TheSunNews.com: Education

Area teacher under investigation for improper relationship with student

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:06 EST

The Georgetown County School District is investigating allegations of an inappropriate relationship or unprofessional relationship between a teacher and a student, said Spokesman Ray White, with the school district.

The teacher has been placed on administrative leave, White said.

Because of the age of the student, there is no suspicion of criminal wrongdoing. The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office has been notified of the allegations.

N.C. school officials nix cash-for-grades fundraiser

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:45 EST

A North Carolina middle school's cash-for-grades fundraiser has come to an abrupt end, school officials said Wednesday.

Wayne County school administrators halted the plan at Rosewood Middle School in Goldsboro that would have allowed students to get 20 test points in exchange for a $20 donation, the News & Observer of Raleigh reported. The district said in a statement that no extra credit will be awarded and all donations will be returned.

Rosewood's principal Susie Shepherd had rejected the suggestion that extra points on two tests could make a difference in a final grade. She approved the idea after a parent advisory council presented it as a way to raise money.

Teachers accused of enabling abuse

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:45 EST

It was not an everyday sight.

Four Knightsville Elementary School educators in orange jail garb, handcuffs and leg irons stood before a judge Wednesday concerning allegations that a teaching assistant abused autistic students and that a teacher and administrators failed to report it.

Dorchester County sheriff's investigators say the alleged abuse in the special education department involves holding hands over a child's mouth and nose, dragging a child by the hair and striking one in the head.

School vaccinations begin for Horry County kids

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:49 EST

Horry County Schools started voluntary H1N1 flu vaccinations Monday at four of the district's elementary schools, including Aynor Elementary, Midland Elementary, South Conway Elementary and Pee Dee Elementary.

Letters and permission slips were sent to parents of students at those schools at the end of October, and only students with signed slips were allowed to get the vaccination. For younger children, parents were and will be given the option of being there when the vaccinations are given. The clinics will run until 6 p.m. to give parents who work during the day the chance to be present at the school when their child receives the vaccine.

At the schools scheduled for clinics this week, about 60 percent of parents opted to have their children vaccinated, said Horry County Schools spokeswoman Teal Britton. She did not have a districtwide percentage because permission slips are being sent in rounds as the schools are scheduled to hold the vaccination clinics. Each school will only have one clinic, but clinics are scheduled through mid-December. The clinics are hosted, and the vaccinations are being given by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Georgetown schools reschedule flu vaccine

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:51 EDT

The Georgetown County School District is having to delay giving a free H1N1 vaccine to middle school and high school students because of a lack of availability from the S.C. Department of Environmental and Health Control.

"We will have to reschedule some schools, but others will remain as scheduled," said district spokesman Ray White. "For elementary and intermediate schools, the vaccines will be available as previously scheduled. That age group is a priority."

Middle and high schools will be rescheduled for the free DHEC clinic as the vaccines become available.

Loris man to join school board

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:32 EDT

Gov. Mark Sanford appointed Neil James of Loris to fill the unexpired term of Chris Shannon on the Horry County School Board, according to a news release issued today.

Shannon was indicted in June on charges of using an employer's money for personal use. He was formally charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent and Sanford suspended him following the issuance of an indictment.

James is an engineer with Santee Cooper and serves as chairman of the Loris Area Schools Advisory Board and is a board member of the Loris Athletic Booster Club and Loris Future Farmers of America Booster Club.

School calendars for Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick county schools

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:23 EDT

2009-2010 Horry County Schools Calendar

Aug. 24 | First day of school

Sept. 7 | Holiday

Horry County panel OKs new charter school; Debate to continue on changes to honors recognition system

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:49 EDT

Horry County will have a second charter school beginning in the 2010-11 school year, according to a decision by school officials Monday.

The Horry County Board of Education also voted Monday to table a proposal to change the district's system for recognizing high school honor graduates.

The decisions came during a meeting of the school board Monday night.

Construction aims to beat school bell

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 06:23 EDT

As students raced out the doors when schools let out earlier this month, construction companies raced in to begin renovations, additions and new construction.

That race continues through August to get the work done before students return to school. Summer projects totaling more than $69 million for Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick, N.C., county schools are on track so far. Even the threat of a more- dangerous-than-normal storm season does not seem to have school officials worried.

"Most all of these [projects] could have a contingency plan if we have any kind of weather delays," said Steve Miley, director of operations for Brunswick County Schools.