The Board of Education voted 4-1 Monday night to change a policy set last year that would require ninth- and 10th-grade students in the Coahulla Creek district to attend the school.

“The 11th and 12th had a choice. Now, all grades have a choice,” said Superintendent Danny Hayes.

Hayes said he would rather “have s school full of kids who want to go there” than one filled with students who would rather be at another school.

Current eighth-grade students at North Whitfield Middle School must attend Coahulla Creek.

Gary Brock cast the dissenting vote.

“The way we set it up last year I felt like was a good way to open it up,” he said. “How long will we keep opening it up (to students who are out of zone)?”

Since the original policy was adopted, three new members have joined the board, and numerous families zoned for the school have asked for their children to stay at their current school while many families not zoned for the new school have asked for their children to attend it.

Chairman Louis Fordham said board members have been studying the issue closely for about 60 days.

“There is the chance that, at least initially, our numbers might drop a little. But we’ve had a tremendous amount of interest in that voluntary choice across the system,” said Fordham.

Board members said that the high school district lines may have to be redrawn in future years.

“But once a a kid starts in a school they will stay in that school,” said Fordham.

Hayes said school officials know they will have 275 ninth-graders at the school next year.

“We will forward information to the principals tonight. As they start registration, they will give that information to the students, and they will make a decision. There will be forms for them to return to create eligibility for them. They are due April 29,” he said.

School officials then should have a good idea how many students will be attending each of the system’s high schools.

The board also voted 5-0 to:

• Approve a resolution authorizing the superintendent to increase class size maximums by no more than four students.