Update on Charleston County Schools
Encouraging news from the Superintendent
August 9, 2005 – Our very own Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, Superintendent of the Charleston County School District (CCSD), updated Rotarians about the Charleston Plan of Excellence and the progress the District has made in the past two years since she has taken over the responsibility of making our schools work. Goodloe-Johnson stated she was the “Mom” of 43,000 kids, and that her #1 goal was to make us proud of our Charleston County schools, no matter where you sent your kids to school.
Goodloe-Johnson likened the District to a “half-billion dollar business,” and how important it is to have that business be accountable to all its stakeholders, namely Charleston County taxpayers. We all have much at stake, even if you do not send your children to public school. She stated that the two most important things to remember are that we are property owners in Charleston County, and that our kids do grow up and become a part of the community. In other words, an investment in Charleston County schools is an investment in the community as a whole.
In terms of finances, it is important for the District to be accountable and be good stewards of the taxpayer’s money. Although small, the District is one of the largest in the nation (ranked 104 out of 16,000 districts nationally), and is also one of the largest employers in Charleston County with more than 7,000 employees. The District identified two major problems with their finances: inadequacy of information and separate “silos” of activity, leading to an unclear financial picture.
In order to straighten out the District’s financial issues, the District hired a new CFO and established a financial advisory committee to make critical financial decisions. Six new policies and procedures were also implemented, including implementation of a cost control program, revision of cash flow spreadsheets, and ensuring the budget process is “open, collaborative and transparent.” The District also needed to ensure that resources were identified and money was budgeted for the Charleston Plan of Excellence (Dr. Goodloe-Johnson’s plan for the District) as well as other goals that have been set in order to make CCSD the best District by 2010.
Other measures of success include PACT testing scores, which do not currently meet proficiency levels, the “coherent curriculum” which includes English, Language Arts, Reading and Math, and others. But the budget is probably the most measurable and must drive the Plan of Excellence (“blueprint for success”) to make it a reality.
What can we do as concerned citizens for CCSD? Dr. Goodloe-Johnson encouraged everyone to mentor a child, purchase school supplies and books to donate, adopt a classroom or a school, or become a business partner, which is a desire of the Superintendent’s for all schools. Whatever we do, she assures us we will be proud of our Charleston County schools!
Reported by Amy Riley, Keyway Committee