“This is an unprecedented bill,” board chair Annie McDaniel said. “It would, in essence, eliminate the governing authority of the seven publicly elected members of the school board.”
McDaniel also called the proposed legislation “a wake-up call for the Fairfield County School Board.”
The bills, introduced last week by Sen. Creighton Coleman and Rep. Boyd Brown, would establish an independent finance committee to handle the district’s budgeting process and would expand the school board to nine members, with two members appointed by the local legislative delegation.
“This bill would add a layer of bureaucracy to a system we already know is in need of immediate renaissance and change,” Dr. Patrice Robinson, superintendent, said. “There’s no superintendent in the state, or in the country, I imagine, that has conditions such as this imposed upon them.”
Robinson said the bills would limit her ability to effectively recruit new teachers into the district and would hinder her ability to make financial decisions.
“We would have no say-so in salary negotiations,” she said. “The pay scale would be set by the delegation. It would be very difficult to attract any professional to come to this district under these conditions.”
The bills passed their third and final reading in the House and their first reading in the Senate Wednesday morning.
McDaniel, however, asked that “the delegation withhold finalization of the legislation until this board and the superintendent can put together a plan with the delegation and others.”
Dr. Paul Krohne, executive director of the S.C. School Boards Association, has also thrown his support behind the district, and sent a letter to Rep. Brown asking for a delay.
“We’ve delayed for 20 years,” Brown said. “It’s time to stop delaying and get something done. We’ve got to keep our eye on the ball, and that’s educating our children, and that’s what these bills do.”
Thomas Armstrong, president of the Fairfield Parent’s Association, also voiced his opposition to the bill.
“The Fairfield Parent’s Association does not support this bill,” he said, “and we will do whatever’s necessary to make sure this does not pass.”
Armstrong said money, and not the education of children, was the motivating factor behind these bills, pointing out the projected $240 million impact on the county’s budget from the new reactors at the VC Summer nuclear power plant.
“They don’t want to fix our problem,” Armstrong said. “A bill that would dilute power from an elected officer is wrong. $200 million – that’s what they’re after – complete control.”
Board members Henry Miller, Polly Parker and Danielle Miller were also present at the press conference, but said they had no prior knowledge of the conference’s theme or official statements made by the board chair.
“I have no idea about this whole delay process,” Danielle Miller said. “This is my first time hearing about this.”
The three board members later released a statement of their own, which said, in part, “We wanted to let the citizens of this county know that we are not opposing local legislation S.1112 and S.1113 or their companion bills H.4431 and H.4432. We agree that there should be some dialogue taking place with local delegates; however, there is a way to do so.”
HERALD OPINION FEED
DID OUR "LAWMAKERS" respect the public's right to know? Did they just "spring" their arrogant scheme on the taxpayers? Where is the accountability with the "dynamic duo".? NO DOUBT, IT WILL COME IN TIME.
Chappell is a former school board member.
He also handed out flyers showing how taxes have increased since 2004. According to his information, Fairfield County Council has increased by 65 percent, while Fairfield County Fire board has increased by 519 percent and the Fairfield County Library by 28 percent. The flyer showed that Fairfield County School District has increased the least by 5.5 percent. He said he received his information from the county.
One parent took advantage of the meeting to ask Fairfield County School Board chairman Annie McDaniel if the school board is failing its students.
“There are a lot of statements about how bad our schools are, but a third of our students went to college last year…there are mistakes that we need to work on. Teen pregnancy is bad, but it’s bad all over the state…and no matter what school district you transfer to, if you’re not constantly involved and in somebody’s face, you get the same results,” McDaniel said, adding that she was not aware of the bills until the day of the press conference when Coleman and Brown introduced the two bills.
Talking briefly about the new appointments, McDaniel added that some districts will have two representatives on the board, while all the other ones will only have one.
School board member Marchella Pauling and Fairfield County council member Kamau Marcharia also attended the meeting.
“I believe democracy should work from the bottom up, rather than the top down,” Marcharia said. Referring to the bill, he said it’s a legal matter, and someone (not indicating if he meant the school board or the Fairfield Parents Association) should acquire a lawyer and file for an injunction.
He also said that more than 20 years ago the Justice Department outlawed the appointment of boards in Fairfield County, and he can’t imagine them changing that decision.
"Why would you say you are working for the people if you're going to put legislation in place that you never even communicated to the citizens?" asks McDaniel.
Polly Parker also sits on the board, and she says she's glad to hand over the power to legislators.
"People don't realize it, it'll be the best thing that ever happened to Fairfield," said Parker. "It's a breakthrough."
The citizens in the crowd were split on the announcement.
"What's the role of the school board at this point?" asked Gregory Guinard of Jenkinsville. "Why would you just throw this upon the people and not ask anybody? It wasn't even on the radar."
INTENTIONAL LACK OF COMMUNICATION. A FEW OF "THE INSIDERS" KNEW THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE. THE TAXPAYING CITIZENS HAD NO IDEA? DOES ANYONE THINK THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS? BEHIND THE BACK? WOULD YOU CALL THIS MORE DIRTY POLITICS?
Anderson said he was shocked when named by the senator, but is always willing to help Fairfield County.
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COMMUNICATION ALSO ANTICIPATES THAT THOSE WHO ARE TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF SOMETHING SHOULD BE CONSULTED IN ADVANCE?
8 months ago | 599 views | 0 | 10 | | Published May 15, 2009
Dear Fairfield
County Residents,
The Fairfield County School District has learned that a bill was introduced in the S.C. State Senate May 6 by our local state senator, Creighton Coleman.
The Fairfield County School District was unaware of this bill until notified of its existence on May 7, 2009 by a community resident. The bill was read in the Senate the required three times, and was then sent to the House the next business day.
Excerpted from "Herald Independent"
Behind the Back Bills BBB
Is that in the best interests of Fairfield County? Communication is imperative for progress.
Robinson said the bill would hinder her from recruiting teachers because she would not control the payscale
WIS-TV
“The Fairfield Parent’s Association does not support this bill,” he said, “and we will do whatever’s necessary to make sure this does not pass.”
Armstrong said money, and not the education of children, was the motivating factor behind these bills, pointing out the projected $240 million impact on the county’s budget from the new reactors at the VC Summer nuclear power plant.
“They don’t want to fix our problem,” Armstrong said. “A bill that would dilute power from an elected officer is wrong. $200 million – that’s what they’re after – complete control.”
"It could open up a floodgate of legislators playing big brother," said Howard.
Howard says lawmakers across the state could follow suit. He says it takes power away from voters who choose the board members and open up potential litigation.
"What we're gonna have in Fairfield County is a school board sue the legislature and we're gonna be using taxpayer money when we don't have that type of money to involve in litigation," said Howard.
Although one hurdle was passed, the game is not over for all the players
"WIS-TV"
Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- State Representative Boyd Brown (D-Fairfield) and Sen. Creighton Coleman (D-Fairfield) introduced a new bill Tuesday that would add two appointed members to the Fairfield County school board and an independent five-person financial board.
"The money's not being spent appropriately in the county. We spend nearly $15,000 per child. We spend more money than most districts in the state of South Carolina, but the money is not making it to the classroom," Brown says.
The Rev. Dr. Ernest Yarborough of the South Carolina Citizens for Justice thinks the school officials need to be elected. "The rules of the game have been that whoever gets the most votes serves the people. Now, they're trying to change the rules. Now, they're trying to appoint individuals. So, it goes totally against everything that's been done in Fairfield County when it comes to election," Yarborough says. He thinks this measure is racially motivated, since there is now a black majority on the school board.
"Why is it that you didn't do this when the white individuals was in control of the board?[sic] Now, the blacks are in control, you want to now change the rules of the game? And we're saying, 'Enough is enough. Enough is enough,'" he says.
"I don't see how anyone can say racial motivation was put behind appointing an African-
Brown says the bill should pass by the end of February, but many say it will not without a fight.
American woman and a white male to the school board. That's diverse. Is it not? And appointing three African-Americans to the Finance Committee and two Caucasians. How is that racial?" Brown asks
Winnsboro, SC (WLTX) -- A bill introduced two days ago could change the decision-making process in Fairfield County schools.
State Representative Boyd Brown and Senator Creighton Coleman proposed the legislation that would add two appointed members to the school board and an independent five-person financial board. Previous Coverage: Bill Introduced in Legislature on Fairfield County Schools
"This is a legislation that changes the whole framework of how school boards could work and how the General Assembly can treat the school boards so it's not local," former Fairfield County council member Carnell Murphy says.
He doesn't want to see this bill pass.
"This is unprecedented change so when you're in those waters you should discuss it with the people that you represent rather than go out and do things abnormally," Murphy says. "Trying to change the rules in the middle of the game never should happen, there should be public dialogue on anything you're trying to do to bring about a change."
Some Winnsboro residents say this is a change that's badly needed.
"I think it's great these other people are coming in to help out, I think it's really time something be done about it," Lorine Brazell says.
"Someone needs to step in and they're only a couple days late," Martha Miller says.
"That's our biggest problem here in Fairfield County most of our people on the school board are uneducated if you're uneducated yourself how can you set goals and guidelines for my child or my grandchildren it's impossible for you to do," Kadena Woodard says.
The bill was delayed Thursday. It is set to be up for consideration again
Yes,I am from Fairfield County. Yes, I pay taxes here. I also know the difference between democratic principles and what happens when you dilute their strength and move toward dictatorial principles. If these bills pass, it will not be long before you, nor your children, will have your constitutional rights. To allow two individuals to strip a popularly elected School Board of their power is patently wrong. That should only be done by a judicial decree of impeachment. To allow two individuals to appoint two Board members, is giving too much power to two people in the County.
You will be sorry. You are looking for a short-term solution and a quick fix. You have already begun a slippery slide down a detrimental slope.
The only other solution is to have the people vote on a referendum to allow the bills to pass.
Because these bills were a surprise to the people, there is no time now to stop it. You have been taken for a ride. The children of Fairfield will not benefit from having democratic principles stripped out from under them forever. Once you do it, you cannot undo it.
You, and all of Fairfield, will be the losers.
Good luck. You are going to need it. Quick fixes lead to interminable trouble. These bills are NOT the way to fix the problems. The Legislative Delegation knows this, but they apparently do not care about the children.