Limestone University’s closure could impact local charter schools: Here’s how
WSPA 7News
[{'start': '0.080', 'end': '4.480', 'text': 'Only on seven, the recent closure at'}, {'start': '2.080', 'end': '7.040', 'text': 'Limestone University could have a major'}, {'start': '4.480', 'end': '11.040', 'text': 'impact on charter schools in this area.'}, {'start': '7.040', 'end': '12.800', 'text': "Kelsey O'Donnell has a closer look."}, {'start': '11.040', 'end': '14.639', 'text': 'Mountain View Prep here in Sparberg is'}, {'start': '12.800', 'end': '16.480', 'text': 'one of 13 schools across the state of'}, {'start': '14.639', 'end': '18.800', 'text': 'South Carolina that falls under the'}, {'start': '16.480', 'end': '20.240', 'text': 'Limestone Charter Association. And with'}, {'start': '18.800', 'end': '22.720', 'text': 'the recent announcement that Limestone'}, {'start': '20.240', 'end': '25.920', 'text': 'University is closing, the future of the'}, {'start': '22.720', 'end': '28.080', 'text': 'Charter Association is uncertain. Six'}, {'start': '25.920', 'end': '30.240', 'text': 'upstate schools across Cherokee,'}, {'start': '28.080', 'end': '32.719', 'text': 'Spartanberg, Greenville, and Anderson'}, {'start': '30.240', 'end': '35.360', 'text': 'counties face questions about what lies'}, {'start': '32.719', 'end': '37.520', 'text': 'ahead. What that impact is going to be,'}, {'start': '35.360', 'end': '39.120', 'text': "we simply just don't know at this point."}, {'start': '37.520', 'end': '41.200', 'text': 'All of these schools fall under the'}, {'start': '39.120', 'end': '43.760', 'text': 'Limestone Charter Association. An'}, {'start': '41.200', 'end': '45.760', 'text': 'authorizer now facing impending changes'}, {'start': '43.760', 'end': '47.600', 'text': "in the wake of Limestone University's"}, {'start': '45.760', 'end': '49.600', 'text': 'closure. They have done the hard work of'}, {'start': '47.600', 'end': '51.360', 'text': 'opening. Some of these schools are very'}, {'start': '49.600', 'end': '53.360', 'text': "young. They're just a couple of years"}, {'start': '51.360', 'end': '56.719', 'text': 'old. Some of them are just just a year'}, {'start': '53.360', 'end': '58.960', 'text': "old. And so, you know, it's really"}, {'start': '56.719', 'end': '60.399', 'text': "unfortunate for them that that they've"}, {'start': '58.960', 'end': '62.160', 'text': 'kind of been put into this situation.'}, {'start': '60.399', 'end': '64.159', 'text': 'But we spoke to Kevin Mason, the'}, {'start': '62.160', 'end': '66.400', 'text': 'executive director of the Public Charter'}, {'start': '64.159', 'end': '68.960', 'text': 'School Alliance of South Carolina, an'}, {'start': '66.400', 'end': '71.119', 'text': 'organization that supports and advocates'}, {'start': '68.960', 'end': '72.799', 'text': 'for charter schools across the state,'}, {'start': '71.119', 'end': '75.439', 'text': 'including those under the Limestone'}, {'start': '72.799', 'end': '77.600', 'text': 'Charter Association. The big question on'}, {'start': '75.439', 'end': '80.320', 'text': 'the minds of students, parents, and'}, {'start': '77.600', 'end': '82.240', 'text': 'teachers is what happens next? That is'}, {'start': '80.320', 'end': '85.119', 'text': 'the million-dollar question as we stand'}, {'start': '82.240', 'end': '89.040', 'text': 'today. Um I do think there is a lot of'}, {'start': '85.119', 'end': '90.840', 'text': 'work happening um throughout uh our'}, {'start': '89.040', 'end': '93.680', 'text': 'state with the charter school'}, {'start': '90.840', 'end': '95.680', 'text': 'stakeholders. So meaning uh the general'}, {'start': '93.680', 'end': '97.680', 'text': 'assembly, the certainly the state'}, {'start': '95.680', 'end': '99.920', 'text': 'department of education, uh the'}, {'start': '97.680', 'end': '102.000', 'text': "governor's office and and everyone"}, {'start': '99.920', 'end': '105.200', 'text': 'involved really kind of taking a look at'}, {'start': '102.000', 'end': '107.920', 'text': 'this very unique situation. Uh, and then'}, {'start': '105.200', 'end': '111.119', 'text': 'how do we how do we ensure a path'}, {'start': '107.920', 'end': '113.600', 'text': 'forward to to make sure that those those'}, {'start': '111.119', 'end': '115.520', 'text': 'schools can continue to operate and'}, {'start': '113.600', 'end': '117.759', 'text': 'continue to provide a high quality'}, {'start': '115.520', 'end': '119.680', 'text': 'education. Mason says the goal is to'}, {'start': '117.759', 'end': '121.680', 'text': 'keep each school open and fully'}, {'start': '119.680', 'end': '124.159', 'text': 'operational. However, with a number of'}, {'start': '121.680', 'end': '126.159', 'text': 'moving parts, the path forward is still'}, {'start': '124.159', 'end': '128.080', 'text': 'taking shape. We want to make sure that'}, {'start': '126.159', 'end': '130.879', 'text': "we're, you know, working with these"}, {'start': '128.080', 'end': '133.440', 'text': 'stakeholders to identify the best path'}, {'start': '130.879', 'end': '136.480', 'text': 'forward um that we can that we can'}, {'start': '133.440', 'end': '138.319', 'text': 'create um that continues to serve those'}, {'start': '136.480', 'end': '140.480', 'text': "students. And really, that's what we"}, {'start': '138.319', 'end': '142.640', 'text': 'have to keep in mind is the students and'}, {'start': '140.480', 'end': '145.599', 'text': 'families here um that are, you know,'}, {'start': '142.640', 'end': '147.840', 'text': 'probably going through a a questioning'}, {'start': '145.599', 'end': '149.920', 'text': "time, like an uneasy time. What's going"}, {'start': '147.840', 'end': '152.959', 'text': 'to be the future of our school? Kelsey'}, {'start': '149.920', 'end': '154.800', 'text': "O'Donnell, 7 News. A spokesperson at"}, {'start': '152.959', 'end': '156.959', 'text': 'Mountain View Prep released this'}, {'start': '154.800', 'end': '159.440', 'text': 'statement reading in part, quote, "Our'}, {'start': '156.959', 'end': '161.920', 'text': 'dayto-day will not change how we operate'}, {'start': '159.440', 'end': '163.519', 'text': 'if we must transfer to another sponsor.'}, {'start': '161.920', 'end': '165.519', 'text': 'We hope the South Carolina Department of'}, {'start': '163.519', 'end': '167.519', 'text': 'Education along with the legislature'}, {'start': '165.519', 'end': '170.080', 'text': 'continues to work together to ensure the'}, {'start': '167.519', 'end': '172.560', 'text': 'Limestone Charter Association continues'}, {'start': '170.080', 'end': '172.560', 'text': 'to exist.'}]