Florence County School District Three held ribbon cutting ceremonies on Tuesday for the district’s two magnet schools.
The ribbon cutting at Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School was at 10 a.m. The ribbon cutting ceremony at J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet School was at 11 a.m.
“Today’s very exciting for our students and our staff and our community,” said Jeanette Altman, the principal of J. Paul Truluck Intermediate School. “It’s an important day and it shows the efforts of our teachers of our staff in creating opportunities for our students.”
“Our kids are excited they’ve been practicing for the tours today, the staff is excited, they have been prepping for people to come in we’re really excited about the way the building looks and just having everybody to come in and see what we’ve been working on,” said Tonyelle Thomas, with Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School.
According to press release from FCSD3 sent in September 2017, the district received a five-year, $9.1 million Magnet Schools Assistance Programs grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement for its “Project C3 Explores: Colleges, Cultures and Careers Initiative.”
“This grant will ensure our students are exposed to many educational experiences and career pathways,” said FCSD3 Superintendent Laura Hickson in the release. “Our vision is to become a premier district of choice. This grant is yet another piece toward accomplishing this goal.”
“The Magnet School concept will give our parents and students choice while enabling all students to be involved in rigorous engaging programs,” said Renee Kirby, FCSD3 Director of K-8 Literacy, Math and Academic Assistance, who also will serve as project director for the grant. “Also included in the grant is the opportunity for teachers to participate in professional development to gain the tools to provide personalized, innovative, theme-base instruction.”
“In order to ensure racial integration and socioeconomic diversity, both magnet schools will have open enrollment which will allow students throughout the school district to attend Olanta Elementary Creative Arts and Science and J. Paul Truluck Intermediate Creative Arts and Science,” the release states. Both magnet schools will be “a choice option” for students in neighboring counties.
Olanta Elementary Creative Arts and Science serves about 352 students and J. Paul Truluck Intermediate Creative Arts and Science serves 396 students.
A year one grant allocation of about $2.7 millions will be used “for planning, staff, professional development for staff, building renovations and technology upgrades,” according to the release. “The schools will use the $1.6 million allocation in Year 2 and $1.5 million in Years 3-5 for student field studies, continued professional development, staff salaries, additional building renovations and instructional materials.”
The magnet schools are open for the 2018-2019 school year.
