The Columbia County school system's latest middle school rezoning proposal will affect all eight of the middle schools that will be open next year.
The original proposal, which was announced last month, affected seven of the middle schools. The updated plan, which brought Harlem Middle into the mix, was presented at a public hearing Thursday at Evans Middle School.
Many members of the audience, which filled the bleachers on one side of the school gym, were decidedly unhappy.
Some parents complained that their children are being rezoned to schools with lesser academic standards than their current schools.
"All of our schools made AYP last year," superintendent Charles Nagle said. "Academically, all of our schools are performing."
He also told parents they would not be allowed to keep their children at the same school next year even if they drove them to school.
The proposed rezoning of the area east of Flowing Wells Road to the Richmond County line from Evans to Lakeside Middle, affecting about 150 pupils, brought cries of "No!" from parents.
Before the meeting, Tabatha Judy said her daughter will be rezoned to Lakeside Middle next year.
"I think it will be OK because it's a good school, and it's actually closer to us than (Evans)," she said.
However, her sister-in-law, Freda Judy, who lives in the Flowing Wells Road area and has a daughter who will be in sixth grade next year, felt differently.
"To me, it doesn't make sense to transport them on Bobby Jones and Columbia Road," she said.
Under the most significant change to the proposal, about 50 pupils who live between Louisville and Appling-Harlem roads will be rezoned from Greenbrier Middle to Harlem Middle. Under the original proposal, this area was being rezoned to Grovetown Middle.
The school system is rezoning more than 1,100 middle-schoolers in preparation for the opening of the county's eighth middle school, Stallings Island, in August.
Mr. Nagle will make a recommendation about the plan to the school board at its Jan. 22 meeting. Board Chairwoman Regina Buccafusco said the board likely will make its final decision at that time.
Reach Betsy Gilliland at (706) 868-1222, ext. 113, or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.
TO LEARN MORE
Maps and narratives of Columbia County's proposed boundaries are available online at www.ccboe.net.
For more information, parents can contact school administrators.
E-MAIL: zoning@ccobe.net
CENTRAL OFFICE PHONE: (706) 541-0650
MIDDLE SCHOOL REZONING
Maps and narratives of Columbia County's proposed middle school boundaries for next year are available online at www.ccboe.net.
For more information, parents can e-mail school administrators at zoning@ccobe.net or call the central office at (706) 541-0650.
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