Columbus Charter School Headmaster Steve Smith, at right, watches as a crew digs holes for footers for the school’s new administration building in background.

Staff photo by Fuller Royal

By FULLER ROYAL
Staff Writer

It’s crunch time for Columbus Charter School Headmaster Steve Smith and his staff.

After the school received its much-delayed sewer permits last week, eight classrooms and the school’s administration building were delivered Friday by 10 trucks from Georgia.

Facing its first day of school on July 23 – it’s a year-round school – Smith said the contractors will work as fast as they can to have the buildings and grounds ready.

Failing that, arrangements have been made with New Life Church in Whiteville to hold classes there for several weeks if necessary.

Smith said that the school’s staff has been hired and is preparing for its first day of school.
He said that the staff is excited about the opportunity to teach at the school and added that all are state licensed and qualified.

There are three kindergarten classes. The teachers and teacher assistants are: Janet Blomquist and Amanda Williams; Lori Hinson and Kristy Schwartz; and Julianna Butryn and Leslie Strickland.

There is one first grade class: The teacher is Elisha Garrell and the teacher assistant is Amanda Lykins.

There are two second grade classes. The teachers and teacher assistants are: Jodi Gore and Cristy Prince and Kalee Hill and Heidi Hamilton.

Smith said that more than 183 children from across Bladen and Columbus counties, as well as some outside the area, have registered.

The charter school is owned and operated by Roger Bacon Academy, a for-profit group that also runs Charter Day School in Leland.

Nearly 200 students from Columbus County attend that school, which has an enrollment approaching 800 this month in grades kindergarten through eight.

It is also a year-round school.

Neither school has bus or lunch services. Students must have their own transportation and bring their own lunches.

Columbus Charter School requires uniforms - hunter green polo shirts and khaki pants for boys and hunter green shorts and khaki skirts or skorts for girls.

Each year, the school will add a new grade until it reaches the eighth grade with similar enrollment to that of the Leland campus.

Future buildings will be built on site.

The school is on J.K. Powell Road off of the Old Lumberton Road just past Peacock Road northeast of Whiteville.