EDITORIAL: GSSM expansion moves forward in spite of economy

With budget cuts threatening education programs across South Carolina, the construction work going on at the S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics is a reassuring sign for Hartsville and for the state.

The 70,000-square-foot expansion of the residential high school for juniors and seniors from around the state will complete the GSSM campus, is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

The General Assembly appropriated nearly $15 million for the project, and ground was broken on it last spring. Dr. Murray Brockman, president of the school, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary, said the expansion project is proceeding smoothly, even in the face of economic problems.

The sour economy will mean a delay in the projected growth of enrollment and faculty at the school, Brockman said. But when the economy turns around, GSSM, which already enjoys the distinction of being one of the nation’s premier public schools, will find itself well-position to become, as Dr. Brockman said, one of the finest schools anywhere. “We are already one of the best schools of our kind in the nation. We need to be among the best in the world. That’s what we need to prepare ourselves for,” Dr. Brockman said.

In the meantime, Dr. Brockman said he wants to focus on improving those things that can be improved without spending money — what he termed “renewal.” He said he has asked GSSM faculty to evaluate the school’s programs and offer ideas for improvements.

The school has taken its share of funding hits and has had to cut back where necessary. Dr. Brockman said he remains committed, however, to ensuring that the quality of education GSSM students receive does not suffer and remains world class.

Plans still call for adding to the curriculum offerings and expanding the school’s research program, though doing so may take a little longer to accomplish.

Ultimately, these efforts will pay big dividends. They will keep the Governor’s School at the forefront of providing the kind of education that will help make South Carolina more competitive in the global economy.