Closing John de la Howe

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children may be justified in light

of the state's bleak budget crisis.

Facing a dismal state budget, Gov. Sanford has made the dramatic decision to close South Carolina's only state-supported residential home for troubled children. The governor's proposal can be justified only because the state is in such dire financial straits.

But a reality is that few comparable options will be available for the 80 or so children who currently attend the historic John de la Howe School in McCormick County. Gov. Sanford, in his budget, suggested sending the young people to the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School in Columbia, but the school's director said the school would not be able to accept anyone under 16.

That would disqualify many of the children at de la Howe, which serves ages 11 to 18. Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School, a quasi-military institution, also does not provide the comprehensive counseling and family-centered services offered at de la Howe.

Gov. Sanford would provide a $12,000 voucher for each of the young people at de la Howe. A hope is that they would find accommodations in private or church-affiliated facilities for troubled children. It's unlikely, however, that any private children's homes in the state would offer the comprehensive services and on-campus schools available at de la Howe. The vouchers cover only current students, not those who might need future services.

The governor's spokesman said Sanford intended for the Wil Lou Gray School to expand its admission range to accommodate de la Howe children. Other alternatives for de la Howe children could include foster care or state mental health or juvenile detention facilities.

The de la Howe School, located in a rural setting on 1,216 acres, admits young people who are runaways, truants or have behavioral or some substance-abuse problems. They attend school and receive counseling, family therapy and work-skills instruction. Young people are referred by schools, the Mental Health Department and the Department of Social Services.

The school, which has operated for 207 years, has become too expensive at a time when state lawmakers are sharply cutting back on public education, universities, law enforcement, prisons and other vital services that serve the broader public. Sanford said the residential school spends almost $70,000 per student annually, although the actual figure probably is closer to $40,000. Eliminating the school will save the state $3.2 million.

An option short of closing the school would be a Legislative Audit Council investigation and more aggressive state oversight to improve efficiency. The school's board and generations of alumni are pledging to protest the closing of the historic institution. Eliminating the school, however, remains an unappealing but justified alternative.