Plans will be submitted to state Aug. 5.

By LOLITA HUCKABY
BEAUFORT TODAY

For the past year, a group of parents, largely from the Habersham neighborhood, has been working on plans for what they hope will be Beaufort County’s first charter school.

Riverview Charter School logoOn Aug. 5, the plan will be presented to the state Charter School Advisory Committee for approval and after that, the local school board will have 30 days to accept or reject the proposal.

An effort to form a charter school on St. Helena was launched in 2005 but was unsuccessful when the organizers failed to meet state schedules.

Since then, state regulations have changed to make the creation of charter schools, as recipients of tax dollars, easier.

According to the S.C. Department of Education, there are now 28 charter schools in the state and 14 groups, including the Riverview Charter School, are in the process.

Beaufort Today asked organizers of the school to answer some basic questions about their plans and here are their answers.

Beaufort Today: Why did you decide to embark on this new project?

Riverview: As most parents, several of us spent a lot of time on play dates, over coffee, at school functions, etc. discussing education and what we wanted for our children. One thing that kept coming up - parents wished they had more choices, especially in the public arena. Then, the Charter School movement was brought to our attention and we thought it could be great for Beaufort County.

BT: What are the greatest misunderstandings that people seem to have about the school?

Riverview: There are quite a few:

1) Even after being told that Riverview will be a public school, people still ask how much it will cost parents. Most people miss that the point that there is no tuition.

2) There seems to be a misperception that Riverview will be only for talented and gifted students. RCS is open to all students in the county and there is no selection process.

3) Some are worried that a charter school will drain resources, finances and teachers, from the county. This is false for several reasons:

a) We are funded primarily through per-pupil funding, which follows the child. RCS will only receive about 60 percent of the funds allocated for each student. The county keeps the other 40 percent even though they are not responsible for educating the child.

b) We will be small – Kindergarten through 5th grade the first year; two classes of each grade so we will only have 12 teachers. While some teachers from the area may apply, we will be conducting a national search as well. It is simply not feasible to take all of Beaufort County’s great teachers, even if all those hired came from the county.

c) Multiple studies show that charter schools raise the achievement level of the entire district they are in. Bringing competition into the public school system makes all schools better.

BT: Has it been difficult to find a location?

Riverview: Because the majority of the planning committee live in Habersham, we obviously wanted the school to be near us. With zoning issues and Department of Education requirements, site possibilities were limited. However, there are several sites in Burton we continue to evaluate that fit our needs. We cannot purchase land until we have an approved charter. However, we do have a contingency site lined up to lease as a temporary location should our permanent facility not be completed and ready for opening day in August 2009.

BT: How many families have expressed an interest or actually signed up? Are they from all over the county? Do you have a cut-off point? If so, how will a decision be made as to what students can attend?

Riverview: To date, we have over 180 pre-enrollment applications, most from north of the Broad River. Actual applications will be available in December (those submitting pre-apps will automatically receive a formal application) and we will accept these through the month of January. If we receive more applications than actual spots available for a grade, by law we have to go to an open lottery for that grade.

Applicants that don’t make the lottery will be put on a waiting list. Applications for grades not at capacity will continue to be accepted. Once you are in the school, you do not have to go through another lottery in subsequent years. Siblings of enrolled students also will be exempt from the lottery process.

BT: Will you be set up to accommodate students with special needs?

Riverview: Yes. We can accommodate any student who is eligible to attend any other Beaufort County school.

BT: Who makes up the school board and how is it appointed?

Riverview: Once the school opens, the RCS Board of Directors will be elected annually by the parents of the students and the faculty of the school.

BT: Will you have standard testing and how do you prove accountability?

Riverview: We will administer the same standardized tests as all Beaufort County public schools and we will be held to the same AYP and No Child Left Behind standards. Our charter stipulates an annual evaluation by the Beaufort County Board of Education. In addition, we will have financial accountability through accounting procedures and audits.

BT: What are some similarities between Riverview and other Beaufort County public schools?

Riverview: Riverview has the same goal as the Beaufort County Board of Education, to provide quality education for all students. RCS will be teaching the South Carolina Standard Course of Study that is required of all public schools. Our teachers have the same certification requirements. Students will have the same minimum attendance requirements. RCS will follow the Beaufort County calendar if a single calendar is adopted. Students will receive report cards.

Some of the programs we intend to implement the school board has identified in their efforts to improve achievement. While these programs are evidence-based, highly successful educational programs used throughout the nation, many parents in existing schools may be nervous about their children having to switch to “new” programs. At RCS, they will be introduced in a small environment that parents have chosen to send their children to.

BT: What are some differences between Riverview and other Beaufort County public schools?

Riverview: RCS will focus on educating the whole child: academically, socially, physically and emotionally. RCS will utilize the Experiential Philosophy which is basically “learning by doing.”

Hands-on, project-based learning will be supplemented with field work and service learning. Subjects will be integrated and theme-based so students understand how things relate to each other and the real world. More time will be given to physical activity and the arts because studies show when these components are taken out to allow more time for reading and science, achievement in those areas actually decreases.

In addition, some of the autonomy offered to charter schools will allow decisions to be site based, minimizing time delays and restrictions that often besiege public school systems. Being a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization allows us to receive grants and donations which will afford additional teacher development and resources. And RCS will develop and enforce its own discipline code, ensuring a conducive environment for learning.

NOTE: Answers were provided by Riverview Charter School officers including Geri Kinton, communications; Alison Thomas, president; Mallory Baches, facilities; Ann Marie Bowden, curriculum; Mary Foster, volunteers; Todd Hall, finance; Jody Hayward, development. For more information, go to the school’s website at www.riverviewcharterschool.org