For example, last week when we asked people to vote on what the School District of Pickens County should do to balance its budget, we gave four choices and offered “other” as a fifth selection. The understanding was that those who voted for “other” would send us an email explaining exactly what their idea was.
As it turned out, “other” was the top vote getter in our poll. However, very few people emailed us to explain their vote.
So we really have no proof of what “other” ideas are favored by 35 percent of those voting. They could very well be supporting the idea of a really big paper drive to raise $5 million.
However, judging from the few emails we did receive, we would guess that many of those voting for “other” had the same suggestion: Make cuts at the school district office.
“I voted in the poll and I voted for other or eliminating many of these fat-cat high paid do nothing administrations positions at the shinning city on the hill that Lee D’Andrae called it,” one voter wroter. “That monument of employment also known as the district office.”
Another voter wrote, “I started Pickens County Schools in kindergarten and never had personal contact with anybody at the district office level even after I graduated 13 years later. I don’t think we’ll miss too many ‘assistants to assistants’”
Another voter wrote, “The district office people probably make the most money, so it won’t take as many cuts to make up for $5 million.”
Another 23 percent voted for cutting special programs.
“I’m sure some of these programs are worthwhile and help a few students, but do we really need to make the majority suffer so we can supply the extra wants of a few?” one voter wrote.
Another voter wrote, “If you’re running short of money, you cut out dessert. Get rid of the special programs.”
“Dip into the reserve fund” was the choice of 18 percent of the voters.
“Why do they call it a reserve fund if we can’t even use if for an emergency like this?” one voter questioned.
“Raise taxes” was the choice of 13 percent of the voters.
“Surely each of us can invest a little more of our income now to help our children be able to earn more in the future,” one voter wrote.
The lowest vote-getter was the option of cutting back on teachers. We had only one comment sent in supporting that option.
“When I went to school, we had at least 30-35 people in every class,” the voter wrote. “Now they’re afraid that a child will somehow miss getting educated if there’s 24 kids in a class? Give me a break.”
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