Jared Guadagni - Staff Writer

Jim Rex, right, talks with Blackville schools superintendent Teresa Pope.

The same day he announced his bid for governor, S.C. Secretary of Education Jim Rex stopped in the Blackville-Hilda 19 school district to tour its golf learning facility.

Rex spoke to a room full of Blackville teachers, students, school board members and community figures at the Blackville Country Club Sept. 15. Rex spoke on the importance of public education and workforce development.

Rex said the golf learning facility is a "wonderful project."

"It gives students an opportunity to work in a team and be exposed to a whole new set of skills and understand the relationship between practice, hard work and success." Rex said. "Golf is an outlet a lot of kids don't get - it's really important for students to have these options."

District superintendent Teresa Pope said the golf course and club have been taking shape for the past two years and much has been accomplished because of the hard work and dedication of people in the schools and community.

Despite $500 million in state cutbacks to public education South Carolina students are succeeding in the academic field.

He said the state has rated number one in improvement for on time graduation rates and number one in SAT score improvement among states with a high participation for students that take the test.