Evans Middle School open house delayed

Construction delays at a new Evans Middle School on Hereford Farm Road will push back an open house and ribbon-cutting originally planned for Tuesday.

The open house and school dedication now will be held Thursday, with a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. and the open house beginning at 6 p.m.

"The contractor requested that we move it back two days," Superintendent Tommy Price said.

Although much of the school is ready, two classrooms and the gymnasium won't be available for up to four weeks into the school year, which begins Aug. 4, Price said.

Columbia County school system's remaining middle schools, and high schools, will hold open houses Tuesday, said the system's special event coordinator, Karen Ribble.

Hours for middle school open houses are 6 to 8 p.m. High school open house hours are 7 to 9 p.m.

Hours for open houses at the county's elementary schools, held Thursday, will for the first time this year be staggered based on the pupil's last name, Ribble said.

"We're doing that in response to traffic concerns," she said.

Open house for pupils with last names starting with A through L will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Last names beginning with M through Z will be held from 7 to 8 p.m.

Three high schools - Evans High, Greenbrier High and Lakeside High - will hold separate open houses for incoming freshmen Monday.

Freshmen orientations at Evans and Greenbrier high schools will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Lakeside High will welcome freshmen from 7 to 8:30 p.m.