Berkeley County School District is excited to share that the Fishburne Educational Center is being relaunched to provide more support services to students and families.
Fishburne will continue to operate as an Adult Education and Head Start site, but has undergone a transformation to be reborn as the Fishburne Educational Center for Student Support Services. The site will now include mental health services, services for military families, assistance with food banks and social work, and additional support for multilingual and international families.
District officers and members of the community gathered at Fishburne Monday afternoon to celebrate the relaunch during an open house event led by the district’s Division of Student Support Services. VIEW PHOTOS.
The open house event included presentations from members of the division, centered on BCSD’s Multilingual Learner Program, Adult Education program, student and family support, career specialists, counseling services and more.
Goose Creek High’s JROTC did the Presentation of Colors. Head Start student Ameer Mitchell led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. There were musical selections from both Head Start students as well as Pastor Dexter Mitchell from Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church. Lunch was provided by BCSD’s Child Nutrition Services.
Dr. Kylon Middleton, Chief Officer of the Division of Student Support Services, said this undertaking means much more than just a fresh coat of paint and the arrival of new furniture in the building. It is about the creation of a center that will support future generations.
“Within these walls, every wrap-around support necessary for student well-being will be housed under one roof,” Middleton said. “From mental health counselors, to behavioral interventionists, from socio-emotional coaches, to academic support teams – this center will be a one-stop lifeline for our students’ minds, hearts and for their spirits.”
There has been a significant repurposing of the building’s media center, which is now referred to as the “Welcome Hub!” This space will offer support for McKinney-Vento students and families, international families, military-connected students and Purple Star families.
Fishburne also now offers dynamic professional development areas where teachers and community partners can meet and work together. BCSD Superintendent Dr. Anthony Dixon said the updates will serve as a one-stop shop for everybody in the district, from 3-year-olds to adults.
“Today is just another opportunity for us to add a layer of support for the students and our families here in Berkeley County School District by having a centralized location for a number of wrap-around supports and services,” he said. “It’s always great to repurpose and revitalize a center, so we are using available resources to really repurpose this building for additional use.”