School Board Takes No Action on F.J. Delaine's Reopening
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WORLD Much of world bans jet involved in crash A5 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 $1.00 School board takes no action Military rep: Shaw leaders on F.J. DeLaine’s reopening ‘troubled’ by board’s actions BY BRUCE MILLS [email protected] Leadership with the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base has indi- cated it is “troubled” by the actions of Sumter School District’s Board of Trustees in recent months to revert against last year’s school consolida- tion plan by the district. Jane Allen, deputy director for in- stallation support with the 20th Fighter Wing, is a non-voting member of the school board but can ex- press her opinion in the voting process even though her vote isn’t offi- ALLEN cially counted with the nine elected trustees. During Monday night’s school board meeting and discussion on whether to reopen F.J. DeLaine Elementary School in Wedgefield, she made the following statement, which she pre- pared herself after discussion with leadership of the 20th Fighter Wing: “Leaders of the 20th Fighter Wing and military parents with children at- tending school within the Sumter School District are troubled by the looming repercussions of further rever- sion of the outlined school consolida- PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM tion plan. Sumter School Board Chairman the Rev. Ralph Canty, third from right, expresses a point Monday night in the board’s discussion The previous consolidation plans of reopening F.J. DeLaine Elementary School as other trustees look on. were a step towards alleviating the fi- nancial challenges of the school district in an effort to provide a better educa- Same issues dominate trustees’ meeting Monday night tion for our students. Undoing these ef- forts will restrict our ability to reassure BY BRUCE MILLS airmen, soldiers and their families cur- [email protected] rently assigned to Shaw and moving to the Sumter community that this district It was more of the same discussion can meet the educational needs of their but with a different outcome Monday children. night at the Sumter School District We’ve received continual feedback Board of Trustees’ regularly sched- from those assigned to Shaw that the uled monthly meeting. school district is one of their greatest Ultimately, the full board took no concerns when they receive an assign- action on whether to reopen F.J. De- ment here. Most importantly, we need Laine Elementary School in Wedge- to focus on stability for our youth and a field. high-quality education that leads to a At February’s regularly scheduled productive and a prosperous future for board meeting, the trustees voted 6-3 our students by allowing the consolida- to reopen Mayewood Middle School, tion plan voted on by the previous and Area 1 Representative Brian board to run its course.” Alston asked for a similar discussion Area 1 Representative Brian Alston, third from left, speaks Monday night at the Allen voted against next year’s re- this month on F.J. DeLaine, which is school board meeting as fellow trustees Frank Baker, the Rev. Daryl McGhaney and opening of Mayewood Middle School in his district. Less than a year ago, Sherril Ray look on. at the Feb. 11 board meeting and the nine-member board — consisting against pursuing an appeal to the state of five different trustees before the grams have been implemented there spirited, 30-minute discussion revisit- Board of Education of State Superin- November midterm election — voted to potentially increase student ing the topic of both schools’ clos- tendent of Education Molly Spear- to close both schools as a way to save achievement and the marketability ings. man’s “fiscal emergency” declaration money due to low enrollment. At the of the school. Mayewood students Alston was adamant that F.J. De- on Feb. 28. She also abstained on time, the district was emerging from have moved into R.E. Davis Elemen- Laine reopen and that its closing has March 4 from the board’s vote to select a financial crisis from overspending tary School, which is now operating and will severely hurt the local com- Columbia-based White and Story LLC its fiscal 2016 budget by $6.2 million. as R.E. Davis College Preparatory munity. to help district administration and the F.J. DeLaine students this year Academy, a K-8 school with a magnet “When it comes to DeLaine, as a board in preparing its appeal. have consolidated into Cherryvale curriculum. board and as a community, we talk The decision in April 2018 to close Elementary School, which is three In open session Monday, several miles away, and new academic pro- trustees engaged in a sometimes- SEE BOARD, PAGE A9 SEE SHAW, PAGE A8 BELTON O’NEAL COMPTON JR. • 1951 - 2019 Item’s Fireside Fund helps woman Actor remembered increase propane access efficiency BY KAYLA ROBINS for talent, personality [email protected] BY ADAM PARKER “Nixon,” “Di- Any help from a generous neighbor or Post and Courier abolique,” “Deep philanthropic stranger can positively im- Impact” and “Pri- pact the life of someone in need, but assis- Belton O’Neal Compton Jr., a mary Colors.” He tance provided to many seniors, disabled film and TV actor who spent appeared in TV and working poor clients at Sumter Unit- years in Charleston, died Feb. shows such as ed Ministries is more than they expect. 18, 2019. He was 68. COMPTON “Martin,” “Quan- The Sumter Item is nearing the final few O’Neal Compton spent the tum Leap,” “Home weeks of its Fireside Fund, a monetary who represented a giving spirit and light 1990s in Los Angeles working as Improvement,” donation drive we run during the year’s on those around him or her. This year’s a character actor in numerous “Seinfeld” and “Coach.” cold months to benefit the ministry’s life- Fireside Fund is in memory of Roger Ack- popular movies, including “At- He also made photographic changing heating assistance. The fund- erman. tack of the 50-Foot Woman,” raiser is named in honor of a different “Made in America,” “Nell,” SEE COMPTON, PAGE A8 late member of the community each year SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A8 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Andrew Moses WARM WEDNESDAY 3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 VOL. 124, NO. 103 Carolyn Rhodes Ford Sunny to partly cloudy today; Classifieds: 774-1200 Robert Frances Jr. Delivery: 774-1258 increasing clouds tonight Classifieds B6 Opinion A11 News and Sports: 774-1226 HIGH 70, LOW 51 Comics C2 Sports B1 Food C1, C4 Television C3 A2 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Main Street Society hosting Holocaust scholar to Wine & Cheese Open House speak at Temple Sinai at Sumter Military Museum BY IVY MOORE medals and other artifacts, Special to The Sumter Item most of them from former ‘When the Rainbow Breaks’ to be presented on Thursday military service men and The Main Street Society women and their families BY IVY MOORE will host a Wine & Cheese from the area. Special to The Sumter Item 7 NOAHIDE COMMANDMENTS Open House at the Sumter The society “presents at Military Museum from 5 to least two socials a year, some- The Sumter County Museum will present a In the story of Noah, a rainbow follows the 6:30 p.m. Friday featuring an times more,” Neaderhiser Holocaust lecture by Dr. Henry “Hank” flood as a sign that God will not destroy the informal tour of the museum said. “Sometimes, we do his- Knight at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Temple world by floods and as a symbol of human obli- and information about the so- toric homes. One of the bene- Sinai Jewish History Center. The lecture ti- gation for all peoples to follow the seven Noa- ciety’s function. fits of membership in the tled “When the Rainbow Breaks” is one of a hide commandments expected of all human Neal Neaderhiser, chair- Main Street Society is that lecture series conceived by the late Roger beings: man of the society, said the members get to visit these Ackerman, who was instrumental in estab- • Prohibition against idolatry; group “wants to offer an op- homes and stay very in- lishing the center along with Jay Schwartz, • Prohibition against taking God’s name in portunity for people to see formed about what’s going on Frank Edwards and others. vain; what’s going in the downtown downtown.” Knight is the director of the • Prohibition against murder; central business district.” Main Street Society mem- Cohen Center for Holocaust and • Prohibitions against adultery and sexual im- Sammy Way, curator and bers attend the social events Genocide Studies at Keene State morality; director of the Sumter Mili- at no charge; a donation of $5 College and teaches in the col- • Prohibition against theft; tary Museum who also serves is requested of non-members. lege’s academic program, which • Prohibition against eating flesh torn from a as The Sumter Item’s archi- Guests attending the open offers the nation’s first under- living animal; and vist and author of the paper’s house can join the society KNIGHT graduate major in Holocaust • Obligation to establish courts of justice. weekly Reflections and Yes- during the event. The Sumter and Genocide Studies. Knight is teryear series, will be present Military Museum is located also co-chairman of the bienni- to answer questions about at 129 S. Harvin St. in the al Steven S. Weinstein Holocaust Symposium classroom with both the Outstanding Teacher the museum, which is filled James E.