School official provides answers to residents’ questions, DINA survey helps district officials plan for the new school’s 2006 opening

The survey, which was published in The Daniel Island News and available on the community website at www.dicommunity.org, was voluntary. The results were compiled by the Education Committee and forwarded to the Berkeley County School District (BCSD).

One hundred forty-six families responded to the survey, which was also distributed to residents in Beresford Creek Landing, Beresford Hall and Beresford Commons. According to the results, 165 students will enroll in kindergarten through eighth grade next year. The survey also reflects an additional 72 students between the age of two and four years.

One hundred thirty-six of the families who responded to the survey have school aged children. Of those 136 families, 46 currently have their children enrolled in public school and 90 currently have their children enrolled in private school. When the new school opens, 110 of those families intend to send their children to the public school, seven plan to remain in private school and 19 families are undecided.

According to information provided by school officials, there are currently 144 students enrolled at Hanahan and Cainhoy who are in the catchment area for the new school.

The survey does not reflect whether or how many of those 144 students were also included in the survey results.

With only 147 households out of over 1200 households responding, actual enrollment numbers could be much higher.

Mr. Kenneth E. Coffey, Assistant Superintendent, Operations and Facilities, for the BCSD recently provided written answers to some questions presented to him by Karen Smith, Committee Chairperson of the DINA Education Committee. The questions were gathered from the survey and forwarded to Mr. Coffey.

Q1: From what communities will the school draw? Will those lines change in the future to include more communities, or are there plans for a school along Clements Ferry and Cainhoy Roads to accommodate the many new neighborhoods forming there? What, if any, additional elementary schools will feed into the middle grades?

Mr. Coffey: The attendance lines have been set and are on the district WEB page at www.berkeley.k12.sc.us. Attendance lines may be changed in the future as new subdivisions are developed. We plan to open in August 06, with the lines as described. After the school opens, adjustments may be considered. No other elementary will feed into Daniel Island School at this time.

Q2: Will Beresford Hall be permanently zoned for this new school? We don’t want to enroll our children only to be told two years later that they must change schools.

Mr. Coffey: This is the plan.

Q3: How many students will the school accommodate?

Mr. Coffey: 1,200 students.

Q4: What will the criteria be for enrollment in the pre-K classes?

Mr. Coffey: Enrollment is based on district developed criteria for children who have predicted significant readiness deficiencies. The child most in need will be served first. Examples of eligibility criteria are: Dial 3 score, poverty level, migrant status, low family literacy rate, homeless, IEP, homes where English is the second language etc.

Q5: What is the teacher/student ratio for classes? What are the maximum class sizes at each grade?

Mr. Coffey: 4K: 1-20 pupils; 5K: 1-30 pupils; 1^st: 1-18 pupils; 2^nd,3^rd: 1-24 pupils; 4^th,5^th: 1-25 pupils; 6^th,8^th: 1-27 pupils

Q6: Are there plans for an area high school? If so, what is the timetable for it?

Mr. Coffey: The school district believes a high school is needed in the Daniel Island, Huger, Cainhoy section of Berkeley County. No timetable has been set for the high school.

Q7: What will be done to assure healthy school lunches?

Mr. Coffey: All Berkeley County School District lunches meet the USDA dietary guidelines.

Q8: Will speech therapy services be provided?

Mr. Coffey: As registration begins, starting in January, the needs of students will be identified and service plans developed. If we have speech students, they will be serviced.

Q9: Will there be provision for special needs children, including those who require nursing, OT, PT services, resource classes and a personal Assistant? How do you plan to include special needs children in the regular classroom? Will there be handicap accessible playground equipment, access via sidewalks to and from the playground, etc?

Mr. Coffey: This is the same answer as number 8. The entire building is handicapped accessible.

Q10: What physical security measures will be in place, i.e.: card readers, surveillance, controlled entry, etc.?

Mr. Coffey: The building will have security cameras for daytime monitoring and Sonitrol for after hours monitoring.

Q11: How will younger children be separated from the older kids in the school outside of their classrooms?

Mr. Coffey: The plan is for the elementary students to be on the first floor and middle school on the second floor. Students will go to lunch and other programs at separate time.

Q12: Will the students wear uniforms?

Mr. Coffey: No decision has been made on uniforms.

Q13: After school programs please.

Mr. Coffey: No decision has been made on after school programs. I feel sure we will have many programs.

Q14: What will the curriculum consist of?

Mr. Coffey: See the Berkeley County School District WEB page for standard curriculum.

Q15: We are interested in the curriculum for DIS. Will there be gifted programs?

Mr. Coffey: Students that qualify will be in our Eagle Program (see the WEB page).

Q15: Will there be a program for accelerated learning?

Mr. Coffey: BCSD program for accelerated learning is the gifted and talented EAGLE classes. The selection process is based on aptitude and achievement test scores. Placement begins in third grade. Principals may decide to place students who do not meet the state criteria to be identified as gifted and talented and are selected based on a district rubric. The rubric awards points based on achievement test scores, PACT scores, ability to analyze, evaluate and synthesize, creative problem solving as well as applying knowledge to unfamiliar situations. The William and Mary curriculum is being used for grades 37 in ELA and Hands on Equations in Math. Supplemental William and Mary science and social studies units are also being provided. Grade 8 students follow the high school Algebra I and English I Honors curriculum.

Q16: Do you teach the children to read using phonics?

Mr. Coffey: See the WEB page.

Q17: How can we make sure Spanish (foreign language) is included in the curriculum throughout the grades?

Mr. Coffey: Foreign language is currently available in grades 68. Grade 6 and 7 take the class as an exploratory. Grade 8 students receive Spanish I for a carnagie unit. AIMS and Cainhoy (k5) share a Spanish teacher which is currently being funded by an Arts Grant. We want to have a foreign language in all grades as soon as we can fund the program.

Q18: Will there be drama classes?

Mr. Coffey: This is a principal’s decision and a drama teacher would come from the schools teacher allocation. If the Principal and community want a drama club after school, it would fall under the same regulations as all other extra curricular activities.

Q19: To what extent can parents influence curriculum, extra-curricular activities (sports, clubs, model UN), and special classes such as foreign language, music, etc.?

Mr. Coffey: I believe parents can have input into curriculum and extra curricular activities by communicating with the Principal and being members of the School Improvement Council.

Q20: How can we help? I am seeking an MS English position.

Mr. Coffey: Applications can be completed with our personnel department.

Q21: I would love to have an athletic department for the new school. Having to travel all over the city to play in leagues/recs is a problem. Organized sports at the school will enhance parent involvement in the school.

Mr. Coffey: As of now, we do not have middle school sports. Students in grades 7 and 8 can play on Hanahan High School Junior Varsity teams.

Q22: We’ll be leaving a private school system. Will there be any introductory sessions for parents so we can get involved and know all that is offered?

Mr. Coffey: We will have parents’ nights starting in late winter or early spring to give everyone all the information we can for a smooth transition.

DINA Education Committee members are: Karen Smith, Mary Alice "Petey" Haase, Valerie Bautista, Cindy Holmes, Shaw Drummond, Elyse Salamon, Kim, William R. Haase, Kathleen McDonald, Anne Medio, Betsy Johnson, Patty Treasurer, Susan West, Leigh Thomson, Maria Crowley, Chad Vale, Jo Cooper, Kathleen Roukous, Emily Davis, Terry Steyer, Pete Ricciardi, Arlaana Black, Cheryl Jansen, Jody Nogle, and Charles Black.