Impressive acts at J.V. Martin further case

After seeing what happened Monday at J.V. Martin Middle School in Dillon, we’re trying to decide who’s more impressive: Eighth-grader Ty’Sheoma Bethea for her powers of persuasion or Sagus International Inc. for putting its money into a labor of love.
Ty’Sheoma made a passionate plea to lawmakers in February about the condition of her school’s 113-year-old building at 301 Martin Luther King Blvd. President Barack Obama was moved by Ty’Sheoma’s words and invited her to his State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress, where she sat next to first lady Michelle Obama and listened as the president read from her letter.
“We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself, and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina, but also the world. We are not quitters,” Ty’Sheoma wrote.
Sagus International President and CEO Darryl Rosser was listening and decided to act. He committed $250,000 to the school from his Chicago company, which sells furniture and creates working environments for clients around the world to improve productivity.
When students arrived at the school Monday, their classrooms and cafeteria had been redone with state-of-the-art furniture. The generosity brought smiles and tears to the faces of students, faculty and staff.
“I was so impressed by Ty’Sheoma’s courage and passion for her school,” Rosser said. “I knew my company had to step in to help. We can’t rebuild the school, but we can provide our expertise by replacing J.V. Martin’s old and damaged furniture with new desks and chairs that meet the needs of 21st century students.
“We hope that our donation will be the first step in giving Ty’Sheoma and her classmates the learning environment they deserve.”
The donation was that and more. Sagus’ involvement provided an important lesson to young people and other businesses about making a difference.
State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, who faces difficult decisions on cuts this year and next if Gov. Mark Sanford wins in his battle to turn away federal stimulus money, praised the project as a model for others.
“This is really a wonderful gesture, and it couldn’t come at a more important time or at a more symbolic place,” Rex said. “It raises the bar for what our expectations should be in every school.”
Sagus executives challenge themselves to understand more about education and how to improve classrooms. The company developed two pilot programs in Chicago schools that have been praised. Sagus did not solve all of J.V. Martin’s problems. The school needs a building.
“Our hope is that the new furniture will provide a more conducive environment for learning while the new facilities are planned, funded and developed,” Rosser said. “The furniture we are now supplying can then be transferred to a new facility.”
Rosser also secured donations for the transportation, painting and installation. One partner was Nu-Idea School Supply, Sagus’ dealer in South Carolina, which donated the labor of 25 workers.
When the president finished reading excerpts from Ty’Sheoma’s letter, she was given a standing ovation. It was well deserved.
We applaud her efforts as an example of what’s good and right in the Pee Dee. She has become the face of Obama’s stimulus package, but she’s also become a face for improving education in South Carolina.
We also praise Sagus for its generosity. The company’s decision gave students a better opportunity to learn and a chance to dream of a brighter future.
The morning of wonder and surprise never will be forgotten in Dillon. Neither will the name Ty’Sheoma Bethea.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (interim regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).