JOHNSTON – Although Jill Jett’s path to being named as interim principal at Strom Thurmond High School was hardly a traditional one, she has embraced it fully.

And while Jett’s task of leading the school beyond the scandal left behind following the resignation of former principal Matthew Schilit is a monumental one, impossible is simply a word she does not believe in. So, with that in mind, it’s easier to understand why she has a smile on her face amid buzzing phone lines and numbers of curious students on Monday, the first day of the 2011-12 school year in Edgefield County.

All things considered, she is exactly where she wants to be.

“I’m ecstatic,” she says as she answers a student’s question. “Things happen, but we’ve moved on. You have to (move on). Teamwork is my vision for the school and it’s my theme for this year, just us coming together. And I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the response I’ve received from the community. It’s just been overwhelming. This is home now.”

Jett says her message has resonated with the teachers and staff members.

“We’ve talked about teamwork a lot and everyone here has really stepped up to the plate in a wonderful way,” she adds. “Teachers are stepping up and taking on a leadership role who have never done anything like that before, so it’s exciting.”

Another phone rings and she’s off again, looking for her radio.

The first day of school as the interim principal at STHS was off to a surprising start for Jill Jett, just not in the way she anticipated.

“I really expected things to be much more frantic (on the first day) and instead it’s been very smooth,” she says.

And for the most part, that smooth start seemed to be shared with all of the schools across the school district according to district superintendent Dr. Mary Rice Crenshaw.

“We had an exciting opening day of school, an exciting day of learning,” Dr. Crenshaw reported Monday afternoon. “I had the opportunity to visit all of the schools (Monday) and teachers were teaching and the children were working, and while they enjoyed their summer, were excited to be back. It was a great day.”

Absent on Monday were many of the busing issues that have plagued other school districts in recent weeks.

“I think I made one phone call about a bus stop that had been moved (since last year), but that was it,” she said. “Today was a day of learning and I was excited about that.”

Dr. Crenshaw and many others were also excited about the response the district received from so many fathers and male role models who brought their sons and daughters or family members or mentees to school Monday as part of a county-wide “Million Father March”.

“I think we had over 200 men to sign on to volunteer with the schools this year and be more involved in the lives of our children,” she said. “I was so pleased with that. It’s so important for fathers (and other male role models) to be involved. It makes a difference.”

Anne Waits
Staff Writer

MERRIWETHER – Schools in the Merriwether area of Edgefield County got off to a great start on Monday, with Merriwether Elementary School Principal Wayne Marchant saying it might have been the “smoothest school opening in his 18-year history with the school system.”

“If I had to grade it, I’d give it an A+,” he said. “Most of our teachers here are veteran teachers—they’re very good at what they do. The teachers are well prepared, which makes my job easier.”

The bell rang at 7:45 and by 8:05, the halls were quiet, with only an occasional straggler here and there.

Andrea Hensley had dropped off her two children at their classrooms and was on her way to her car. Unlike many parents, she said, she wasn’t quite ready for school to begin.

“The first grader was ready, but the kindergartener was sad,” she said. “As for me, I work part-time and I have a lot more time with them during the summer. I miss them when they go back to school.”

Ashley Coleman, who was running a little behind schedule, said this was her son Torrence
McNeal’s first day of kindergarten.

“He’s so excited,” she said. “He’s been telling me how to drive and where to park and everything. He can’t wait.”

Dr. Carol Lenderman, Edgefield County School District assistant superintendent, was out visiting schools in the Merriwether area and commented that it was a “fantastic beginning.”

“I’m looking forward to a really good 2011-2012 school year,” she said.

A peek inside some of the five (down from six last year) kindergarten classes at Merriwether Elementary revealed teachers who were reading to children and some of the children getting to know one another.

Marchant said normal enrollment is around 800, but it’s too early to tell just yet what this year’s will turn out to be.

At Merriwether Middle School, kids dressed in new sneakers with their new book bags in tow, sat in a row of chairs in the office waiting to be processed. Not quite as lucky as the elementary school, the middle school office was a busy place to be around 9 a.m.

“We have a lot of students who didn’t pre-register,” said Principal Bobby Turner. “This
morning has been hectic, trying to get all the kids in place.”

Otherwise, things were running pretty good, he added. The buses were on time and there were no major happenings.

Up Highway 25 off Shortcut Road, Dr. Tim Murph had a big smile on his face. The Fox Creek High School principal said it was the best first day of school in the history of the school, which began eight years ago.

“The smooth opening was a result of a faculty and staff, office and guidance that are second to none,” he said. “In addition, Assistant Principal Josh Trahan, Assistant Administrator Russell Schneider and I are the longest tenured administrative team in the school district, going into our fifth year together. I’m also the longest tenured principal in the school district, going into my sixth year. Over time, we get used to each other and know what to expect.”

Most of the teachers have the same classrooms and duties, he added, with only two teachers not returning.

“All but four kids registered and not one was tardy,” he said.

Fox Creek is now offering seven college classes on campus.

“We’re developing the Silver Fox Academy, a special academic diploma,” Murph said. “The college classes allow 21 hours of graduating credit. There’s also the option of graduating in the 11th grade.”

Other changes include some new security cameras, some additions to the athletic system and $10,000 worth of new art tables.

“We’ve added two more banners,” Murph said, pointing to the awards section. “We were excellent on the school report card, the only one with this honor in Edgefield County. We’re the only high school in the county to have two out of three years with an excellent on the school report card. Also, we were the only school to make AYP in Edgefield County. Last year was the first time all our athletic teams made the play-offs.”

He credits the school’s success, in part, to the fact that there is a 17-1 teacher ratio.

“Obviously, we’re proud,” he said. “Considering that one-third of the county’s high school students are educated here.”