Charter school district has new leader

The statewide school district that gives charter schools an alternative route for approval will have a new leader in the fall.

The charter district's board has hired a new superintendent, Wayne Brazell, who will assume his new leadership duties in October.

The one-year contract for Tim Daniels, the former head of the district, expired at the end of July; and the board decided earlier this summer not to renew his contract.

"We decided to look in another direction in terms of the future of the district," said Don McLaurin, chairman of the state charter district board.

He said there wasn't a specific reason or problem that caused the board not to renew Daniels' contract but that the board simply wanted different leadership.

The job posting drew about 30 applicants from across the country, but the board chose a South Carolina resident. Brazell is superintendent of Laurens School District 56 in Clinton.

McLaurin said Brazell has been among the state's superintendents who are committed to charter schools, and he is well-respected within the education community.

In addition to his passion for charter schools and education innovation, Brazell has good connections throughout the state, and board members hoped those, as well as his strong reputation, would help the charter district in its push for a new funding formula for its schools, McLaurin said.

Charter schools approved by the state district don't need the local school board's approval, but they don't receive as much money as charter schools approved by local boards.

The only funding they receive comes from state and federal sources. They receive no local money.

The lack of adequate funding was the biggest factor preventing the opening of Horizon Middle Academy, a school approved by the state charter board nearly two years ago. The school that hopes to operate on Johns Island hasn't been able to secure the necessary money to construct a building.

Solving these funding issues and expanding the number of innovative charter schools are among McLaurin's top priorities for the district.

The state charter school district oversees seven schools, five of which are online schools, and has given permission for six more to open in the fall of 2010.

The state district is one of only two such school districts in the country.

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