Summer vacation's over

Stephanie Dotson wasn't satisfied with the school options in her North Charleston community, so she opted to homeschool her children.

But after she heard about the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science, she decided to submit an application for her seventh- and ninth-grade children to attend the public school. Both were accepted, and Dotson couldn't have been happier about the school opening on Tuesday.

"I'm hoping it's all they want it to be," she said. "I think it's going to be good."

Thousands of Charleston County public school students ended their summer vacation and returned to class on Tuesday.

The district increased its first-day attendance by about 1,000 students from last year to 39,999 students this year, but an estimated 2,653 students didn't show up on the first day. That's an absentee rate of about 6 percent, which is the lowest rate in the past five years. School officials have teamed up with police and community leaders to push initiatives that encourage students to be at school on the first day.

Some parents reported late buses or buses that never arrived. Katie McClure, the school district's director of transportation, said considering the diversity of programs and changes in bell times, the district had a good day "and it will get better tomorrow." She didn't know the number of buses that were late or didn't show up but said that the district was working to address each reported problem.

For those who have spent the last two years working to make the opening of the new Charleston Charter School for Math & Science a reality, Tuesday was especially meaningful. The volunteer group behind the charter school has faced heavy opposition from the community. Many people were concerned that the school would cater to white students and that it would use the former Rivers Middle School campus, which some wanted to use for vocational classes.

The charter school group persisted through the controversy, and many parents who walked their children into the school on Tuesday were grateful for the work that led to this opportunity. The school enrolls about 200 sixth- through ninth-grade students, 47 percent of whom are black and 46 percent of whom are white. Four percent are Hispanic, and the remaining 3 percent are another minority or chose not to identify themselves. Thirty-six percent of the school's students come from low income homes.

Many families shared similar stories about why they chose the downtown school, and their reasons often included dissatisfaction with their neighborhood school and the desire for a better education for their children.

North Charleston resident Kandice Rivers said her sixth-grade son, Joshua, would've been in a private school had he not gotten into the new charter school. She wanted him to be in a place where, as a parent, she could be more involved, she said. She also wanted him in a place where he could have some insight on what his classes might consist of if he pursued his goal of becoming a doctor, she said.

"It's good to have alternatives and to have options," she said. "You have to do what fits your family and what fits the child."

Although the school's buses were late, phones weren't working and cafeteria renovations weren't complete, faculty members' high spirits weren't dampened. Principal Peter Smyth said those disruptions happen at any place that's new, and it didn't prevent students from receiving their lessons, he said. He said he'll consider the year a success if the school still has a waiting list, students are engaged in the curriculum and faculty still are as excited to be there as they are now.

Teachers were busy in their classrooms getting acquainted with students, setting the rules and forecasting lessons for the upcoming school year. Life sciences teacher T. Ann Gandy helped orient her students to the classroom by introducing herself, describing the materials they would need and repeatedly encouraging students to ask questions.

"I want you to take ownership of your school," she told her class. "We are all here for a new beginning, and I welcome you."

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