Sanford Pulls $700m From School Funding...Potentially Forcing 7,500 Teacher Layoffs

[babylonsister]

Sanford Pulls $700m From School Funding To Pay Off State Debt, Potentially Forcing 7,500 Teacher Layoffs


Last month, eighth grader Ty’Sheoma Bethea was an honored guest of President Obama when he made his address to a joint session of Congress. Bethea had written a letter to Gov. Mark Sanford (R) asking him to repair her school, JV Martin Jr High School in Dillon, SC, which was falling apart. “I felt that our school was in bad condition,” she said. “After the stimulus bill was passed I hoped we could get some of the money to rebuild the school.”

However, Sanford continues to stand in the way of Bethea’s hopes. Yesterday, in what Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) deemed “100 percent political posturing,” Sanford announced he would seek to pay down the state’s debt by redirecting $700 million of the state’s stimulus money meant for school funding and public safety:

– 81.8% must be used to backfill education funding to maintain current funding levels and prevent school districts from laying off teachers and increasing class sizes. Any money that remains can be used for school modernization or construction.

– 18.2% is discretionary funds provided to the governor which can be used for “public safety or other government services.”

John Cooley, deputy superintendent for finance and operations at the South Carolina Department of Education, explained that the stimulus funds would help fill a 15 percent budget cut already inflicted on the school system. Without those funds, Cooley estimated that up 7,500 teachers (15 percent of the state’s 50,000 teachers) could be negatively impacted. But he cautioned, “I’m not going to sit here and tell you that we’ve reduced 7,500 teachers” or that all 7,500 will lose their jobs.

Regardless, Cooley warned that Sanford’s cuts will make an already dire situation much worse:

It’s going to create a significant problem for us if that was to happen. I know that our general assembly — the House of Representatives completed their work on the appropriation bill for 2010 and they have used that money and appropriated it to education to help fill in the cuts that we’ve taken. If those funds are not permitted to be used that way, it will create a significant problem for the education budget in South Carolina.

more...

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/03/12/sanford-stimulus-education/

[Taverner]

1. Is it me or do Republics want to burn down the whole farm because they didn't get their way?

It really seems like it - its as if he WANTS to turn SC into a Third World Country...

[babylonsister]

2. I can't believe he has presidential aspirations yet is acting like this.

I think his logic has left him.

[supernova]

3. It's certainly abusive

to the people of SC.

I mean really.

Obama says heres $700 mil for SC education. So the gov says, 'Nah, we're gonne not use it because... it would be successful; and we wouldn't want that."

[Supersedeas]

11. like the whiny lil' boy who gets his @$$ handed to him when playing by the rules, Reskanks walk off

the field, stomping, taking their ball and bat with them.

[blogslut]

4. What an asshole

n/t

[PA Democrat]

5. And where does South Carolina rank on education?

I know it's not good because my right wing relatives were complaining how bad the schools there are, but they also don't want to pay taxes to support education.

[nxylas]

13. 38 of America's 100 worst schools are in SC

And, as our local alternative newsweekly so trenchantly observed, the reason SC ranks last or close to last in every measure of wellbeing is "because we keep electing men like Mark Sanford". And to the person who doesn't believe he has presidential aspirations - I think he honestly believes that he can get elected by pandering to the base. "If it worked for Dubya, it can work for me" seems to be his motto. He doesn't seem to realize that things have changed since 2004.

[Belial]

6. So the states get the money and they are supposed to

break it out by the counties? I am confused.. the districts / counties pay for teachers? Not trying to be dumber than I am.. LOL Someone please help..

[babylonsister]

7. It was supposed to be spent on education, not to pay off the

state debt. As to how it's distributed, I don't know.

[Belial]

8. Thats what I was confused about.. the counties and cities

pay for the teachers.. not the state..

Edit - Thank You for the response

[PA Democrat]

9. Both the state and the federal government provide some funding

for public schools, with the remainder being paid through local taxes.

[Fuzz]

10. Guess who is running for President in 2012?

[DemocracyInaction]

12. I believe SC has about 50% high school dropout rate

Yup, this kind of success just begs to be heard. The world is waiting to hear the "success" of the modern state called South Carolina. I'm sure they could lead us into solving all our problems!!! Jesus Christ, they are about two farts away from being their own third world country and we are suppose to be impressed with this!!??