Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to visit SC schools Thursday. Here’s where she’ll be
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Thursday will make her first visit to the Palmetto State, visiting three struggling rural schools and a technical college along the I-95 corridor.
Her visit comes as the S.C. Legislature debates how to solve the state’s ongoing teacher shortage and overhaul failing schools and school districts.
The state’s Department of Education said Wednesday DeVos will first tour elementary, middle and high school classrooms at the Timmonsville Education Center, then sit for a roundtable discussion with state and local community leaders, including students.
She will be joined by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Mick Zais — the former S.C. Superintendent of Education — and current state Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman. U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, R-Myrtle Beach, and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette also will attend the tour.
Last year, the state’s Education Department declared a state of emergency for Florence District Four — which houses Brockington Elementary, Johnson Middle and Timmonsville High School — because of its financial instability. The takeover occurred as the district’s student enrollment dwindled, now at roughly 650 students.
Since that takeover, the state’s Education Department has consolidated Florence District Four’s services — including custodial and maintenance needs — with other nearby school districts, saving the district more than $600,000 a year.
DeVos on Thursday also will tour Florence-Darlington Technical College to get a firsthand look at the college’s job-training program. There, she will sit for a second roundtable with educators and business leaders, the state’s Education Department said.
Thursday’s S.C. stop will be DeVos’ first since her Senate confirmation in February 2017.
DeVos was slated to visit a Charleston County school last fall. That trip, however, was canceled after a death in her family.
This story was originally published February 20, 2019 at 11:27 AM.
