Cape Romain Environmental Charter School is a parent driven, public charter school being proposed to serve Awendaw, McClellanville and the surrounding area.

The mission statement is: "To teach a diverse population of children in McClellanville, Awendaw, and the surrounding areas in a safe and supportive learning environment in which families and students are encouraged to be actively involved in the educational process, foster individual growth, and promote respect for self, others, and the natural environment in which they live."

Hugh Scott, member of the Cape Romain Environmental Charter School Steering Committee, said, "we are looking to form an environmental school for district one and northern Mount Pleasant that would serve kindergarten students through eighth grade."

In the area, there is St. James-Santee Elementary School in McClellanville.

"We are gearing it towards an environmental theme which we thought would be a good idea with all of the natural resources we have, such as Bulls Bay. It is a perfect fit for our rural area," Scott explained.

Alicia Leland, chairwoman of the committee, said the most important thing is to spark an interest and so far the idea has been well received by the community. The committee members have been spreading the word by a door-to-door campaign and getting the word out at public events like the Awendaw Farmers Market.

Leland said the issue is that there is a limited choice of schools and they hope to attract families to that area while keeping the ones they have there.

"We have the resources at our doorstep with the Wildlife Refuge and Francis Marion National Forest," she said. They are still deciding whether to apply for Charleston County or state. The application is in early May for a hopeful fall 2012 opening.

The public is invited to attend the next meeting on Thursday, Oct. 7 at McClellanville Town Hall at 7 p.m. Learn more at www.caperomainschool.com.

(Helen R. Hammond can be reached at helen@moultrienews.com.)