State won't take over 3 Lowcountry schools

Three Lowcountry schools escaped the threat of state takeover for the upcoming school year, but one Pee Dee school still has to deal with that possibility.

Burke High, Colleton Middle and Morningside Middle schools were notified Wednesday by the state Department of Education that they had adequately addressed issues cited in state reviews for two consecutive years.

"They have just done so well," said Barbara Johnston, coordinator of the state External Review Teams.

The three schools were part of a group of 11 statewide that got deadline extensions to resolve problems. Administrators from the one school that didn't, J.V. Martin Junior High in Dillon District 2, must go to Columbia to explain why they think a state of emergency shouldn't be declared.

The school had safety and facility issues that weren't addressed, such as finding a temporary substitute for its school resource officer, additional staff training on lockdown and emergency drills and an old building in serious need of replacement.

The state Board of Education has three options after hearing from Dillon 2 district and school officials about what's happened: replace its principal, take over the school or continue providing assistance.

Last year, Burke High School became the first school in the state to have to appear before the state board for not meeting the External Review Teams' recommendations for two years. The state allowed the Charleston County School District to retain control of Burke but required quarterly reports.

The review teams visited 117 schools during the 2006-07 school year that rated unsatisfactory on the state report card within the past two years. The teams reviewed documents, interviewed school staff and observed school procedures and classrooms, focusing on four key areas: leadership and governance; curriculum and instruction; professional development; and performance. The reviews are not designed to be punitive but to highlight problem areas and recommend state help.

Charleston Superintendent Nancy McGinley said the district took the initiative to address the schools' issues rather than waiting for the state to come into the district. Local money is being focused on all of the district's low-performing schools, she said.

"We were not going to allow our schools to be one of a few that were in this position," she said.

At Burke, the state review team required more-effective evaluation of its staff training and follow-up sessions to training activities. That has happened, Johnston said.

The College of Charleston partnership with Burke has been a catalyst for improving the school, and its new principal, Charles Benton, has taken charge to ensure it's moving in the right direction, McGinley said.

Morningside Middle School had to work on creating a viable School Improvement Council, and Colleton Middle School had to put up additional fences, create a maintenance plan to address ongoing building needs and improve its School Improvement Council's activities. Both schools met those requirements, Johnston said.

Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postand courier.com.