Councilman: Don't Build Sullivan's Island School at Mount Pleasant's Expense

Dear Editor:

As an elected Member of the Mt. Pleasant Town Council, father of three (former) CCSD students, and two-time member of The Blue Ribbon Committee for School Accountability, it is my obligation to set out a few personal observations about the CCSD building program, Mount Pleasant school overcrowding, and allocation of financial resources.

There is no dispute that one of the most rapid areas of increased public school enrollment is the northern area of Mount Pleasant. Enrollment increased even during the economic downturn of the last few years. It is no surprise that CCSD schools in the north area of Mount Pleasant are bursting at the seams, despite the unappealing mobile units.

CCSD, like all governmental bodies, is accountable to the taxpayers. Financial transparency is an absolute requirement. That said, as best I understand it (and following the money trail is very difficult), $20 million for a new East Cooper Elementary School was originally shown in the CCSD's Master Plan for the 2005-2009 building program. In addition, that same plan allocated $9 million for a substantial “renovation” of SIES.

As of August 2013, no new Mount Pleasant elementary school has been funded or started. Rather, money purportedly "saved" from a prior building program (funded with a bond) was reallocated to SIES for a full rebuild, rather than a renovation. Could those funds have been directed by the CCSD to build a critically needed new Mount Pleasant elementary school?

It is beyond logic that the CCSD is building a new school on a barrier island. The vast majority of students who attend SIES don't even live on Sullivan's Island.  Remember, SIES services less than 100 students from Sullivan's Island.  Many Mount Pleasant families send their children to SIES because there is simply no room for their children in the MTP neighborhood schools.  

Very recently, much has been written about school "rezoning" and how Mount Pleasant parents are upset (and they should be).  Now, in addition to the elementary school problem, we now must begin to focus on the critical need for a 2nd high school in Mt. Pleasant----one which is long overdue as well.  Get ready. This is the next skirmish.  And, I am ready. Mount Pleasant is ready.

Chris Nickels
Mount Pleasant Town Councilman
cnickels@gmail.com