Candidates address education at forum
S.C. Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, and his Democraitc opponent in District 25, Greg Anderson, expressed their support for public education at a legislative forum Monday.
The USC Aiken chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional organization of educators, hosted the event at the Aiken County Historical Museum.
Massey, an Aiken attorney, said education funding will be one of the top legislative issues in the 2009 session. He acknowledged that the timing was terrible for Act 388, the property tax reform measure, to go into effect.
That measure shifted property taxes on owner-occupied homes to a one-cent sales tax increase. The economic downturn, however, has already led to revenue shortfalls, and more are expected.
“I don’t know if the sales tax is a great solution for education funding,” Massey said. “Personally, I would give another few years. The real problem… is once the money gets collected. The Aiken School District was relatively well off. The bigger challenge for us in rural areas is to keep our fair share. There’s only so much money in the pop, and there’s going to be a big fight on that.”
Anderson, an Edgefield lawyer who is also the Edgefield School Board attorney, agreed that funding isn’t equitable for poor counties. But he made it clear that property tax reform in its current mode is not going to work.
Anderson doesn’t support the efforts to allow vouchers or tuition tax credits to pay for parents to send their children to private schools. That does not benefit public school students, but only helps the private schools, he said.
“I bring a unique perspective with regard to education,” said Anderson, “in that I see education issues from all levels. I’ve been the School Board attorney since 1980 and have attended the meetings since 1987. I firmly believe that any changes in education need to start with the need to let teachers do their jobs. They were trained to teach, but our legislature is telling them what to do.”
Incumbent District 81 House member Roland Smith, R-Warrenville, was joined at the forum by Democratic challenger Russell Curry. District 83 incumbent, Don Smith, R-North Augusta, also participated, but Democratic opponent Judy Hamilton did not. Unopposed Democratic incumbent of District 82, Bill Clyburn, also spoke briefly.
Smith said South Carolina has a good educational system and pointed to his work on the K-12 subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.
“I enjoy looking for dollars and do the best I can,” said Smith. “I don’t get every dollar I need, but we’ve fully funded the base student cost. Economic development and eduction go hand in hand, and we must educate our children in order to field high-tech jobs if we’re going to be successful.”
Curry, the father of two children at Jefferson Elementary School, said schools are running out of supplies because of budget cuts.
“Teachers are working 14-15 hours days and it’s ridiculous,” Curry said. “I’d like to see them paid more, as they are instrumental for our children’s success.”
By ROB NOVIT
Aiken Standard
October 7, 2008