Class Reaction - April 8

It was interesting that our class began with a discussion of the way schools in SC are financed, since that afternoon Gov. Sanford had been in Fort Mill talking to the Rotary Club about the stimulus money for education. The article from the Rock Hill Herald can be read at the following link http://www.heraldonline.com/120/story/1256644.html. I had never followed all the reasoning behind doing away with the property tax to support local school systems and switching to the sales tax. Although from Dr. Pope's presentation it sounds like the theory behind it was good, it did not take into account what would happen when the state hit an economic slump like we are currently facing. Fort Mill alone is facing at $2.2 to $5 million shortfall if aid does not arrive. Fort Mill is not hiring any teachers for new positions this year, for the first time since 1981. I feel sure most of my classmates are concerned about what this will do to our job opportunities a year from now when we finish our MAT program. My husband was at the Rotary meeting and Gov. Sanford was asked directly what it would take to return to the property tax for use of education funding and his answer was somewhat vague. I would be interested to know how long legislation to revert to the property tax system or another method of education funding would take to pass in Columbia if our schools continue to face the crisis they are currently facing.