Richland One opens doors
By Warner M. Montgomery
Warner@TheColumbiaStar.com

Photo by Warner M. Montgomery Crayton Principal Susan Childs explains to Richland District One Superintendent Dr. Allen Coles how the color-coordinated system works.

Richland County School District One opened its doors on Tuesday, August 8, 2006, for the 123rd time or the 192nd time, depending on how you interpret history.

The district can trace its origins to 1792 when the commissioners of the City of Columbia authorized the Columbia Academy to establish a "free school." The trustees of the Columbia Academy - Thomas Taylor, James Taylor, George Wade, James Green Hunt (soon replaced by Dr. William Montgomery), and Benjamin Waring - were empowered to purchase, sell or lease lands, conduct lotteries, erect school buildings, and employ teachers.

The problem was money. There was none! The city promised any excess funds from their budget, but none came. The state promised any surplus funds from the sale of timber in the city, but none came. In 1799, the Academy was promised half of the profits from the new ferry across the Congaree River, but the ferry was soon replaced with the Gervais Street bridge.

Finally, the S.C. Act of 1811 funded tuition for paupers in schools, and the money began to "roll" in...a dollar per student. School in Columbia began in 1814 with 24 students tutored by Dr. John Walsh with tuition paid by the state - 192 years ago.

The Columbia Male Academy began in 1816 with 110 male students. The Female Academy opened at the corner of Washington and Marion Streets in 1817 with 60 females. These schools struggled for over 40 years by charging tuition of $175-$200 a year, then closed when the Civil War began.

During Reconstruction, Howard School was established by the Freedmen's Bureau for the children of freed slaves and refugees. It was the only public school operating until 1880 when the legislature created the City of Columbia School District.

Again money was the problem. It took three referenda for the voters to approve tax money for the schools. Finally, in 1883, Col. F.H. McMaster, chairman of the new school board and president of the Columbia Academy, pushed through an agreement which allowed the school district to lease the old academy buildings and take over public education responsibilities from the Columbia Academy - 123 years ago.

The Male Academy became the Laurel Street School (later Taylor School.) Now the land is occupied by the District Administration Building, and the Female Academy evolved into Columbia High School. The Columbia City Schools eventually became Richland One, and the rest is history.

Dr. Allen Coles, the 15th superintendent of Richland One schools, visited schools on Tuesday, the opening day of the school year 2006-2007. At the new Crayton Middle School, he was given a tour by new Principal Susan Childs. She pointed out the color-coordinated hallways, saying, "It is very hard for a student to get lost now."

The paint was fresh, the tile floors shiny, the teachers commanding, and the students eager. Smiling faces met the second-year superintendent as he popped into classrooms. "Are you glad to be in this new school?" he asked. "Yes, sir," the students chimed.

Only 179 school days left in the district's 123rd or 192nd year.