The Eastside School campus, located on the corner of North Cook Street and Country Club Drive, was a segregated school beginning in 1954 and the last class graduated in 1969.
                                 Photo by Jacqueline Hough

The Eastside School campus, located on the corner of North Cook Street and Country Club Drive, was a segregated school beginning in 1954 and the last class graduated in 1969.

Photo by Jacqueline Hough

Eastside School Preservation Alumni Association and the Marlboro County Board of Education have worked since the fall of 2020 to preserve the old Eastside School site.

Recently, the two entities signed a 40-year lease and partnership agreement for the site.

This partnership gives ESPAA access and control of the property.

Luke Johnakin, a member of the ESPAA, it had taken considerable time and effort to arrive at this pivotal point. “ESPAA’s future could not be brighter,” he said. “Once implemented, the community-based economic development and related human services planned for the Eastside complex will truly be of immeasurable benefit to the citizenry of Marlboro and surrounding areas. None of this would be possible without the continuing supportive cooperation of ESPAA’s many partnering allies, especially the local Board of Education.”

Goals include renovating the facilities and grounds of the campus and providing educational, social, and recreational programs and services for all citizens in the county.

Marlboro County Board of Education Chairman Michael Coachman said ESPAA is doing a capital lease agreement. One of the programs he noted was a Head Start program at the site.

“They are trying to get the community involved with it and have other entities come in and bring other programs.

Coachman said there are plans to work with faith-based groups and provide mentoring. “And to bring classes down here that could fit our children’s needs.”

He added they started in February right now and the district is in the process of moving some items out.

ESPAA is setting up a conference room so they can start having meetings and working together, seeking funding through grants and, and different organizations.

Coachman said the goal is the first of next year to move forward and start bringing in programs.

For Coachman, the partnership means they will be a part of the school district and able to have an after-school program for youth especially juniors and seniors in high school looking to advance their careers.

He encouraged faith-based groups, pastors, leaders, and community members to help ESPAA.

“Anything we can do to bring positive things to the community,” Coachman said. “ESPAA looking to partner with everybody along with the school district encounter that used to be a part of it.”