COLUMBIA -- KRCG’s Columbia Bureau Chief Mark Slavit recently sat down with the Head of Columbia Independent School Scott Gibson for a conversation about academics, the new CIS building and the challenges of tough economic times.
Gibson spent 22 years in the Air Force. During some of that time, Gibson worked with counterintelligence and other national security issues. Now, he’s the Head of Columbia Independent School and a French teacher.
“During those 22 years, I did four tours overseas," Gibson said. "Columbia Independent School emphasizes global perspectives and international experiences. I was fortunate because the other candidates for this job didn’t have international experience.”
Columbia Independent School has a new 62,000 square-foot building this year. Gibson said his school’s enrollment continues to grow every year with children from both rich and poor families.
“We can enroll kids from families with modest means through financial aid," Gibson said. "Private schools have been using financial aid for students for more than six decades. If we used the national model, we would have about $200,000 for financial aid. We are very generous. We gave out about $450,000 last year in financial aid.”
Despite a sluggish economy, enrollment at Columbia Independent School increased by 20 percent over last year. Gibson said if school is doing okay in tough times, he looks forward to when the recession is over and his school can grow even larger.
You can read Mark’s entire interview with Scott Gibson in this month’s edition of Inside Columbia Magazine.
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