“Nielsen endorses Mick Zais” plus 3 more

Nielsen endorses Mick Zais
Springfield's Kris Callen appointed to Missouri School Boards' Association's board
Midwest H.S. Students Graduate; Student Still Not Happy
Runoff elections set for Republican candidates

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 10:32 AM PDT

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Former state Superintendent of Education Barbara Nielsen endorsed Mick Zais Monday in his bid to become the Republican nomination for state Superintendent of Education.

"In addition to his proven track record of success at Newberry College, Mick has the comprehensive experience in education and strong leadership ability to lead the turnaround that is desperately needed at the South Carolina Department of Education," Nielsen said in a prepared statement.

"Mick Zais will bring real change to education, and I urge all Republicans to cast their votes for him in the Republican Runoff Election on June 22."

Zais, the immediate past president of Newberry College faces homeschooling mother and small business owner Elizabeth Moffly, 49, of Awendaw, in a June 22 runoff.

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Springfield's Kris Callen appointed to Missouri School Boards' Association's board

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 03:37 PM PDT

Claudette Riley covers K-12 education for the News-Leader.

She became interested in writing and journalism at an early age, joining the yearbook staff in fifth grade. She has worked for student or professional publications ever since.

Claudette has covered education for more than eight years, working in Missouri and Tennessee.

A curiosity about the way schools operate, teachers teach and students learn started with her upbringing. Born in western Kansas, a series of moves exposed her to many different schools - public and private, rural and urban, religious and secular, plus Montessori and homeschooling.

She lives in Springfield with her husband and daughter.

[contact me]

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Midwest H.S. Students Graduate; Student Still Not Happy

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 05:37 PM PDT

2009 Graduate Says Diploma Hasn't Helped Her Get Into College

LITHONIA, Ga. -- Shekeida Caldwell says her Midwest High School diploma is worthless. She enrolled in the Decatur-area school because she says school officials promised the diploma would help get her into college.

On Saturday, about 40 graduates received their diplomas at Cornerstone of Faith Church on Brownsmill Road. To graduate from Midwest students must pay a $99 enrollment fee and complete a take-home test successfully. The school doesn't hold classes or require any other school work.

Midwest was the subject of a CBS Atlanta investigation in May. At that time, investigative reporter Jeff Chirico enrolled his dog, Dallas, into the school. Chirico took the test and returned it in the mail. The school sent an official transcript for Dallas. School founder Eugene Taylor said Dallas would never get an actual diploma because he must submit photo identification.

The CBS Atlanta investigation also found the take-home test contained numerous factual and grammatical mistakes. Caldwell said after she failed portions of the test twice, a school employee gave her the "right answers."

Caldwell said she applied to Georgia Perimeter College but wasn't accepted. A spokesperson for Georgia Perimeter College said the school accepts a Midwest diploma but wouldn't use it to make a decision for admission. Representatives from Gordon College and Atlanta Christian College also tell CBS Atlanta News that Midwest graduates must provide other examples of their academic accomplishments to be admitted.

Taylor said the school operates within the law as a homeschooling program. It is accredited by the National Private School Accrediting Alliance.

Officials from the Georgia Student Finance Commission said Midwest is not considered an "eligible" school for those looking for a HOPE scholarship or federal financial aid.

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Runoff elections set for Republican candidates

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 02:13 PM PDT

ANDERSON — On June 22, for the second time in three weeks, Republican voters will go to the polls.

Republican voters will pick five candidates for state and national offices in the runoff elections.

In Anderson County, voters will pick two county council candidates, as well as cast ballots for the five state and national candidates.

There are no runoff races in the Democratic Party.

Area voters will choose between South Carolina Rep. Nikki Haley, R-Lexington, and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., to be the Republican gubernatorial candidate in the November general election.

On June 8, Haley got 49 percent of the vote with 206,326 votes, to Gresham Barrett's 22 percent with 91,824 votes.

Haley battled accusations of an "inappropriate physical relationship" with a Columbia-based blogger, as well as being the target of a racial slur by another member of the South Carolina legislature. Barrett, a native of Oconee County, said he hoped the campaign would end the gossiping and gridlock.

If Haley wins the election, she will be the state's first woman governor from either party.

In other races, Florence County Councilman Ken Ard and Army Reserve Lt. Col. Bill Connor square off for the nomination for lieutenant governor.

Ard had 34 percent of the vote with 132,602 votes while Connor had 27 percent, or 107,731 votes.

In the race for South Carolina attorney general voters will choose between attorneys Leighton Lord and Alan Wilson.

Wilson had 39 percent of the vote with 150,404 votes to Lord's 37 percent, or 92,457.

For South Carolina Superintendent of Education, the Republican runoff pits former Newberry College President Mick Zais, who received 26.5 percent of the vote with 98,550 votes against homeschooling mother Elizabeth Moffley, who received 70,392 votes for 19 percent of the votes.

In the race for a nominee for the Third Congressional District seat, Piedmont native Richard Cash and South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan of Laurens will face off for the Republican nomination.

The two candidates were separated by less than 2,000 votes in the primary. Cash got 20,923 votes, 25 percent, compared with Duncan's 19,051, or 23 percent.

There are two Republican runoffs for the Anderson County Council. John Benca will face Francis M. Crowder Sr. for the District 1 seat, while Ann Smith will face Ken Waters for the District 6 seat.

Not everyone can vote in the June 22 runoffs.

According to the South Carolina Election Commission, anyone who voted Republican in the June 8 election can vote in the runoff. Anyone who did not vote at all in the election can vote as well, said Katy Smith, director of the Anderson County Election Commission.

"We do not register by party in South Carolina; therefore, if someone did not vote in the first primary at all they can vote in the Republican Primary runoff," she said.

That means if a Democrat did not vote in the primary, he or she would be able to vote in the Republican runoff. However, anyone who voted in the Democratic primary is not eligible to vote in the Republican runoff.

Voters who need to vote absentee can now go to their voter registration office to request an absentee ballot application form and cast their ballot in person. Voters have until 5 p.m., June 21 to return their ballot.

Voters can also get an absentee ballot by contacting the voter registration office and asking for an absentee application form. The application form will be mailed to the voter. The voter has until 5 p.m., June 18 to return the application. Once the application has been returned, the voter will receive a ballot and will have until 7 p.m. June 22 to return it to the county voter registration office.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 22 for the runoff.

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Homeschooling

Tuesday, June 15, 2010