Schools’ 5-Year Plan in Works: Test Scores, Traffic in Georgetown County’s Program
By Aliana Ramos, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Apr. 29–GEORGETOWN — The Georgetown County School District is hoping its new five-year plan will help boost test scores, deal with growth, increase parental involvement and close the achievement gap among students.
As school board members sat down Saturday to consider a 69-page action plan, they also faced Pawleys Island residents opposed to a proposed entrance to the new Waccamaw Intermediate School off Willbrook Boulevard.
The new school, which will open in 2008, will house fourth- through sixth-graders to help alleviate overcrowding at Waccamaw Elementary School.
By the year 2011, attendance in the Waccamaw area schools is expected to increase by 346 students, according to the latest projections. That’s just one of the challenges expected in the next five years.
The district hopes to spend about $550,000 to expand its Family Literacy Program to include all attendance areas in the school district by 2012.
Other programs the district plans to fund through grants, local and state funds include:
About $850,000 to add five intervention programs and instructors who can help provide individualized learning plans for at-risk students;
$420,000 to provide science teacher coaches at each elementary site;
about $1.5 million for tutoring and extended day activities;
$20,000 for virtual field trips;
$260,000 for science kits in each elementary and middle school classroom;
$240,000 for four reading specialists in each middle school;
$500,000 a year to reduce class sizes in English/language arts and math;
$182,000 to maintain support services such as mental health and guidance counselors.
On Saturday, the board also looked to the more immediate future to hear from property owners who fear a new entrance at Waccamaw Intermediate School will bring traffic problems to a congested area that already includes several housing developments, golf courses and shopping centers.
The district plans to bid and complete a traffic study to look at the area and entrance alternatives, Superintendent Randy Dozier said.
“We would hope that you would look beyond what’s best for the school district. … We’re hoping you will come up with other ideas,” said Frank D’Amato, president of the The Tradition at Willbrook Plantation Property Owners Association.
School board member Scott Hutto said it was important to have multiple entrances to allow for emergency vehicles during a crisis. “There are 300 children in the Ricefields development who travel on Kings River Road and turn onto Willbrook Boulevard,” he said. “The last thing that any of these board members wants is for a kid to die on their watch.”
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At a glance
What — Georgetown County School Board annual retreat
Five-year plan — includes new science equipment, more support staff, parent seminars, and tutoring programs
Traffic challenges — Pawleys Island residents told the board the entrance to the new Waccamaw Intermediate School would bring more traffic to an already congested area.
Up next — School district is working on a traffic study to consider alternatives.
Contact ALIANA RAMOS at 357-9520 or aramos@thesunnews.com [mailto:aramos@thesunnews.com].
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
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