St. Mark Elementary School was host to the February 22 meeting of the Williamsburg County School District Board of Trustees meeting. The location couldn’t have been timed better, considering less than a week prior the budget committee discussed at length the possibility of closing one of several schools, and St Mark is on that short list. Though the agenda didn’t include that particular topic, two gentlemen had their say during the public comment portion of the meeting.
The Reverend Leroy McClary posed several questions concerning St. Mark and argued that other schools were, in his opinion, in far worse condition. Anthony Chandler asked that the board consider the effect moving the children to a larger school. Board Chair Norman Gamble stated that the board would respond to their requests within 10-14 days. And as he did at the meeting the week before, Gamble reassured everyone that before a decision is made, a public forum will be arranged, but a forum may never come to fruition, let alone a decision, as evident during a meeting two days later.
In that meeting the board continued to vacillate between which facility would close first or if at all. Much discussion also focused on the relocation of the students if a consolidation occurred and the Middle School Concept, a new idea being considered by the board may also play into the decision. Middle School Concept involves a common group students receiving instruction from a team of teachers. It is designed to address the needed of 6,7, and 8 grade special needs students. One proposal would be to absorb some of the students into Hemingway High School because Hemingway Elementary School is near student capacity.
Other issues such as housing the students, the utilization of other schools, implementing mobile units or converting weight rooms and science labs into classrooms were included in the dialogue. But according to board chair Norman Gamble the idea of a Middle School Concept may very well remain just that, a concept. “The only thing we’re here to do is come to some type of resolve, relative to Middle School Concept, relative to budgeting, and see where we need to cut, or if we cut at all and what we need to do to try and balance our budget, maybe not for 2010-11 but for 2011-12.” said Gamble. Gamble asked Chief Finance Officer Christine Green to speak on how the district stands financially. “In terms of whether we close the school or don’t close the school, or whether we are in any financial trouble, when is our problem coming?” asked Gamble. “Is it 2011, is it 2012, in terms of real problems?”
Green’s response was straightforward. “The stimulus funds will run out next year, as far as we know,” she said. “I feel it is safe to say we can make it through next year but after that we will be facing major cuts because people are paid out of the stimulus fund and once those funds dry up, they’ll have to go back into the 100 account which will not support those numbers.” Gamble continued his questioning. “So from a finance perspective, your best opinion is that 2011, we’ll be ok if we did not close any schools?” Green agreed but added that either a building has to be closed or staff cuts would be inevitable. “In any case we’re going to have to make staff cuts, but those cuts will be deeper if we do not close a school.”
Interim Superintendent had stated earlier that the decision the board makes will drive many other decisions such as determining academic programs, distribution of federal funding and the budget itself but at the end of the session it was still unclear what the board will decide. The board will meet on March 2 where they plan to make a recommendation on schools closings and the Middle School Concept.
Discussions continue over school closings
3/1/2010 Michaele Duke
3/12/2010
Yes, Cades may have 300 students now, but how many will go to Kingstree Junior High, C. E. Murray, or Hemingway after their elementary years are complete. What is the percentage of white students compared to blacks?
3/11/2010
Cades Hebron currently has OVER 300 students.
3/11/2010
St. Mark has less than 200 students and so does Cades Hebron. Additionally, Cades Hebron's building is on the verge of being condemmed by DHEC. Maybe the board is waiting for DHEC to make the decision on Cades Hebron for them. Education dollars follow the child, remember the per pupil state aid goes where the child is.
3/5/2010
what is all the hoopla about. The final question is not where the children get an education, but that they get a quality education. If it would be more efficient for the children to move to another school rather than the old dilapidated school, then so be it. While we may not want money in the budget to be a consideration, reality lets us know that it is. St. mark has served the community well in its time, but seasons change and so must we.
3/3/2010
Andrews,
I definately have to agree with you that it will make perfect sense to transfer your children to Andrews Elementary or any school in Georgetown County because you are much more closer there than lets say Kingstree Elementary. Your children would have a much better quality of education if they transfer to neighboring counties such as Georgetown, Berkeley, Florence, and even Clarendon counties.
3/3/2010
Lets close it and take the money for each child and send them to Andrews, My child will not travel 25 miles to school, that puts them getting home late and leaving early. So give me the money for my child and let them go across county lines.
3/2/2010
I would like to know why they want to close St. Mark Elementary School down after so long because I was a student and the school district never decided on closing this school down. This school gives the education as any other elementary school in the Williamsburg School District. You have to rely on St. Mark as a shelter and school for the children that was there for almost 11 or 12 years ago. They need to think about this because parents are not going to take the time to transfer their children records from one school to another in the next 2 or 3 years. Please believe that God will help St. Mark stay up because we as people should believe in each other and cast a vote to see if St. Mark can stay up as long as possible for other children to come in the future and students that left who wants to become the future teachers, principal, guidance counselor, secretary, and etc. for this school. Its possible for the School District to keep their heads up because its time for a big change to come in the future for St. Mark Elementary School. Eventhough the budget is bad St. Mark Elementary School can do lots of fundraiser and events that will make students and parents do something for this beloved school. If this district can remember that if W."G".S. was alive and what was on his mind now they should not close this school down.
3/2/2010
Has any decision been made? Hasty comments can be put on hold and evaluated before being made.
3/2/2010
I wonder what is going on we are not concerned about the quality of education ,budget is the only criteria.If we close schools we are sure to get in more problems becoz closing means losing many students,Cades children will go to Lake city,DP Cooper will prefer Georgetown ,st.Mark will finD something closer .I feel Board need to evaluate all the pros and cons and decide and not make HASTY DECISSISIONS.