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The Prince George's County Board of Education could soon approve boundary changes to ease overcrowding at Hollywood Elementary School in College Park, but it could be years before other remedies are put into action, board members said Monday night.

Board members Rosalind Johnson (Dist. 1) and Heather Iliff (Dist. 2) met with the city's Education Advisory Committee in College Park. They said the county is looking at ways to help the school, but a tight budget and resident concerns over redistricting are two major obstacles.

"Reboundarying is always very, very difficult and very emotional," Iliff said. "But we're doing it anyway because it has to be done."

Both sides said they were well aware of overcrowding at Hollywood, which has 445 students and is operating at more than 133 percent of its capacity. The school is expected to reach 161 percent in 2015, according to county projections.

The school will add a third temporary classroom this month, and area residents have complained of morning and afternoon traffic jams caused by parents dropping off and picking up their children.

Some residents have suggested building an expansion on the school, but that would require a Capital Improvement Plan request, Johnson said. It could take as long as 10 years for the project to receive approval and funding. No cost estimate was provided.

"We don't have a magic wand," Iliff said. "And we certainly don't have a big pot of money."

Supporters of redistricting have noted that Paint Branch Elementary School — just two miles south of Hollywood in College Park — is operating at 78 percent capacity and could pick up some of Hollywood's slack. However, many parents at Hollywood have vehemently opposed sending their children elsewhere.

"To even [suggest new boundaries] takes away from the heart of the Hollywood community," said Peggy Higgins, director of the city's Youth and Family Services.

City Councilman Patrick Wojahn (Dist. 1) said overcrowding is a widespread problem and cannot be solved by simply moving students into one under-populated school.

"The schools in the area are over capacity with the exception of one," he said. "I don't think it's going to be solved only through reboundarying."

The county could also convert Paint Branch to a K-8 school, Iliff said, making the currently K-6 school more attractive to parents. They could also designate a new school of choice in the area, which would provide special programs and draw students away from Hollywood and other crowded schools. Both suggestions are nowhere near approval, she said.

The Board of Education will hold public meetings this month to discuss boundary changes. They will be held Oct. 7 at Northwestern High School (Dist. 1) in Hyattsville; Oct. 14 at Parkdale High School (Dist. 2) in Riverdale; Oct. 20 at Bowie High School (Dist. 5) and Oct. 27 at Frederick Douglass High School (Dist. 5) in Upper Marlboro.

The county school system will likely present a boundary proposal in November. The board is expected to vote on the plan in December.

E-mail David Hill at dhill@gazette.net.