PCSD board approves Heartwood Community School governance amendment

The South Carolina Public Charter School District board on Aug. 14 approved a request from Heartwood Community School to amend its governance model after the school ended its operational partnership with Meeting Street Schools.

Kristen Farmer, chief of authorization and development, told trustees the school — opened in 2023 and previously operated under Meeting Street Schools — has moved to a model in which a principal reports directly to the governing board. Farmer said the amended bylaws replace a fixed eight‑member board with a flexible seven‑to‑11 membership, establish staggered two‑year terms, clarify officer roles and create provisions for executive and advisory committees. The revision also removes Meeting Street Schools as a designated partner and allows a future operator or educational management organization only with formal PCSD approval.

Board members asked staff about the nonprofit that subsidizes the school and whether the new structure constitutes an education management organization. A board representative said the nonprofit had subsidized “over 50%” of the school’s costs and that the board reserved the right to hire a different operator if the current independent model did not provide continuity. Jennifer Brown, the principal whom the board hired, was described by a board member as “excellent” and someone who has delivered strong results.

Staff recommended approval after legal review and counsel sign‑off, and trustees approved the amendment by voice vote.

The board's action reassigns day‑to‑day operational authority to school leadership while maintaining PCSD oversight through the chartering relationship and amended governance provisions. The PCSD staff included the revised bylaws as an attachment for the board's reference; implementation will proceed under the terms Farmer described before the board vote.

The board moved next to other amendment requests on the agenda.