Horry County school board makes principal changes

The Horry County Board of Education on Monday upheld its decision to reassign Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology Principal Ronnie Burgess to Carolina Forest High School as an assistant principal.

The board also appointed two new principals for Horry County Schools.

The board met in executive session to decide on an appeal by Burgess, who was one of several employees reassigned by the school board on May 3.

Six individuals, including parents and students, spoke at the meeting during public comments in support of Burgess, including Bob Caswell of Good Samaritan Services, whose son attends the academy.

Caswell told the board that Burgess has effectiveness and approachability, and that as a person of color, "He is an icon. We should not take that lightly."

Burgess' reassignment also was questioned by area activists and community members who considered it unfair treatment for someone who had been a principal for 12 years and who expressed concerns about the number of blacks in key positions with HCS.

"It's good to hear young people talk about the pleasure of finding great principals," activist Bennie Swans told the board, after a student also spoke for Burgess.

"Right now, Horry County Schools are in trouble," he said, citing the disparity of black children who are in the alternative school and receive suspensions.

"I'm here because of what Ronnie Burgess symbolizes," Swans said.

Swans said that even though there may be some issues to address, you don't get rid of good people like Burgess when there are only seven black principals out of 50 schools.

In a separate vote, the board filled two positions for school principals.

April Scott is taking the reins at Forestbrook Middle School, and Vann Pennell is joining the district at St. James High School, following Principal Joe Dowling, who retired at the end of the school year.

Scott, who was assistant principal at St. James Middle School, said she's eager to get to know the people and talk to them about their vision.

"I'm thrilled to death," said Scott, noting Forestbrook is a progressive school with excellent students who will head to Socastee High, which was recently honored again by Newsweek. "They continue to have those high expectations, and we need to rise to those expectations," she said.

Pennell was principal at South Brunswick High School in North Carolina. He said he loves a challenge, and five years ago, his students accepted a challenge and had tremendous success with test scores.

"I see that same potential [at St. James], and that really excites me," Pennell said. "They were already in good hands, and I'm looking for what I can do to help them exceed [what they've already accomplished]."