Archive for category: Frontpage Article

A ceremony took place this week for the inaugural class of the Fellows in Education program. The local leaders who made up the effort received commemorative certificates and were recognized for their efforts in completing the 9-month, intensive program focused on a better understanding of issues facing area schools.

The Fellows program was designed to give local leaders a unique, behind-the-scenes look into several schools within Florence School District One.  Over the course of nine months, leaders saw firsthand some of the daily struggles and constraints educators face in the classroom. Leaders heard about seismic shifts in student needs and the additional state and federal requirements now placed on schools, teachers and administrators in Florence District One.

The program is a joint effort between Florence District One, the Florence Chamber and the School Foundation. This year’s class included:

Jill Bramblett, Dr. Fred Carter, Dr. Ben Dillard III, Nicole Echols, Asa Godbold, Rev. Merritt Graves, Joy Knight Higgs, Rev. Anthony Hodge, Joe King, Jean Leatherman, John Kleine, Diana Murphy, Dolly Om, Rev. Calvin Robinson, Jeff Stevens, Kim Turner, Richard Walker, Kyle Baxter, Octavia Williams-Blake, Laura Wukela, Debbie Hyler, Mindy Taylor and Michael Miller.

 Chamber President Michael Miller said of the inaugural class, “This was a very special group of people committed to learning more about our education system here in Florence School District One. Each of us found many new and impressive ways that our teachers and education leaders are working to bring our students to a higher level of learning. It was an exceptional experience.”

The Fellows program took place over the course of nine months. Each month’s program centered on a different educational experience that was unique to the classroom. The Fellows in Education program offered opportunities for community leaders to contribute to the development of better education policies in the communities in which they live and work.

For more information on the Fellows in Education program, please contact:

Debbie Hyler, Executive Director, The School Foundation (843) 662-9996 or dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org

Michael Miller, President, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce (843) 665-0515 or mmiller@flochamber.com

 

(Gibson-Hye Moore image courtesy: SCnow.com, NeSmith image courtesy: NeSmith campaign)

A runoff election will take place for the vacant spot on Florence City Council. Florence School District 1 Board Member Pat Gibson-Hye Moore and Florence County Democratic Chairwoman LaShonda NeSmith will face off on June 21 to decide who will take the Florence City Council District 2 spot — a seat held for nearly 25 years by the late Ed Robinson.

Neither candidate was able to get a true majority in the primary, which means a runoff election is required.

You can read the full details in this story from the Morning News by clicking on the link below:

SCnow.com web article- Runoff Election to Take Place for Florence City Council Seat

Which business-related issues survived the 2016 Legislative Session and which ones didn’t quite make the cut?

From SC Chamber of Commerce President Ted Pitts:

“Each year, the Chamber releases a Competitiveness Agenda indicating the things the business community believes are critical to improving our state’s business climate. Two of our most pressing issues this year were DOT reform and funding to improve our infrastructure and passage of H.4145 and a budget line item for Certified Workready Communities to bolster our state’s workforce. As session comes to an end, we are pleased to see that the General Assembly recognized the concerns of the business community by addressing both our roads and our workforce needs.”

Click on the link below to see the SC Chamber’s End of Year Summary and find out where the important issues stand that directly impact business owners like you.

SC Chamber End of Year Summary

For those of you parents out there looking for a way to keep the kids occupied during the summer months, here’s a list of some summer camps in the Pee Dee, courtesy of the Morning News!

Included in the list you’ll find everything from camps that focus on science, to those that cater to little swimmers at the “Y” to summer camps at Francis Marion University.

Just click on the link below for more details, websites and further information:

SCnow.com web article- Pee Dee Summer Camps