Libertas Academy, Colleton County’s first charter school, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new building that leaders say will allow the school to nearly double in size.
School Director Destiny Grant said the new building will expand academic opportunities for students in the area, “The new building will allow us to increase that and almost double in size, providing more academic opportunities for the students in our community.”
Tony Helton, Founder and CEO of Tutelage School Solutions, opened the ceremony and served as the host.
Pastor Daryl Hunt of Faith Church gave the invocation. Faith Church is currently the temporary home of the school this year.
Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley, a longtime supporter of school choice, and backer of the Charter School Act of 1996 attended the ceremony. He said the new school gives parents and teachers more options in the region, “This will give parents more choices and give teachers the innovation and the tools they need to succeed in an area of the corridor of shame.” Beasley added, “When kids don’t have choices, moms and dads don’t have choices, excellence does not prevail. And this is going to prevail here.”
Destiny Grant said, “Right now, we’re currently hiring. We’re also enrolling. So if any students and parents in the area are interested, we’d love them to stop by, take a tour of our current facility,”
Also speaking at the event were Cameron Runyan from the Charter Institute at Erskine and John Lovejoy.
Students from Libertas as well as local dignitaries, and contractors took part in the groundbreaking.
The building is estimated to be completed by the upcoming school year.
