Beaufort Co. parents move to open charter school
BEAUFORT, SC (WTOC) - A group of parents from one of the Beaufort County schools that faces closure are already looking into opening a charter school.
For 10 months, Shell Point Elementary parents have been fighting to keep their school open. Cathy Emmert is one of several parents leading the fight.
"Shell Point should be held up as a model for education, but instead, the district continues to hold it up for closure," she said.
Tuesday's school board meeting, Emmert announced that Shell Point parents are taking steps to start a charter school.
"There is so much energy, desire on the part of our parents in the area to keep the school open so we're working to stay open as a charter school," said Lisa Kindwall.
"We've had a few phone calls asking when they can sign up. The response we're getting from the public has been awesome, everyone's been supportive," Emmert said.
"A charter school is a wonderful alternative to regular public school. Riverview is a fantastic example."
While they're still holding out hope, they've got their website up and running. They also submitted a letter of intent and have requested the use of Shell Point Elementary.
"We would specifically target Shell Point Elementary students adversely affected by the Shell Point closing," Emmert said.
She said it would start off with kindergarten through fifth grade and expand to eighth grade.
Beaufort County School Board Chairman Fred Washington Jr. said he wasn't surprised by the news.
"That's a person's right to pursue that. We'll see how it plays out," he said.
Washington said he is concerned about the impact another charter school would have on the district financially.
"[The] charter choice costs money. If we did not have Riverview Charter School, there would be $2.8 million of local money we would not have to worry about because we do not get EFA funding, and we have to provide these moneys from local sources so that will create another challenge," he said.
The Beaufort County School Board is expected to make their final decisions on school closings this Friday.
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