Thursday, May 17, 2018

CCSD Gives Prestige a Chance to Get Its Act Together


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Given the years allotted to previous failing charter schools, the Charleston County School District Board of Trustees made the right decision in giving Prestige Prep Academy another year to mend its problems. The all-male school serves a portion of CCSD's students whose overall achievement has remained grim despite gains in other areas. The school is completing its second year of operation.

Conditions imposed on the school include "a revised budget by May 1, and an academic plan for each student as well as a plan to increase enrollment to 85 students by June 30."

"Prestige Prep officials acknowledged that the school had a difficult first year in 2016-17, including near-total staff turnover and an enrollment drop-off that hurt the school financially due to the per-pupil funding formula for charter schools. They also presented a plan for fixing their problems."

"The school's staff members have agreed to a reduction in pay to help balance the budget, according to Executive Director Joyce Coleman. The school is talking with Word of Life Ministries about using part of the church's North Charleston campus as a facility at a reduced rental rate. Board member Willi Glee is spearheading a fundraising effort, and the school is posting flyers and recruiting students for next school year."

"When you look at where we are in the district as it pertains to serving students just like they're serving, we have not historically served that subgroup well," board member Michael Miller said.

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