Lady’s Island Middle School supports principal in meeting a common goal | Letters
I am writing to address the front-page article on Feb. 4: “Parents: School principal singled out black students.”
I have taught at Lady’s Island Middle School since we opened the doors of the school in August 1984. Prior to that, I taught for four years at St. Helena Junior High. I have lived on St. Helena Island for over 30 years.
The staff is working hard to provide our students with a safe and positive learning environment. As educators, we work tirelessly every day to teach our students through interesting, fun and high-quality learning experiences. We believe every student has the right to learn in a classroom setting that is friendly, respectful and non-disruptive.
Unfortunately, our students are not quite where they need to be. Sixty-five percent of our students are not on grade level in English/language arts and math. That is a fact. The community may not like those numbers. I can assure you we do not either.
Principal Gregory Hall and the staff have taken measures to begin to correct both historically low scores and poor decisions by students. This may be uncomfortable to some, but necessary and addressed with no further delay.
Complaining on social media does not solve the problem; the problem is solved when school staff, parents, and students work together to achieve a common goal. Our goal for our students is to help them grow to be successful in high school and beyond as well as good citizens and community members.
Scott L. Shipsey
St. Helena Island
NOC transparent in Bluffton grant
In recent publications, the Island Packet has published several articles referring to Neighborhood Outreach Connection’s use of grant money awarded by 100+Women Who Care of Greater Bluffton.
According to the organization, it has never been contacted by the Packet for information about the grant given to NOC and does not understand why it is continually referenced in recent articles about NOC. 100+Women Who Care has stated that it is aware of, and in agreement with, how the grant monies are being used to serve students in Bluffton who attend NOC Learning Centers. NOC has been transparent in how this grant is being used.
Jill Torre
NOC field director
Hilton Head Island
Did GOP rig SC Democratic primary?
Did the Republicans inadvertently “rig” South Carolina’s Feb. 29 Democratic presidential primary?
In Iowa and New Hampshire, Democrats and Republicans both held presidential primaries. But South Carolina is one of seven states where Republicans canceled their party’s presidential primary. there will only be a Democratic Party primary.
So what? Well, here’s the key.
South Carolina voters are not registered by party affiliation, all voters are free to vote in any primary they choose. That means hundreds of thousands of Republicans and Independents can vote in South Carolina’s Democratic primary this month.
Now do the math: in 2016 South Carolina’s Democratic primary drew 370,904 voters. The Republican primary drew 740,881 voters. Will some of these red-state voters invade the state’s Democratic primary on Feb. 29 when they have nothing else to do?
If so, they will sacrifice nothing because the South Carolina Republican primary for every other federal, state and local office is not until June. If Republicans and Independents crossover, for whom will they vote and how will it effect the outcome?
There’s no way of telling but it could put another quirk into an already muddled election year.
Blair Lee
Hilton Head Island
Golf carts on Hilton Head roads a bad idea
Who decided that golf cart rentals was a good idea for Hilton Head Island?
Our already over-congested roads cannot accommodate this type of distraction.
I wonder when the first serious (or fatal) accident involving one of these “amusement rides” will take place.
Dan Nihiser
Hilton Head Island