The debate over a plan to change school boundaries in Arlington County continued Tuesday night as dozens of parents against the plan went before the school board to voice their concerns.

The boundary change could send some of the youngest students, third grade and below, to different schools. "I realize that we do have an overcrowding situation in Arlington, but at our school, we believe it's not major surgery. It can be fixed," said one parent.

Another said, "The first time he heard from his teachers that he might be switching schools, my wife said he was almost in tears when she picked him up from school to come home. He was very upset to be switching from the only school he's known."

Michael Edwards has a first grader who would be affected by the change. Michael said a move would be even harder for his son Adam, who is autistic. "Even if the benefits are there, change is hard and socialization for autistic kids is difficult and it's gonna be hard and its a concern of ours."

Under the proposal by Superintendent Robert G. Smith, hundreds of students would be affected by boundary changes. Smith drafted the plan after considering recommendations from a committee of parents and other concerned individuals. "While I respect the work that that group did, and it was good work, it didn't meet the criteria to which I was supposed to respond so I believe that the recommendations that we've now formed do that."

Many of the parents at Tuesday night's meeting say the plan would not just uproot students, but also divide neighborhoods. "If you are very influenced by neighborhood and community as we all are when we bought our house real estate wise, it's gonna completely change."

Because of the large number of people who requested to speak, the public hearing to being continued Wednesday. It will start again at 7:30 p.m. At the Education Center on Quincy Street. There will be 55 slots available for people wishing to speak, which will be granted on a first come, first serve basis.