ACE board OKs building renovations

BEAUFORT -- Students at the Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence might get a renovated, expanded building in a few years, but are worried some of the academy's programs will be cut.

At its meeting Thursday, the joint board for the vocational academy approved a plan by Atlanta-based construction firm Heery International to spend $8.9 million over three years on the 30-year old building.

About $5.9 million would be spent on repairs and $3 million on a 12,000-square-foot addition, if the plan is approved by both the Beaufort County and Jasper County school boards.

The two boards jointly own the academy, which serves students from both counties. The academy's board is composed of three members from each county's school board and the superintendent of each school district.

The two school boards have agreed to split the cost of renovations evenly. Each board will decide by December whether to fund the repairs.

The academy's Jasper County board members questioned whether Beaufort County members still are willing to move forward with the expansion after voting last week to stop sending new students to four of the 17 programs offered at the academy. Beaufort County board members said those programs duplicate the district's efforts because they also are offered at high schools in both northern and southern Beaufort County.

Beaufort County members said they still want to expand the building because the extra space could be used to house future programs and accommodate growth.

"I'm still very much in favor of going ahead with the 12,000 square feet," board member Reid Eikner said. "It's cheaper to do it now rather than

later."

A student and three teachers spoke to the academy's board Thursday and said they are worried valuable programs will be cut.

Senior Marcus Ryans, who lives in Jasper County, asked the board to consider the students before making a decision.

"These programs that may or may not be cut from ACE have saved a lot of kids, such as myself," he said. "They have motivated kids to come to ACE and gave them an incentive not to drop out -- such as myself."

Ryans said after he finished middle school he doubted whether he would graduate from high school. He's now on track to graduate in May -- a year early -- and wants to attend college, he said.

Steve Shamblen, chair of the academy's math department, pointed to awards the academy has won and the high number of his students that pass the High School Assessment Program exit exam.

He said the academy's students wouldn't do as well at other high schools.

"ACE -- it's for the whole student," he said. "Students come here, disadvantaged and not thriving at their big, conglomerate schools. They come here for individual attention."

The academy's board also discussed a timeline for hiring a school director. The board agreed to form a committee to review applications.