Teachers resign; describe campus in chaos

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Poor conditions at a Charleston County middle school have led five teachers to resign, leaving one-fourth of it’s teaching positions vacant.

Teachers who have left Burke Middle School, and some who remain, describe a school in chaos, where unruly students rule the halls and where the educators who are left have little time to teach.

Community members and teachers complain the school and district administration have done little to address the school’s problems.

They say the school has facilities that are too small, classes that are too large and schedules that waste instructional time. Critics also say the school does not have adequate resources for its special education students.

‘‘We keep hearing from the administration that everything is going well, and we know those are falsehoods,’’ said Marvin Stewart, chairman of the downtown constituent board.

Burke Principal Curtis Amos said officials are working to improve the school

‘‘I understand that they’re going to be frustrated, but this situation wasn’t created overnight,’’ he said.

Members of the constituent school board for downtown schools have sent a letter to the county school board calling for board members and district administrators to resign over the ‘‘fiasco’’ at Burke Middle School.

Because of all the vacancies in teaching positions, substitutes, teachers’ aides and office workers have had to fill in.

Don Cutts, a retired law enforcement officer, resigned as a teacher at the school last week.

He said students often roamed the halls as they pleased.

‘‘Teachers at Burke Middle have no authority whatsoever,’’ he said. ‘‘I spend more time writing referrals than I do anything else.’’