If They Were Only Running a Clown College...

 
The following excerpts are from a letter to the editor by Lexington resident Patricia Wheat  that appeared in the Lexington County Chronicle on May 17.
 
"Last spring 2010 as I sat in the school board meeting, and listened to why this board was going to add 20 million dollars to our tax bills, it became quite apprent to me why our children have no idea as to how wealth is created. Our schools are infested from the top with reasoning that I find no other word for than communist. The "Occupy" movement must have its roots in Lex 1 Schools. Many persons from the public took the podium and tried to explain to these bureaucrats that the economy was at best in a slump, the residential and commercial building was down if not altogether dead and the new schools are only needed when we have new homes that new people fill. The board could not comprehend such reason...What they told the packed room was that building new schools would help the economy. The jobs created by the construction of these schools would cause a money flow into all the areas of the community."
 
You read that right. Adults actually suggested that they be allowed to run up millions of dollars in debt so that the district can create jobs. What's more, the district ended up hiring a Chinese construction firm to build the expensive new  River Bluff High School, and renovate Chapin High School. So the taxpayers get the debt, sans any of the ludicrous benefits promised them by the school board. 
 
If they were running an insignificant institution - like maybe a clown college - the School Board of Lexington School District One could probably get away with being offensive and ineffective at the same time. Unfortunately, this body has actual influence over how hundreds of millions of tax dollars are spent to prepare young people for college and careers.
 
It's no wonder Ms. Wheatley concluded with -
"Perhaps the Lexington 1 School Board should at least study monetary policy 101 before they purport to teach our children how to live gainfully. More justly they should resign their jobs, forfeit their retirement and pay for their thievery in any way possible. Lesson 1, Communism is a full employment economic structure but the people hold no wealth or hope, they are just hamsters on a wheel."