1. The Merging of Two Middle Schools: James Island and Fort Johnson
David A. Parler
Winter 2017

2. Panel Members Charleston County School District
David Parler, Fort Johnson Middle Principal
16 years on James Island
Andreas “Andy” Westergaard, James Island Middle Interim Principal
10 years on James Island
Dr. Alice Jones, James Island Middle Assistant Principal 3 years on James Island
Reginald McNeil, CCSD Executive Director of Capital Programs

3. Panel Members Rosenblum Coe Cumming Construction Steven Coe, Architect
Josh Caplea, Architect
Cumming Construction 
Joe Christian, Construction Manager

4. Merger/Construction Timeline
August June 2017
Plan for merger; final year as separate middle schools
August 2017-June 2018
Year 1 on JIMS transition site
New name, mascot, and colors
Current 5th graders enter middle school
August 2018-June 2019
Year 2 two on JIMS transition site
Current 4th graders enter middle school

5. Merger/Construction Timeline
August 2019-June 2020
Year 3 on JIMS transition site
Current 3rd graders enter middle school
August 2020
New middle school opens 900 students
Location: Current site of Fort Johnson Middle
Current 2nd graders enter middle school

6. What factors led to the decision to merge?
Down Memory Lane…
What factors led to the decision to merge?

7. Down Memory Lane… November 2014 Tax Referendum
“New Ft. Johnson Middle School” was /35 capital projects listed on the ballot for 1¢ sales tax referendum
Was included in CCSD building phase
Charleston County voters approved continuing the penny sales tax

8. Down Memory Lane… 2015 Middle School Task Force Meetings
Held January 13, January 27, February 17, and March 3
Each school represented by an administrator, two teachers, SIC member, and PTA member
Also included the Associate Superintendent of Middle Schools and a District 3 Constituent Board liaison

9. Down Memory Lane… Purpose of Task Force Meetings
To discuss options for the future of the middle schools on James Island
To provide recommendations for usage of the tax referendum funds

10. Down Memory Lane… Decisions for Task Force
Option A:
Use funds to improve facilities for Fort Johnson Middle School only
Option B:
Merge schools and use funds to improve middle school campus at 1825 Camp Road

11. Down Memory Lane… The Vote
Are you in favor of a merger between Fort Johnson and James Island Middle Schools?
A total of 18 task force members were present.
Results are highlighted in yellow. 1 2 3 4 5
I’m totally opposed and have philosophical differences with the solutions
I have several serious reservations about the proposed solution
I have one or two reservations about the proposed solution
I can live with the proposed solution
I’m in total agreement with the proposed solution 15

12. Down Memory Lane… The Options
OPTION 1: 2020: Wait until construction of new school
is completed and start all grades at
the new site
OPTION 2: 2016: Grade 6 at James Island Middle;
Grade 7-8 at Fort Johnson Middle
OPTION 3: : All grades at Fort Johnson
Middle, with 6th grade in trailers
OPTION 4: : All grades at James Island
Middle with mobiles on campus
while undergoing construction

13. Down Memory Lane… The Selection
OPTION 4: All grades at James Island Middle with trailers on campus while undergoing construction

14. Down Memory Lane… The Selection
This option affords the following:
time to provide a transition for all grades before a new building opens;
time to build a unified middle school for students and community; and
time to understand programmatic needs in order to influence physical environment.

15. Down Memory Lane… Community Engagement Meetings
April 15, 2015 at Fort Johnson Middle School;
April 16, 2015 at Harbor View Elementary School;
April 21, 2015 at Stiles Point Elementary School; and
April 23, 2015 at James Island Elementary School

16. Down Memory Lane… District 3 Elementary School Merger Survey Results:
360 parents responded;
Five scale “Reaction Rubric;” 1 2 3 4 5
I’m totally opposed and have philosophical differences with the solutions
I have several serious reservations about the proposed solution
I have one or two reservations about the proposed solution
I can live with the proposed solution
I’m in total agreement with the proposed solution 56 74
216
210
134

17. Down Memory Lane… SEC Vote August 4, 2015
Strategic Education Committee of the CCSD Board of Trustees
District 3 Task Force Recommendations Approved

18. Transition Campus

19. https://www.willscot.com/portable-classrooms/68-x-24- classroom-62
The Building
6th Grade
Trailers to house two classrooms with a restroom in each
6 trailers total = 12 classrooms
Location: Back of campus
10 classrooms: 6th grade academic classes
1 classroom: 6th grade computer lab
1 classroom: office for a guidance counselor
classroom-62

20. The Building 7th and 8th Grades
Located in separate wings of the main building on opposite ends of the campus
Related arts classes will be isolated to two areas of the school

21. Academic Offerings Honors ELA and Math
Available for all eligible students in all grade levels
Eligibility: Student must meet Middle School Honors
Rubric* qualifications
*Point scale of 70% using following criteria for
rising 6th graders:
-most current SC Ready scores;
-Spring 2017 MAP scores;
-GT qualification; and
-end-of-year averages.

22. Academic Offerings
College Preparatory (CP) Science
Social Studies 

23. Scheduling Options
Honors ELA; Honors Math; CP Science; and Social Studies
Honors ELA or Honors Math;
CP science; and social studies
CP ELA; CP Math; CP science; and social studies

24. Related Arts Offerings
Band (year-long) Chorus
Strings (year-long) Art
PE Health
Engineering Spanish*
French* Google Basics*
Multimedia Basics*
Engineering Course 1: Design & Modeling
Engineering Course 2: Automation & Robotics
*High School Credit Courses

25. Related Arts Offerings
Sixth Graders: Nine week related arts
courses,
except for
band and
strings
Seventh & Eighth Graders: Eligible for high
school credit courses through related arts

26. Daily Schedule Four 65-minute academic classes;
Two 45-minute related arts classes; and
One 45-minute lunch/recess/enrichment period.

27. Lunch/Recess/Enrichment
Separated by both grade level and homeroom
Half of the grade level goes to lunch, while other half is at recess (M,W,F) and enrichment (T,TH); after 22 minutes they “flip flop”

28. Lunch/Recess/Enrichment
Proposed recess equipment: current basketball courts, soccer goals, volleyball court(s), tether ball station
Two identical serving lines for lunch to include:
traditional CCSD hot lunch;
a la carte items such as: personal pan pizza, Charleston chicken sandwich, chicken wings/nugget, Asian cuisine, etc.; and
salad bar.

29. Morning Routines Two car rider drop off lines:
One on campus and one across the street at Fort Johnson Baptist Church.
Upon arrival, students eat breakfast and then report to designated morning area (gym, playground, or homeroom).

30. Dismissal
Students are dismissed by grade levels to either buses or car rider lines. Students may also walk or ride bikes.

31. Extracurricular Opportunities sponsored by CCSD
After-school clubs for both academic and artistic enrichment. Students will often represent school in competitions.

32. Extracurricular Opportunities sponsored by JICHS
7th/8th grade boys: JICHS B-Team football program
Most JICHS sports allow 7th/8th graders to participate.

33. Extracurricular Opportunities sponsored by partners
CCSD does not fund a middle school sports program; therefore, the following sports are organized by the City of Charleston Department of Recreation: girls’ volleyball, boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, tennis, golf, and soccer.
The Trident Area Basketball League organizes the middle school basketball program.

34. Frequently Asked Questions

35. Building Enhancements James Island Middle School
CCSD, Cumming Construction, and Rosenblum Coe Architects

36. Point of Contact: Rosenblum Coe Architects
New Middle School
137,000 square feet
Two stories
Built for 900 students with the capability of expanding to 1200 students
Built on existing Ft. Johnson Middle School footprint
Plans to preserve current athletic fields on back of campus for school/community use
Point of Contact: Rosenblum Coe Architects

37. Questions?