On Acting Locally (pt. 2)
This is my letter to Greenville County Councilor Curt McGahhey regarding his rhetoric towards Greenville County Schools (slightly abbreviated).
Councilor McGahhey,
Leaders have a moral and ethical obligation to not only state facts; but to state them in context and with ALL the facts presented regarding any situation. In addition to some patently false assertions of “fact,” you did exactly what you accused Greenville County Schools of doing: posturing, “puffing,” and presenting half-truths.
You accused GCS of outright “lying.” I will not return this accusation to you. But your presentation on May 20 was filled with partial truths and non-facts. The term bloviating certainly comes to mind.
Let us address your presentation of “facts.”
You never highlighted that the proposed cuts came AFTER GCS announced their budget without a millage increase.
You never mentioned the number of meetings you had with board members, administrators, teachers, etc. to go over the budget.
Did any of those meetings occur? What was the outcome of those meetings?
“Soviet-style propaganda”: This is NOT fact. It is an opinion–and an unsupported one.
GCS “said” 100% of state funding would go to Charter Schools: Please see the attached infographic on this. That graphic was put out by GCS and is true.
Just because people heard or assumed it does not mean GCS created or affirmed that it.
All NEW funding will go to Charters that serve 57,000 students. Public Schools in SC serve 700,000 students.
GCS did not “lie” about you: They put out two infographics that seem to have evidence you have yet to effectively dispute. The numbers stand in contrast to your own statements about GCS.
Charter schools “outperform” public schools: while this is partially true (a “half-truth” if you prefer), you conveniently ignored that Charter Schools can select their students while ignoring others.
This may include students with disabilities or those from underserved communities. How convenient.
You further opposed education initiatives by opposing raises for underpaid library employees. One might ask what libraries have to do with public education. These two public positives are inexorably tied to one another. Good public education requires good libraries–and good LIBRARIANS. Good public libraries enhance learning for the students as well as the community.
Spartanburg County spends more and pays better than Greenville County. This is an embarrassment.
You cite an “8-10% raise” for librarians in the next two years. This is disingenuous.
If you are not being paid a living wage, then a 10% increase is not what you make it out to be.
It is my understanding that Pickens County pays its librarians more than Greenville.
Pickens.
Is that where you want our county to stand?
You voted to sacrifice a miniscule millage increase in favor of miniscule savings to taxpayers. How does this serve the overall public good?
Roads: This seems to be a major concern. Let us address some of those concerns.
You did not share that the $8 million you hoped to withdraw from schools would pave 8-16 miles of road in Greenville County. That is a pretty poor ROI.
You cited “road conditions” as the cause for bus accidents. How did you obtain that evidence? Is there proof of this?
You mentioned the rate of bus accidents in GCS without mentioning that we are the largest district in the state and likely have many more students/buses in service.
You also did not offer the percentage of accidents per student or bus to account for the size of the GCS district.
While we’re at it, we need MORE bus drivers and better-paid bus drivers. As a former GCS parent and a product of the district, I can assure you that both are inadequate.
Back to Schools
On re-turfing fields: did you talk to anyone about the cost of this vs. the cost of maintaining full grass? Or the long-term expenses of field maintenance over the cost to rework the fields?
Your information about school reserve funds is patently false. You never mention that the state REQUIRES districts to keep a significant reserve. You cannot use these funds to support budget expenses.
Finally, you conveniently ignored that GCS is the third largest employer in Greenville County. If you think those people are not essential, then do the hard work to prove it. Then make the necessary cuts.
And make sure you are the one to tell them that.
Remember that you represent everyone in your district/our county. That includes the schools and their employees.
Your language and terminology towards Greenville County Schools and its employees is not helpful. Remember that GCS is our county’s third-largest employer and the 44th largest school district in the nation. If you simply want a tax cut, then just say that. If you truly want to help the students, faculty, and staff of the Greenville community, then choose more thoughtful and selective words.
This is not Washington, D.C. Our children go to school together. The educators you disparage teach your children and your neighbor’s children. We see one another in the store and sit in the same sanctuaries at church and attend little league games. We cheer for (or against) the same teams, and have mutual friends. State and national politicians can play to the “base” without witnessing the consequences. But WE have to look one another in the eye.
With that in mind, I request that you drop the incendiary rhetoric, projecting, code words, dog whistles, and plays to appease your “base.” These may get you re-elected, but they do not solve real problems facing our community.
If you truly want to improve our schools, lower costs, enhance our community, and fix our roads, my request is that you stop calling GCS a “fat cow” or a “drunken sailor.” Instead, schedule meetings with the District. Lobby the legislative delegation to find funding for roads. Talk to citizens. Find out how we can be both more efficient AND more effective.
Talk is cheap, easy, and intellectually lazy. True progress is made by those willing to rise to the challenge. Those willing to do the hard work of efficiency and progress are the ones who can help our community reach its full potential. If you want this to happen, then back up your words with productive action.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tom LeGrand