the information, I was like, 'What is this? What's going on?' We were not even aware of this, you know? Only some meetings, and nothing else," said Maria Landaeta.

What You Need To Know

  • South Tampa residents met Tuesday night to discuss possible boundary changes being discussed by Hillsborough County Public Schools

  • Parents concerns include that their children will be moved to schools that don't perform as well as the ones they're currently in and that better performing schools will become less racially and economically diverse

  • The district has said the changes, which could impact 11,000-24,000 students, will save millions of dollars, create opportunity for students and address over- and under-enrolled schools

  • Community meetings on the three proposed scenarios begin Jan. 9

Landaeta said school assignments were the reason her family moved into their W. Carmen St. home eight years ago.

She said her daughter is a junior at Plant High School, and her son is in eighth grade at Coleman Middle School. If the district decides to move forward with the second or third of three proposed redistricting scenarios, both of her children would attend Jefferson High School next year.

According to information from the Florida Dept. of Education, both Plant and Coleman have "A" grades from the state while Jefferson has a "C". Landaeta said she's concerned her children won't have access to the same advanced courses her daughter does at Plant.

Parents of the North Bon Air and Westshore Palms neighborhoods also told Spectrum Bay News 9 they're concerned the changes will make better performing schools, like Plant, less racially and economically diverse.

The neighborhoods are organizing. In addition to meetings like Tuesday evening's, a Facebook group has been created with information on boundary changes and efforts to oppose it, and a petition against the plans on Change.org has more than 1,400 signatures. Landaeta said she'll be among those attending next week's community meetings.

"I really want them to understand that to make those type of decisions, we have to have more time and we have to be more involved," said Landaeta.

Superintendent Addison Davis told reporters last month that the changes could affect between 11,000-24,000 students, depending on which scenario is chosen. He said the plans could save the district millions while creating opportunity for students and addressing over- and under-enrolled schools.