The Charleston County School District believes that taxpayers have short memories. How else to explain its proposal this month to raise taxes only half a year after promising that extension of the "penny" sales tax would take care of its finances.
If you voted for that as a business owner, more fool you!
While our elected school board attempts to rein in spending, the truth is that no one is watching the store. The district's budget is now estimated to rise to $426 million next year. That's serious money! When will our state delegation recognize that one of the largest employers in the county needs more oversight? Would you believe that many school districts' budgets are overseen by higher authorities, such as county councils or state delegations?
Apparently it will take a major whistle-blower to effect a forensic audit of the district, a move its critics have advocated for decades. Well, acting superintendent Michael Bobby isn't going to support a true audit--as chief financial officer he has a horse in this race. We all know the district's budget is bloated--we just don't know how much.
But look, Bobby says, we were going to raise over $22 million in new revenue, but as a special price for you, it's going to be only $6.9 million! How can we complain about that?
Board members Tripp Wiles, Todd Garrett, and Michael Miller, who aren't always on the same side, are reluctant to go along, but they constitute only one third of the board's members.
Here are the board members who need to hear from you:
Mrs. Cindy Bohn Coats
Board of Trustees Chair
75 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
819-8205 (cell)
email
Business Specialist
Term expires: 11/2018 - Elected: 11/2010
75 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
819-8205 (cell)
Business Specialist
Term expires: 11/2018 - Elected: 11/2010
Mr. Chris StaubesBoard of Trustees Vice Chair
126 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 200
Charleston, SC 29492
577-2026 (work)
Attorney
Term expires: 11/2018 - Elected: 11/2014
Rev. Chris Collins75 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
813-0616 (cell)
Pastor/Business Owner
Term expires: 11/2016 - Elected: 11/2008
Mrs. Kate Darby245 Indigo Bay Circle
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
566-6123 (cell)
Director of Administration
Term expires: 11/2018 - Elected: 11/2014
Mr. Tom Ducker2357 Sorentrue Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405
532-9369 (home)
Retired
Term expires: 11/2016 - Elected: 11/2012
Mr. Todd Garrett338 President Street
Charleston, SC 29403
408-8846 (cell)
Commercial Real Estate Agent
Term expires: 11/2016 - Elected: 11/2012
Rev. Dr. Eric Mack75 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
697-1447 (cell)
Pastor/Business Owner
Term expires: 11/2018 - Elected: 11/2014
Mr. Michael Miller1660 Pierpont AvenueCharleston, SC 29414
991-1969 (cell)
Business Owner
Term expires: 11/2016 - Elected: 11/2012
Mr. Tripp Wiles184 East Bay Street, Suite 103
Charleston, SC 29401
718-0232 (office)
Attorney
Term expires: 11/2016 - Elected: 11/2014
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1 comment:
I think Charleston is acting like instead of an Educated Orlando, it is salting away into a Baton Rouge, Richmond, Memphis, Atlanta, or Tampa Bay like School System where the rogues are everywhere and they keep justifying a New York or Chicago Budget forever. The problem is Charleston is a Tourist Town, not a true big city like Charlotte. And, if learning and school security where to have gone hand-in-hand, it would have started at home.
To me, Charleston's Issues cut a nerve because it was my 3rd Principal, Mr. Conner, at Lisbon as I graduated in 2004. Granted, Coach Meyer held things down from going crazy altogether, but, that's another story. If we are talking about Forensic Audits, at least the public has the right to dismiss Middle and High School Principals. Mr. Conner has been nothing but bad news as 2 Stints in Charleston, ruining Des Moines Public Schools forever to the point the CIML went baysides and businesses prefer West Des Moines or Ankeny instead, Lisbon is still not without lawyers present, Charles City, Augusta and the stormiest tenure in Cedar Rapids Public History. Frankly, all I speak is truth. And, as much as he's tried to bat for the kids, I had a real life classmate I went to school with had he not tried to go about calling ineligible because of her home problems, which was the last straw in Eastern Iowa, she would have been the Next Katie Curran times 10 except she'd actually hit the road and sing. I wonder if the freespending rivals a Charlotte Schools Budget or an Orlando Schools Budget on its own?
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