McGinley Reports Progress in County Schools, More Expected
August 2, 2011: Dr. Nancy McGinley, Superintendent of the Charleston County School District (CCSD), addressed our club. Prior to her 2007 appointment to this position, she served as chief academic officer for CCSD. Previous to that she was the Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Education Fund, an independent, non-profit affiliate of the national Public Education Network dedicated to improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth. Before joining the Fund, she was director for leadership initiatives at Greater Philadelphia First, an organization focused on improving education and economic opportunities in the region.
Dr. McGinley oversees a system that includes over 44,000 students, 81 schools, numerous specialized programs, and 5,500 employees. (In addition, she recently adopted a puppy named Buffalo Bill Charleston who has reminded her of how hard it is to be a single parent.) She shared with us the progress that CCSD’s students have made in recent years and then outlined the school building projects planned for 2011-1015.
Literacy efforts under McGinley’s leadership show positive results. 45% of students in the county now attend schools rated “Excellent” compared to only one in five (20%) statewide. In 2010, CCSD seniors earned $48 million in scholarships, their highest earnings on record. For the third straight year in a row, CCSD’s 3rd through 8th graders earned higher exemplary marks on the PASS test than their state peers in every grade and subject tested. CCSD schools are safer and more high tech than ever with expulsions and suspensions at four year lows.
Since 2007, the percentage of rising ninth graders reading at a fourth-grade level and below has dramatically dropped. In 2007, more than 20 percent of students entering ninth grade read at a fourth grade level. In 2011 this number is down to 12.8 percent (which includes English Language Learners and students with special needs). It is anticipated that this rate will be cut to zero within five years.
Dr. McGinley emphasized her focus on literacy improvement that starts earlier than high school. Hence, first grade reading academies were established across the county this year. Parents of students who are not on grade level in reading receive an official notification letters, and then in the fall, these students are put into an academy. The results of this program have been phenomenal. At the end of the last school year, 11 percent of our first graders read below grade level. This year that number is down to 6.7 percent.
Regarding school building projects, the six-year 1 penny sales tax increase voters approved in November will cover at least $450 million of the costs. The building program is estimated to infuse the local economy with $100 million over the next two years.
Between 2011 and 2015, the slated projects and budgets for each are as follows (in order by construction dates): Buist Academy $35.7 million; Memminger Elementary $22 million; former Rivers Middle School $25 million; Sullivan’s Island Elementary $26.4 million; Harbor View Elementary $26.5 million; St. Andrews School of Math & Science $33.1 million; Chicora Elementary $28 million; Jennie Moore Elementary $72.2 million; James Island Charter High $25 million.
Success factors mentioned by Dr. McGinley include strong city leadership (on the part of Mayor Riley and others) to rebuild schools ASAP, city planning staff that provided a clear vision for each school, and extensive community engagement.
Submitted by Loretta Wilson, Keyway Committee