In an effort to get to know the folks in the Northview and Seymour areas that have been added to his congressional district, U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, R-1st Tenn., will visit two local schools for public events Monday.

Members of those communities and the wider Sevier County area are being invited to attend the gatherings at Northview Middle School from 12:30-2:30 p.m. and at Seymour High School from 3:30-5:30 p.m. In addition to giving new constituents a chance to meet Roe, who is running for re-election this year, it will provide a rare opportunity for students at both institutions to interact with one of the 535 members of Congress.

For years Sevier County has been divided between two House seats, with the bulk of it in Roe's 1st District, but a small sliver of the north and west in Rep. Jimmy Duncan's 2nd District. It's a condition many local residents decried because they felt is split the county's potential impact in Washington and one remedied by the recent redrawing of the district map by the General Assembly.

With the change, Roe is now in the position of picking up a few thousand new constituents. That prompted a desire to connect with residents of the no-longer-orphaned communities, his spokeswoman Amanda Little said.

"He wants to have a chance to get to know the people in these areas, to understand what issues are important to them," she said. "Rep. Roe is very excited about these events at the schools in Sevier County."

It seems the feeling is mutual. At Northview Middle, preparations for the visit were ongoing throughout last week, as administrators made plans and faculty prepared students with lessons about just what it is Roe and his counterparts do.

"It's exciting that they will have access to a congressman like this," Principal René Walker said. "For him to come to us is just remarkable. This is going to give our students, and some of the members of our community, an opportunity they probably wouldn't have otherwise to interact with someone who is involved in the leadership of our country."

Walker said she was thrilled when Roe's staff contacted her about hosting one of the visits. The school will open the library to the congressman and local residents who want to talk to him.

"It's my understanding, since the district lines have been redrawn to include our area, Rep. Roe wants to come get to know our community," she said. "We have sent an e-mail to our mailing list, we have invited local residents and leaders we think would be interested in attending, and we have posted it on our sign out front. We want to be good hosts while he's here."

The visit is also allowing an opportunity for a first-exposure to American government for some younger learners. Walker said the third-grade classes at Northview Elementary School have been studying the three branches of government this year. They'll be taking what she calls a "walking field trip" up the hill to the middle school to visit with Roe.

While Walker is happy to open the doors for Roe, it will mean security is tightened at the school Monday. The school's resource officer has requested additional deputies from the Sheriff's Department be sent to help with keeping the peace.

"Visitors will have to sign in at the office and will be escorted to the library; they won't be allowed to just walk around the school," Walker said. "That's all an effort not only to keep the representative safe but to ensure the safety of all our students, faculty, staff and community members."

n dhodges@themountainpress.com