Bait-and-Switch Wording on CCSD Referendum

Several years ago Charleston County Schools Superintendent Nancy McGinley promised to develop Lowcountry Tech at the old Rivers High School campus in order to stymie plans for the Charter School of Math and Science. Even weeks ago, McGinley reaffirmed this plan, though the success of CSMS has made potential quarters tight. She had to; otherwise, her sales tax push would have lost the endorsement of the NAACP.

Lo and behold! As the P&C has discovered, part of the referendum on the ballot next month indicates the "Renovation of and additions to the Rhett building at Burke High School campus for Lowcountry Tech Academy." Now McGinley is calling "Lowcountry Tech" a "catch-all term."

In truth, money for the renovation of the Rivers building for Lowcountry Tech has already been set aside. Not enough room exists there to hold all of the proposed tech classes as well as CSMS, which is adding a grade per year. By using Burke as well, McGinley ends up doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. Parents at Burke have clamored for more vocational classes for years.

But it is a case of "bait-and-switch" to use that wording on the ballot!