From staff reports
The Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals approved the special use permit for the temporary site of Sea Islands Heritage Academy at its April 25, 2024, meeting. In collaboration with Building Hope, the academy has a signed lease agreement with Grace Chapel AME Church on Lady’s Island to establish a temporary campus for its newly approved Grades 6 through 12 charter school.
“I thank the ZBOA and Beaufort County staff for helping make this school a reality. We will open our doors in August 2024,” Sea Islands Heritage Academy Executive Director Alana Jenkins Marchel said in a news release. “The partnership between Sea Islands Heritage Academy, Building Hope, and Grace Chapel AME Church exemplifies a shared commitment to our children’s education, community, and cultural preservation.”
Utilizing the back parking lot space of Grace Chapel AME Church located at 10 Holly Hall Road, the temporary location will feature modular units to serve 126 6th- and 7th-grade students and staff while the permanent campus is under development.
This temporary setup is designed to meet the immediate educational needs of students in St. Helena, Lady’s Island, and Beaufort areas, offering a unique curriculum centered around the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Building Hope, a 501(c)(3) organization with extensive experience in developing educational facilities, will manage all aspects of the site preparation and modular unit placement, ensuring minimal disruption and seamless integration into the church’s existing space. This arrangement includes a commitment to restore the leased space to its original or better condition upon the project’s conclusion, with options for the church to purchase the modular units.
Sea Islands Heritage Academy is also in the process of closing on a parcel of land on St. Helena Island. This site will become the permanent home of the academy, with a projected opening for the 2026 school year.
“We look forward to embarking on this exciting journey together, building a legacy of education, heritage, and community engagement on St. Helena Island,” Jenkins Marchel said.
