Private preschool to merge with Porter-GaudO'Quinn Schools to continue mission By Diette Courrégé (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, May 9, 2008
A private preschool will merge with Porter-Gaud School in a move that officials say ensures the longevity of the early childhood education programs. Few details were released Thursday about the O'Quinn Schools' merging with Porter-Gaud, and officials declined to say whether the O'Quinn Schools had been sold to Porter-Gaud. Matthew Gould, director of development for Porter-Gaud, would not say specifically what the merger means, beyond that the O'Quinn Schools would "fall under the Porter-Gaud umbrella." Bradford Marshall, chairwoman of Porter-Gaud's board, said the trans- action was a private one and the schools were merging. She would not give further details of the arrangement. "We have answered what questions we're going to answer," she said. "This is not a story." Linda O'Quinn, who founded the O'Quinn Schools in 1971, said she plans to retire in a few years. She, her daughter, who directs the school on James Island, and two Porter-Gaud representatives will serve on an advisory board to pick the new leader for the O'Quinn Schools. The O'Quinn Schools enroll more than 640 preschool through kindergarten students at two sites on James Island and in Mount Pleasant. Porter-Gaud is a K-12 college preparatory school in Charleston. Officials said no changes will take place during the upcoming school year, and both schools will remain independent and mostly unchanged. No changes are planned for the names of the schools, their missions, staff, program or tuition. The O'Quinn Schools will continue to be feeder schools for all private and public schools. The O'Quinn Schools have been an important feeder school for Porter- Gaud, Gould said, and that was the impetus behind Porter-Gaud's headmaster approaching the school about a merger. O'Quinn said she saw this as an opportunity for a smooth transition to slowly relinquish her day-to-day responsibilities. Many of the details of the arrangement still need to be worked out, O'Quinn said. She said she and her daughter are committed to staying with the school for at least the next three years, and she called the situation a wonderful opportunity for her 100 employees. "It can't do anything but make our school stronger," she said. Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 8 comment(s)
Posted by Early on May 9, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Very wise move, selling stock options?
With the continued deterioration of the local public school system, there will be a two year waiting list to get in.
Posted by eyfigueroa on May 9, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
there already is early. Porter Gaud charges 13k a year for tuition and from what i hear it's worth every penny.
O'Quinn is also a wonderful school and I think it would be a good fit especially with Mrs. O'Quinn retiring soon.
Posted by Early on May 9, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know, there was a waiting list when my oldest was a baby. The demand for high quality schools is astronomical.
Seem to me like more private schools should open around here for a profit. My daughters high school tuition is almost University level.
Posted by eyfigueroa on May 9, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I used to work for Ashley Hall and still couldn’t send my children there even with the 50% discount. We tried a Christian School, a large one seen from I26 near Ashley Phosphate. It was a terrible experience. My children were tortured by students and teachers. My oldest was the ONLY child of color in the 5th grade and reminded of that fact daily. My youngest was in the 1st grade was called illegitimate and a Mexican. (we’re Puerto Rican and I’m divorced all of which the headmaster and teachers knew) Their teachers came to my house unannounced one night. I was in college and my brother came down for a visit and was watching the girls. These ladies came into my house (my bro being a southern gentleman let them in) and they proceeded to proselytize and question him about my ability to raise children. I confronted the headmaster about this unannounced visit and was told that is was customary. Within a week of my complaint to the headmaster both of my girls were called in to receive a ‘paddling’ for bad behavior. They took my money but insulted us. Found out that several of the teachers didn’t even have Bachelor’s degrees and almost none had masters. My fault for not doing research but I fell for the “only good education is a private one” mantra.
Frankly I felt I would just take my chances with govt. schools (Berkeley County). One now has scholarships to go to USC School of Engineering and the other got into Governor’s School. I can only imagine what they could have achieved if I was able to send them to Ashley Hall or Porter Gaud.
I guess my point is I know so many people who tout the private school mantra. But frankly in this area most of the ‘church’ schools are not academically sound, great for biblical/religious foundation but hardly able to get my child into Governor’s School. I wish there were more secular private schools like Ashley Hall and Porter Gaud. Their teachers’ credentials rival if not surpass those in the govt. school system. But at 13k a kid there is no way most middle class families could afford to send them there. Even with budgeting and financial aid. One kid MAYBE but not two. If we would institute a voucher system perhaps there would be incentive for schools like Ashley Hall to be able to lower tuition or have other schools on their level open up in the Charleston area.
Because sending your children to private schools and still having to pay govt. school taxes is patently unfair.
That’s my rant for this morning! Sorry.
Posted by LowcountryMoose on May 9, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ey,
I'm sorry to hear about you and your children's experience at that Christian school. BTW, Porter-Gaud is an Episcopal school. Vouchers are little more than tax cuts for wealthy people. Poor parents still can't send their kids to the best private schools even with vouchers.
Posted by Early on May 9, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eyfigueroa, sorry to hear of your experience.
A dedicated parent is one that provides food, clothing, shelter and education to the best of our abilities. We will always which we could do/ have done more but sometimes, sometimes the school of hard knocks is the best school.
Posted by abitskeptical on May 9, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are a lot of middle & low-middle class families who sacrifice a lot to send their kids to parochial schools (which generally are more affordable than other private schools). They would benefit a lot from vouchers.
I am so sick of the "tax cut for the wealthy" buy-in to the class warfare c-rap. The upper-middle & upper financial classes make up not even 50% of the tax base & pay over %90 of money received by the treasury. Furthermore the wealthy usually not only pay far more in income taxes, they usually pay far more in property taxes as well (school money). Many still would pay more in property taxes than most even factoring in that big ole break they'd get from a voucher.
So flipping what if they get a tax break in the form of a school voucher?
Now, if you wanna talk wealthy corporations & all of their tax breaks, that is a different matter.
Posted by eyfigueroa on May 9, 2008 at 11:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Porter Gaud was created by the Episcopal Church. However it's curriculum is completely secular. over the years it has evolved from an all boys church based school to a co-ed academically elite school with historical ties to the Episcopal church. though it's mission statement speaks of Christian values, it primary focus is on academic excellence. It cannot be compared to the general Christian school in this area.
Even Bishop England has a distinct focus on academics (of course without sacrificing core Catholic values).
great schools.
you're right early, as parents we do the best we can. I chose the wrong school for them initially however with a lot of hard work on my part both girls have done well even in govt. schools.
which goes to show you, that generally parents must be involved with their children's education whether in private or public school.