“….news that no community wants to hear”

A letter to students and families (circulating on social media) of the NEXT School Eagle Ridge in Salem starts this way, “We are writing to you today with news that no community wants to hear.”  It is signed by the school’s board of directors. The contents of the letter lay out the decision to close Salem’s charter school, after the current school year, a difficult decision made by the board of directors   Town of Salem was instrumental in welcoming the charter school, after the closing of the town’s public middle and high school.  As late as today, 101.7/WGOG NEWS learned, the town had yet to receive an official communication about the closing.  The letter to the charter school students and families says, “In order to facilitate the transition of students and teachers into other Upstate schools for the 2022-23 school year, we will have the support of the South Carolina Public Charter School District.  They will aid in an outreach plan to assist our students in their search for placement at nearby schools.”