By: D. Erickson
Source: Jordan Cioppa
The first week of school ended Friday, August 12. There are still lingering concerns among the parents and students about changes enacted in the school district for the 2023-2024 school year.
The dress code is a continuing source of controversy. Parents dislike having to spend extra money on approved uniform shirts and pants at some schools. The students also do not wish to wear the uniform shirts and object to not being allowed to wear hoodies.
Another issue facing the school district is the teacher shortage. The school district’s call for retired teachers to return to Colleton County School District to teach was not met with the success that was hoped for. CCSD has now contracted with completely certified virtual teachers to fill the current personnel deficit in the district schools. Interim Superintendent Jessica Williams assures the district is continuing to search for in person teachers to fulfill the deficits. The virtual teachers will be assisted through physically present educational aides. One parent was concerned about the process that decides which student is placed in virtual learning and which student is placed in the traditional classroom setting, which posed the question, how this is providing equitable education for all students? Another parent’s children expressed concern about virtual classroom learning because of how difficult it was for them during Covid.
It remains to be seen how these issues will be resolved or if they will be resolved in the long term. In the meantime, students will still go to school, teachers will teach regardless of the medium, and parents will continue to keep a watchful eye in the name of their children’s education.
For more information on the CCSD dress code visit colleton.k12.sc.us
