Municipal officials in South Carolina are not in charge of the schools, but many realize they still can have a positive influence over the educational system. As a result, leaders in municipalities across South Carolina have partnered with local school districts to share facilities, develop programs and build stronger community ties.
Successful schools are important to the quality of life and economic well-being of a community. City leaders have a stake in the success of the schools because good schools help sell a city, said Columbia Councilmember Tameika Isaac-Devine.
"Clearly, if we look at the economics of it all, as we try to recruit industry and businesses – or even people from the suburbs – into our cities, the first thing they look at is how the schools are," Devine said.
Devine and her fellow councilmembers have been working with Richland One School District on an educational initiative designed to enhance student achievement, promote the district’s success and encourage increased community involvement.
The "Together We Can … Read" program began in March as a two-day read-and-do project for every third grade student in the district. The initiative involves parents and students, as well as business and community leaders.
Columbia Councilmember Tameika Issac-Devine reads to a third grade class at Edward E. Taylor Elementary School to promote the "Together We Can...Read" program.
The initiative still is in its early stages, but Columbia councilmembers hope to expand it in the future with additional book campaigns and business partnerships with schools most in need. They also are considering programs to address other issues, such as gang intervention, truancy and parental involvement, said Teresa Wilson Florence, director of governmental affairs and community relations for the City of Columbia.
Along with getting kids excited about reading, Devine said she hopes the program will help make community leaders more aware of what’s happening in their schools.
"If we can get community leaders going into the schools, they can see the students and how well they are doing," Devine said. "If we can engage these community leaders, they may get more involved in the future of our schools."
Several other municipalities also partner with school districts on programs.
The South Carolina School Boards Association honored the City of Spartanburg in February 2009 for its partnership with Spartanburg School District 7. The city and school district created neighborhood centers that provide educational support services, and adopted a plan to target at-risk students with programs such as parenting classes, arbitration and pre-trial intervention. The city helped renovate a former minor league baseball facility for the high school to use, and Mayor Bill Barnet has led efforts to form partnerships among the school district, businesses and community organizations.
The South Carolina Schools Boards Association presented the City of Spartanburg its Champions of Public Education Award for its partnership with Spartanburg School District Seven.
Many municipal police departments also work closely with local schools, as is the case in Spartanburg. Spartanburg Public Safety officers serve as crossing guards and resource officers at several of the schools, and they patrol outside of high school football games. Officers also come into the schools several times a year to teach about gang resistance through the Gang Resistance Education and Training program.
Spartanburg Public Safety Capt. Randy Hardy said his agency also has assisted Spartanburg District 7 with securing grants, which went toward cameras on school buses and metal detectors in school buildings.
"We do it because of the kids," Hardy said. "It’s very important for the kids in the schools to have a relationship with law enforcement, and we start at a very young age."
In North Charleston, other first responders also have a unique relationship with the schools. For the upcoming school year, firefighters will work out and mentor at Stall High School’s "P.E. for Life" gym with students. The goal of the "P.E. for Life" program is to show that students who have a brief workout at the beginning of the day perform better throughout the day.
But that’s not the sole partnership between the school district and the city. The North Charleston Cultural Arts Department coordinates with school officials to bring the arts directly to 32 city schools at no cost to the school districts, students or their parents. Professional artists from the area and around the nation conduct workshops, performances, lectures and demonstrations during classes and afterschool programs.
A close relationship is so important to the city that the principals of every school in North Charleston are invited to a before-the-school-year meeting. Various department representatives speak about services they offer and ways they can help and participate in school activities. North Charleston also partners with the City of Charleston and the Charleston County School District for the First Day Festival, which celebrates and promotes the first day of school.
Last year, North Charleston also created an office on Education, Youth and Family, to create a link between the cities and schools. Kyle Lahm heads up the office.
Lahm serves as a clearinghouse of information for the schools, helping them to set up everything from fundraising to after-school programs. City staff participates in school career days, and help students taking part in shadowing programs. City employees also work in afterschool recreation programs at 13 elementary schools, she said. All of the programs are the result of planning and meetings with school district staff who informed the city of their greatest needs.
One of the greatest needs in the nearby City of Charleston was increased community involvement. Charleston was one of six cities selected to participate in a targeted assistance project through the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families. The Municipal Leadership in Education project, which began in June 2001, assists local communities and show how mayors and council members can promote and support school improvement.
The City of Charleston worked on a plan to strengthen and improve the quality of education and increase parent and community involvement in public schools. The city’s renewed commitment was demonstrated in the summer of 2003, when budget cuts forced the Charleston County School District to cut its summer school program.
The City of Charleston and Communities in Schools then organized a volunteer tutor/mentoring program called S.O.S., or "Summer of Success, Supporting Our Students." Local businesses and community organizations donated time, money and supplies. The community offered so much support, in fact, that the city has since expanded the initiative.
Many municipalities find that the needs of schools and the community can be met through the shared use of facilities. When local governments and schools coordinate planning efforts, positive educational, environmental, economic and social benefits for the community results.
According to a 2008 report by the International City/County Management Association, "School facilities and related infrastructure have a significant, long-term impact on the communities they serve in terms of not only quality of education but also the economy, the environment, and social equity."
The Town of Mount Pleasant has seen that impact during a nearly two-decade partnership with the local school district. About 18 years ago, the town gave 30 acres of land to the school district for an elementary school near a town recreation facility with a gymnasium, swimming pool and ball fields.
"This was the beginning of our joint effort to group facilities, to share facilities, and to look for opportunities to provide mutual support of our respective functions," said Mount Pleasant Town Administrator Mac Burdette.
Since then, the town has been sharing with the school district athletic fields, parking lots and facilities. Among other things, the town gave $600,000 to the Charleston County School District for a performing arts center at Wando High School, which the town also may use. In return, the school district deeded a high school baseball field to the Town of Mount Pleasant.
The school district also leased two acres to the town adjacent to a new middle school for a permanent farmers’ market. The town built a large structure and plaza, which is used for the farmers market every Tuesday. At other times, it is available to the school for functions and as an outdoor teaching laboratory.
Most recently, the town negotiated relocating of an elementary school in a more central location to the town’s Joe Gawrych Baseball Complex, Burdette said. Once the new school construction is complete, the town will negotiate with the school district for the use of the outdated, former elementary school for its recreation program.
"This partnership has saved tens of millions of dollars for the town and the school district, but more importantly, established a permanent association that provides unparalleled services to our children and their parents," Burdette said.