School Briefs - February 2, 2017
DISTRICT EARNS ‘SUPERIOR’ RESULTS ON AUDIT
For the 24th year in a row, the Berkeley County School District has received the highest financial opinion following its annual independent review of fiscal practices. The results were announced at the BCSD’s School Board meeting on January 10. The findings were made using financial information from the 2016 fiscal year ending on June 30, 2016. The audit was conducted by the certified public accounting firm of Greene, Finney, and Horton, LLC. The report highlighted the school system’s “effective internal controls, financial statements, and its preparation and managing of the budget,” stated a BCSD press release. “...By any standard this is an incredible achievement,” noted Superintendent Brenda Blackburn. “We take our responsibility to properly manage our budgets seriously because we know that every dollar we save is another dollar we can invest in our number one priority – our students.” According to the audit, BCSD annual fund revenues from all sources for 2016 totaled $363.1 million. The district received $8,815 per student in operational revenue. In comparison, Charleston County received $11,404 per student and Dorchester District 4 received $13,238 per student. Auditors explained the higher figures are primarily due to receiving bond funds in prior years for capital projects and then spending those down in the current year. “With expenditures approaching half a billion dollars, the Berkeley County School District is unquestionably an enormous economic engine in this region, which represents every taxpayer whether they have children in schools or not,” said Brantley Thomas, BCSD chief financial officer. “Our ability to maintain sound financial stewardship of these funds is essential. The results of this independent audit reaffirms not only our ability – but also our commitment – to do just that.”
TWO LOCAL STUDENTS TO HEAD TO REGIONAL SPELLING BEE
Two students from middle schools on the Cainhoy Peninsula will represent the Berkeley County School District at the regional “Spellbound!” spelling bee at Charleston Southern University on March 9. Pilar Florez of Daniel Island School and Kaleigh Minton of Philip Simmons Middle School will join 12 other students from BCSD at the competition. A number of area school districts will be taking part in the annual event. Florez and Minton earned the chance to compete at the regional level after their performances at the BCSD’s district spelling bee on January 19. Also taking part in the district spelling bee, after winning at their individual schools, were Lily Coulter, Hannah Martin, and Matt Newport of Daniel Island School; and Wyatt Carhart and Lamont Kinlock of Philip Simmons Middle.
HOWE HALL ARTS-INFUSED MAGNET ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Berkeley County School District’s Howe Hall Arts-Infused Magnet School (AIMS) is now accepting applications for the 2017-18 academic school year. A Parent Information Night will be held at the school, located at 115 Howe Hall Road in Goose Creek, on Tuesday, February 7, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Applications must be postmarked by Friday, March 31. Howe Hall AIMS is a public magnet school that serves 402 kindergarten through fifth grade students. The school’s mission is to include the arts as an essential component of the curriculum to optimize student achievement through a variety of learning experiences that facilitate the development of lifelong learners and productive citizens. In addition to the core academic subjects, the AIMS philosophy includes standards-based instruction in dance, drama, music, visual art, physical education, and Spanish. Visit http://bcsdschools.net/Domain/3717 for additional information.
BERKELEY MIDDLE COLLEGE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Berkeley Middle College (BMC), which follows a national educational model that allows high school students to take dual credit classes on a college campus while completing their high school careers, is now accepting applications from rising high school juniors in Berkeley County for the 2017-18 school year. The application deadline is February 28. Located on Trident Technical College’s Berkeley Campus, BMC’s high school curriculum includes core courses required for graduation. Students enroll in college courses through Trident Tech, and, on average, graduate with 27 college credit hours by the time they receive their high school diplomas. According to a Berkeley County School District press release, by the end of their high school experience, BMC students are typically a year or more ahead of their peers academically. Those interested in applying can visit the school’s website at http://bit.ly/2jDQnbZ.
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN NEED OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS
Junior Achievement (JA) of Greater South Carolina is looking for volunteers to fill classroom requests in Daniel Island and Cainhoy Peninsula schools. JA provides all the training, materials, and teaching guides – and volunteers provide their experience. The time commitment involves five class visits in an elementary school, six to eight visits at the middle school level, or seven to 12 visits for high school. According to the JA website, the organization is the nation's largest group dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities. Volunteer opportunities exist at Daniel Island School, Philip Simmons Elementary School, and Cainhoy Elementary School. No requirements or background in a particular area needed. For more information, email Jeni Becker, Lowcountry Area Director for JA of Greater SC, at jeni.becker@ja.org or call (843) 324-7974.