thread-index: AdBLHd9CWYMNrzGfSMO60jAR0fLskQ==
Thread-Topic: Equal Funding for Clarendon County Schools
From: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
To: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
Subject: Equal Funding for Clarendon County Schools
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 20:54:46 -0500
Message-ID: <24B70ED65C3B42D98881788145258EFF@IQ12>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
Importance: normal
Priority: normal

<APP>CUSTOM
<PREFIX>Mrs</PREFIX>
<FIRST>Courtney</FIRST>
<MIDDLE>R</MIDDLE>
<LAST>Floyd</LAST>
<SUFFIX></SUFFIX>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<ORGANIZATION></ORGANIZATION>
<ADDR1>1650 Jakes Road</ADDR1>
<ADDR2></ADDR2>
<CITY>Turbeville</CITY>
<STATE>SC</STATE>
<ZIP>29162</ZIP>
<EMAIL>courtney29162@yahoo.com</EMAIL>
<PHONE_H>803-460-8292</PHONE_H>
<PHONE_B></PHONE_B>
<ISSUE>EDUC</ISSUE>
<SUBJECT>Equal Funding for Clarendon County Schools</SUBJECT>
<MSG>
?I am writing as a concerned citizen of Clarendon County School District 3. I want to express my gratitude for your strong leadership of our great state of South Carolina.
?The purpose of this letter is to express our dire need for funding in Clarendon School District 3. CSD3 currently ranks in the top 5 schools in the state for test scores and overall performance. We have been blanketed with awards and achievements. Yet we remain the 2nd lowest funded school district in the state. Ironically, in school district 3, we are the 8th highest taxed school district in the state based on millage rate. As compared to the other 2 districts in Clarendon County, we pay 3-4 times more property taxes in District 3 as citizens pay in Districts 1 and 2. Yet our school (per child) funding is up to 4 times lower. Assessed funding value per child is CSD3 is approximately $7,000, in District 2- $18,000, and in District 1- $39,000 per child per year.
?We have not had art or music in our district for over 5 years. I am sure you know how valuable and beneficial these programs are to our children. Numerous studies show that children exposed to art and music in schools both behave better in class and perform better on tests.
?CSD3 has made cut after cut to try and meet budget yearly while Districts 1 and 2 enjoy the finest of facilities, I-Pads, marching band, art, music, and drama programs.  While CSD3 kids go without ALL of these. Our girls Softball Team won State Championship 2 years ago and played for championship this past year. Yet our softball fields and sporting facilities are not adequate to support these types of events.
Despite these cuts and GROSS underfunding, we manage to outperform Districts 1 and 2 in test scores and overall performance as well as many other areas. This not only sends the wrong message to our taxpayers, but MOST of all, our students. The message being sent should be Hard work + Dedicated faculty=Success and Rewards. Instead the exact opposite message is being sent.  
?Recently, our school board proposed to change the language regarding the use of 1% sales tax. The current language allows for the excess money (after school debt has been paid down) to be used for land purchases, building construction and renovations. CSD3 asked for the language to be changes slightly in order for the money to be used for operating expenses as well. We also asked for a larger portion of the money. We hoped this extra money would aid us in operations cost (we have been using our reserves for operations cost) as well as improvements to our school.
?We did this in effort as NOT to raise/add any additional taxes to the citizens of Clarendon County and not to financially harm the other school districts in Clarendon County either.
?However, County Council (who has the sole power to change the language) as well as Districts 1 and 2 are not interested in giving us the ability to use our funds we so desperately needs and have requested.
?I am pleading as a heavily taxed citizen of this County, that you intervene and help us find a solution to our situation here in CSD3. The children of CSD3 MATTER!!!! We want equal funding for our school district.
?Thank you for your time and attention regarding this matter.
 I am asking - NO BEGGING for you to come to our County Counsel meeting at CSD3 District Office on March 9th!  Please! 
Sincerely,

</MSG>

</APP>