Beverly McAdams

ANDERSON — “To educate students and produce graduates with the knowledge and skills to be lifelong learners, individuals of ethical character and citizens capable of contributing to an ever-changing global society by assuring quality improvement in every facet of school life, incorporating the resources and diversities of our communities.”

Whew ... that’s a mouthful!

This is the mission of Anderson School District 5. It is a tall order, but one I believe District 5 has every intention of trying to fill.

I was asked to write an article from a parent’s perspective about Anderson School District 5 based upon my experiences. My husband, James, and I have three children. Our oldest son, Austin, is a senior at T.L. Hanna. Our daughter, India, is a sophomore there. Mattison, our youngest son, has yet to darken the doors of the public school system.

As I ponder what to say, I have to be very careful not to embarrass my children or they would never forgive me. However, that should not be an issue because, for the most part, my experiences have been very positive.

Whenever I have had a question, school officials have made every effort to address my concerns in a timely and professional manner. I guess that’s why they invited me to serve on the School Improvement Council, since I am constantly stopping by, calling or e-mailing someone at the school. Maybe they thought I needed something to keep me busy. I hope it was because I bring something to the table to help “improve the school.”

Some time ago, my husband and I accepted an invitation to attend a meeting to discuss the proposed comprehensive building program for the District. I was impressed with the information shared and pleased that we had been given the opportunity to be a part of the dialogue, to ask questions and share our opinions.

Oftentimes, decisions are made in a vacuum with little input from the individuals that are impacted. District 5 does a good job of keeping the lines of communication open.

If there is any question about how well District 5 stacks up compared to other districts, you only have to look at its many accomplishments: millions of dollars in grants received, schools earning Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards, teachers and students receiving honors and awards, top rankings for SAT and ACT scores, and the list goes on. We learned first hand how well students are prepared when we were notified that Austin was named a National Achievement Semifinalist.

Overall, my husband and I are very pleased with our experiences with Anderson School District 5. They are focusing on the present and planning for the future all the while keeping the best interests of our most precious commodities, our children, at the front and center of everything they do.

Beverly Rice McAdams is an Anderson School District 5 resident.