Childhood friendship survives service academy rivalry
Childhood friendship survives service academy rivalry
Alex Mills and Tyler Fico were once boys growing up in Pawleys Island, playing tag football and drawing pictures of tanks, guns and soldiers. Now they’re paving their own paths to become military officers. Mills, a 2021 Lowcountry Preparatory School graduate, just received his degree in English from the U.S. Naval Academy. Fico graduated from […]
District will add to state funds for teacher pay raises
The Georgetown County School District’s proposed FY26 budget includes $2,500 raises for all teachers. If approved, the starting salary for a teacher would increase to more than $50,000 a year. The district was already scheduled to raise teachers’ salaries by $1,500. The board added another $1,000 at a cost of $835,273. District bus drivers would […]
Charter school looks for funds to close budget gap
The Coastal Montessori Charter School board is scouring its finances to figure out how to offset an expected $102,699 deficit in the upcoming budget. Chairman Rick Richardson wants the board’s finance committee to take a “hard look” at the more than $110,000 the school has earned in interest since July on the $2.6 million it […]
Resource officers follow zero tolerance policy on safety
People read about threats, fights and other incidents in Georgetown County schools and ask the sheriff “what’s going on?” Nothing that isn’t going on in schools across the state, Sheriff Carter Weaver tells them, “we’re just better at writing reports.” That might sound flippant, he said, but it’s grounded in policy. “The sheriff’s office has […]
Safety committee looking for consistency in buildings that vary in age
After 19 students and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022, Georgetown County School District officials started giving tours of schools to first responders to familiarize them with the buildings. “If there is a major incident, it’s not just going to be the city police responding or the sheriff’s […]
First-of-its-kind marine institute gets under way
Officials praised the creation of the Marine Institute of Technology on the Georgetown campus of Horry-Georgetown Tech as the first of its kind in South Carolina. But the head of a trade group didn’t stop there. “This will be the only one like it in the country,” said Gettys Brannon, president of the S.C. Boating […]
A classroom as big as all outdoors
The Black River Cypress Preserve in Andrews has quickly become a destination for outdoor learning. Lower elementary students from Coastal Montessori Charter School visited the preserve last week and spent a few hours discovering insects, plants and animal tracks during a hike. “It fosters an empathy and responsibility for nature,” said Shaye Heiskell, who is […]
School district continues to see enrollment drop
The Georgetown County School District expects to have 209 fewer students in the 2025-26 school year. More than half of the decrease in enrollment is expected in Waccamaw Neck schools, according to a report presented to the Georgetown County School Board this week. Enrollment this year is 7,824, which is down by 164 students from […]
School board takes deeper look at safety
A special committee of the Georgetown County School Board will spend the next seven weeks studying safety and security in schools. The committee was approved last week after more than 20 minutes of discussion by board members about whether a committee was needed, or whether information should just be given to the entire board during […]
Special election will fill District 6 school board seat
Kristie Baxley has resigned her District 6 (Pawleys Island/Litchfield) seat on the Georgetown County School Board. Baxley’s resignation was approved by the board this week. Baxley and her husband sold their house in Litchfield Country Club in February, according to county property records. She declined to comment as the board went into executive session. In […]
Schools seek funds to hire additional staff
As the enrollment of Waccamaw Elementary School grows, principal Ashley Cameron needs more teachers. Cameron asked the Georgetown County School Board this week for money in next year’s budget to hire another special area teacher to handle music, art and physical education. “This is about opportunity for the kids [so] they get all those experiences […]
Snow’s disruption continues as district searches for make-up days
It is back to the drawing board for the Georgetown County School District after the school board voted down a proposal to make up days missed during January’s snowstorm. Scott Batton, the district’s executive director of human resources and a member of the district’s calendar committee, proposed using March 21 and April 18, which are […]
Sidelined for 16 months, charter director ready to return for new semester
Sixteen months after being placed on administrative leave, Chris Bergeron is back this week as director of Coastal Montessori Charter School. “I’m very excited just to come in, build some relationships and help our school any way we can,” Bergeron said. In September 2023, he was put on paid administrative leave after an Horry County […]
Charter school director, cleared by investigation, will return to work
Chris Bergeron has been reinstated as the director of the Coastal Montessori Charter School after 15 months on paid leave during an investigation of a “possible” sexual assault that occured in 2020. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office concluded the investigation and no charges were filed. Bergeron had called the accusation “blatantly false.” After spending about […]
District cellphone ban has positive impact, principals tell board
Since the Georgetown County School District started restricting the use of personal electronic devices at the start of the school year, only 200 students have faced disciplinary action. “That’s pretty good, I would say, for a first semester rollout,” Superintendent Bethany Giles told the school board this week. Of those 200 students, only 50 were […]
School board elects Keith Moore as chairman
The Georgetown County School Board got a new chairman and three new members this week. Keith Moore from District 7 was unanimously elected chairman. Moore thanked the board for their “confidence” in him. “It’s going to be challenging, but I know that with the support of the board we can overcome this challenge,” Moore said. […]
Waccamaw schools at the top in district in state report cards
There were 232 schools rated “excellent” in the report cards released last week by the state Department of Education. Three of those are in Pawleys Island: Waccamaw Intermediate, Waccamaw Middle and Waccamaw High. The high school scored a 69, the highest of all the schools in the district. The percent of Waccamaw students who earned […]
District cellphone rules evolve with state policy
The feedback Superintendent Bethany Giles has received from students about the Georgetown County School District’s ban on cell phones has been positive. “They’ve definitely shared that they’re on board,” she told the school board this week. “Some said – quite contrary to what popular opinion might be – they’re in support of it because they […]
A product of Georgetown County schools is set to lead them
Bethany Giles took over as interim superintendent of Georgetown County Schools on July 1, but she stayed in her assistant superintendent office while the school board went through the process of looking for a permanent replacement for Keith Price, who left for a job in the Midlands. Last week, the board approved a contract for […]
Superintendent finalists share goals with public
Nearly 100 people stopped by the Georgetown County School District office on Tuesday to hear from the four educators who want to be the next superintendent. Bethany Giles, Gregory Hall, Glenda Sheffield and William Wright were each given a chance to talk about their background and goals for the district, and then mingled with the […]
District casting a wide net to address bullying in schools
When it comes to combatting bullying in schools, it takes everybody: students, administrators, teachers, parents, counselors, school staff and bus drivers. “It’s not just one person. Regardless of your credentials you cannot do it by yourself,” said Lonnie Stuckey, the director of safety and risk management for the Georgetown County School District. “It has to […]
School board narrows superintendent search to four
Of the four finalists to be the next Georgetown County superintendent of schools, two are county natives, two are women, three are Black, one is a Marine Corps veteran, and one was a finalist the last time the county was looking for a superintendent. Bethany Giles, the district’s current interim superintendent, grew up in Andrews. […]
Survey results back next superintendent to make changes
An online survey found that eight in 10 people want to see the next superintendent take the Georgetown County School District in a different direction. A third of the respondents want to see significant changes. One of the comments came from a former district student whose children currently attend Waccamaw schools. “There is little change […]
Departing superintendent sees security as his legacy
When Keith Price took over as superintendent of the Georgetown County School District in 2020, the world was in the grip of a pandemic. “The first year-and-a-half was just consumed with COVID. No one was really thinking about anything but how to navigate through COVID,” Price said. “While those were some challenging days, it seems […]
An option for district cellphone policy: Lock ’em up
The Georgetown County School District is at risk of losing its state funding if it doesn’t come up with a policy that keeps students from using cellphones in schools. A proviso in the state budget, which has not been passed and signed by the governor, bans students from having the devices during the school day. […]
District’s top administrators lead one-of-a-kind school
For the second time in three years, the top administrators in the Georgetown County School District both work at the same Waccamaw Neck school. Waccamaw Intermediate School’s Travis Klatka was named the principal of the year and Denetria Middleton was named the assistant principal of the year. “Even to be nominated was one thing and […]
Search for superintendent gathers public input
An online survey for people to give feedback on the next Georgetown County School District superintendent garnered 167 responses in the first two days after it went live. The district is also hosting one-hour feedback sessions next week at the county’s four high schools. The meetings will be at Andrews and Carvers Bay on Tuesday […]
District considers restrictions on cellphones
Proposed state legislation to ban or limit cellphones in schools has prompted the Georgetown County School Board to review its own policy on electronic devices. The district currently leaves cellphone policy to the discretion of each school principal. “With elementary and middle schools, they don’t need to have it in the classroom. Period,” Board Member […]
As county grows, enrollments decline
Waccamaw Elementary is the only area public school that is expected to see an increase in enrollment in the next school year. In fact, the Georgetown County School Board has included funding for a teacher and a paraprofessional for a new pre-K class at the school as part of the budget for fiscal 2025, which […]
District names interim as superintendent search begins
The Georgetown County School Board named deputy superintendent Bethany Giles as the district’s interim superintendent this week. “The board is confident in Dr. Giles’ ability to serve as interim superintendent,” School Board Chairman Bill Gaskins said in a statement. “She is very familiar with GCSD, and we look forward to working with her as we […]
School board will hire firm to lead superintendent search
The Georgetown County School Board hopes to have an interim superintendent in place by the middle of next month and a permanent replacement named sometime after the start of the new school year. “That is our goal,” Chairman Bill Gaskins said at the board meeting this week. Superintendent Keith Price accepted the job as superintendent-elect […]
School superintendent will leave for Midlands district
Georgetown County School Superintendent Keith Price was named this week as the superintendent-elect of the Lexington County 1 School District. “It’s a great opportunity but also bittersweet to be saying goodbye to so many great people, colleagues and friends that I’ve made in my time here. It’s a bundle of emotions,” Price said. “My experience […]
Superintendent among finalists for Midlands job
Georgetown County School Superintendent Keith Price is one of three finalists to be the next superintendent of the Lexington 1 School District. Price declined to comment since the application process is ongoing. He notified the Georgetown County School Board members on March 20, the day before the names of the Lexington 1 finalists were made […]
School board asked to fund more upgrades to security
The Georgetown County School District is considering a proposal to add “safety monitors” at middle and high schools in the next school year. Alan Walters, the district’s chief operations officer, made a pitch for the new positions to the school board this week. “We think it is a critically important position,” Walters said. The safety […]
Merry prankster evolves into school’s holiday tradition
The question that was nagging students and parents at Waccamaw Intermediate was answered as cars pulled up in the front of the school Monday morning. Sunrise revealed a splash of green in the branches of a lacebark elm – and a sliver of yellow tights. The elf was back. “I did have a lot of […]
Arts program gains backers to nurture young talent
A new art program for students in middle and high school is on track to open its doors in Georgetown in the fall of 2024. The C.E.W. Collaborative is the brainchild of Charles Williams, a world-renowned artist and Georgetown County native. The school “is an elite program for me to take under my wing these […]
Esports team that grew out of pandemic sees a bright future
On a Wednesday evening late last last month, a team of Georgetown County students gathered in a circle to stretch before a competition. The students from all four high schools did exercises to loosen the muscles in their neck, their back and their hands. No need to stretch leg muscles for the members of the […]
Daily scans greet students after fall break
In the wake of a loaded gun being found inside Carvers Bay Middle STEAM Academy last month, the Georgetown County School District has deployed weapons detection systems to be used every day at all eight of its middle and high schools. Superintendent Keith Price hopes the the district’s efforts will be a “deterrent” to a […]
Two Waccamaw schools get top ratings on state report cards
Waccamaw Middle and Waccamaw High have the highest scores in the district on state report cards that were released this week. Along with Pleasant Hill Elementary, they earned overall ratings of “excellent.” “As a collective team, we worked so hard with different strategies and initiatives together that allowed us to address all students and work […]
Hands-on learning on display at rural magnet program
The Georgetown County School District’s magnet school program is in full swing and it has teachers and students in the Carvers Bay area thinking outside the box, like using Legos in lessons. Pleasant Hill Elementary School principal Lee Glover said his students “absolutely love” building with Legos. “Because it’s project based, they’ve able to articulate […]
Waccamaw Middle finds strategy to raise scores on reading tests
During the last school year, Waccamaw Middle School students were tested quarterly on their writing skills to prepare them for state testing. That strategy worked as 90 percent of eighth-graders and 71 percent of seventh-graders met or exceeded expectations in the English/language arts (ELA) portion of the state’s standardized tests, known as SC READY. “We […]
Charter school director on leave during investigation of 2020 sexual assault claim
Chris Bergeron, the director of Coastal Montessori Charter School, has been placed on paid administrative leave while the sheriff’s office investigates an allegation that he sexually assaulted a Waccamaw Middle School student three years ago. An Horry County woman told a sheriff’s deputy and a victim’s service officer on Aug. 29 of a “possible sex […]
Shorter summer aims to close achivement gap
Eight weeks after the 2022-23 school year ended, the 2023-24 school year has begun. Students are back in their classrooms today, about two weeks earlier than normal due to the district’s new modified year-round calendar. “Our teachers are excited to be back and we’re going to continue moving forward with some of the initiatives we […]
Board wants to ensure evenhanded discipline across district
The Georgetown County School Board is poring over the district’s discipline policies to suggest updates, and to make sure the policies are being enforced consistently in all schools. Several board members met with a committee of district officials to review the policies, which were presented as a “code of conduct” this week. Chairman Bill Gaskins […]
Julie Humowitz named district’s Teacher of the Year
Moments after being named Georgetown County’s new Teacher of the Year, Julieanne Humowitz got a hug from Ben Tester, who received the honor last year. Humowitz taught Tester when he was a student at Waccamaw High School. She’s taught a lot of students during her 29-year career. “I’m humbled, I’m excited, I’m flattered,” she said. […]
With 55 signed up, district will reopen search for magnet students
The Georgetown County School District is looking for more students to join the 55 already accepted into the new Magnet Schools Assistance Program. The district will open another application period at the end of June. “I know this is really going to increase for our second window,” Constance May, project director, told the school board […]
Homegrown artist has design for opening a school
When Charles Williams was a first- and second-grader at Kensington Elementary School he was unfocused. His mother, who volunteered at the school, and Christie Weaver, one of his teachers, realized that art helped him concentrate. “My mom was in the art room helping Christie and I was able to calm down and art was the […]
District will restore time cut from school day in pandemic
One of the last changes caused by the pandemic will be gone when the new school year starts in August. Fifteen minutes of instructional time is being restored at all the district’s elementary schools and Waccamaw Intermediate School. “It was something that our principals brought up. It was an unanimous request,” Superintendent Keith Price said. […]
Coach will lead new team as charter school director
A familiar face is taking over as director of the Coastal Montessori Charter School. The charter school’s board voted this week to hire Chris Bergeron, the school’s physical education teacher, to succeed Rosemary Gray, who is retiring at the end of the school year. “I’m really excited about the things that have been going on […]
Coming to listen, staying to read
The state superintendent of education shared a secret with kindergarteners at Maryville Elementary School this week. Ellen Weaver told the youngsters that knowing how to read was their superpower. “Reading is the most foundational skill,” Weaver said. “Everything else in education relies on reading.” Weaver is a staunch supporter of professional development programs started by […]
For STEM and STEAM, steady stream of interest
A steady stream of parents and children filed in and out of the J.B. Beck Administration Building seeking information about the Georgetown County School District’s new Magnet Schools Assistance Program. Some had already made up their minds to send their children to school in the Carvers Bay area and filled out an online application before […]
District pitches new opportunities for students in magnet program
One of the essential parts of the Georgetown County School District’s new Magnet Schools Assistance Program is bringing equity and opportunity to all students. “It’s going to be a wonderful experience for our students; giving them an opportunity to kind of figure out what they like and where they shine, and then how we can […]
Montessori director plans to step down
After 40 years as an educator, including the last two as Coastal Montessori Charter School director, Rosemary Gray is retiring. “It has been an honor and privilege to work with our CMCS families,” Gray wrote in an email sent to parents. “Thank you for being so involved in your children’s education. Because of your support […]
School board lifts freeze on members’ pay
Starting July 1, the nine members of the Georgetown County Board of Education will get the first salary increase in more than 20 years. The board voted this week to increase salaries from $6,719 to $8,000 for members and from $9,406 to $9,700 for the chairman. There was no discussion. The vote was unanimous, although […]
Technology classes lead the way to careers
High school students still dissect frogs in science class, but a select few also dissect the body parts on larger animals, like cows. Seven Waccamaw High School students in Barbara O’Neill’s human body systems class got a closeup look at a cow’s elbow on Monday to give them a better understand of anatomy. “Everybody here […]
District plans to give teachers a 30-minute break
The state has mandated that certain teachers get 30 minutes of time off every day. The Georgetown County School District wants to go a step farther and give all its teachers a break. “It’s an interesting law and policy on the surface. Who wouldn’t support making sure that those 30 minutes are protected?” Superintendent Keith […]
State targets Waccamaw Middle for additional support
Waccamaw Middle School’s grade on the last state report cards has landed it on a state watch list. The school is one of 365 across the state that have been chosen for “additional targeted support and improvement” by the state Department of Education. Principal Ginny Haynes said the designation does not “capture the full picture […]
Board votes to raise pay by 19 percent, ending freeze
The Georgetown County School Board is moving forward with a plan to increase their pay, which has been frozen since 2003. “It’s something serious we need to look at,” Board Member Robert Cox, who holds an at-large seat. “This is not something this board created, we’re just trying to solve a problem that originated in […]
District hopes enthusiasm for magnet schools will spread
Magnets attract. Students from the Waccamaw Neck, Georgetown and Andrews are what the Georgetown County School District is hoping will be attracted to the Carvers Bay area in August when its five schools transition to magnet schools. Each school will have its own theme: creative and performing arts; STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math); digital […]
Ending 20-year freeze in school board pay could trigger 58% raise
Members of the Georgetown County School Board get paid like it’s 2002, not 2022. If the board decides to change district policy, it will mean an extra $3,391 a year for the nine members. Board members are supposed to be paid 25 percent of a starting teacher’s salary. During an ongoing budget crisis in 2003, […]
Lowcountry Prep headmaster departs, leaving parents with questions
Col. Scott Gibson is no longer head of school at Lowcountry Prep School, and unhappy parents want answers from the school’s board of trustees. “Whoever made this knee-jerk reaction maybe didn’t have a pulse on what was really going on at the school,” said Suzanne Temple, the mother of two students. “The colonel has been […]
Elf sightings have students shaking their heads – and smiling
Perhaps it was a joke. Maybe some kind of sick humor? It was enough to make your toes curl; unless your toes were curled already. Students who arrived at Waccamaw Intermediate School on Monday morning were confronted by the doleful sight of an elf seated in a wheelchair in the doorway of the nurse’s office. […]
Former educator picked to chair school board
Members of the Georgetown County School Board told Bill Gaskins he was the right man to be the next chairman. After much contemplation and prayer, Gaskins agreed to accept the nomination and was unanimously elected on Tuesday night. The support of his fellow board members was humbling, said Gaskins, who represents District 5. “I know […]
School board approves plan for early start
A week-long survey by the Georgetown County School District showed overwhelming support among staff, parents and students for a plan that will start classes the first week of August next year and add two midterm breaks. The school board approved the plan this week with only one of the nine members opposed. “Community. That’s the […]
Tourism businesses balk at plan for earlier school start
Some business owners who rely on teachers and students for their workforce during the summer say they are worried about a proposed change to the Georgetown County School District calendar that would start classes earlier next year. The change would have teachers returning to classrooms in July and students following them in the first week […]
Federal grant will fund rural magnet program
The Georgetown County School District has been awarded $14.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education to start a magnet program in the Carvers Bay area. “When we began having this discussion and presented the idea to the principals, there was a lot of excitement, but also some nerves, and that’s exactly the way it […]
District makes plans for earlier start in 2023
The Georgetown County School District is moving forward with a proposal to begin the next school year at the end of July. Teachers would report July 27 and the first day of classes would be Aug. 3, a week and half earlier than this year. Superintendent Keith Price unveiled a plan for a “modified year […]
They grow up so fast – charter school marks its first decade
Coastal Montessori Charter School started as a dream of a dozen parents in December of 2009. On Monday, students celebrated the 10th anniversary of the school’s first classes with cupcakes and a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday.” “The word that comes to mind is joy,” said Kristin Bohan, who led the effort to start the […]
District adds A.I. devices to search for weapons
As school safety measures evolve, the Georgetown County School District changes to keep up with the times. The district has ordered a “weapons detection system” for each middle and high school. The system looks like metal detectors, but uses artificial intelligence to identify specific shapes of potential weapons. People passing through do not have to […]
District sees enrollment rise at start of new year
Based on the traffic on Highway 17, summer is still in full swing. But vacation is ending for Georgetown County public school students, who return to class on Monday. More than 7,000 students are already enrolled, but the district is expects that as many as another 1,000 will show up. That is about 200 more […]
Free meals for everyone will end at three Waccamaw cafeterias
The days of free meals for all students at every school in the county are over. Students at Waccamaw Intermediate, Waccamaw Middle, Waccamaw High and Georgetown High schools who don’t qualify for free meals will once again have to pay. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture waived all fees for meals. That […]
District adopts pay increases, but draws criticism over hiring
The Georgetown County School Board approved a $99.1 million budget this week that gives raises to all employees and increases the district’s salary scales and minimum wage. The revised budget is $1.89 million more than the board approved last month due to an increase in state funding. The extra funding allowed the board to add […]
Last of the original Warriors leaves the classroom
Thirty-two years after joining the staff of Waccamaw High School, Cara Cook walked out of the school for the last time on Friday. “This place has given me a lot. It’s been family. It’s raised my children with me,” Cook said. “It’s gotten me through several of the worst years of my life. It has […]
District plans 3 percent tax increase
The Georgetown County School Board approved a 3.5-mill property tax increase to fund raises for employees in the coming year and increase salaries in the future. That’s a rise of 3 percent. The proposal is due for a public hearing later this month. The increase was well under the limit on property tax increases imposed […]
Rural schools narrow topics for magnet program
The Georgetown County School District is continuing to plan for magnet schools, even as it waits to learn whether it will get a federal grant to fund the program. “If we are successful with this application, this program will allow us to bring some really, really unique opportunities to to our students that otherwise they […]
District tax capacity will cover all options for pay raises
Funding employee pay raises and additional staff in the Georgetown County School District will leave a $3.1 million shortfall in the budget for the coming year. But the school board learned this week that it can cover that with a 7.3 percent tax increase, equal to a little over $50 for every $100,000 of value […]
School District keeps eyes on state with pay a priority
School administrators and district staff have wish lists for new positions, and pay increases. Now the school board has to decide which ones to pay for and where to get the money. The board will get to work on the budget for the 2023 fiscal year at a work session May 17. “We have to […]
District seeks first coach for team with no away games
The new coach may have a few late nights. But they won’t be spent on the bus, driving home from some far-flung field. The Georgetown County School District is starting an eSports program. A team comprised of students from each of the four high schools will begin competition in the fall. “It’s another way to […]
District seeks grant to create magnet program at rural schools
The Georgetown County School District is seeking a federal grant to start magnet programs at the five schools in the Carvers Bay area of the county. “The magnet concept is to attract more students to that area and also to retain students in that area to keep them from maybe pursuing opportunities in other places […]
District plans to retain extra staff when relief funds expire
The Georgetown County School District has been funding 62 positions with money from the federal government for COVID-19 relief. Even though that funding won’t run out until September 2024, the district is not waiting until then to make decisions on which positions to keep. “There are a lot of positions tied up [and] we have […]
WHS grad returns to help students find career paths
A Waccamaw High School graduate has returned to school to help future graduates navigate their career or college path. Vince Guarino, a 2008 graduate, was hired as the school’s college and career readiness coach in November. “I’m having a lot of fun,” Guarino said. “It’s been interesting coming back to the school I graduated from. […]
School District puts early start plan on hold for ’22
The 2022-23 school year is expected to start at its usual time in mid-August under a new calendar made public at the Georgetown County School Board meeting this week, not earlier in August as the district proposed in January. Under the “traditional” calendar, teachers would return to work Aug. 8 and the first day of […]
Chairman’s departure has district looking at succession plan
When Chairman Jim Dumm resigned from the Georgetown County School Board at the end of 2021, Vice Chairman Arthur Lance became acting chairman. Although he was not elected chairman by his fellow board members, Lance has taken over all the responsibilities of being chairman, according to Lindsay Anne Thompson, the district’s legal counsel. District staff […]
Former student returns as child center director
Tera Marshall used to be a student at the Pawleys Island Child Development Center. Now she is the director of the center, which has been educating children for 47 years. “I’ve kind of come full circle,” Marshall said. “I had a special connection with this building and it’s in my community and I love the […]
School board chairman quits citing health issues
The Georgetown County School Board will have one new member in the spring, and maybe two. Chairman Jim Dumm sent a letter to Superintendent Keith Price dated Dec. 23 tendering his resignation effective at midnight on Dec. 31. Dumm, who had served on the board for 27 years, cited personal and family health considerations. The […]
New chairman for state board plans focus on safety
A North Litchfield resident is now chairman of the state Board of Education. Alan Walters, who is executive director of safety and risk management for the Georgetown County School District, plans to focus on school safety during his two-year term as chairman. “I want to use this position to advance some big safety initiatives over […]
School board skeptical of ‘rebranded’ voucher plan
A bill in the state legislature to create Education Savings Accounts that would take money from school districts and give it to parents to spend on their child’s education is raising concerns with members of the Georgetown County School Board. Once the money is taken from the district it might not be returned, even if […]
Waccamaw Elementary administrators named best in the district
The top administrators in the Georgetown County School District both work at Waccamaw Elementary School. Ashley Cameron is the principal of the year and Robert DelBagno is the assistant principal of the year. “It’s exciting,” Cameron said. “I was surprised, but really honored and thrilled that my staff nominated me and that my colleagues and […]
District planning for next five years
The Georgetown County School District is working on a strategic plan for the next five years and is seeking input from as many people as possible. The district brought together more than 100 people representing all of its schools on Tuesday to brainstorm on its vision for the future. “This is going to take a […]
Montessori school gets grant to introduce pre-schoolers to the circle of life
Take a walk past the Montessori School of Pawleys Island and you might see some of its youngest students digging in the dirt and watering plants. Students in pre-K classes are learning about food production and the circle of life by maintaining gardens and composting leftover food. “It really is a great program. They’ve all […]
Board cites superintendent’s work in pandemic in pay raise
Superintendent Keith Price joined the Georgetown County School in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and his leadership since then earned him high praise, a contract extension and a raise from the School Board. The board gave him an “excellent evaluation” last month. According to a summary of the evaluation released on this week in […]
Board considers options for limited mask mandates
Parents will still decide whether their children have to wear masks inside Georgetown County schools, for now. The school board voted unanimously this week not to enact a mask mandate, but discussed options for mandates if there is another rise in COVID-19 cases Board Member Lynne Ford said that a month ago, when the district […]
Masks return to agenda following judge’s order
The Georgetown County School Board is expected to discuss whether to require that face masks be worn inside schools when it meets next week. A proviso in the state budget this year barred the use of public funds to promote or enforce face masks in schools. This week, a U.S. District Court judge enjoined the […]
School board approves $1.3 million in employee bonuses
The Georgetown County School District had a nearly $2 million budget surplus at the end of the 2019-20 school year. The school board decided this week to spend more than half of that on bonuses for employees. Approximately 1,300 full-time employees will receive $750 each. Nearly 200 part-time and temporary employees who have worked at […]
District cuts quarantine days for those with negative tests
The Georgetown County School District has amended its quarantine policy to shorten the time students exposed to COVID-19 spend away from the classroom. However, students must produce a negative COVID test, taken at least five days after exposure, to return to class in seven days instead of 10 days. The district started the school year […]
Reports confirm fears about pandemic’s impact on learning
While state Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman is worried about how far behind the state’s third-graders are academically, those at Waccamaw Elementary School outperformed the district and the state on the report cards released this week. “Considering the circumstances I was real pleased,” principal Ashley Cameron said. “Considering the different changes in instructional models, overall […]
Variant’s surge raises fears as schools reopen minus mandate
Georgetown County schools opened Wednesday with 176 students and 10 staff members in quarantine due to the spike in COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant. Under state law, school districts cannot require that masks are worn inside schools. “We were hopeful that the COVID impact was mostly behind us, but it looks like it […]
District urges returning students to wear masks amid new surge
The Georgetown County School District is preparing to welcome teachers and students back to school in the next few weeks as the state once again finds itself with a rising number of COVID-19 cases. A month ago, there were 115 new cases in the state, including two in Georgetown County. As of Monday, there were […]
Staggered start plan gets mixed reviews
The Georgetown County School District is still working on its reopening plans, but its plan to stagger school start times is not popular with some parents. The district announced in June that elementary and intermediate schools would start at 7:30 a.m. and middle and high schools at 8:30 a.m. for the 2021-22 school year. The […]
LOCAL EVENTS
Meetings
Georgetown County Board of Education: First and third Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Beck Education Center. For details, go to gcsd.k12.sc.us. Georgetown County Council: Second and fourth Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, 129 Screven St., Georgetown. For details, go to georgetowncountysc.org. Pawleys Island Town Council: Second Mondays, 5 p.m. Town Hall, 323 Myrtle Ave. For details, go to townofpawleysisland.com. , .
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