WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | PTO president "embarrassed" by Fairfield Co. school board

PTO president "embarrassed" by Fairfield Co. school board

By Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield - bio | email

WINNSBORO, SC (WIS) - The president of the Fairfield Central High School Parent Teacher Organization says Tuesday night's school board meeting was embarrassing.

Tempers flared, words were exchanged and the meeting had to be cut short. Some members were mad that a group who accredits schools were denied access to the schools and school board.  

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools went to investigate after getting a series of complaints about the school board.

PTO President Sylvia Mack doesn't need to go to meetings anymore. Her older two children have been gone for years, and her youngest just graduated.

"NC State, that's where she goes," said Mack. "I'm a proud parent."

But still, Mack goes to meetings to oversee the PTO.

"As long as I'm a taxpayer in Winnsboro, I'm gonna do what I can do because the kids are not responsible for what adults do," said Mack.

Mack said she's embarrassed about a school board who visibly disagrees and publicly bickers, most recently on why SACS was turned away last week.

"If somebody said something about me, I would defend myself," Mack pointed out.

The problem, Mack believes, is a revolving door of superintendents and a board who just can't agree. The victims, she says, are the students and the town she calls home.

"I don't want anybody talking about my town," said Mack. "They're telling the truth, telling the truth about us."

School board chair Catherine Kennedy says its because four of five complaints came from former employees who have suits against the district. Newly-obtained papers show the fifth official complaint came from the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce.

For a woman who's supposed to bring new business to town, Terry Vickers has a hard sell.

"You cannot do that if you do not have an educated workforce to attract new business," Vickers said.

In the chamber's complaint, they note the discrict ranks 77 out of 85 in the state, but is in the top 20 on money spent per student.

"With the money in this school district, we should offer the best curriculum of any in this state," continued Vickers.

Vickers she'll keep selling her town, and when conversation turns to education, she will spend time accentuating the positive.

SACS says they will complete their investigation over the next 30 days.

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