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District highlights: Summerville High softball champions, library grant and RISE Academy update
Summary
The board recognized Summerville High's Lady Greenwave for a 30–0 state championship season, announced a $5,000 Laura Bush Foundation grant for River Oaks Middle School, and heard a RISE Academy overview including a 2.8% recidivism rate and new schedule and tier system.
The Dorchester District 2 Board of Trustees used part of its Sept. 9 meeting to highlight student and program achievements across the district.
Dr. Levine introduced Summerville High School's Lady Greenwave softball team, which completed a perfect 30–0 season and outscored opponents 237–15. Dr. Levine noted senior Ainsley Bennett was named the Gatorade Softball Player of the Year for a second straight season, and multiple players earned All-State and All-Region honors. Coach Heather Tucker was recognized as the South Carolina Athletics Coaches Association State Softball Coach of the Year.
Dr. Levine also announced that River Oaks Middle School was one of 200 schools nationwide to receive a $5,000 grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for American Libraries. District staff said the new books have seen strong early circulation, with over half of the new collection checked out in the first four weeks.
The board presented an honorary proclamation recognizing National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (Sept. 16–20, 2024). The proclamation cited district adult-education results for 2023–24: 472 adult learners served, 58 high-school-equivalency completions, 15 high-school diplomas, completion counts for English-language learners and workplace-literacy milestones.
Tawanna Sanders, principal of RISE Academy, detailed program changes for the year: staff arrival at 7 a.m.; student arrival at 7:30 a.m.; student day 8 a.m.–1 p.m.; teachers' planning from 1–2 p.m.; and office hours 2–3 p.m. Sanders described a tier point system that, at full completion, can transition students out of the program in as few as four to 12 weeks depending on tier. She reported RISE served 414 students in 2023–24 with a 2.8% recidivism rate and began the current year with 103 students enrolled.
Board members asked questions about how tier transitions occur, examples of community service projects students complete (Habitat for Humanity, elder assistance, care packages and donations), and logistics such as parent support for transportation. Several board members praised the RISE program and encouraged visits to see its model in action.
The board chair (Dr. Ashley Wimbley) read the adult-education proclamation and congratulated the recognized students, staff and programs.
