On the Issues

TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Our community is a desirable place to live with some of the best schools in South Carolina. We must have a better and complete program to have the best teachers.

DISCIPLINE

Repeated behavioral problems going without strong punishment are a danger to both health and student learning. To that end, Crossroads Intermediate School needs to return to being a traditional school to help with consistency and behavioral problems while shifting the focus to learning.

RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS

Taxpayer dollars should be focused on students, staff and programs that lead to learning and success. Vanity projects are way down the list of priorities. We must direct taxpayer dollars appropriately. We should not be raising taxes with a goal of padding the fund balance and funding projects that are unnecessary to student learning.

SPECIAL NEEDS

As the father of a special needs child, I understand the strengths and weaknesses of our special needs program. Classroom improvements are needed. We also need a special education sports program. We should work hand-in-hand with groups like the Special Olympics and Screaming Eagles.

APPROPRIATE CLASSROOM AND LIBRARY MATERIALS

Our classrooms should not be in violation of state laws and provisos that prohibit certain ideological teaching. This must be enforced. Our libraries must not have inappropriate materials for minor children to see. Our review process needs to be improved and more timely.

EXPAND THE FIVE PROGRAM

We are at a time where educational options are certainly available. I believe that students should be in the classroom but there are those who may excel at e-learning. We should have a dedicated group of teachers solely for online teaching for those students who will perform better in that environment.

SCHOOL MENUS

Let's focus on school nutrition and provide options that are healthier and tasty without added cost.