News
Budget woes could mean closing some schools
February 18, 2010
Budget woes could mean closing some Williamsburg County schools
By John Sweeny
KINGSTREE—Budget problems in the Williamsburg County School District could lead to school closures within the district before the end of the year.
Members of the school board budget committee met with interim superintendent Linda Huell and members of her the administrative team the morning of Feb. 17 and discussed the possibility of consolidating schools within the district for the 2010-2011 school year.
Trustees engaged in passionate discussion regarding the possibility of school closures, but emphasized that the Feb. 17 meeting was for informational purposes only and that no decision had been made.
Officials said that school closing would be the most “cost effective” solution to the district’s current financial woes based on the information gathered.
Huell said the leading candidate for consolidation would be St. Mark Elementary School, located roughly 13 miles southeast of the city of Kingstree on SC 527.
“There are lots of factors that have been considered,” Huell said. “We’re looking at the location of the students that reside in that St. Mark School area and the schools that they would attend would be rezoned, too. That was one of the first considerations.”
Officials at St. Mark, which is located roughly 13 miles southeast of Kingstree on SC 527, said the school accommodates a total of 190 students.
Huell and her administrative team said students would most likely be relocated to schools in Kingstree and that further logistical data would be obtained following a decision from the board.
Trustee Norma D. Bartelle questioned the administration’s assessment identifying St. Mark Elementary as the most viable option for consolidation. Bartelle said that St. Mark has routinely scored high on standardized tests and questioned closing the school without considering its academic successes.
Bartelle also raised concerns regarding the physical condition of St. Mark facilities versus those around the district and questioned whether St. Mark was the best choice.
Huell said the decision to close St. Mark, should that be the action taken, would not be an easy one but would be necessary.
“These are going to require some really tough decisions,” Huell said. “Closing a community school is probably one of the most emotional issues that we will every face because nobody every wants to see a community school close. But at some point, as a board, the tough decisions are going to have to be made and we are all going to suffer as a result of it.”
Kent Evans, chairman of the budget committee for the district, said the board must accept the fact that the difficult decisions required might have consequences for members of the board and look past that for the good of the district.
“We have got to make some tough decisions or at least seven of us are going to have egg on our faces,” Evans said. “Let us make real decision that are going to help the school district move forward… sure some people are going to be hurt, but we’re going to have to accept that that’s just what we might do right now… It’s going to be sad if we can’t find some common ground on some of these issues and try to cut the budget $3 million. It’s a dream if we think we are ever going to get good, decent facilities if we keep spending money at this level. We are always going to be broke…”
Evans went on to say that the mentality within the district needed to change to overcome the financial hole they currently find themselves.
“That’s the mentality I find around here,” Evans said. “’We’re poor and somebody’s going to give us something.’ You’re getting $37 million. Use it appropriately… we’ve got to learn to spend within what we get.”
The board is scheduled to meet at St. Mark Elementary school for their regularly scheduled board meeting Feb. 22. The budget committee will meet again to continue the discussion Feb. 24 at 8:00a.m.
