School budget could mean tax increase
The Charleston County School Board would need to trim nearly $16 million from its proposed operating budget to avoid a tax increase, and at least two school board members are adamant that they don't plan to support a budget that would raise taxes.
The board heard an update Monday on its proposed $320.5 million operating budget, which funds classroom expenses and teachers' salaries, and its proposed $75 million debt service budget that pays for capital projects. On Tuesday night, officials held a public hearing for the community to weigh in on its plans.
Previous story
Board wrestles with tax dilemma, published 05/27/09
The first proposed version of the operating budget would increase taxes about 5 percent for those who own businesses, rental properties, second homes and cars; and the debt service budget would cause taxes to increase about 15.5 percent.
On Monday night, board member Arthur Ravenel Jr. told district Chief Financial Officer Mike Bobby that the board expected to see a budget without a tax increase. "I think the board should hold you to that. You're our CFO," Ravenel said. "I don't know what's going on, but we went into it pretty thoroughly. ... I would expect you to abide with the board's instructions."
On Tuesday night, before a crowd of mostly district employees, Bobby made his recommendations for how the board could pass a budget without a tax increase. His reductions included 10 days of furloughs for 12-month employees, five days of furloughs for teachers and other employees and reducing the length of contracts for other employees. Bobby also added magnet school transportation to the chopping block, a recommendation that likely would be met with fierce resistance from parents.
"We have some very difficult decisions before us, including possible reductions in magnet school transportation and significant furloughs," he said.
On Monday night, board member Elizabeth Kandrac echoed Ravenel's concern, saying she wouldn't have voted for the first version of the budget if officials hadn't promised to return with one that didn't have a tax increase. The board voted a little more than two weeks ago in support of a budget that would not increase taxes increase and not negatively affect schools.
Board Chairwoman Toya Green said that although those who don't want a tax increase have been the most vocal, the cuts that would be required if no tax increase is passed would be so painful that she predicted those in the majority would approve some sort of increase.
"I pay taxes, too, and I don't want to see my taxes go up, but I feel like even in these extraordinary times, we need to sustain our schools," she said.
Jon Butzon, chairman of the Charleston Education Network, was one of three community members who attended Tuesday's public hearing, and he was the only one who spoke during that time. He said he understood the political and philosophical value of not increasing taxes, "but it seems to me that doing that may be good philosophically but could be potentially disastrous financially."
The board is slated to take a final vote on the budget June 22.
Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postandcourier.com.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly version
Comments
hairy1663 (anonymous) says...
Charleston County schools need to look into a different way of collecting tax revenue. There are a lot of people that use the public school system that pay little or no property tax. I believe a consumption tax would me more fair and yield better results.
June 10, 2009 at 1:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestt (anonymous) says...
Teachers should not be forced to take a pay cut and pay more taxes on their homes. That put's an unfair burden on those charged with the original burden of educating the masses. Cut the staff and budget of all state agencies and quazi-state agencies starting with those pigs in the state house.
I forgot, they would have to do that. We are so screwed.
June 10, 2009 at 1:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Oh no....there goes TOKYO.....Go Go, GODZILLA !!!!!
My Backside.....!!!!!!!!
This is freakin'.........NUTz !!!!
Talk about runaway ......RAIL LINES ??? OUR Tax wallets are being railroaded til kingdom come....!!!
Insurance companies Raise rates when house prices FALL and with no hurricane since 1989...?????
Now this board is Water boarding the very taxpayers that are getting bent over by ROBERT FORD and Bobby Harrell.....????
Well, that wonderful song by NAT King COLE titled "Unforgettable" is what all citizens will be singing at ELECTION time...!!!!!
Arthur Ravenel.....what do YOU think about Mayor Summey's 10K ...DESK..???
We highly suggest you get yourself up to his office and have a seat to see just how comfy it is...!?!?! Maybe you could borrow it to use at the FARMERS Market freshly built in Mt. Pleasant...!?!?! In front of WHAT ...SCHOOL ???
We are ....FED...UP !?!?! ...and we will NOT forget this CRAP the next election...!!!
June 10, 2009 at 2:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyecantspel (anonymous) says...
I am going to reuse old material, because the PC "broke" this shocking story by reading a CCSD press release a few weeks ago.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/20...
Posted on May 27 at 3 a.m.
I haven't seen an actual copy of the PC since I passed one in the library on my last day at PG in the 90's, but I really hope this story is beside the one talking about throwing away the books in the print edition. Once again the CCSD is too easy to mock here, but I am actually going to take the high (or low) road and leave this one alone. In the "Remains of the Day", the pro-nazi owner of Darlington (the one in England, not the car racing place) suggests that Europe was too harsh with the Treaty of Versailles and thus created Hitler. He also lobbied British politicans that England should offer appeasement to Germany instead of fighting them, sort of a "leave us alone, get France" type mentality. Today, against better judgement, I say lets lay down our swords with the CCSD, just let them have what they want, and we will sit idle knowing everything will be ok.
NOTE: I am not a Nazi, or British, or anything. This is pure sarcasm based on a book I doubt any of you have read or even heard of. Many of you will need for me to explain what anything in this post means. Start with a yahoo or wikipeida of "Remians of the Day". The war is a backdrop in the book, but provides true character development. This post is not a call to arms, as I own no arms and I am scared of arms. This is not Thomas Paine's Common Sense by any means. I de facto compare CCSD with the Nazis but this is for jest rather than poltics. The CCSD is only like the Nazis in that they are both, in theory, fascists. Fascism is about politics, they want single party states. Not all are about hatred and taking over German-speaking parts, then all of the Czech Republic, followed by other areas. Before anyone get all upset over the nouns used in this comment, let us get out the dictonary before we jump off the AR Bridge in protest, and remember, its sarcasm on a message board. I don't even vote and find people who do to be foolish and wasting their time. I actually want a poor school system in CHS because as I get older, I see that the younger employees are dumber and less likely to take over my job. I am scared the students will take into my house or steal my car, but that is what we have police. The circle of life. Some problems can't be solved....
Caution: Before posting, check your comments for anything that could get your posting privileges revoked such as racial epithets, threats, off-topics posts or anything against the terms and conditions as spelled out above. Clicking post means you agree to abide by those terms.
On Board wrestles with tax dilemma
June 10, 2009 at 2:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
clisby (anonymous) says...
To hairy1663:
Homeowners pay very little school property tax on their primary residences - just what's required for debt service. When the school tax on primary residences was removed (2 years ago?) it was replaced by a consumption tax - a higher state sales tax.
June 10, 2009 at 5:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
issuetaker (anonymous) says...
Stimulus money PLUS increased taxes! Thanks politicians!
You forget, businesses and the working taxpayers can't print money like the Feds.
June 10, 2009 at 6:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Let me weigh in also on the property tax on primary residences smoke and mirror show just a year or so back. Mind you, now, I don't think there is anything stopping them from starting up that tax again other than maybe a promise (and we all know what that is worth). Consider, too, that raising taxes on businesses is simply another cost of doing business and is actually paid for by the consumer as part of the price of purchase. Whenever you buy any commodity, you pay the applicable sales taxes AND any taxes incurred by the business to make that product. I'm surprised that they haven't thought of taxing services just as they do products.
June 10, 2009 at 7:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
karmann (anonymous) says...
To give a group of people money when they are not doing what we elected them to do. There is something wrong with this. With regards to yesterday's article about not having reading ability expectations, maybe CCSD needs money management skills training also. Of course they'll take the money from teachers and students and save their own selves.
June 10, 2009 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CMLMADDOG (anonymous) says...
NO!
If you can't meet budget, cut your spending. It's simple.
June 10, 2009 at 7:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinadude (anonymous) says...
Hairy,
You're right. The tax shift of 06 was to shift school operations from the primary residence to a penny sales tax. As we said then, whatever the sales tax generates will never be enough to satisfy the insatiable appetites of the educrats. Thanks to "cousin Arthur" for standing firm. He's a "rock" but unfortunately cannot stop the majority on the board from saddling business with more tax for operations. IT NEVER ENDS
June 10, 2009 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wildlife (anonymous) says...
I wish the Post and Courier would do a special edition of the salaries of the chiefs in CCSD. There are way too many of them and not enough indians. Not to mention the bonuses they get. It is a public institution, so it should be transparent. I for one would love to see just who gets bonuses as opposed to those that don't. Asking the pig to trim the fat is like asking drunk to deliver the beer. IT JUST AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
June 10, 2009 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southeastsm (anonymous) says...
Well, Mr. Bobby is correct about one thing..........you put back on the block cutting public transportation to magnet schools and the backlash will be massive. Too many parents, myself included, solely rely on the bus to transport our children to magnet schools. Many of us are CCSD employees who work at other CCSD schools and are unable logistically to drive our children to their magnet school and be at our place of employment on time. While I was told this issue was dead and not even an option for next school year, I can tell you that if this becomes seriously considered again, every single parent who has a child at a magnet school needs to be contacted and surveyed NOW to see if their child could continue to go to their magnet school if the bus transportation was completely cut. For those whose only source of transportation would be the best service, proposing a fee per family to offset the cost might be the next logical step.......not cutting the transportation completely. I would hope that serious consideration be given this issue before it is one of the items (yet again) being tossed around to cut. It's impact would be substantial.
June 10, 2009 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JDHawg (anonymous) says...
every member on the board should take a pay cut, the only thing they do is argue and haven't accomplished any thing but wast tax payer money and everybodys time
June 10, 2009 at 9:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
speedygirl2000 (anonymous) says...
Hmm. I know, when the teachers a forced on furloughs, have the employees with a degree in Education( from Taj Mahal) go to each and every school to take the place of the classroom teacher for those days. Have them drive the buses so that all students can go to whichever school of choice.They need to learn how to multi-task.
June 10, 2009 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JDHawg (anonymous) says...
what are the salaries of the members?
Board of Trustees Members
Dr. Nancy J. McGinley
Superintendent of Schools
937-6318
superintendent@charleston.k12.sc.us
Biography
Ms. Toya Hampton Green
Board of Trustees Chair
723-7831
greenforpublicschools@gmail.com
Term expires: 11/2008 - Elected: 11/2006
Biography
Mr. Gregg Meyers
Board of Trustees Vice Chair
720-8714
attygm@aol.com
Term expires: 11/2010 - Elected: 11/2006
Biography
Mr. Raymond Toler
552-6527
raytoler@att.net
Term expires: 11/2010 - Elected: 11/2006
Biography
Mr. Arthur Ravenel, Jr.
884-0291
Term expires: 11/2010 - Elected: 11/2006
Biography
Ms. Ruth Jordan
937-6316
ruth_jordan@charleston.k12.sc.us
Term expires: 11/2010 - Elected: 11/2006
Biography
Mrs. Elizabeth Kandrac
ekandrac@yahoo.com
Term expires: 11/2012 - Elected: 11/2008
Ms. Elisabeth Ann Oplinger
sbaop@comcast.net
Term expires: 11/2012 - Elected: 11/2008
Biography
Mr. Chris Collins
chriscollins700@mybluelight.com
Term expires: 11/2012 - Elected: 11/2008
Mr. Chris Fraser
cfraser@barkleyfraser.com
Term expires: 11/2012 - Elected: 11/2008
Biography
June 10, 2009 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nopartisan_noproblem (anonymous) says...
I agree with you southeastsm on the charege per family thing, but they would scream discrimination against the "poor and under-privileged".
June 10, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AHLeland (anonymous) says...
Budget shortfalls in the public and private sector force difficult decisions. Always have, always will. For instance, I haven't purchased a bottle of wine in weeks because I had to put my car in the shop. I had to decide what was more important: wine or transportation? Transportation won by a hair.
If furloughs are required to help meet the tighter budget then so be it. I am sure every district employee would rather have a few un-paid days off than no job at all.
June 10, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyeinthesky (anonymous) says...
If you do not go to the school in YOUR district, you should be responsible for your own transportation. This should be handled just like Private schools.
Why not follow the MAGNET Model for all Schools?
June 10, 2009 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
It is SOP for the education business to cut first the most vital and basic programs directly benefitting the students as part of their temper tantrum and fear-mongering whenever their budget is threatened. If that does not work, then they will next threaten to cut secondly meals and custodial services. Picture a school with few teachers, all the students in just a few rooms, no 3-R classes, no hot meals, and no custodial services; now that is the picture that they paint. But, they'll still have their administration, sports programs, and fluff courses.
June 10, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
singleroni (anonymous) says...
DO AWAY WITH HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. most don't generate cash and poor attendence at most football games don't make it worth while.
June 10, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shoelaces (anonymous) says...
"I pay taxes, too, and I don't want to see my taxes go up, but I feel like even in these extraordinary times, we need to sustain our schools," she said.
I agree....let's cut more from the top and trim more of the fat from each school. We have two "special area" teachers who could be cut back to 2-3 days per week. Our IRT (instructional resource teacher) could be cut and put into a classroom. There is some curriculum "specialist" (I have NO CLUE what she is supposed to do) who could be cut.
And don't even get me started on our Area Superintendents!!!! What a waste of MY tax dollars.
Go ahead and increase class size, expect teachers to do more with less, and see what the test scores will look like in the Fall of 2010!!!
Minimally adequate....that about sums it all up!!! For the "TOP" folks....
June 10, 2009 at 12:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bornin43 (anonymous) says...
The School Board keeps saying they need more money and we, the tax payers, keep giving it to them. Back in the 1970's, when Richard Riley was Governor, our state sales tax was raised by one cent on the dollar, which was suppose to be added to the funds for our public schools so there would be more money to pay for teachers salaries, books and building repairs in all the school districts. But, our schools still went down hill. Every few years, our school board voted a millage increase which resulted in a tax increase on our homes and businesses to cover the expenses of educating our children. The last tax bill I got before the Legisature gave them more sales tax and cut the property tax showed that forty-eight percent of my property tax went to the school board, but our schools still went down hill. The problem is that they want to put too much technical equipment in the schools. I don't think that we need radio and television mini studios in our schools, nor do I feel that we need so many computers in every class room. If the students are looking at the computer screen, they are not paying attention to the teacher. We need to go back to actual teaching from books and have the computers in the Libraries and break rooms for research only. High tech schools are NOT teaching our students to read or do math. All they are learning is how to get the machine to do the work for them.
June 10, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmettotree (anonymous) says...
Bobby also added magnet school transportation to the chopping block, a recommendation that likely would be met with fierce resistance from parents.
I think this is a great idea. I read the comment from another poster. If you want your kid to go to a magnet school then I think the parents should pay for the transportation. I don't think it is right for us taxpayers to have to pay for bus service to a "choice" school. They should charge the parents themselves for the transportation. This isn't mean of me it is the way I feel. When I lived in Wisconsin MY PARENTS had to pay for bus transportation for us kids to get to school. We thought nothing was wrong with it. They used city buses to take us to school. It was great.
June 10, 2009 at 12:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
Make the kids pay a dollar a day when entering the school building. Get a school ticket at the window and then enter through the metal detector. Just like going to the movies and the courthouse. Get the tax burden off people who don't have kids in school.
June 10, 2009 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleston1960 (anonymous) says...
'High school sports show kids how to be leaders, the rules of fair play, and how to function as a team'
Now that is funny - what team did you play for? The reason to attend high school is to get an education. Sports are just an extracurricular activity. And if education suffers from having it then perhaps cutting back on those programs is an option. Throughout little league, coaches were volunteers. There's a savings cost. Have you seen the salaries of some coaches around the town?
'Mayor Summey's 10K ...DESK'
And Ravenel should care about this why? He is on the school board and not NC City Council.
Several comments about cutting school board salaries, here is what you are reducing or cutting: School board members receive a whopping $25 Per Diem for each meeting they attend. The one trip to England for a recruiting drive that turned up nothing but a very nice vacation for the recruiters was enough to cover the school board member salaries for 10 years plus.
The bottom line is that if there is no money available you reduce the budget. At least there are a couple of board members that understand the concept of a budget and business. Let's replace the rest that just do not get it and then we will see change you can believe in. You can still teach a willing kid under an oak tree if the parent is included in the learning process.
June 10, 2009 at 12:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
ICsaint - that is the most bogus thing you could have said. I understand the "keeping kids out of trouble", but the spanish club/yearbook/drama are vocational clubs, you know, like stuff you might do on a job. How many of you players from high school made it to the professional level?
We spend a tremendous amount of money on sports....I would rather have books.
June 10, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
clisby (anonymous) says...
I am constantly amazed that there are people in this school district who think they're entitled to free bus service to magnet schools. At the very least, parents who aren't destitute should be charged for the privilege.
June 10, 2009 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
amazing how equality of service goes out the window when people start dividing into classes----those that work and make more are expected to pay more than those who work and and make less for the same services from government---would you believe it correct if your price on a gallon of milk was based on your income for example you make a $1000 a week so your gallon is $10 you make $500 a week your gallon is $3---you would not stand for that for one second--why do you allow it in government or wish it to be such in government
June 10, 2009 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
can anyone state how much per year is spent per student if you add together all state federal and local funds for schools ----the last figures i saw placed the total in the mid range for a private school education yet we do not get the private school results
June 10, 2009 at 3:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whatelseisthere (anonymous) says...
Can we get back to school lunches...and breakfasts for that matter. How much do those meals cost? Let's cut these and feed the PB&J and be done with it. How much would that save?
June 10, 2009 at 3:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whatelseisthere (anonymous) says...
actually it's more for parochial schools and a little less then private, depending on where you're going. Ashley Hall, Porter-Gaud and Pinewood Prep are pretty pricey...the rest are in the 7-12k range. Last figure I saw for public student allocation of funds per pupil was 9k+.
June 10, 2009 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
come on now your starving children---a full belly enables a full mind
June 10, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whatelseisthere (anonymous) says...
maybe a crying child would enable a parent to provide...sorry, I must have lost my mind on that one....LOL.
June 10, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
whatelseisthere, I don't think PB&J would settle those kids' stomachs for 6 hours a day. The hunger itself would keep a child from being able to concentrate on their work. Then can you image what the failure rate would be in schools. It's bad enough that they feed them as early as 10:00am, but to give them a cold PB&J sandwhich, c'mon, man, let's be real.
June 10, 2009 at 3:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Numba, you read my mind.
June 10, 2009 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shoelaces (anonymous) says...
Here are your CCSD prices for breakfast/lunch:
Breakfast
Elementary, Middle, and High $1.25
Reduced $0.30
Adult $1.80
Lunch
Elementary, Middle, and High $2.00
Reduced $0.40
Adult $3.25
Extra milk for all grade levels is $.50 per half-pint container
**straight off the CCSD website's "parent" link**
Now at my school MOST kids receive either free or reduced lunch. However, most of them show up with a dollar or two to buy cookies or chips!!
There is no reason every child can't pay at least .25 for breakfast/lunch!! That might help.
$2.00 per day x 200 kids (apx) =$400 per day = $2000 per week!!! That's just for lunch!!!
June 10, 2009 at 4:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GG (anonymous) says...
I would agree with 10 days of furlough for district administrators on 12 month contracts but not for 12 month school level administrators.
I have done both levels as an educational administrator, and I can say with certainty that the school level admins work their butts off year round. And there's no break in the summer. They are working hard everyday to close out the past school year and prepare for the next year. Most spend more than 40 hours a week working.
I know many CCDS school admins at Wando HS who never get home before dark year round. Then add on all the extra hours "expected" out of them for NO PAY. Things like being REQUIRED to attend sports, chorus, band, drama, club, ROTC activities - all after hours. And again for NO PAY. District admins don't have to do this and they would raise a BYATCH if they had to.
Assistant principals in CCSD make basically the same pay per day as a teacher. The only difference is that admins have longer contracts which means more days of pay. They don't get the same Christmas, Spring Break or summer holidays as teachers.
Most of these folks are dedicated and shouldn't have to be treated like second class citizens in CCSD. They put up with a great deal of abuse on a daily basis and still come every day because they love their jobs. Cut their days and then see what gets done. Ten days of furlough is unneccessary for them.
June 10, 2009 at 5:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
GG---when teachers sign on the "extra hours" are part of thier salary----they are aware this is expected at the outset----so in essence there are no extra hours with no pay---when you are salaried ther is no 40 hr week---it is a week of what it takes to get the job done----that is why it is salaried not hourly----
June 10, 2009 at 6:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dawhetsell (anonymous) says...
increase the taxes on business to protect the operating budget. It would increase taxes about 5 percent for those who own businesses, rental properties, second homes and cars; and the debt service budget would cause taxes to increase about 15.5 percent on them. They have the ability to pay more, but the schoolboard does not want to raise their taxes because they have sold their souls to them. They really do not care about the children if they do not increase the taxes on businesses, rental properties, second homes and cars. I know they would raise it on primary homeowners if they could legally. They are showing their true side.
June 10, 2009 at 6:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shoelaces (anonymous) says...
NUMBA10....my husband is a salary employee but he also receives bonus pay during the year...and he gets to go to the bathroom whenever he wants!! As a teacher, I receive my straight pay...minus my 2 days I was furloughed...and rarely get to visit the facilities :)
I am sure someone/everyone will correct me if I am wrong but teachers are one of the only professional jobs who don't even have the option of working for "overtime" money.
GG..I try to make sure my teaching time is protected time and that I spend the least amount of time possible on "school stuff" outside of my classroom. But you are right, high school teachers do have to put in more appearances outside of their regular classroom hours.
June 10, 2009 at 6:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
dawn---so i pay higher prices for products--higher rents--and higher transportation costs----any tax no matter where placed is paid by the workers---that is always a dem solution--indirect taxation---so many think the tax does not effect them when in reality it goes directly to every workers pocket to empty it----the solution for the schools is not higher taxes but better use of avaiable funds and paying as you go for the future---currently we spend in the mid range for a private school education in the public schools but do not get private school results so more money is not the answer to better education
June 10, 2009 at 6:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AFWally (anonymous) says...
Wow what did BlackReign do?
June 10, 2009 at 8:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
AF, I responded to a troll comment form yukon, it was right to delete it.
June 10, 2009 at 8:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AFWally (anonymous) says...
Blackreign, I'm surprised....you usually mix it up pretty good without any major fanfare.
June 10, 2009 at 8:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Southeastern,
Maybe it's time you grow up and recognize that the taxpayer does not exist to provide for your personal desires, despite your royal status as a gov't employee.
June 10, 2009 at 9:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
I don't have kids in the public school system and never have, but I'm ok with my taxes supporting schools operated by a FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE school board. I am amazed and disgusted by the wasteful spending, and we probably don't know half of the problem.
Open the books and show us how our taxes are being spent! If the money is being spent wisely, the CCSD will have more support from the community.
June 10, 2009 at 10:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GG (anonymous) says...
Numba 10 - Again someone who doesn't have a clue about how a school runs or how the educational system works.
I retired after 35 years as a former district director and a high school principal and assistant principal in Columbia, SC. I know what I am talking about.
Yes, admins are salaried. They should be expected to work 40 hours weekly not till the job gets done as you said. Teachers and district admin are salaried and they are NOT REQUIRED to attend anything after hours. Why should school admins be treated any differently than district admins?
They are treated like hourly folks in CCSD. And their vacation time is broken into hours - 8 hours per day. If they are absent say 3 hours one day (ex: come in late from dr. appt), they are docked 3 hours of leave time. They are told their leave time in hours not days.
When they spend the countless EXTRA HOURS at the MANY EXTRA activities in the evenings and WEEKENDS they get no extra pay. But if a teacher or other school employee is required to attend something, they are compensated.
This is why CCSD can't keep admins. Folks know they can go to Columbia or Greenville and work as a school admin on a 240 day contract and make more pay for less days. Plus they get all school holidays to boot. CCSD 12 month folks don't.
June 11, 2009 at 2:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shoelaces (anonymous) says...
GG....teachers are compensated if they attend extra activities???? Since when? I get straight pay for an 8 hour day...PERIOD!!!
We will all be required to go to new textbook training this summer...without pay or comp time. I am choosing to do some PD time over the summer. I don't get paid for it. I may receive a few points towards recertification but no monetary stipend.
June 11, 2009 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.