Aiken County Board of Education

The new Byrd Elementary school, on Bettis Academy Road, opened in August of 2008. While the playgrounds weren't quite ready, pupils didn't seem to mind too much as the first day was spent "oohing" and "aahing" over new features. The school is the most technologically up-to-date in the district and features a SMARTboard in every classroom.

Superintendent Beth Everitt took over in January of 2008 and quickly began putting together a new reading initiative for the district.

Students now receive 90 minutes of uninterrupted reading each day. The initiative also includes creating positions for four partner teachers.

The teachers coach eight schools in the district on how to set up ideal classrooms with the most effective lessons.

Those teachers then pass the information on to others in their school.

The program eventually will spread to more elementary and middle schools in hopes of improving literacy district-wide.

A recent facilities need study by Columbia-based M.B. Kahn revealed the district would need at least two more elementary schools and extensive remodeling to existing schools in the next five years.

Without a change in state tax codes or a bond referendum, those projects are unlikely to happen in the near future.

For more information, see www.aiken.k12.sc.us.