The Steve Parker coalition to oppose proposals to consolidate South Carolina school districts is moving south after a highly successful and well-attended meeting in Boiling Springs Thursday evening.
'Support Our Local Voice In Education' (or SOLVE) is moving into the Woodruff School District for a rally this coming Monday evening at the Woodruff Library at 6:30 PM.
The group opposes state Senator Ralph Davenport's proposal to reduce the number of districts in Spartanburg County from 7 to 4.
Davenport, who has the support of Governor Mark Sanford on his plan, claims that consolidation saves money and enhances education for students.
Steve Parker and his group dispute that claim. The group claims it has ample evidence that consolidation saves no money but actually increases administrative costs. In addition, smaller districts encourage closer contact with parents and students than large consolidated school bureaucracies, such as the Greenville County School System.
When asked about SOLVE, Davenport dismissed the group as 'yet another chance for Steve Parker to be Steve Parker.'
But the issue is of critical importance to hundreds of parents in an era in which schools and school districts appear to be more and more inaccessible to parental input and concerns.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Parker Shows Difference Between Small and Large Districts
Steve Parker, a former high school teacher and coach, has started a group in Boiling Springs, S.C. that opposes school district consolidation. The group, which calls itself 'Support our Local Voice in Education, held its first meeting Thursday evening on the Boiling Springs 9th Grade Campus.
The controversy over consolidation ensued when State Senator Ralph Davenport stated last week that he would introduce a bill in the state legislature that would reduce the number of districts in Spartanburg County from 7 to 4.
Governor Mark Sanford has also expressed his support for school district consolidation.
The point of contention centers around two key issues--money and accountability. Proponents believe consolidation will save money. Opponents say there is no credible data that supports the idea that large consolidated districts spend less money than smaller ones.
The accountability factor is another key issue. Parker states that a simple demonstration involving two school districts--the mammoth Greenville County School System, and the much smaller Spartanburg County School District 2--clearly shows the difference in response to parental concerns.
To demonstrate the point, Parker put in a call to the Greenville County District and was told someone would return his call shortly. After SEVEN DAYS there was still no word from the district.
When a call was made to the smaller district, however, a return call was made within 5 minutes.
This simple experiment, says Parker, is ample evidence that the larger the district the easier it is for parental concerns to get lost in the massive bureaucracy.
Parker's group hopes that its passion for cost-effective education with smaller-sized classrooms, along with a smaller bureaucracy, will spread from Boiling Springs throughout the state and stop the push for school district consolidation.
The controversy over consolidation ensued when State Senator Ralph Davenport stated last week that he would introduce a bill in the state legislature that would reduce the number of districts in Spartanburg County from 7 to 4.
Governor Mark Sanford has also expressed his support for school district consolidation.
The point of contention centers around two key issues--money and accountability. Proponents believe consolidation will save money. Opponents say there is no credible data that supports the idea that large consolidated districts spend less money than smaller ones.
The accountability factor is another key issue. Parker states that a simple demonstration involving two school districts--the mammoth Greenville County School System, and the much smaller Spartanburg County School District 2--clearly shows the difference in response to parental concerns.
To demonstrate the point, Parker put in a call to the Greenville County District and was told someone would return his call shortly. After SEVEN DAYS there was still no word from the district.
When a call was made to the smaller district, however, a return call was made within 5 minutes.
This simple experiment, says Parker, is ample evidence that the larger the district the easier it is for parental concerns to get lost in the massive bureaucracy.
Parker's group hopes that its passion for cost-effective education with smaller-sized classrooms, along with a smaller bureaucracy, will spread from Boiling Springs throughout the state and stop the push for school district consolidation.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Pick-Pockets Hit Upstate Hospitals
Two pick-pockets working in tandem have hit several upstate hospitals, taking hundreds of dollars in cash, in addition to credit cards and other personal items found in wallets and purses.
The two men, both African-Americans, have apparently devised a scheme to make visitors and employees of the hospitals vulnerable to being robbed without their knowledge.
One of the men fakes a medical attack of some sort, and staggers, pretending to be headed for a fall. When a visitor or employee of the hospital intervenes to prevent the man from falling, his partner picks their pocket while they are preoccupied with helping the other man.
Hospitals in Greenwood, Spartanburg, and Greenville counties have reported such incidents.
It is believed that the two men are driving a white vehicle.
The two men, both African-Americans, have apparently devised a scheme to make visitors and employees of the hospitals vulnerable to being robbed without their knowledge.
One of the men fakes a medical attack of some sort, and staggers, pretending to be headed for a fall. When a visitor or employee of the hospital intervenes to prevent the man from falling, his partner picks their pocket while they are preoccupied with helping the other man.
Hospitals in Greenwood, Spartanburg, and Greenville counties have reported such incidents.
It is believed that the two men are driving a white vehicle.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
School District Consolidation Provokes Questions
As reported on The Liberty Sphere this week, Governor Mark Sanford stated that he supports massive statewide consolidation of school districts.
State Senator Ralph Davenport, R-Spartanburg, had already suggested such a proprosal for Spartanburg County, a consolidation plan that would reduce the county's seven districts into four.
Davenport told a reporter for News Channel 7 in Spartanburg that the consolidation would result in a savings of 23 million dollars.
The Governor, however, stated that statewide savings would be 21 million.
Thus, the question becomes, how will consolidating districts in one county alone result in a savings of 23 million when the Governor himself admitted that the savings will only be 21 million STATEWIDE?
As we have reported the District Superintendents around the state have a very different view of the potential savings. According to their figures, consolidation rarely results in any real savings to taxpayers. In some cases it is more expensive to operate large 'super-districts' than it is to operate several small ones.
In addition, the accountability factor is lost once parents are forced to endure large super-districts. Responsiveness to parental concerns tends to be much better in small districts where name-and-face recognition is part of the mix.
In larger districts the anonymity factor prevents real accountability. It it is too easy for district employees to get lost in the maze of the political machine, making it impossible for parents to get results to their satisfaction.
Thus, a group calling itself 'Support our Local Voice in Education' will hold an anti-consolidation rally this coming Thursday evening, February 7, at 7 PM. Steve Parker, former teacher and coach, is the leader of the group.
The rally will take place at the Boiling Springs 9th Grade Campus in Boiling Springs, SC, in Spartanburg County.
For more information about this group and its rally, call Steve Parker at 864-978-0195.
State Senator Ralph Davenport, R-Spartanburg, had already suggested such a proprosal for Spartanburg County, a consolidation plan that would reduce the county's seven districts into four.
Davenport told a reporter for News Channel 7 in Spartanburg that the consolidation would result in a savings of 23 million dollars.
The Governor, however, stated that statewide savings would be 21 million.
Thus, the question becomes, how will consolidating districts in one county alone result in a savings of 23 million when the Governor himself admitted that the savings will only be 21 million STATEWIDE?
As we have reported the District Superintendents around the state have a very different view of the potential savings. According to their figures, consolidation rarely results in any real savings to taxpayers. In some cases it is more expensive to operate large 'super-districts' than it is to operate several small ones.
In addition, the accountability factor is lost once parents are forced to endure large super-districts. Responsiveness to parental concerns tends to be much better in small districts where name-and-face recognition is part of the mix.
In larger districts the anonymity factor prevents real accountability. It it is too easy for district employees to get lost in the maze of the political machine, making it impossible for parents to get results to their satisfaction.
Thus, a group calling itself 'Support our Local Voice in Education' will hold an anti-consolidation rally this coming Thursday evening, February 7, at 7 PM. Steve Parker, former teacher and coach, is the leader of the group.
The rally will take place at the Boiling Springs 9th Grade Campus in Boiling Springs, SC, in Spartanburg County.
For more information about this group and its rally, call Steve Parker at 864-978-0195.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Upstate Pharmacies Target of Drug Thieves
Spartanburg County law enforcement officials have reported that upstate pharmacies have become targets for drug thieves. Two major retail pharmacies have been hit during daytime business hours by armed thieves who have stolen thousands of Lortabs--a prescription pain reliever.
One of the pharmacists stated that over 2000 Lortab tablets were taken at gun-point from his store.
Law enforcement officials stress that is is vitally important to be aware of your surroundings and that both patrons and employees of local pharmacies must be on high alert for suspicious behavior.
The perpetrators have made themselves very difficult to identify by wearing full body covers and hoods. Yet this attire would attract attention prior to a robbery, making it easier to determine in advance that a theft is imminent.
One of the pharmacists stated that over 2000 Lortab tablets were taken at gun-point from his store.
Law enforcement officials stress that is is vitally important to be aware of your surroundings and that both patrons and employees of local pharmacies must be on high alert for suspicious behavior.
The perpetrators have made themselves very difficult to identify by wearing full body covers and hoods. Yet this attire would attract attention prior to a robbery, making it easier to determine in advance that a theft is imminent.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Governor Supports Combining School Districts
Should South Carolina be promoting the combining of school districts, which are already overrun with population growth?
If Governor Mark Sanford has his way, we will.
Sanford signed a bill last week combining the two districts in Sumter and stated that he supports more district consolidations.
The Governor's statement comes on the heels of State Senator Ralph Davenport's (R-Spartanburg) proposal early last week that would combine four of the seven school districts in Spartanburg County, one of the areas of the state experiencing growth.
Proponents of these plans claim that consolidation saves money and resources. Detractors strongly disagree.
One school district superintendent disputed the figures that Davenport used to justify his proposal. The Superintendent stated that actual budgetary expenditures increase with the combining of school districts. Greenville County is one case in point.
Not only has the Greenville County School system experienced budgetary problems once it consolidated all of the county's districts into one, but it has been dogged by the inappropriate and irresponsible handling of personnel issues and information as well.
Many superintendents across the state claim privately that the Greenville County experiment in combining school districts has been a failure.
Apart from the monetary issues, the superintendents state that responsiveness to parents and local concerns plummets as districts become larger and more difficult to manage.
If Governor Mark Sanford has his way, we will.
Sanford signed a bill last week combining the two districts in Sumter and stated that he supports more district consolidations.
The Governor's statement comes on the heels of State Senator Ralph Davenport's (R-Spartanburg) proposal early last week that would combine four of the seven school districts in Spartanburg County, one of the areas of the state experiencing growth.
Proponents of these plans claim that consolidation saves money and resources. Detractors strongly disagree.
One school district superintendent disputed the figures that Davenport used to justify his proposal. The Superintendent stated that actual budgetary expenditures increase with the combining of school districts. Greenville County is one case in point.
Not only has the Greenville County School system experienced budgetary problems once it consolidated all of the county's districts into one, but it has been dogged by the inappropriate and irresponsible handling of personnel issues and information as well.
Many superintendents across the state claim privately that the Greenville County experiment in combining school districts has been a failure.
Apart from the monetary issues, the superintendents state that responsiveness to parents and local concerns plummets as districts become larger and more difficult to manage.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Carolina Countryside-Townhall Bulletin Board, 2/3/08
The Carolina Countryside-Townhall Bulletin Board is offered as a service to our readers and communities. To place your community or church event here, simply write to us at Carolinaconews@aol.com, and include what, when, and where. This is a FREE service.
Monday, Feb. 4, 6 PM, Gospel Singing featuring Followers of Christ, Pop's Auction Barn, Highway 357, Greer, SC.
Friday, Feb. 8, 6 PM, Gospel Singing featuring Followers of Christ, Clyde's Auction Barn, Holly Springs, SC.
Saturday, Feb. 9, 6 PM, Gospel Singing featuring Followers of Christ, Dean's Auction, 1098 Hampton Road, Lyman, SC.
Country Music sensation Taylor Swift is coming to the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 PM. The auditorium is located on North Church Street in downtown Spartanburg.
Tickets are available at Ticketmaster at 864-576-1550. Tickets can also be purchased at http://www.crowdpleaser.com/ or 864-582-8107.
Monday, Feb. 4, 6 PM, Gospel Singing featuring Followers of Christ, Pop's Auction Barn, Highway 357, Greer, SC.
Friday, Feb. 8, 6 PM, Gospel Singing featuring Followers of Christ, Clyde's Auction Barn, Holly Springs, SC.
Saturday, Feb. 9, 6 PM, Gospel Singing featuring Followers of Christ, Dean's Auction, 1098 Hampton Road, Lyman, SC.
Country Music sensation Taylor Swift is coming to the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 PM. The auditorium is located on North Church Street in downtown Spartanburg.
Tickets are available at Ticketmaster at 864-576-1550. Tickets can also be purchased at http://www.crowdpleaser.com/ or 864-582-8107.
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