New Berkeley superintendent prepares for first day of school

Lowcountry students will head back to school next week, and there’s a big change in the Berkeley County School District this year.  After 11 years,  students there will start school with a new superintendent.

Berkeley County School District superintendent Dr. Anthony Parker is preparing for the big day, the first day of school as the district’s new top educator.  Parker says, “Our center point is children, that’s what we’re all about.  I’m going to spend 60 to 70 percent of my time in schools. The reason for that is to understand the needs of the schools and the needs as it relates to giving our children the quality of education that we want to give them. I will be at all 39 schools on the first day.  I plan to start at around 5:15, and I will visit every campus, look at the campus, talk to principals briefly, but I plan to be at every school on the first day.“  Dr. Parker came to Berkeley county near the end of last school year.  Among the district’s top concerns,  the budget, which was cut by 5 million dollars.  Dr. Parker says,  “There were over 40 positions that were impacted by the cuts that we made. It’s going to be a pretty lean office up here in the Berkeley County Central Office.  The major portion of our cuts took place right here at the central office.“  He says, “I want the district to move from being a very good school district to being a great school district.  I want us to be the best that we can be in the state and in the nation in providing a quality education for our kids.“ To make that happen, Parker says the district will focus on early literacy skills, and reducing class sizes.  Parker says, “Working together, we can be successful in educating our children, but it takes that strong partnership between the home community, and school.“
 
Berkeley county has 28-thousand students, a slight increase from last year, but growth is expected to continue.  They will open one new school this year, Cane Bay Elementary.  Another top concern for the district, securing funding for more new schools.

Here’s a reminder of when school starts across the Lowcountry:  Students in Dorchester District Two and Four, and Georgetown county will head back to school Monday, August 17th;  Charleston, Berkeley, and Williamsburg county students start on Tuesday, August 18th;  and Colleton county students return the following week, Thursday, August 27th.