An open letter to the Charleston Christian School and the Board of Directors:

The parent community of Charleston Christian School is deeply concerned about the board's recent handling of significant decisions, specifically the lawsuit with Ashley River Classical Academy and Grace on the Ashley Baptist Church, and the associated potential move. This dissatisfaction arises from the opaque decision-making processes and limited engagement opportunities. As parents and stakeholders, we feel that our voices have been underutilized and unheard. This parent community, your parent community, who believes in the value this school provides, cannot be expected to provide resources, time, and assistance without an understand of the obstacles in front of us. We cannot be expected to donate additional money if we aren’t being given information and the ability to ask questions in an open quorum. We want to help. Let us help.

We are calling for the following:

1. Consistent, open, collaborative, regularly scheduled and publicly accessible board meetings where the parent community can ask questions, provide comments, and participate in shaping the school's future. Statistics show that parental involvement in school operations increases the efficiency of the decision-making process, enriches school communities, and ultimately boosts student achievement (Source: National Education Association). Thus, we emphasize the importance of transparency, engagement, and open discussions as it directly affects not only the long term quality of our children's education and spiritual development, but the very short term decisions that need to be made to ensure the basic survival of the school.
2. Two additional Board seats. At least one as a permanent and rotating spot for a parent of currently-enrolled student(s) as a representative to the school community. And a second to keep the required odd number of members, either as an additional parent of a currently-enrolled student (highly recommend) or other party.

As the board mentioned at the Thursday evening meeting - the school is the people, not the building. And while that may be true, the people are the HEART of the school. But there is no school if we have no building. And you have no school if you have no students. We don’t want platitudes. We want information and answers.

The time for us to act as a community is now. Sign this petition to urge the Charleston Christian School board to embrace open governance and active parent engagement.

Sincerely, Parents for Charleston Christian School