Ashford Named Planning Director

Posted on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019 at 2:29 pm. Posted to Community. Ian Ashford will be joining the Town of Chapin as the Zoning Administrator on Monday, October 21, 2019. Ian is a Chapin resident and has a Bachelor’s in Geography and Planning from Bloomsburg Univrsity in Pennsylvania. He will be leaving Fairfield County where he is employed as a Community Planner. Ashford is an experienced Community Planner with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. His interests Include environmental science, natural resources, water resource management, land use management, agriculture, construction and surveying. He is skilled in Site Plan review, Microsoft Office, Customer Service, Planning, Zoning, General Construction, GIS, and Public Speaking.

Haney Appointed To Planning Commission

Posted on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019 at 2:23 pm. Posted to Community. The Chapin Town Council Tuesday named Zack Haney to a three year term on the Planning Commission, succeeding the Rev. Kevin Sheppard who resigned following the Sept. 24 board meeting due to health concerns. Haney is a Civil Engineer. As a design engineer with Mead & Hunt, he has worked on the Road 48 widening project.

School District Five SAT scores surpass state and national average, as participation rate grows

Posted on Friday, September 27th, 2019 at 4:43 pm. Posted to Community.

Lexington-Richland School District Five SAT scores again surpassed state and national averages. The district also ranked among the top two in South Carolina in the percentage of students taking the examination, according to new data.
Eighty-four percent of School District Five’s Class of 2019 took the SAT, compared to around 57 percent statewide. The district’s average composite score was 1075, which is higher than the state average of 1021 and the national average of 1039 for all students. “Being a state leader in SAT scores and in the number of students taking the examination is a tremendous celebration for our district,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina Melton. “The results are a testament to the laser focus we have on instruction and our commitment to ensuring all students are ready for success in college and careers.”

SAT scores have declined in South Carolina and nationally as more students take the examination. Higher participation has been attributed to a new state requirement and funds for students to take either the ACT or SAT, a new measure that began during the 2017-2018 school year and applied to students in their third year of high school. In School District Five, the percentage of students in the district taking the test increased from around 70 percent (69.8) in 2018 to more than 84 percent (84.2) in 2019. “The new requirement provides new opportunity for students who might not have been able to take the SAT before,” said Michael Guliano, Chief Instructional Officer for School District Five. “As a system, we must ensure all students have both the opportunity to participate in assessments such as the SAT as well as the skills and knowledge necessary for success on those tests.” The new SAT report mirrors other predictors for how well the district is preparing students for college. Seven students in the class of 2019 earned National Merit Scholarships, and the district was ranked a top district in South Carolina for preparing students for college by U.S. News & World Report. Niche.com also has recently ranked School District Five the top district in the state. Melton added, “These accolades do not happen without the combined efforts of our students, parents, teachers, staff and community. We will continue to strive for excellence and success for all our students in School District Five.”