Untitled Normal Page

Schools improve exit scores

More S.C. students passing graduation test on 1st try

November 10, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

The accolades are mounting for Ninety Six High School this year.
The school, which won the Class A state band championship last month, announced Thursday that its sophomore class ranked in the state’s top five for its exit exam results this year. Some 93.5 percent of students passed the exam on the first try in 2006, said Dan Powell, superintendent of Greenwood District 52.
Ninety Six’s victory is just the tip of South Carolina’s exam results this year.
About 75 percent of South Carolina’s sophomore students passed the state’s exit exam on the first try this year, according to a State Department of Education news release.
Ninety Six High’s exit exam score was beat by only two Charleston schools and one school in Greenville that can pick and choose its students, Powell said.
The Department of Education on Thursday released the High School Assessment Program test scores for Greenwood School District 50, 51, 52, McCormick County School District, Abbeville County School District and the Saluda County School District.
Complete scores can be found on the state Department of Education’s Web site at http://www.ed.sc.gov/topics/assessment/scores/hsap/2006/default.cfm. Public high school students are required to pass the 3-year-old HSAP test’s English/Language Arts and mathematics sections to graduate.
Tests are usually given to students during their second year of high school, the release reports. Students can’t graduate until they pass the exit exam, Powell said. They can take the test as many times as they like.
Ninety Six’s success is a good indicator that District 52 schools are doing well in educating children. If most students are passing the test without having to repeat it, it’s a good sign for their learning progress, Powell said.
“Certainly, we want our students to show signs that they’re being successful students earlier,” he said.
Out of South Carolina’s 47,000 high school students who took the HSAP test, 74.7 percent passed the test at Level 2 or higher on the test’s four achievement levels. Last year, 71.8 percent of first-time test-takers passed both sections.
Broken down into sections, 80.2 percent of test-takers scored at Level 2 or higher for the mathematics section this year, up from 76.4 percent in 2005, the release reports. In English/language arts, 84.9 percent of students scored Level 2 or higher this year, down from 86.2 percent in 2005.
“Three out of four students are passing both sections of the exit exam on their first attempt, but I’m confident that we can improve on that, “said Inez Tenenbaum, state superintendent of education. “Raising HSAP scores is part of our larger effort to improve our high school graduation rate.”

Greenwood District 50
District 50 students beat the state average of 74.7 percent passing on the first attempt this year. Greenwood and Emerald High School students passed at Level 2 or higher at 77.4 percent, test data shows. 73.3 percent of students passed on the first try at Level 2 or higher last year. Superintendent Darrell Johnson said the district did better than the state average and educators will continue to help students improve.
District 50 is also at or above the state average for percent scoring in English/language arts and mathematics, said Cathy Chalmers, director of gifted and talented programs and testing for the district.
District students scored 53.4 percent on the English test and 60.4 percent on the math test at Level 3 or above, the data shows. Students scored better last year with 59.5 percent on the English test and worst at 53.9 percent on the math test at Level 3 or above.
State scores experienced a similar trend between their 2005 and 2006 data.
“It is more statistically sound to look at performance data over a period of time as opposed to a one-year snapshot,” Chalmers said.
Students do better in English and math from that view.
“We are pleased that we are performing at or above the state average, but there is always room for improvement and we will move forward in identifying options to increase our students’ opportunities to improve,” Chalmers said.
The district will help its students by continuing to offer rigorous English/language arts and mathematics curriculums that address academic standards assessed on HSAP and providing teachers with help developing strategies and resources for the test.

Greenwood District 51
District 51 schools saw 84.2 percent of students pass the test on the first try, compared to 75.3 percent last year. Superintendent Fay Sprouse was unavailable for comment before press time.

Abbeville County
Abbeville County School District did slightly better than the state passing average on the HSAP for 2006. Students in the district scored 76.3 percent and passed both sections of the test on the first try, slightly lower than 76.5 percent, their score for 2005.
Superintendent Ivan Randolph said he’s pleased with the district’s progress.
“We’ve got some work to do, still,” he said.
Abbeville has begun the process by preparing students for the HSAP with afterschool classes.

McCormick County
McCormick schools finished below the state passing average for the HSAP. Students scored 63.4 percent, almost 10 percentage points less than the state average.
McCormick schools scored a few points less last year with 61.7 percent. Superintendent Sandra Calliham was unavailable for comment by presstime.

Saluda County
The Saluda school district placed higher than the state passing average for the HSAP. Students scored 75.4 percent; last year’s mark was 73.9 percent.
Superintendent Pete Stone was unavailable for comment by presstime.

Obituaries

Mary Buffington Bowman

CALHOUN FALLS — Mrs. Mary Buffington Bowman, 79, of 241 E. Savannah Street, Calhoun Falls, died Nov. 8, 2006 in Abbeville.
Born in Anderson County, Mrs. Bowman was the daughter of the late Early M. Buffington and Daisy Sutherland Buffington. She was a member of the Calhoun Falls Pentecostal Holiness Church. Mrs. Bowman was preceded in death by her husband, Warren W. Bowman; sisters Ruth Gray and Ruby Gary; and brothers Leon and Early Buffington.
Survivors include daughters, Carolyn Gordon and her husband, Sonny, of Abbeville and Stacey Fleming and her husband, Mike, of Calhoun Falls; 5 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and sisters Carrie Gary of Calhoun Falls and Ann Alexander of Abbeville.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at Calhoun Falls Pentecostal Holiness Church, with burial following at Latimer Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, Nov. 10 from 6-8 p.m. at Calhoun Falls Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646. The family may be contacted at the residence of Stacey and Mike Fleming, 138 Savannah Street, Calhoun Falls.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Zora S. Brooks

Zora S. Brooks, of 104 Sleepy Hollow Road, died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, at Self Regional Medical Center. The family is at the home of her daughter Josie Edwards, 108 Beaver Creek Lane.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

McKinley Crawford

ABBEVILLE — McKinley Crawford, 85, of 128 Adams Drive, widower of Eune Bell London Crawford, died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006 at his home.
The family is at the home of a daughter Sandra Lee, Pine Knoll Drive, Lot 26, Haigler Street. Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

J. Thomas Drinkard Sr.

LINCOLNTON, Ga. — J. Thomas “Tommy” Drinkard, 58, of Washington St., died Wed., Nov. 8, 2006 at Doctors Hospital, Augusta.
Funeral services will be held Sat., Nov. 11, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the Lincolnton United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the Goshen Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Drinkard was a native of Wilkes County, but had lived in Lincolnton most of his life. He was former editor of the Lincoln Journal, a former employee of Drinkard Litho, and currently owned Classic Printing. He was a member of the Lincolnton United Methodist Church.
Survivors: wife, Lillie Mae Dawkins Drinkard; son, James T. “Jim” Drinkard, Augusta; daughters, Lindsay Drinkard, Elizabeth Drinkard, both of Lincolnton; brother, John P. “Johnny” Drinkard, III, LaGrange, Ga.
Visitation: Friday evening from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at Beggs Funeral Home at 200 May Avenue, Lincolnton, Georgia (706) 359-4117.

Ida Mae Evans

CALHOUN FALLS — Ida Mae Evans, age 85, passed away Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006.
A native of Abbeville County, Mrs. Evans was the daughter of the late Charles Martin Williams and Lucille Scott Williams. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Edward “Bill” Evans; daughter, Dori Gaut; and four brothers.
Survivors include son, Leonard E. Williams of Laurens, SC, daughter, Pat Rice Metz of Piedmont, SC, and son, Mike Williams of Calhoun Falls, eleven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. in the Chapel of Calhoun Falls Funeral Home, with burial following at Latimer Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday prior to the service from 2-3 p.m. The family may be contacted at their respective homes.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Luceil Phillips Hackett

Mrs. Luceil Hackett, 93, of 235 Florida Avenue, widow of Jerome Hackett, died Nov. 7 at Hospice House. She was born in Edgefield Co., a daughter of the late Mike and Julia Walker Phillips. She was a member of Springfield Baptist Church. Surviving are two grandchildren, Tony (Rena) Garrett, Mary Ann (Gregory) Peterson of Greenwood; one aunt, Mrs. Eddie Mae Phillips; one sister-in-law, Ophelia Phillips; and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 from Springfield Baptist Church with Rev. William Moore officiating. Burial will be in Evening Star Cemetery.
The body will be placed in the church at 1.
The family is at the home of the grandchildren, 324 Ashcroft Drive, Country Home Subdivision. Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Hackett family.
Online: pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Paul Lofton Sr.

Paul Stroman Lofton, Sr., 93, of Ninety Six, died Nov. 9 at the Hospice House in Greenwood. He had been living in Wesley Commons since January 2003. A native of McClellanville, he was the son of the late James A. and Caroline Stroman Lofton and the husband of the late Durst Arrington Lofton of Ninety Six and of Cornelia H. Ward Lofton, also of Ninety Six. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Ninety Six.
In 1935, he graduated with a degree in agronomy from Clemson College (now Clemson University) where he was captain of the boxing team. He taught agriculture at Swansea, Lydia, Darlington, and Sumter high schools. In World War II he taught military science at Clemson for one year before joining the paratroopers. He then served as a captain in the 82nd Airborne Division and saw action in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Twice he jumped into combat, once in Normandy in France and once at Nijmegen in the Netherlands. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
Since 1945 he was a dairy and beef-cattle farmer in Ninety Six, winning several awards for milk production and grassland farming. He was active in the South Carolina Jersey Cattle Club and the Greenwood Beef Producers Association. In 1995 he was named Pioneer Farmer of the Year for Greenwood County.
He was predeceased by two brothers, James A. Lofton, Jr., of Charleston and Samuel A. Lofton of Augusta; and two sisters, Elizabeth Hay of Wadmalaw Island and Susan Watson of Johnston.
Survivors include two sons, Paul S. Lofton, Jr., of Spartanburg and Harry A. Lofton of Portland, Oregon; a sister, Juliet P. Lofton of Aiken; a brother, Harry M. Lofton of Honolulu, Hawaii; and two grandchildren. Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at the McClellanville Cemetery.
The family is at the home of Paul Lofton, Jr., 404 E. Park Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29302 and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood, from 6 to 8 Saturday evening.
Memorials may be made to Spartanburg Methodist College, 1200 Powell Mill Road, Spartanburg, SC, 29301. For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home is assisting the Lofton family.

Mamie McCranie

WARE SHOALS — Mrs. Mamie Bratcher Magaha McCranie went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 1, 2006 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, Kernersville, NC, after a long courageous battle with cancer. She was born March 24, 1927 to the late Thompson and Lottie McCoy Bratcher and was married to the late Alton Magaha. She retired from textile work and continued to work as a sitter to care for others until her health declined.
Formerly of Ware Shoals, SC., she moved to Kernersville, NC, in 2003 to live with her daughter. Mamie was a member of Hodges Church of God, Hodges, SC. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, 6 brothers and three sisters. She is survived by her children, Daphne (Ron) Weathers, Kernersville, NC, Darlene (Mike) Smith, Henderson, NC, Randy Magaha, Ware Shoals, SC, eight grandchildren, Pam Gillespie, Jeff Weathers and Lindsey Weathers of Kernersville, NC, Cary (Janice) Gillespie and Tiffany Ellis of Henderson, NC, Allison (Tommy) McAlister and Chrystal Voiselle, Greenwood, SC, Brandy (Phil) Childress, Laurens, SC; twelve great-grandchildren; one brother, Ed Bratcher, Ware Shoals, SC.
The family will receive friends at Hodges Church of God on Nov. 11, 2006 at 1 p.m. The funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. with Rev. Charles Caldwell officiating. Entombment will be at Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or Cancer Services of Forsyth County, 3175 Maplewood Ave., Winston-Salem, NC 27103. The family is at the home of Randy Magaha, 26 Green Acres Blvd., Ware Shoals.
Parker-White Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Obituaries

Mary Buffington Bowman

Zora S. Brooks

McKinley Crawford

J. Thomas Drinkard Sr.

Ida Mae Evans

Luceil Phillips Hackett

Paul Lofton Sr.

Mamie McCranie

Opinion

One sales tax increase was for building schools

November 10, 2006

South Carolinians will remember that in the early 1980s a penny was added to the state sales tax, increasing it from 4-cents to 5-cents on the dollar. It was approved by the voters after it was proposed as the answer to the state’s school financial woes.
There have been questions from time to time about that particular penny tax and what it accomplished. Now that school finances are again an issue, despite the “education lottery,” there’s more interest it seems.
A few weeks ago former State Representative Harry Stille of Due West reminded us in an article what the purpose of that 1-cent sales tax increase was and what happened to it.

AS STILLE EXPLAINED IT after doing considerable research: The penny sales tax increase was part of the Education Improvement Act. Funds from the tax would be spent in three ways: For school building aid, teacher pay incentives, and technology. It would not have passed the Legislature, he said, had school building aid not been included.
But, Stille noted, during the first year (1984-85) of the penny tax, about $217 million was collected and a little more than 25 percent of that ($55.7 million) was spent on school building aid. The next year, Stille wrote, $227.7 million was collected, but only about 15 percent ($35.3 million) went to school building aid. In the third year, according to Stille, the money collected was $240.6 million, but only about 6 percent ($14 million) went to school building aid.

BY 1987, STILLE SAID, GOV. Riley’s final year in office, he was proposing that only 1.92 percent of the $250.4 million ($4.8 million) be spent on school building aid.
If those figures are true, and there’s no evidence to the contrary, had the income from that EIA penny sales tax been used as intended - and promised - the current controversy over a proposed and controversial bond issue by the School District 50 Board of Trustees should never have come up. It likely would not have been needed.
Imagine how much “building aid” would have been generated in all those years since the tax was added if it had been divided as apparently intended.