Florence 1 Schools named Purple Star District

Florence 1 Schools has been named a Purple Star District by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), signifying the district’s commitment to helping military-connected families and children as they transition to a new school and community. According to the SC Department of Veterans Affairs website, only 13 of the more than 60 districts in South Carolina have been named a Purple Star District. Florence 1 becomes the 14th district. 

The news of the district’s designation will be officially announced at a Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11 at the Florence Veterans Park. Wilson High School US Air Force JROTC will participate in the ceremony with the Presentation of the Colors. 

Florence 1 Assistant Superintendent Greg Hall, a veteran himself, said that Florence 1 is pleased to have received this designation, especially on Veterans Day. 

“Receiving the Purple Star Designation is a tremendous honor for Florence 1 Schools,” Hall said. “This recognition underscores our commitment to honoring and supporting the unique needs of our military-connected students and their families. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming and supportive environment, ensuring our schools are a source of stability, community, and opportunity for those who sacrifice so much for our country. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff to make Florence 1 Schools a place where every student, especially those from military families, feels valued and supported.”

“Military families have unique needs and I think it is important for us to provide all the resources and support our students need while their family members are serving,” said Florence 1 Schools Board Member EJ McIver. “No matter how long or short their time is in our district, we are here to support them. As a board member, I am proud that the South Carolina Department of Education has named Florence 1 a Purple Star District.” 

According to the SCDE, districts have a list of requirements that must be met to receive the Purple Star designation including training by the Military Child Education Coalition and the implementation of “programs and resources designed to support the unique situations facing military students and families.”

Florence 1’s Purple Star District Liaison Heather Bormann said that as a military spouse, she knows personally how difficult it can be when families move.  

“As a parent, enrolling my kids in school was always the top priority when we moved to my husband’s new duty station but there are also a lot of other resources that you have to find when you move to a new community, like doctors, churches, or sports,” Bormann said. “I am thrilled to be able to help all of our families find the resources and support they need for their children to thrive, even in a new environment. I am thankful that we, as a district, are supporting the families of our military personnel and I am proud that we are being recognized as a Purple Star District.”

As part of the process of earning the Purple Star designation, Florence 1 has created a webpage with important resources for military families, including information about new student registration, extracurricular activities and links to community resources. Contact information for Bormann as well as the liaison for each of the district’s schools can be found on the Military Families page at f1s.org/militaryfamilies.