Harlem wants to help change

Columbia County school administrators and teachers might expect countless questions from anxious parents whose middle-school children recently were rezoned for next school year.

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Harlem Middle School officials plan to meet with students and parents affected by the rezoning.

"There's such a comfort zone in continuity and doing the normal," said Anna Dobbs, the Harlem Middle School graduation coach.

About 50 pupils have been rezoned for Harlem Middle, and the school is beginning the transition process now.

The school will hold an orientation session for newly-zoned pupils and their parents from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

"We're welcoming students with open arms, and we're very excited about getting new students," said Dobbs.

Faculty members, a Parent-Teacher Organization representative and student council and Beta Club members will be on hand to answer questions and to offer information.

"We're open to their questions and concerns, and we understand," Dobbs said.

She said Harlem Middle has a history of educating pupils who live outside of Harlem.

"Before Grovetown Middle was built, this was a blended school," said Dobbs. "It's nothing new for us to be getting students from outside of the community."

The middle schools were rezoned to prepare for the opening of the county's eighth middle school, Stallings Island, in August.