Some parents still upset over Columbia middle school redistricting

In just five days, the Columbia Board of Education will meet for a final vote on redrawing middle school boundary lines for the 2017-2018 school year.

The redistricting would move more than 100 students from Gentry Middle School in south Columbia to Jefferson Middle School near downtown in an effort to alleviate overcrowding at Gentry.

Some parents are expressing new concerns over the latest proposal, which extends the Jefferson boundaries to the southeast. ABC 17 News spoke to one parent whose son currently walks to Gentry, but under the new proposal, he would be moved to Jefferson.

Parents are advised to review the latest plans and fill out a survey to provide feedback. The Middle School Attendance Area Committee will review the feedback prior to Monday’s meeting, where they will make their formal recommendations to the Board of Education.