Lexington-Richland 5 cancels classes May 1 as SC teachers plan protest
Lexington-Richland 5 school district announced Monday all schools would be closed on Wednesday, May 1, because of a statewide teacher protest. It is the first local school district to cancel classes for the protest.
The school district, which includes parts of Irmo and Chapin, is one of at least four statewide to cancel classes as teachers plan to march on the State House grounds on Wednesday and demand education reform.
“After monitoring leave requests over the past few days and considering unanticipated additional leave that could occur on May 1, the district made the decision to close schools Wednesday,” superintendent Christina Melton said, according to a news release.
Melton also said given the absences, the district could not provide adequate staffing to its classrooms, even when using substitutes and staff.
“Our focus is always on our students and their safety. It is out of an abundance of caution that we have made the decision to close schools on Wednesday,” Melton said, according to the release.
The state’s schools chief, Molly Spearman, said Monday that teachers who come to Columbia on Wednesday to protest for higher pay and better working conditions are “walking out on their obligations” — a plan she cannot support.
“I support teachers using their voice to advocate for needed change and share in their commitment to ensuring reforms become reality,” said Spearman, a Republican. “However, I cannot support teachers walking out on their obligations to South Carolina students, families, and the thousands of hardworking bus drivers, cafeteria workers, counselors, aides and custodial staff whose livelihoods depend on our schools being operational.”
Advocates, such as the grassroots organizing group SCforED, say educators must once again rally and ask for change to the state’s education system. May 1 will mark almost a year to the day that teachers last marched to demand higher pay.
A make-up day for Lexington-Richland 5 students will likely be tacked on to the end of the school year, according to the news release, but would need to be reviewed and approved by the school board. A specific date was not included in the news release.
Lexington-Richland 5 is home to: Academy for Success, Ballentine Elementary, Center for Advanced Technical Studies, Chapin Elementary, Chapin High , Chapin Intermediate, Chapin Middle, Crossroads Intermediate, Dutch Fork Elementary, Dutch Fork High, Dutch Fork Middle, H.E. Corley Elementary, Harbison West Elementary, Irmo Elementary, Irmo High, Irmo Middle, Lake Murray Elementary, Leaphart Elementary, Nursery Road Elementary, Oak Pointe Elementary, River Springs Elementary, Seven Oaks Elementary and Spring Hill High.
Offices will remain open on May 1. All facilities will return to normal schedules on Thursday.
Maayan Schechter contributed to reporting.
This story was originally published April 29, 2019 at 3:51 PM.