ST. MATTHEWS – Calhoun County parents and others residents complained about problems at the new St. Matthews K-8 School during the Calhoun County School Board’s October meeting.

Eloise Shuler-Guinyard asked who inspected the school, and Superintendent Ken Westbury told her the state had inspected it on several occasions.

Shuler-Guinyard, however, enumerated problems with toilets, a leaking roof, a dirty kitchen and uneven floors in several areas of the school. She also complained there was no covered shelter for the children to get from the buses to the school building, which she said was especially difficult for those in wheelchairs.

In addition, Shuler-Guinyard said benches that were supposed to be moved from the John Ford School to the new school had not been moved.

Westbury said the move was delayed until the district could determine insurance liability related to the benches. He said the contractor is working on the punch list to clear up discrepancies at the new school. The superintendent also told Shuler-Guinyard the contractors were constructing a shelter.

Resident Genevieve Jones suggested the money allocated to convert the Guinyard building should be used for the shelter for the students.

Parent Iris Larrymore told the board her wheelchair-bound child is sick from getting wet.

“Something must be done,” she said. “I am upset about it. It’s not fair to me or him.”

Ingrid Cramer, who has two children at the school, said her children have to carry all of their books to all classes.

“Why are there no lockers?” Cramer asked. “You board members should put yourself in my position.”

Board member Joyce Parrish asked if lockers could be added without creating a safety issue.

Also during the meeting, Freemon Thomas, representing the St. John Alumni Association, said repairing the St. John School library wing would be too costly – about $1 million. He said it would be cheaper to tear it down. But Thomas said the association would like to keep the gym. He said the roof leaks but the floor is good and the building could be protected with a tarp until it could be repaired.

Thomas said the association approves of the district’s plans for St. John, noting the association could not afford to buy the building but hopes to lease it.

Arant reported he talked with the superintendent about patching the roof of the school.

During the meeting, discussion ensued about high school classes for alternative students, which are no longer held at Calhoun County High School. Parrish asked why the Alternative School was deleted, and Westbury cited the high cost to accommodate only five to seven students. He went on to point out that the Alternative School had not been eliminated. If expelled, students can take virtual classes or be home schooled, Westbury said. But he said that at this time, no high school can be offered.

Arant said it made no sense to pay two teachers for so few students, noting that funds had been cut by the state. Westbury said the district is looking at a $1 million cut.

“Parents and children should be notified of changes in writing,” Arant said.

District Chief Financial Officer Jerry Sullivan noted that the district pays for the virtual classes.

In other business, Sullivan presented the financial statement and budget adjustments for the month. He said the state had imposed cuts and when the stimulus money goes away in two years, the district will lose five positions.

“We are in very much of a squeeze,” Westbury said.

Also during the meeting:

nWestbury recommended the current contractor, Carolina Wrecking, tear down the pump house and classroom wing on the St. John property. The board unanimously approved the recommendation.

nWestbury said the district received a Department of Health and Environmental Control Memorandum of Agreement for the H1N1 vaccinations. He said the district’s position is that the vaccinations are entirely voluntary.

n T&D Correspondent Larry P. Jordan can be reached by phone at 803-874-3276. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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