Possible school closures in Charleston County

When your child heads back to class next September, they may be going to a different school.

Monday night the Charleston County School District unveiled its recommendations to consolidate schools.

The board heard six months of research.  While no decisions are final yet, here’s a look at some of the schools that could close:  McClelanville Middle;  Lincolnville High School; Brentwood Middle; Charlestowne Academy; Frierson Elementary; Laing Elementary; St. John’s High School; Mt. Zion; Fraser Elementary; Jane Edwards; Minnie Hughes; E.B. Ellington; Birney Middle; and Charleston Progressive.

It’s a list some parents expect, but still plan to fight.

It was a packed house at the Charleston County school board meeting.

Parents and teachers ready to voice their concerns about possible school closings as they took their first look at the district’s plan to consolidate schools.

“You can sell this building and work out of a trailer in the back of a school lot but close no schools in Charleston County,” shouted one woman during the public comment.

After six months of intensive research and community meetings, the district released a 50 page packet outlining multiple options for all eight school districts

One many parents expected, closing McClellanviile Middle School.  One option would split students between the elementary school and high school.  Another option would close the high school too and send those students to Wando.  The change would save the district at least $4 million after four years.

In the north area, the district is considering revamping middle schools to offer single gender classes.  The plan could turn Brentwood middle into a partial magnet middle school.  Charlestowne Academy would close and the Bethune building would house Septima Clark.

Birney Middle could split students between elementary schools and Baptist Hill High.

Frierson and Mt. Zion Elementary schools could also face closure. And student who attend St. John’s High school could move to West Ashley High.

Another school on the chopping block that parents lined up for at the meeting Jane Edwards Elementary in Edisto.

“For the schools like McClellanville Middle school and Jane Edwards where all the options have them closing, does that definitely mean they will close?” I asked Superintendant Dr. Nancy McGinley.

“Absolutely not. Every recommendation is preliminary. The school board ultimately makes that decision. They may tell us close two schools, three schools,” she answered.

McGinley says she knows the process is difficult for the district and the community, but she and the board say with extreme budget cuts from the state, it’s the only way to improve students’ education with dwindling resources.

The district will hold a round of community meetings in the next two weeks to get your input.  The board will vote on the options at the first board meeting in January.

For a link to the list of community meetings click here:

http://www.ccsdschools.com/Departments_Staff_Directory/Office_of_the_Superintendent/School_Redesign/documents/PHASE-II-SCHOOL-REDESIGN.pdf