KINGSTREE— Uncertainty surrounding the future the Williamsburg County School District’s early college program drew criticisms from parents at a meeting with district officials Tuesday.
Some parents said if appropriate action was not taken by the district, they intended to removing their children from the program and—for one parent the district—entirely.
Linda Huell, interim superintendent for the district, said the two plans presented to parents Tuesday will be considered by the district school board later this week. The first, based on the board’s initial decision in November, calls for students enrolled in the program to return to their “home schools” and finish the remainder of their studies for the 2009-2010 school year there. In turn, the existing program faculty will be “shifted” throughout the district to continue with the existing curriculum, Dr. Bernice Cooper, assistant superintendent of instruction, told parents. A second plan, which Cooper was recently proposed by Dr. Fred Moore of Kingstree Senior High School, involved moving early college students to the facilities at Kingstree High for the spring of 2010.
Kings proposal was yet to be considered by the board, which is scheduled to meet at the district offices this Thursday at 9a.m.
Concerns from parents and area high school principals centered around how program’s lack of stability has effected not only those within early college, but other students whose classes the district admitted will be disrupted during the change.
One parent questioned the message the district was sending, saying that while vocational programs in the schools were strong, places for “the best and the brightest” students to pursue higher education remains slim.

Advertisement