Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Plantersville School topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board announces study, forms committee after petition to keep Plantersville magnet open
Summary
After receiving a community petition, the Georgetown County School Board said it will coordinate a longitudinal study over the remaining life of the magnet grant to assess whether to continue Plantersville Elementary Digital Immersion School and will form a community committee to guide outreach and recruitment efforts.
The chair opened a discussion on Plantersville Elementary Digital Immersion School after the board received a petition asking the district to reconsider a proposed closure. The chair said, “the district will be coordinating a longitudinal study to assess the cost effectiveness of continuing the operation of Plantersville Elementary Digital Immersion School, which that study will include the life of the grant.”
Community members presented oral testimony and a written petition arguing that Plantersville’s smaller class sizes and technology-rich instruction serve students who struggle academically. Martin Neil, who presented the petition on behalf of parents and community groups, said the school’s digital immersion approach prepares students for college and careers and asked the board to pursue a magnet grant and active recruitment before any closure decision.
Board members and staff said the study will examine enrollment trends, operational costs, facility maintenance and educational impact. The chair said the study is intended to be transparent and evidence-based and that “we will be forming a committee that will include members of the community,” with board member Keith Moore leading the group.
During a question-and-answer exchange, a board member asked whether any change could occur before the grant ends. The chair replied that the district is “in the middle of” the grant and that there are “2 and a half years left in the grant,” and indicated no immediate closures were planned while the grant remains in effect.
The district said it will engage the community with public meetings, surveys and forums as part of the evaluation and outreach effort. Parents and students invited board members and the superintendent to attend a student showcase (Ram Con) on Oct. 3 to view student projects and the program in action.
Next steps: the board will form the community committee led by Mr. Moore and proceed with the longitudinal study over the remaining grant period; community engagement opportunities were promised to inform any future decisions.
