The Horry County School Board of Education gave conditional approval to a proposed motorsports charter school Tuesday night, but don't wave the checkered flag quite yet.
In order for the Palmetto Academy for Learning Motorsports to become a chartered high school, it must address several concerns of school district administrators by October and must secure facilities by July 2011.
PALM has operated under federal funds for five years as a private entity, and its program offers out-of-school youth opportunities to earn GEDs while sharpening body shop skill sets.
However, Horry County School Superintendent Dr. Cindy Elsberry said PALM has only provided a handful of GEDs and thus questioned the group's ability to provide high school diplomas -- if they were to become chartered.
Elsberry said PALM "surprised" the district with the charter application on May 3, and Elsberry said the application was vague and to approve it would be "risky."
Elsberry questioned the quality of the proposed academic programs, which PALM describes as a hybrid mix of online courses and on-site mentors and teachers.
The charter school would target at-risk students who were on the verge of dropping out of school, said PALM's program manager, Martha Flom.
As it is set up now, PALM can provide GEDs and its services only to out-of-school youth, and Flom said there are too many others falling through the cracks.
If eventually given a final approval, the charter school would be guaranteed $16 million over a ten-year period, and would educate 100 students in its first year, 150 in the second and 200 by the third and subsequent years.
The motion to grant conditional approval was made by board member Joe Defeo and received a majority of yes votes. Only two members voted against it.
According to the motion, the board will reconvene in October 2010 and consider the progress of PALM in meeting the conditions that have been specified.
