CHAMPIONSHIP: McIlroy seeks to rediscover the kid who dominated PGA last summer B1
In today’s special section, we’ve got bus routes, calendars, drop-off/pick-up procedures and much more for tri-county schools. Also included is information about local private schools and colleges. VOL. 118, NO. 248 WWW.THEITEM.COM
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
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District reveals staff changes BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com Less than two weeks before students return to class in Sumter School District, 21 employees within the public school system have been reassigned to different positions. The changes, announced Wednesday, were the result of
the personnel report recommended by newly appointed interim Superintendent Dr. Frank Baker and approved by the district’s board of trustees Tuesday night by a 6-1 vote. When he initially accepted the interim position, Baker said his first act would be to make changes to the district’s operational chart. Included in the reassign-
ments was Sterling Harris, who had come under criticism during his one year as principal at Sumter High School. Harris will now serve as principal of Brewington Academy, part of the district’s alternative learning program. Replacing Harris will be Dana Fall, a former Brewington Academy principal who was expected to take over the
Sumter County Career Center. A former assistant principal at Lakewood High School as well, he has served in Sumter County schools for eight years. With the new assignments, Chief Academic Officer Lisa Norman, who spearheaded the standards-based report card effort in the district, will now serve as the director of
professional development. In total, 12 of the personnel changes were made at the district level, while an additional nine were made on the school level. Under the new operational makeup of the district, there are now three people serving as assistant superintendents SEE CHANGES, PAGE A8
Library wraps up summer reading program City
talks dog park BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com
mark, 264; and South Sumter, 135. “We are really grateful to the community for making the summer program a success,” Edgar said. “The Friends of the Library always funds the program, and the Piggly Wiggly and IGA on Pinewood Road help us out a lot each summer. We couldn’t have the program without them.” Edgar noted that the library sponsors free programs for all its patrons throughout the year. “August is our planning month,” she
City Council normally deals with issues related to Sumter’s human population, but discussion at this week’s meeting turned to the city’s four-legged residents. A new group pushing for Sumter to set up a dog park spoke at Tuesday’s council meeting, laying out the argument for a specific place for dogs and their owners to exercise, socialize and play. Lisa Gaedtke, owner of the local pet care company Lisa’s Ark, spoke during the public comment section on behalf of the Sumter Park of Tailwaggers, or SPOT, about the proposed benefits of a park for local canines. “If dogs are wellexercised, they’re less likely to cause problems,” Gaedtke said. “If dogs are socialized, they will be less aggressive and less likely to bark excessively.” A dog park is needed because development
SEE LIBRARY, PAGE A6
SEE DOG PARK, PAGE A8
PHOTOS BY IVY MOORE / THE ITEM
Chalk art is always popular at the wrap-up party for children who participated in the Sumter County Library’s summer reading program.
More than 1,500 books read by participants
Jayden Singleton, 5, mounts Lindley Hummel’s motorcycle Friday at the Wesmark branch of the library. Hummel is with Shaw Air Force Base’s Green Knights motorcycle club. Young readers also enjoyed a bounce house, balloon toys and more during the party.
BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com The summer reading program sponsored by the Sumter County Library was a great success, according to Director Robert Harden and Children’s Librarian Karen Edgar. During the course of the summer, Edgar said, the 1,486 young people who registered read more than 1,500 books, and the 43 programs presented by the library attracted more than 1,800 attendees. The reading program was divided into three sections by age group, she said, with the children ages 6 to 12 reading the most books at 917; those in the early literacy group read 600, and teens 13-17 read 82. All four branches of the library pro-
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vided the reading program, with the Main Library on Harvin Street having 847 registered; bookmobile, 240; Wes-
OUTSIDE
DEATHS Frederick M. Hancock Sadie H. Rufus Brenda D. White Wilma G. Houston Antinae D. Isaac
Jean L. McCaskill Henrietta Grant Minnie M. Bradley
INSIDE 3 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES
SOME SUN B4
Storms in spots this evening; becoming clear tonight HIGH: 90 LOW: 72 A8
Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television
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