We understand the frustration of parents who bought homes in areas of Hamilton County served by good schools in the expectation that their children would go to those schools — only to learn that the children may be rezoned for other schools. Being rezoned from a good school to a weaker one can reduce property values, create longer commutes and, most importantly, affect the quality of the education a student gets.
We also see why rezoning would upset real estate agents who, in good faith, use a home’s zoning for good schools as a selling point. So it is not surprising that the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors has objected to proposed rezoning. Under the rezoning, some children could, by this fall, be headed to schools other than the ones they expected to attend. The association says rezoning should be planned further in advance to reduce uncertainty when parents invest in a house.
That’s a valid suggestion. Unfortunately, it doesn’t solve the immediate problem of crowded schools.
So for now, parents who are considering buying a home should realize there are no guarantees that it will always be in its current zone.