LAKELAND, Fla. - Polk County Public Schools is launching a series of community town halls to gather feedback on a sweeping rezoning plan that will affect every high school in the district.

What we know:

The first session takes place Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Bartow High School, focusing on the district's southwest region. According to school officials, the meeting will cover rezoning proposals for Bartow High, Fort Meade Middle-Senior High, George Jenkins High and Mulberry High.

Additional meetings will follow in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Davenport, Lake Wales, and a virtual, district-wide town hall on Oct. 2.

District leaders say the plan is needed to balance enrollment, cut down on overcrowding, and prepare for Polk’s explosive growth. More than 300 new housing developments are

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