Fairfield School Board Gets Coal and Switches from Representative Boyd Brown

Fairfield County School District’s bizarre and irresponsible behavior have earned them a vocal new critic.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) released a report on the numerous academic and financial failures of Fairfield County School District, days after being spurned by the School Board,

Among the list of transgressions were excessive spending on travel, wasteful spending on redundant bureaucratic positions, misuse of authority by board members, and exceptionally low test scores. In addition to the report, SACS placed the district on “probation,” with the understanding that they could lose all accreditation if they failed to comply with the SACS inquiries. This would seriously jeopardize the efforts of students trying to obtain scholarships and enroll in college.

Up to this point, no action was taken by Jim Rex, or any legislators in Fairfield County. A South Carolina public school district with an abysmal track record on spending and achievement is in danger of losing its accreditation, and none of the state’s high paid education officials-and certainly not SCSBA or SCASA-had a word to say about it.

Now Democratic House Representative Boyd Brown issued a press release condemning the district’s lack of leadership, and calling for a general investigation.

This from Brown’s press release-

I am extremely disappointed, but not surprised, in the ‘unprofessional’ actions of our school board and the district’s top administrators, and I urge them to start acting on behalf of the people who placed them in office, instead of in their own self interests.

Although our district expends more tax dollars per pupil than most districts in South Carolina, over a third of our students entering 9^th Grade never even graduate. It is not acceptable to have only 54% of our tax dollars going to the classroom.

It’s a sad day in Fairfield County. For us to finally see evidence that our school board and administrators are robbing our students and teachers of a better education and learning environment, I just can’t think of anything more disgraceful. Hopefully, the appropriate officials will come into the District, continue to investigate further, and we’ll get to the bottom of these allegations. If SACS was wrong, we’ll find out. But I have a feeling that we’re beginning to see just how deep the rot goes.”

Strong words indeed.

Representative Boyd’s anger is well founded.

Like several other democratic lawmakers in South Carolina, Boyd has finally begun to realize the state’s $8.4 billion one-size-fits-all public education system is failing to deliver on its promises.

Fairfield District spent $44 million dollars in FY 2008 – only $23 million was allocated for “classroom instruction.” Total per-student funding that year was $15,082 according to a report issued by the SC Budget and Control Board.

Even by the condescendingly low standards of the Education Oversight Committee (EOC) Fairfield District is rated just “Average” despite per-pupil spending over $2,000 higher than the statewide average.

Click here to download a PDF copy of Representative Brown’s press release.

Tags: Boyd Brown, Creighton Coleman, Fairfield County School Board, Fairfield County School District, SC Department of Education