A community divided, that's what opponents say will happen if the Lake County School Board approves a final plan to ease overcrowding at Lake Minneola High School.

The tentatively approved plan will divide the City of Minneola in two, to rezone what high school students will attend next school year.

"We thought that that’s part of the city, which we chose to raise our children and live for the last 12 years, so it’s been, I guess you could call it our dream," shared Minneola resident Stephen Rayl, who is against the district's tentatively approved plan.

The Lake County School Board is not taking lightly the decision of how to relieve overcrowding at Lake Minneola High School. In fact, at first board members voted against the Option 8 plan but after a 10-minute break, they voted again, narrowly approving the plan three to two, which will grandfather in current ninth, 10th and 11th grade students.

"What they’re basically saying is if you’re starting fresh in high school, you need to be able to go all the years in the exact same high school and that’s all these kids are asking for right now. They’ve started somewhere, let them finish there," said Melissa Miller, a parent at Lake Minneola High School. She supports the district's current rezoning plan.

Specifically, the plan divides Minneola down U.S. 27, sending students who live east of the highway to Lake Minneola High School and students who live west of U.S. 27 to South Lake High School in neighboring Groveland. 

It’s a decision that was recommended by the superintendent's office because Lake Minneola High School is about 300 students over capacity and South Lake High School is under capacity by at least 700 students. 

“South Lake High School is a wonder school. I know people are in awe of about Lake Minneola High School. It’s the new school, it’s got all the bells and whistles. It’s got some programs that none of our other high schools have but we have awesome high schools throughout all of Lake County," explained District 2 Board Member Rosanne Brandenburg, who voted in favor of the rezoning plans both times. 

Opponents of the plan include Minneola city government, whose city manager asked board members to keep Minneola whole and allow all residents to attend the same high school.

If given final approval, the new rezoning plan would go into effect this August.