Would-be motorsports school makes its pitch

Horry County could have a new charter school aimed at motorsports, among other topics, if its proponents find favor with the school board tonight, but their pitch will have to overcome concerns of a dire financial picture for the next school year.

Board members are to consider sponsorship of the Palmetto Academy for Learning Motorsports Charter School application at a special meeting, which will include a public hearing. Horry County already has one charter school, Bridgewater Academy.

PALM would offer academics as well as vocational skills in the area of motorsports, which includes automotive, welding, manufacturing and other skills - anything that pertains to the racing industry - to Horry County residents of high school age, said Martha Flom of the PALM planning committee.

A charter school would be a next step from the current Palmetto Advancement for Motorsports program, which was established five years ago, said Flom, program and case manager for the current program.

Funded by the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments and the Waccamaw Workforce Investment Board, participants in the current program have to meet extremely tight criteria, such as already being out of school and having a low income, Flom said. The charter school would serve students in grades nine through 12 and catch those who are still in school.

"We've always wanted to serve those in school at risk for dropping out and reach a larger population," Flom said.

Board member MaryEllen Greene, District 2, said she has concerns.

"If we approve it, it will cost $16 million over 10 years," she said, "and we are going to lose $17 million to $20 million as a district next year."

Greene said that with fewer funds to work with for next year's budget, a new charter school is a big financial commitment. When Bridgewater was established, the law required a commitment of five years of funding, but Greene said the law was recently changed to 10 years.

Greene said the cost for the school's first year would be $800,000. She said charter school funds cannot be touched, so any budget cuts would hit other programs already in place and could affect highly effective established programs such as Connect, Early College and the International Baccalaureate.

"I support charter schools, but the law is extremely vague, and I wish it was more specific [on other points]," Greene said. "My biggest concern is for our students that we have right now. We're in difficult financial times now, and it's going to get harder and harder."

Flom said the skills PALM will offer are needed in the community and that there have been a lot of retirements in the affected industries.

"The average age for a body man is in the late 40s," she said, citing industry information.

"Dropout rates aren't decreasing, and there was an overwhelming need," Flom said. "This has always been on the back burner, and at the beginning of the year, we decided it was time. Motorsports is an incentive. It's like the carrot that brings them back to school and brings them back to education."

Flom said as they learn vocational skills, students also would be doing a lot of applied math and measurements, learning skills for literacy and the work force, as well as earning certifications.

The school's projected enrollment, to begin in 2011, would be 100 students in the first year, 150 in the second year and 200 by the third year. The majority of academics would be accomplished via an e-curriculum with certified teachers, Flom said. Students would work with a teacher via computer, and there also would be two teachers in the computer lab along with two mentors to assist. Any extra funds would be put toward more teachers, she said.

By year two, she said they would have four teachers, one each for math, science, English and social studies. Teachers in job skills would be highly qualified and certified in their particular industry.

Flom said that while they would probably have to hold a public lottery for enrollment, part of the chartering process includes listing those with intent of enrollment, which has been 75 percent met.

"The number I've had to turn away [from the current program] would fill the school," said Flom, who said she receives regular calls from educators seeking to place students who don't meet the criteria for the current program.

Flom said a lot of work goes into building a charter school, including a 500-page application and making sure S.C. charter school law is followed.

"We really had more going for us than other schools do," Flom said. "We have a proven track record, a relationship with the school district and community support.

Flom said the current program is housed in a large building on U.S. 501 across from the Tanger Outlets. She said the charter school would be housed there, but they would have to look to other facilities or add on to that structure to be able to house the 200 students projected for year three.

Flom said they have a lot of supporters who are planning to attend and/or speak at the school board meeting - past students, parents, industry leaders and "a few big names," such as S.C. Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, and Horry County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland.