The high ceiling and concrete floor make it hard to imagine small children crawling about. Of course, finding new uses for old rooms is nothing new at Clark Academy, which was once a vocational school building. After sharing James Island High School's library, the academy is slowly building its own media center in two adjoining classrooms. The first room holds a few computers for the reading lab, some tables and bookshelves containing the school's small selection of books. The other room is slightly larger and still empty.
Students access current reference books on the state library network.
The academy also started a fine arts program this year. In an old auto shop, green carpet remnants hang from the walls to muffle sound in the room. Soon, mirrors will cover the walls, and teacher Janet Hicks wants a portable dance barre, a portable floor and a curtain to give students the feel of performing in a theater. An adjacent bathroom holds the makings of a darkroom for the newest course offering - photography. Eventually, Coleman would like to renovate the auditorium and gym, which the district uses for storage.