- What grade would you give the superintendent for her leadership?
- What is the biggest problem in Charleston County School District? What is its biggest asset?
- If you're elected, what is one specific goal that you plan to accomplish?
Anybody see at least one glaring omission?
How about
Do you support the sales tax increase for the schools on this November's ballot?
What about
If the sales tax increase fails, would you support raising property taxes?
And
If elected, would you call for a forensic audit of CCSD's books?
I'm sure some readers can add to the list.
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4 comments:
Unless the Post and Courier, the Board of Realtors or the Chamber of Commerce ask these questions and publish the answers, we're not going to know where these people stand on the issues until it's too late. Sorry, but waiting until after they are elected to find out who and what our representatives really represent isn't very smart. At it is, the voting majority of the county school board doesn't represent the voters or the parents of students. They've said as much. Try getting them to respond to questions now.
Here's a word to the wise among the League of Women Voters. Unless there is something other than filtered questions being presented to the candidates, then it's just a "Dog and Pony Show". The LWV looks like it's in bed with the system when it sponsors "debates" which do nothing for giving substance to the issues. Public education in Charleston County is in the toilet and all four of these organizations (the reporting staff of the daily paper, the Realtors, the Chamber and the LWV) all share part of the blame. They fronted the voting majorities who have controlled the board for the last 10 years. All we have gotten in return are failing grades where our public education system is judged most critically(literacy, graduation rates, teacher satisfaction and administrative accountability). Parents and taxpayers are being ripped off as administrators get raises. At the same time schools are closed, class sizes increased, transportation time lengthened and academic choices reduced for all but the most privileged.
The only growth Charleston County's public schools have seen is in the area of charter schools. Even this has been with the administration attempting to stand in the school house door. Why not advance neighborhood schools, academic choices and innovation at the level of individual schools? In the face of this reality, why do some candidates say they like it the way it is? Whose interests are they really representing? The superintendent's or ours?
The chances that the candidates running were all but perhaps one encouraged to do so by retiring school board members and CCSD administration are simply overwhelming. We'll get more of the same.
Whenever I see a political debate led by the League of Women Voters, I'm amazed by the lack of critical thinking and the lack of penetrating, follow-up questions. That's always struck me as funny because in real life we women can be unrelenting when we suspect someone, especially a smooth-talking man, is lying to us or telling us what we want to hear.
Does that mean the local League of Women Voters organization has allowed themselves to be hoodwinked? Not good.
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