What is the No. 1 problem facing S.C.s public schools?
DEMOCRATS FRANK HOLLEMAN – Greenville attorneyANSWER: While we face a number of significant problems, our principal challenge is making high-quality public education South Carolina’s top priority. The Legislature must provide stable, adequate and equitable funding; business and industry must recognize quality public education as our No. 1 jobs and economic development strategy; community groups must treat our public schools as centers of community; parents must be involved in their children’s education; and students must take responsibility for their own learning. In other words, we all must take responsibility for high-quality not minimally adequate public education. TOM THOMPSON – S.C. State University deanANSWER: In light of significant personnel layoffs and massive budget cuts, funding has to be the No. 1 problem in public schools today. The most reasonable and responsible solution to the problem lies with the work of the TRAC commission and its examination of possible tax reform m
