Charleston student fights to stay at middle school

The school year ends with uncertainty for a 13-year-old student who is fighting to stay at his middle school.

John Watkins is an A-B honor roll student at Alice Birney Middle School in North Charleston. He’s also captain of the school’s football team. Right now, he will not be allowed to attend Alice Birney next year for his final year of middle school.

Charleston County School District redrew attendance lines because of school closings and restructuring at several schools. Now John will have to go to Morningside Middle School which is farther away.  He only lives less than a mile away from Alice Birney.  John Watkins says, “I just want to stay there, that’s all.  I’m on the A-B honor roll, I’m in the honors class.  I"m captain of the football team. The staff like me there. I help them out around the school.“

John’s parents wrote a letter to the District 4 Constituent Board requesting John be allowed to stay at Alice Birney.  His mother, Amanda Watkins says, “We live so close to the school.  Why send our children somewhere else.  My concern is he’s worked hard at Alice Birney through the sixth and seventh grade.  He’s the captain of the football team and if they move him,  he’s going to start all over.  He won’t be who he is. They’re going to draw a line in my son’s education.“

The District Four Constituent Board denied the request, citing excessive tardies.  Mrs. Watkins says, “The excessive tardies, were from January and February.  Our house burnt down, and we were homeless.  You know, that’s what the excessive tardies are for.“  Mrs. Watkins says all of this information was stated in the letter when requesting permission to stay, yet John was denied.  She graduated from Alice Birney as well, and she wants her son to follow in her footsteps.  Watkins says, “I want him to graduate from Alice Birney.“

The Charleston County School District says this process is still ongoing.  Officials at the constituent school board say the parent can appeal to the full board and they may overturn the decision. Watkins says she plans to do just that.