State of Emergency Declared in 2 Florence County Schools

TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. (AP) _ A state of emergency has been declared in two schools in Timmonsville, opening the way for the state Department of Education to manage the schools.

Media outlets report the state Board of Education declared the emergency Tuesday in Brockington Elementary and Johnson Middle School. The schools have been under state scrutiny in recent months because of poor academic performance.

Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman released a statement saying that the two schools in Florence County are not meeting the state’s expectations for academic achievement. Spearman said the decision is in the best interests of both the students and teachers at the schools.

Under the state Education Accountability Act, when a state of emergency is declared, the state can step in and begin operating the schools.