‘A very special place’: Rock Hill district named top charter school sponsor in SC
The Rock Hill school district has been named the 2019 S.C. Charter School Sponsor of the Year by the Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina, a release from the district states.
The district supports The Palmetto School, a charter school based at the Children’s Attention Home in Rock Hill. The Palmetto School opened in 2004 and serves at-risk youth, the release states.
The school serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade who live at the Children’s Attention Home along with children from homeless shelters and at-risk children from the community, according to the school’s website. The school focuses on fine arts and S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math).
The Palmetto School receives a portion of its funding from the school district but operates as an independent school, the release states. The school’s charter is authorized by the Rock Hill school board.
“The Palmetto School is a very special place with special people, and we are fortunate to support their mission,” Rock Hill Superintendent Bill Cook said in a prepared statement. “We have a wonderful partnership with the administration, their board, and staff, and we are honored to be selected as the charter school sponsor of the year.”
The Rock Hill school district also supports The Palmetto School by providing professional development and materials for teachers and administrators, providing services for students with special needs and personnel for tutoring when needed, the release states.
Rock Hill was nominated for the honor by Hugh Wilson, former director of The Palmetto School, and the school’s current director Chantell Tarver, according to the district.
“I remain appreciative of the collaboration between our district and The Palmetto School, and am grateful to serve alongside educators in Rock Hill who focus on improving outcomes for all students while demonstrating that we are one team on one mission for one Rock Hill,” Cook said in the statement.
