The Charleston County Education Association (CCEA) released the following statement regarding the school board meeting held on September 25th, 2023:
“Dr. Eric Gallien was placed on paid administrative leave in a 5-4 vote during the Charleston County School District Board of Trustees meeting. The Board still has not provided an adequate explanation for both the investigation and the administrative leave. The Board also refused to give Ms. Michelle Simmons a permanent position as Chief Academic Officer even though she oversaw historic gains as interim CAO and was recommended for the position by an outside firm. Lastly, they removed the Health Advisory Committee Chair and assigned 12 people for five openings.
Teachers, parents, and members of the Charleston community are united in ensuring that every student, no matter their background or zip code, receives a quality education. But these recent actions from certain Charleston County School Board members have created hostility, uncertainty, and instability within the school district.
Our students and educators deserve stable leadership. They deserve a school board that will protect and support public schools by solving the real problems facing Charleston County.
This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. We are calling on every Charleston County resident who values public education to speak up for students, parents, and educators in Charleston County. We are calling on you to urge the Charleston County School Board to stop the political games and support educators and students, focus on finding solutions to the district’s challenges, and create policies that allow every student to feel respected and protected. If we stand together and use our collective voice to fight against these harmful policies, we can create the schools that CCSD students deserve.”
Charleston County Education Association is the Charleston affiliate of The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA). The SCEA represents members employed in public schools throughout South Carolina and is an affiliate of the largest professional association of educators in the country. As the leading advocate for the schools South Carolina students deserve, The SCEA promotes quality public education and supports public school employees.”
