Permitting Issues Leave 200 Lexington County Students in Limbo
IRMO, S.C. – In an unfortunate turn of events, more than 200 students in Lexington County are left without a school, with the new academic year merely five weeks away. Ascent Classical Academies, a charter school, was unable to procure permits for its newest establishment in Irmo, putting the education of these students in limbo.
School Construction Delayed Due to Permitting Issues
The academy, which had been under construction for two years at Koon Road in Irmo, faced continuous obstacles, causing delays in finalizing the contract and completion of the school building. Derec Shuler, the Executive Director of Ascent Classical Academies, briefed the media about the predicaments the school has been enduring in recent times. The management had planned to temporarily use the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church for the upcoming school year until the primary building was completed. However, a review found several issues with the place, including fire code violations and ADA accessibility, complicating the matter further. The request for permits to address these issues was rejected by the town officials, asserting that the issues fell beyond their existing contract’s realms.
The Town of Irmo Denies Issuing Permits
Shuler voiced that the town’s decision was unexpected and unfair, as it came after a positive meeting with the town leaders regarding the plans. Citing the memorandums distributed to the superintendents by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) last September, Shuler underlined that this should not have happened. The memorandum suggested that charter schools that use places like a church should resort to local inspectors as they would be more acquainted with the building’s history.
In response, the Mayor, Bill Danielson, defended the town, stating that it neither requested nor agreed to jurisdiction over the charter school project. The Educational Department, he claimed, put the responsibility on them without any consultation. The Mayor also revealed that Ascent failed to correct design deficiencies as per the local inspectors’ direction from back in May.
Impact on Students and Staff Alike
Due to the unavailability of the necessary permits, Ascent Classical Academies had no choice but to suspend its operations for the upcoming school year, leaving students and their families distraught and clueless about their immediate educational future. Moreover, this decision impacted staff who had planned to relocate to South Carolina and teachers who quit their previous jobs in expectation of this new venture. Shuler expressed his disappointments and dissatisfaction regarding how the town handled the situation, leaving the families hanging at the last minute.
The South Carolina Department of Education advised the enrolled students to reach out to their zoned districts for enrollment in the upcoming school year. However, these unforeseen changes leave many questions unanswered, and solutions are not straightforward. A statement from the SCDE indicates that the agency is hopeful about reaching a resolution that best serves students and families. Only time will tell how this situation unfolds and affects the future of these 200 students and their families.
