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The Planet Green Tree Service Difference

At Planet Green Tree Service, we are firm believers that trees make the world a better place. They provide us with verdant beauty, cool shade, and emergency shelter. They raise our home values, add personality to our neighborhoods, and provide us with clean air to breathe. When your home or business has well-maintained, healthy trees, everyone benefits. That's why we are so passionate about providing our customers with dependable tree services in the Lowcountry.

We believe that honest prices, state-of-the-art equipment, friendly arborists, and good old-fashioned hard work are what set us apart from our competition. With more than 33 years of service in South Carolina, you can rest easy knowing every member of the Planet Green team is committed to the following:

  • Conduct themselves in a professional manner
  • Provide you with exemplary tree care services
  • Arrive at your home or business on time and ready to work
  • Provide you with affordable service rates
  • Meet or exceed our industry standards
  • Utilize the utmost safety when removing or maintaining your trees or shrubs
  • Have full insurance to protect themselves and your home

Our customers mean a lot to us, which is why we strive to provide them the best, most helpful customer service in our industry. When you hire our company to perform a tree service in cityname, know that we take this responsibility seriously and will always treat your home like we would treat our own. At Planet Green Tree Service, you won't ever have to worry about sneaky hidden fees or outrageous pricing. We believe every homeowner and business owner should have access to affordable tree services, which is why we set our rates at reasonable levels. Our job is to protect your home, your trees, and also your wallet!

Whether your home has overgrown trees that need trimming or you have an unsightly stump that needs grinding, our team of tree experts is here to help. Curious what kind of tree care work we provide to homeowners in South Carolina?

Planet Green specializes in the following areas:

Tree Trimming in North Charleston

Have you noticed your favorite tree growing in a strange shape? Are your trees or shrubs so overgrown that it's making your property and home look unkempt? Are the trees near your home weighed down by dangerous dead branches? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, it might be time to speak with a Planet Green Tree Service professional to find a solution.

Like anything that lives, trees respond to their environment. When trees are not properly maintained, they can cause a whole host of problems for the homeowner. Overgrowth doesn't just look bad - it can be a potential safety hazard and liability for your home. To prevent this from happening, it's crucial that your trees are trimmed and pruned regularly. Trimming your trees and shrubs gives your home a tidy, appealing look and facilitates healthy plant and tree growth.

Because every tree and shrub is different, you must approach tree trimming with a plan. Before you start hacking at your trees with a machete, be sure to contact Planet Green Tree Service. Our team of expert arborists will come to your home and determine the best path to take for your tree trimming needs. We always take into account variables like the strengths, weaknesses, and species of your trees.

 Large Tree Removal North Charleston, SC

Benefits of Tree Trimming in North Charleston

For some folks, tree trimming seems like a minor detail in the grand scheme of homeownership. It can be a tedious job, but keeping your trees trimmed and well-maintained is more important than you might think. Below are just a few of the many benefits of keeping your trees and shrubs trimmed:

Tree Trimming in North Charleston

Tree Health

Part of the Planet Green pruning and trimming process includes the removal of damaged, broken, dead, and diseased branches. When ignored, these dead or dying branches can cause harmful fungi to wreak havoc on the trees around your home or business. Removing these weakened branches helps prevent fungi and keeps your trees healthy. In addition, tree trimming also lets more sunlight and air circulation reach your trees, boosting overall health.

Safety

Safety

As longtime residents of South Carolina, we know how dangerous hurricanes and heavy storms can be. Strong winds from these natural occurrences can cause branches to fall or even be carried away with significant force. This is concerning for many homeowners, especially those who have trees lining their driveways, recreational areas, and walking paths. When you trust Planet Green with your trimming needs, you are actually doing your part to "storm proof" your home from hazardous tree-related accidents. If you have low-hanging branches close to your roof or business, pruning these trees can provide more safety and overhead clearance. That way, don't have an anxiety attack every time a storm rolls through your neighborhood.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics

Nobody likes the look of an overgrown, disheveled tree. Tree trimming improves the general appearance of your tree and makes your whole yard and home look better. Tree trimming also prevents your trees from growing weak branches and crotches and helps stop branches from intertwining with one another.

Developmental Tree Trimming

Developmental Tree Trimming

Pruning younger trees is key to protecting them as they age. This vital tree service in North Charleston keeps young trees aesthetically appealing and promotes proper structural integrity and optimal branch structure. In addition, as your home's landscape matures, taking the time to trim young trees reduces the chance of expensive problems like tree failure.

 Local Tree Service North Charleston, SC

Types of Tree Trimming

Not all tree trimming services from Planet Green Tree Service are the same. Our experts specialize in a number of different tree trimming services to ensure you are getting the right kind of trim for the appropriate situation. Because even the smallest mistake can permanently affect your tree's health, we approach every tree trimming job with surgeon-like precision. That way, you know your trees are in capable, responsible hands.

Crown Reduction

Crown Reduction

When your trees age without the proper kind of care, they can develop too many branches on their interior. Trees like this give great shade, but too much is not a good sign. That's where crown reduction trimming comes in. By reducing the density of your tree's crown, our tree care experts improve its growth rate and health. Crown density reduction also promotes a longer lifespan and a more beautiful appearance.

Deadwooding

Deadwooding

As the name implies, deadwooding involves the trimming of dead wood from your trees. Often required in urban and suburban areas, deadwooding a tree makes it look more attractive and livelier, while maintaining the health of your tree's trunk by removing rotted branches. This process also makes it safer for kids and other people who walk underneath or near your tree that may be harmed by rotting branches that fall. Other tree trimming services that Planet Green offers include: hazardous tree assessments, shrub trimming, pruning, cabling, bracing, and corrective trimming.

Stump Removal in North Charleston

For most property owners, removing a tree can seem like a major project. While that notion certainly isn't wrong, tree removal is more straightforward and often easier than trying to remove an unsightly stump from your yard. Have you ever wondered why you see so many yards with stumps dotted around the land? It's because they're very difficult to remove. That is why Planet Green Tree Service has been offering stump removal services in South Carolina for more than 33 years. Our skilled stump removal experts bring a wealth of knowledge and cutting-edge tools to every stump removal project they tackle.

The fact of the matter is this: trying to remove a stump on your own is an incredible undertaking. Going the "DIY" route can take weeks to complete, even if you spend an hour or two every day. There's also the issue of operating heavy machinery (which costs time and money to rent) and even light fires to expedite the process, which is dangerous. For these reasons alone, we always recommend that you bring in a professional to remove your tree stump safely and effectively.

 Tree Service North Charleston, SC

Benefits of Stump Removal in North Charleston

Better Looking Yard

Better Looking Yard

If you are a homeowner that loves sculpted hedges, beautiful landscaping, and a tidy law, removing old tree stumps will feel like a huge weight off of your chest. Stump removal not only gives your home more curb appeal, it can actually raise the value of your home. This is particularly pertinent if you are thinking about listing your home for sale in the near future.

More Space

More Space

If your yard is small, even one stump can reduce the amount of space you have in your yard. If you spend a lot of time playing sports or just enjoying your yard space, stump removal is a huge help. After all, nobody wants to toss a football around if there are a bunch of old stumps that you must avoid. Stumps also take up considerable space below ground, with their complicated root systems. Stump removal will give you and your family more room to plant flowers, grow vegetables, install a water feature, and much more.

Eliminate Unwanted Growth

Eliminate Unwanted Growth

When you leave a tree stump in your yard, you could be setting yourself up for unwanted tree growth. This kind of new growth often results in clusters of small trees popping up around the base of the stump. This problem isn't just unsightly; it can be harmful to any plants near the stump because the new trees will suck up all the water and nutrients out of your soil.

Pest Prevention

Pest Prevention

Tree stumps are notorious for harboring all sorts of pests that can damage your hard and cause expensive problems in your home. We're talking wood borers, ants, termites, and beetles. If you want to do away with these pests and protect your home, the best course of action is to contact Planet Green Tree Service for a quote on our professional tree removal services.

 Tree Removal North Charleston, SC

Reduce Headaches

Sure, you could take the time to do your research on how to remove a stump. You could go to Home Depot, rent a high-powered stump grinder, and risk your health trying to operate it without training. You could spend every winking moment of your free time trying to grind the stump down so you can remove it from your yard. But why go through all that trouble when a trustworthy, experienced stump removal company like Planet Green Tree Service is only a phone call away?

Our team of stump removal professionals uses state-of-the-art tools designed to keep your property damage-free during the removal process. We will turn your yard into a beautiful blank slate, so you can focus on enjoying your stump-free while we haul away all the debris.

 Tree Pruning North Charleston, SC

Your Premier Tree Service Company in South Carolina

With 33 years of experience, it's no wonder why so many South Carolina locals choose Planet Green Tree Service for tree trimming and stump removal in their city. Clients love us because we believe in exceeding your expectations, no matter how large or small a job is.

  • Conduct themselves in a professional manner
  • Provide you with exemplary tree care services
  • Arrive at your home or business on time and ready to work
  • Provide you with affordable service rates

Contact our office to learn more about our tree services in South Carolina or to schedule your free quote today!

Latest News in North Charleston, SC

North Charleston approves $6M purchase of 400 acres for urban park

NORTH CHARLESTON — The city of North Charleston is planning to make a $6 million purchase of about 400 acres of land around Ingleside Boulevard, property that will be used to develop what the city is calling an urban park.But this recreational amenity that some say will enhance quality of life is raising concerns about livability.City Council voted unanimously April 27 to move forward with buying the property, currently owned by Weber USA Corp. The tracts of land make up what is known as the Ingleside Weber Park System, l...

NORTH CHARLESTON — The city of North Charleston is planning to make a $6 million purchase of about 400 acres of land around Ingleside Boulevard, property that will be used to develop what the city is calling an urban park.

But this recreational amenity that some say will enhance quality of life is raising concerns about livability.

City Council voted unanimously April 27 to move forward with buying the property, currently owned by Weber USA Corp. The tracts of land make up what is known as the Ingleside Weber Park System, located west of Interstate 26.

Most of the property consists of wetlands, though just over 100 acres are highlands, or areas that can be walked or built upon. The idea is to use the 400-acre space to create a passive park that will include boardwalks, walking paths and nature trails.

Instead of having to travel elsewhere to hike or enjoy the outdoors, people in North Charleston will be able to practice that kind of recreational activity essentially in their own backyard, Mayor Keith Summey said.

To pay for the land purchase, $3 million is being provided in Charleston County Greenbelt funds, $1 million in city tax-increment finance district funds, $1 million from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, and $1 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

City spokesman Ryan Johnson said North Charleston is doing the project because the plan is a good use of greenbelt funds, which are designed to help conserve outdoor space. It was also convenient that North Charleston was able to secure additional grant opportunities, Johnson added. There is no timetable yet for the park’s construction.

“Having a big park in an urban core is a very good amenity,” he said.

The idea of a park that could potentially bring more noise to the area alarmed Councilwoman Virginia Jamison, who has been fighting for a decade for a sound barrier to be built along I-26 to protect members of Deerpark, Northwood Estates and other adjacent communities from the blaring sounds of traffic commuting along the highway. Acquiring necessary funding from the city, county or state to build the wall has not been successful.

During a recent Finance Committee meeting, Jamison said her constituents are concerned about the increased levels of sounds emitting from the interstate and they are also worried that more noise will come from the new park. Traffic could also increase soon, as the county’s new Palmetto Commerce Interchange will soon be constructed nearby at Weber Boulevard.

Other development is also on the way to Ingleside Boulevard, which is already home to a few neighborhoods, several churches and a handful of businesses. Developers are planning on the southern end of the boulevard to build a town center that will include retail and restaurant space, a parking deck, hundreds of apartment units, and hundreds of hotel rooms.

Jamison called on City Council to take noise reduction seriously.

“If this body is not concerned about the livability and quality of life in our city, then I have a problem,” said Jamison, who did not attend the April 27 full council meeting.

Councilwoman Dorothy Williams echoed her concerns.

Summey implied that the park will center on passive nature, pointing to its focus on walking trails. The only physical building that will be constructed at the park is a facility to house restrooms and first aid.

Mentalism, magic comes to North Charleston PAC

Five world-class illusionists will stage incredible interactive illusions at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center May 2. This mind-bending theatrical production called Champions of Magic includes stunts such as an impossible escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, mind-blowing mentalist predictions and levitation high above the stage.One of the five performers, Hollie England, said she performs artis...

Five world-class illusionists will stage incredible interactive illusions at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center May 2. This mind-bending theatrical production called Champions of Magic includes stunts such as an impossible escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, mind-blowing mentalist predictions and levitation high above the stage.

One of the five performers, Hollie England, said she performs artistic magic acts. In the show, England swallows needles and plays with fire while dressed as an Alice in Wonderland-inspired character.

Mentalist Alex Mcaulay will “dive into the audience’s minds,” England said. “We interact with and use the audience in very different kinds of ways. Alex, he reads people’s minds. The thoughts in your head, he can delve in there and get them out.

“And then, we have Fernando Velasco, an escapologist. He does some death-defying escapes, from diving into water tanks with handcuffs to getting out of a straitjacket,” she said.

A duo called “Young and Strange” will also perform, creating large-scale illusions in the vein of well-known magician David Copperfield.

“There’s definitely a lot of audience participation, so if you want to get picked for something, then there’s a lot of chances it might happen,” England said. “It’s for the whole family, and it’s got a large variety of things in the show, so everyone’s going to find something that they enjoy.”

The five illusionists in Champions of Magic have been compared to the characters of the 2013 film, Now You See Me, in which charismatic magician Atlas (played by Jesse Eisenberg) leads a team of talented illusionists.

The film, predictability, gets some things wrong about being a stage illusionist, England said, mostly that they perform acts which simply can’t be done in real life. It does, however, get some things totally right.

“They each have their own speciality of magic that they do, which is accurate to us as well,” England said. “I also love how they work together, which is something that Champions of Magic also does. We have multiple acts we do together as a group, and that’s really cool because you see how we interact with each other, and how we create magic together.”

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11 Extra-Affordable Charleston Happy Hours

Charleston is and has always been a “happy hour city,” with establishments providing discounted libations and appetizers to get the party started in the late afternoon. But what makes a happy hour essential? These Charleston destinations provide the best deals on booze and bites, along with an environment fit for socializing with the group. Next time, when the afternoon hits, head to one of these 10 Charleston establishments. Read More...

Charleston is and has always been a “happy hour city,” with establishments providing discounted libations and appetizers to get the party started in the late afternoon. But what makes a happy hour essential? These Charleston destinations provide the best deals on booze and bites, along with an environment fit for socializing with the group. Next time, when the afternoon hits, head to one of these 10 Charleston establishments.

Read More

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The Tattooed Moose serves some of the best bar food around, and corn dogs and duck fat fries are only $2.50 during happy hour. A 16-ounce can of PBR will only set you back $1.50 and shots of Jameson are $4. Happy hour runs Monday through Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where else can you find $1 oysters and $1 glasses of bubbly? Pier 41 in Mount Pleasant might be the only spot around. There’s always a special here, including $5 martinis on Thursdays. Be sure to have that Uber lined up.

Edmund’s Oast calls it “Sad Times Happy Hour.” From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, customers can order the following items for half off: frozen drinks, house draft beer, curly fries, fish sauce and vinegar chips, and Korean chicken “dunkaroos.”

Neighborhood spot Herd Provisions offers an expansive happy hour menu from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bar or on the patio. Find a $7 Old Fashioned, $4 beers, and $6 bubbly. The burgers (beef and vegetable versions) or a piles of poutine are only $8.

Rutledge Avenue dive bar Moe’s Crosstown has a generous weekday happy hour, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The unpretentious service features PBR for $1.75 and appetizers like mac and cheese bites, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers for $5.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can score a super cold mini martini (a tiny ‘tini) at Babas on Cannon for just $5. These gin cocktails may be small, but they pack a punch. The best deal in town is on Fridays when Babas hosts an apertivo hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free snacks like olives, boquerones, tapenades, dips, and plenty of bread and chips.

Monday through Friday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Italian restaurant Indaco offers $7 glasses of wine and pints of beer, as well as discounts on polpette, flatbread, and a margherita pizza. This is a great jumping off point for King Street adventures.

Head towards Shem Creek, because French seafood spot Nico features $5 glasses of wine and beer. Happy hour goers can also sip discounted champagne while munching on $1.75 oysters. Discounts apply Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Stop by Mexican spot Pink Cactus from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday to Saturday, for tequila and taco hour for $6 margaritas and $3 queso. The patio is a perfect place to end the work day.

Catch Estadio’s happy hour quickly (it’s only from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.), because you don’t want to miss the gin and tonics for only $5. Try the Sevillana version with orange gin, Aperol, and orangey Sweatman tonic. There’s also $5 sangria and a $5 snack bowl.

The happy hour specials at Co are plentiful and ideal for those looking to snack alongside an adult beverage. Sake carafes are half off and select beers and wine go for $4. For $5, customers can score crab rangoons, beef and kimchi dumplings, or a yellow curry dish.

The Tattooed Moose serves some of the best bar food around, and corn dogs and duck fat fries are only $2.50 during happy hour. A 16-ounce can of PBR will only set you back $1.50 and shots of Jameson are $4. Happy hour runs Monday through Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where else can you find $1 oysters and $1 glasses of bubbly? Pier 41 in Mount Pleasant might be the only spot around. There’s always a special here, including $5 martinis on Thursdays. Be sure to have that Uber lined up.

Edmund’s Oast calls it “Sad Times Happy Hour.” From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, customers can order the following items for half off: frozen drinks, house draft beer, curly fries, fish sauce and vinegar chips, and Korean chicken “dunkaroos.”

Neighborhood spot Herd Provisions offers an expansive happy hour menu from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bar or on the patio. Find a $7 Old Fashioned, $4 beers, and $6 bubbly. The burgers (beef and vegetable versions) or a piles of poutine are only $8.

Rutledge Avenue dive bar Moe’s Crosstown has a generous weekday happy hour, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The unpretentious service features PBR for $1.75 and appetizers like mac and cheese bites, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers for $5.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can score a super cold mini martini (a tiny ‘tini) at Babas on Cannon for just $5. These gin cocktails may be small, but they pack a punch. The best deal in town is on Fridays when Babas hosts an apertivo hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free snacks like olives, boquerones, tapenades, dips, and plenty of bread and chips.

Monday through Friday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Italian restaurant Indaco offers $7 glasses of wine and pints of beer, as well as discounts on polpette, flatbread, and a margherita pizza. This is a great jumping off point for King Street adventures.

Head towards Shem Creek, because French seafood spot Nico features $5 glasses of wine and beer. Happy hour goers can also sip discounted champagne while munching on $1.75 oysters. Discounts apply Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Stop by Mexican spot Pink Cactus from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday to Saturday, for tequila and taco hour for $6 margaritas and $3 queso. The patio is a perfect place to end the work day.

Catch Estadio’s happy hour quickly (it’s only from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.), because you don’t want to miss the gin and tonics for only $5. Try the Sevillana version with orange gin, Aperol, and orangey Sweatman tonic. There’s also $5 sangria and a $5 snack bowl.

The happy hour specials at Co are plentiful and ideal for those looking to snack alongside an adult beverage. Sake carafes are half off and select beers and wine go for $4. For $5, customers can score crab rangoons, beef and kimchi dumplings, or a yellow curry dish.

Engineering company expanding, adding jobs in Charleston County

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A governmental engineering company will invest $2.5 million to expand its Charleston County operations, it announced Thursday.Defense Engineering Systems is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that provides high-value engineering and manufacturing services for the aerospace and defense industry, governor’s office spokesman Brandon Charochak said.“DES is excited to expand our engineering and prototype manufacturing operations in Charleston County. Operations have grown yea...

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A governmental engineering company will invest $2.5 million to expand its Charleston County operations, it announced Thursday.

Defense Engineering Systems is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that provides high-value engineering and manufacturing services for the aerospace and defense industry, governor’s office spokesman Brandon Charochak said.

“DES is excited to expand our engineering and prototype manufacturing operations in Charleston County. Operations have grown year over year for a decade,” Defense Engineering Services Managing Principals Bob Cole and Greg Gordon said in a joint statement, “This growth can be attributed to the business-friendly environment and technically capable workforce of South Carolina and Charleston County.”

The new investment will create 45 new jobs.

“We are fully committed to supporting our existing businesses, and we are thrilled to see DES’ announcement that will bring more than 45 jobs to Charleston County,” Gov. Henry McMaster said. “We look forward to further strengthening our long-standing partnership with them in the years to come.”

The company works to solve problems on high-performance systems involving mechanical and electrical engineering, testing and evaluation, design and systems engineering, and survivability engineering. DES services the U.S. Department of Defense through vehicle systems integration, automotive design, survivability solutions, reverse engineering and obsolescence issues, while also serving the U.S. Army with medical training systems and innovative armor, Charochak said.

The company’s new 53,000-square-foot facility at 6920 Weber Blvd. in North Charleston will accommodate manufacturing space for large-scale projects and add manufacturing capabilities to its prototype and low-rate initial production shop.

The expansion will be complete in May and operations are already online. Individuals interested in joining the DES team should visit the company’s careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

N. Charleston charter school ordered to close after violations, noncompliance

A charter school in North Charleston will close its doors after this school year following a history of violations and instances of noncompliance.NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A charter school in North Charleston will close its doors after this school year following a history of violations and instances of noncompliance, according to the Charter Institute at Erskine.Gates School has been in operation since August of 2021, “founded to serve students with a primary diagnosis of dyslexia,” according to the school&rsq...

A charter school in North Charleston will close its doors after this school year following a history of violations and instances of noncompliance.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A charter school in North Charleston will close its doors after this school year following a history of violations and instances of noncompliance, according to the Charter Institute at Erskine.

Gates School has been in operation since August of 2021, “founded to serve students with a primary diagnosis of dyslexia,” according to the school’s website.

The Charter Institute at Erskine’s Board of Directors, tasked with authorizing charter schools in South Carolina, voted Monday to revoke the charter of Gates School “due to systemic findings of noncompliance of state and federal special education law.”

The board had previously met Mar. 16, 2022 and voted to revoke Gates School’s charter for the same reason, but an appeal hearing from the school gave them a second chance at keeping their doors open and remedying “it’s ongoing noncompliance,” the Institute says.

Live 5 has previously reported on the school’s history of noncompliance, including when the Charter Institute at Erskine paused enrollment just months after the school’s opening due to staffing shortages, specifically special education teachers.

“The Board and our District are tasked with ensuring that every student’s rights are protected under the law and that our schools are complying with all legal and regulatory requirements imposed by our federal and state governments,” Dr. Steven Adamson, President of Erskine College and Chairman of the Charter Institute Board, said. “As we move forward, the Institute and the Board are committed to ensuring a smooth transition.”

As of April 24, 2023, about 95 students were enrolled at Gates School, according to the Charter Institute at Erskine. The Institute says it will notify parents of the closure and work with families to “provide a smooth transition for their students.”

Ashley Epperson, Director of Communications for the Charter Institute at Erskine, provided this statement regarding the school’s violations:

The Gates School’s history of noncompliance has been extensive. As a result of Gates School’s systemic noncompliance, their students with disabilities are owed more than 220,000 minutes of special education services that the school was required by law to provide. The Charter Institute, in an attempt to remedy this systemic special education noncompliance, provided ongoing support, trainings, and site visits to the school. In an effort to impress upon the administration of Gates School the seriousness of these matters, the Institute placed multiple sanctions on the school from 2021-2023, including the issuance of multiple notices of noncompliance, multiple corrective action plans, and multiple enrollment freezes.

Stephanie Sams, Founding Board Chair for Gates School issued the following statement after Monday’s announcement:

Gates School community is heartbroken and disappointed that the Charter Institute at Erskine Board disregarded the information from special education compliance experts that no statutory grounds for revocation exist. Gates School has always been dedicated to appropriate service and exceptional instruction and experiences for our dyslexic learners. Our focus will always remain on them and their best next steps. The Gates School Board and community will be taking under consideration those best next steps although I have been told that parents have already filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

The Charter Institute at Erskine says this is the first charter the board has revoked. Over the past decade, 14 charter schools have been closed in South Carolina.

The Charter Institute at Erskine is compiling a full list of Gates School’s violations and instances of noncompliance.

Officials with Gates School have yet to respond to a request for comment.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

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