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District highlights Harbison Gardens pilot for cradle-to-career services and out-of-school supports
Summary
Chief of student services Dr. Michael Harris and community services director Julius Scott updated the board on a Harbison Gardens pilot that provides birth-to-career supports, kindergarten-readiness efforts and out-of-school programming tied to measurable outcomes.
District staff described a community‑based pilot in Harbison Gardens aimed at connecting early-childhood supports, out‑of‑school programming and career-pathway exposure to improve kindergarten readiness and long‑term outcomes.
Dr. Michael Harris, chief of student services and planning, framed the work as place‑based education and said the pilot aims to measure three outcomes: kindergarten readiness, out‑of‑school-time participation and career‑pathway engagement. He said the district is partnering with local organizations — including Ready by 5, Richland County First Steps and the public library — to increase access to early literacy supports outside the school day.
Julius Scott, the district’s community services director, called the approach “pursuing what’s possible and not what is traditional,” and described growth in participation and neighborhood engagement after one year of interventions. He said partners include Barron’s Academy, Irmo Middle and Irmo High schools (for IGP and career pathway exposure), Spring Hill High and MEBA for job shadowing, and external partners such as Furman University’s Riley Institute and Trane Technologies exploring pilot partnerships.
Scott said the district ran an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) pilot in Harbison Gardens to introduce families to career-pathway options earlier, and that about 15 families who had not participated previously engaged in the process after the outreach. He also reported that a five‑week after‑school program run in partnership with Barron’s Academy will enroll about 50 students at 7 Oaks Elementary this summer and provide data on attendance, achievement and discipline benefits.
Trustees asked how after‑school programs were being procured and why an RFP awarded to the YMCA did not proceed. Scott said legal and transportation concerns and YMCA liability questions led the district to work with the on‑site program at Harbison West instead of moving students to an external site.
Board members commended the effort and emphasized the importance of measuring outcomes. Trustees asked Scott and Harris to return with evaluation metrics, cost estimates for scaling the pilot, and further details about early‑childhood outreach and Dolly Parton Imagination Library participation, which district staff said already serves about 25 Harbison Gardens children via referrals from Ready by 5.
The presentation underscored the district’s broader goal of connecting cradle‑to‑career partners to reduce out‑of‑school barriers that affect academic progress.
