(This story has been corrected to reflect that a quote previously attributed to Dr. Yancy Ford was actually stated by Board Chairman Lamar Allen.)

By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

It may be too late for next year, but Lisa Scarbrough of Guyton hopes the Effingham County School District will at least review and possibly revise its policy regarding foreign exchange students for future years.

Scarbrough is currently hosting a student from Spain, and had hoped to bring a student from Italy to South Effingham High School next year. However, the district policy allows only two foreign exchange students per year per high school. The policy has been in place since 2000 and was last updated in 2017 – but the two-student limit remained in place.

The district policy requires completed applications must be submitted to the district by June 1 for the following academic year; but based on first-come, first-served basis, applications are usually submitted for approval to the school board way before the June 1 date.

The four slots for next year have already been approved by the school board. The two spots at South Effingham were awarded to a male student from Spain at the board’s Feb. 16 meeting, and a female student from Norway at the March 1 meeting. The two spots at Effingham High were awarded to a female student from Spain on March 1 and a male student from Vietnam at its March 16 meeting.

Scarbrough is active with Boy Scouts, and in addition to attending high school, the students she hosts are also scouts in their home countries. Her current student from Spain has been working on his Eagle Scout project this year in addition to attending South Effingham, where he also plays JV basketball.

“We were able to arrange what (Scouts) did (in Spain) with an equivalency board of review. He was able to take his experience of scouting in Spain and convert it over to experience here for Boy Scouts of America,” Scarbrough explained. “His Eagle project is in progress and he could be an Eagle Scout before he returns to Spain.”

Scarbrough understands the district must balance student population with available personnel and classroom space at the school, but she still believes that limiting the number of foreign students within the county to four per year is counterintuitive. High school students interacting with peers from other countries are mutually beneficial.

“Chatham County has no limits (for foreign exchange students),” Scarbrough added. “The majority of counties in Georgia don’t have limits. Bulloch and Bryan (counties) both set a limit of five students per school.” Her overarching question is the seemingly random two-student limit in Effingham County.

“Effingham only allows two exchange students per high school, which is .001% of the current school population,” she told the school board at its meeting on March 16. She recounted how her current student from Spain has been like an older brother to her son; taught local scouts here how to cook Spanish dishes; and that his Eagle project has benefited a local food pantry in Rincon.

She firmly believes that when students interact with their peers from other countries, their world view is improved.

“Many of our students won’t be world travelers. Their global view is limited to what they see on TV, or watch with their parents, or read in history books,” Scarbrough told the school board. “But they get the opportunity to learn about another country and another culture from a peer and that has a far lasting impression upon them.”

“We will definitely look at (the policy) and see if we can justify (letting) that boy in,” Board Chairman Lamar Allen said after Scarbrough’s comments on March 16.

District Superintendent Dr. Yancy Ford thanked Scarbrough for bringing her concerns to the Board.

Policy changes at the school district may be started by a community member, but also must go through proper channels according to board policy.

In an email sent to Scarbrough and the Herald, Dr. Ford elaborated, “I have referred the proposed Board Policy JQK to Mr. (Tim) Hood, (assistant superintendent of administrative services,) and his office to research similar high growth districts to Effingham County and over the next few months provide an update to the board regarding information found and studied. It's important to us to always have excellent dialogue with our community members and research the best information available so that our board is informed.”

Scarbrough forwarded her email reply to the Herald, stating, “I do appreciate this being taken under consideration. Unfortunately, that means there is no possibility for us to host the young Scout from Italy as this will be past the timeline he needs for a family commitment to be able to come here.”

She added her disappointment that the district could not consider placing the student from Italy as the district recently said there are openings at both high schools through the district’s choice program.