Delay in Hilton Head high school’s opening inspired 350 students to demonstrate in 1983

Editor’s note: This story was first published in the Island Packet on Oct. 10, 1983. In honor of The Island Packet’s 50th anniversary, we are republishing stories from our archive.

Classes begin at new school

Classes at the new Hilton Head High School were to begin at 8:30 a.m. this morning (Monday, Oct. 10), almost a month after the $7-million facility was to have been completed.

The news was greeted with screams and cheers by high-school and middle-school students sharing facilities at H.E. McCracken Middle School in Bluffton when it was announced Friday afternoon.

Beaufort County had approved the opening a short time before during a noon meeting Friday, with board members Miriam Bryan, Dan Denton, Robbie Wright, Lee Shaffer and John Rogers voting for the move, and member York Glover dissenting over contractual matters, according to a school district spokesman.

The meeting followed a three-hour demonstration at Hilton Head High School Friday morning by about 350 students who urged the board to open the school as soon as possible.

The protest had been organized at the McCracken campus Thursday, after students heard the School Board wasn’t to decide on the matter at the regular board meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 11).

Students were concerned that board members were dragging their feet on the matter, they said during the demonstration Friday, since all state and local approvals for occupancy of the building had been granted the preceding Friday (Sept. 30).

School Board members had toured the school early last week (Tuesday, Oct. 4), expressing approval at the time that the school was indeed ready to be occupied.

“They’ve procrastinated too long,” said Scott Herman, a high-school junior at the school. ‘It’s so crowded we can’t concentrate.”

Petitions urging an immediate decision by the board were circulated during demonstration, and the crowd grew to an estimated 200 students at one point.

“We’re not leaving until they tell us we can move in,” said 11th-grader Margie Vasallo.

Students arriving early at the demonstration Friday were met by High School Principal Steve Ballowe and the Rev. Ben Williams, school community coordinator, telling them that the board knew of their protest and was taking it into consideration.

“I told them I was proud that they’d taken a stand, but that their point had been made and it was time to return to classes,” said Ballowe.

Students returned to the Bluffton campus shortly after 11 a.m., and the board’s decision was announced about two hours later during a school pep rally.

“We thought they were loud before,” said the Rev. Williams. “But after Mr. Ballowe made the announcement, it was unbelievable.”

“They told us we would become real Seahawks Monday morning,” said Sherri Coward, a Hilton Head High School junior. “Everyone went crazy, screaming and hugging each other. I’m so happy, it’s wonderful to be getting out of here (McCracken) at last.”

Students were handed new bus and classroom schedules Friday and told that classes would begin no later than 8:30 a.m.

As activity areas in the new building — including the cafeteria — aren’t expected to be completed for another few weeks, students will be served bag lunches in the rear foyer of the high school. In the meantime, lunches will be prepared by the kitchen staff at Hilton Head Elementary.

Maintenance crews at both McCracken Middle School and the new high school spent Friday afternoon and the weekend moving furniture and equipment.

Both schools were to be opened by 8 a.m. Saturday, to allow teachers and administrators to set up office and class areas.

Middle School [Principal] Gary Compton said Friday he was thrilled to hear the news of the opening.

“No one deserves it more than this group of teachers and students. They coped well under very difficult conditions,” he said. “They’ve been here for six weeks, that’s one-sixth of the school year spent in less than ideal conditions.”

Peter Verbrick, seventh-grade life-science teacher, who has been holding classes for 26 to 30 students in a 22-foot, by 11-foot storage room, said he was relieved about the move.

“I’m real pleased the board made a decision,” Verbrick said. “The kids and the teachers are excited. It’s almost like starting the year over again.”

This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Delay in Hilton Head high school’s opening inspired 350 students to demonstrate in 1983."