Communications
The Communications Department of the Barnwell County School District serves as the main point of contact for district communication and public information as well as serving as a liaison with the community and news media. The purpose of the office is to ensure the timely communication of district news to students, families and the entire community.
The department also provides timely updates about weather-related closures, schedule changes, and emergencies through the district website, ParentSquare, and official social media accounts. Families should keep their phone numbers and email addresses current in PowerSchool to ensure they receive important messages.
Through local media, the district website, and social media, BCSD highlights student learning, programs, activities, and opportunities that support the District’s vision: Every Student Matters. Every Moment Counts.
Resources
- District and School Websites
- District Newsletters
- Freedom of Information (FOIA)
- Inclement Weather Information
- ParentSquare
- Press Releases
District and School Websites
The Office of Communications manages the content and accessibility of our district and individual school websites. We are committed to ensuring our digital spaces are accessible to everyone.
If you encounter any content issues, broken links, or accessibility barriers, please let us know so we can fix them.
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Report an Issue: Email the Director of Communications at BCSDCommunitySupport@bcsd.net.
District Newsletters
Freedom of Information (FOIA)
In accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-20, Barnwell County School District provides access to public records maintained by the District.
Under the Act, “public records” include books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, and other documentary materials—regardless of physical form or characteristics—that are prepared, owned, used, possessed, or retained by a public body.
Many public records are available on the Barnwell County School District website. If the information you are seeking is not available online, you may submit a written request for copies of existing records.
FOIA requests should be submitted to:
Barnwell County School District
Office of the Superintendent
770 Hagood Avenue
Barnwell, SC 29812
Requests may also be submitted by email to Kay Gooding.
FOIA Information
FOIA Request Requirements
All Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests must be submitted in writing and signed by the requester. Requests should include:
- Name
- Organization, if applicable
- Mailing address
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Detailed description of the records requested
- Date of request
- Confirmation that the records will not be used for commercial solicitation
FOIA Exemptions and Prohibitions
The South Carolina FOIA does not require Barnwell County School District to create records that do not exist or to provide records in a specific format.
Some records are exempt from disclosure under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40, including personnel records; student records; tests and examinations used to evaluate student or employee performance; records related to the security of students, staff, or property; attorney-client privileged records; and executive session materials.
South Carolina law also prohibits the use of public records for commercial solicitation. See S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-50.
Response Timeline
The District will respond within 10 business days to requests for records less than 24 months old. For records more than 24 months old, the response timeline is 20 business days.
If records are available, the District will provide them within 30 calendar days after notification for records less than 24 months old, or within 35 calendar days for records more than 24 months old. Timelines may be extended by mutual agreement.
Fees
Fees may be charged for the actual cost of searching for, retrieving, redacting, and copying records. A deposit of up to 25% of the estimated cost may be required before work begins on requests involving substantial staff time, large volumes of records, or confidential information.
- Standard copies: $0.10 per page
- Nonstandard copies, including plans or plats: actual copying cost
- Search, retrieval, and redaction: hourly rate of the lowest-paid qualified employee needed to complete the work, billed in 15-minute increments
No fee will be charged for reviewing records to determine whether they are subject to disclosure. Electronic records will be provided without copying charges when they already exist in electronic format; however, staff time required to convert records to an electronic format may be charged.
Fees may be adjusted as staffing costs and commercial copying rates change.
Inclement Weather Information
We understand that changes to the school schedule affect students, families, and employees. Barnwell County School District is committed to providing as much advance notice as possible while also monitoring changing weather conditions that may allow schools to operate on a normal schedule.
When weather conditions require a delayed start or eLearning day, the District will make and communicate the decision as early as possible, but no later than 6:00 a.m. Families are encouraged to develop an inclement-weather plan for childcare and transportation in the event that school operations are affected.
Announcement of a decision to delay, close or move to eLearning will be made through the following outlets:
- BCSD and school websites (immediate posting with up to date information)
- ParentSquare
- Radio (WDOG 93.5)
- Local TV (WJBF Channel 6 - Augusta)
IF NO ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE, BCSD WILL OPERATE ON A NORMAL SCHEDULE.
ParentSquare
Barnwell County School District uses ParentSquare for district and school communication through email, text messages, and app notifications. ParentSquare accounts are automatically created for parents and guardians listed as primary contacts in PowerSchool using the email address and phone number provided during registration.
Parents and guardians may receive an email or text invitation to activate their ParentSquare account. You may also create an account at ParentSquare Login or through the ParentSquare app using Google single sign-on, your email address, or your phone number. The information you use must match the contact information listed in PowerSchool.
If your information is not recognized, contact your child’s school to update your contact information. Please allow up to 48 hours after updates are made for the information to appear in ParentSquare.
Families will receive school communications even if they have not activated their accounts. However, account activation is required to send and receive messages with teachers and to access confidential student-specific documents and forms.