Sophia Sousa

3 weeks ago | lexingtonchronicle.com | Bryn Eddy |Sophia Sousa

The April 17 bus accident on the Chester County, South Carolina, section of Interstate 77 killed one Lexington County School District Two eighth-grader and sent many others to the hospital. Three buses from Lexington County’s Pine Ridge Middle School were on the way home from a Charlotte-area field trip on Thursday when a tire blew on one of the buses, causing an accident. The bus was carrying three adults and 35 students, according to the first statement the district gave the media.

Jan 18, 2025 | lexingtonchronicle.com | Sophia Sousa

Brandi Lee Owensby's father, Mike Gettings, remembers his daughter and her students calling him up during the school day to sing happy birthday to him. A cherished theater teacher and director at White Knoll High School since 2008, Brandi, 40, died suddenly on Jan. 12, 2025, at Prisma Health Richland, according to her obituary. Those who knew Brandi describe her as generous, caring and always ready to lift others up. Gettings fondly recalled how Brandi’s infectious spirit brightened everybody’s day.

Jan 17, 2025 | lexingtonchronicle.com | Sophia Sousa

At the most recent Lexington-Richland School District Five meeting, students were recognized, a PowerSchool cybersecurity update was shared and progress on the bond referendum was discussed. Last Tuesday afternoon, the district received notification from PowerSchool that customer data worldwide had been accessed by an unauthorized party. PowerSchool told district officials that the compromised credentials were for a support account, which allowed the hacker to access customer data globally.

Jan 17, 2025 | lexingtonchronicle.com | Sophia Sousa

Batesburg-Leesville Elementary Schools’ turnaround plan was approved by school board members at its latest meeting. This came after the school received an overall rating of below average. The South Carolina Department of Education requires all schools with unsatisfactory or below-average ratings to submit turnaround plans outlining strategies for addressing areas of weakness and improving performance.

Jan 16, 2025 | lexingtonchronicle.com | Sophia Sousa

Angie Slatton has been named the new principal of Seven Oaks Elementary Global Magnet. Slatton has served as interim principal since August. Prior to that, she was the director of special services for District Five, a role she held since 2014. Slatton earned her bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in secondary social studies from Winthrop University. Slatton later received her doctorate in educational administration from the University of South Carolina.