Sex, Lies And Educrats July 5, 2008
Posted by fitsnews in : SC Politics , trackback
MIDLANDS SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN’T SEEM TO COME CLEAN
FITSNews - July 5, 2008 - It’s been a sweltering summer of discontent for one Midlands-area South Carolina school district, and the heat doesn’t seem likely to subside anytime soon.
Beset by declining academic marks, embarrassed by negative national press over the status of a gay-inclusive club and caught artificially inflating their supposed “overcrowding” problem, the district is now facing the loss of yet another leader due to personal issues - all of this while attempting to sell voters on the need for a $250 million bond referendum.
After dismissing its previous superintendent three years ago for allegedly having an affair with a teacher, a high-profile sex scandal is once again plaguing Lexington-Richland School District Five - and this one couldn’t come at a worse time for the beleaguered administration.
The current scandal involves district superintendent Scott Andersen - who just last month had to fend off rumors that he was stepping down from his post - and elementary school principal Melissa Cole. According to numerous sources within the district, the pair’s romantic involvement has already cost Andersen his job - but school board members are hoping to “sweep the affair under the rug” until after the November referendum when they can dismiss Andersen at their leisure.
Andersen’s wife, Bernice, and the couple’s seven children have already left South Carolina and returned to Utah. Also, the Superintendent’s home in the lakeside community of Chapin, S.C., is up for sale.
News of the scandal began circulating like wildfire within the district last month, when school board members met privately with Andersen to discuss the situation but decided to keep him on the job until after the referendum, telling newspaper reporters they wished to “respect his privacy” regarding what Andersen’s own spokesman termed “rumors circulating in the community.”
Publicly, however, Andersen is at the heart of a much bigger and much more expensive alleged manipulation - an apparent attempt to deliberately overstate the projected growth of the district’s student population and make it appear that his schools are more overcrowded than they actually are.
According to figures obtained from district officials, Andersen and his school board allies appear to be intentionally inflating these figures to convince a skeptical public of the need for a referendum that has twice been rejected at the polls over the last three years.
Literally within months, astronomically-high numbers seem to be appearing out of nowhere, with no connection to anything other than the district’s desire for more money.
For example, according to Lexington-Richland Five’s official estimates, the population of Irmo High School is supposed to expand from 2,012 students this year to 4,041 students over the next decade - a dramatic projected increase that is considerably higher than what the district itself estimated as recently as three months ago.
But there’s no historical data to back up such an estimate. In fact, over the past fifteen years - which have seen tremendous growth in the Midlands suburb which is served by Irmo - the school’s population has only increased by 85 students.
Asked to explain their 2000-student increase, the district could not provide an answer, and said that the justification for their growth figures was “a rhetorical question that no one can answer.”
Of course, the district itself projected much more conservative growth rates as recently as April of this year, when Andersen sent an e-mail to his staff pegging Irmo’s projected growth at 650 students over the next five years.
And previously, in November of 2007, Andersen had said the school’s population would grow by only 400 students over the next decade.
Amazingly, not even the low-end of Andersen’s figures appear to be on the mark, as the five elementary schools which feed into Irmo High have all shown declining enrollment figures over the past five years.
In fact, the total enrollment for these five schools declined by 250 students last year alone.
But the deception doesn’t stop with estimates for future growth, it extends to how the district is managing its current student population - shoving more and more of them into portables despite glaring discrepancies between the actual student population and the core capacity the district’s schools are designed to manage.
Architecturally, the current core capacity for Lexington-Richland Five’s schools is 21,200 students - which is well above the district’s current student population of 16,505. Additionally, the student population this year is actually less than it was last year - by about 70 students.
Yet for some reason, the district spent $1.3 million this year on 22 portable classrooms - 17 of which went to the Irmo cluster of schools, which actually lost about 300 students from last year’s enrollment. These portables, of course, are displayed prominently right out in the front of the school as a way to showcase the “pressing need” for additional facilities.
Students we spoke with at Irmo High School do still say they feel “squeezed” in the current facility, as do students at Dutch Fork High School.
In fact, there was visible congestion in the Dutch Fork hallways on both of our visits to that campus.
So what gives? How can a district’s facilities be bursting at the seams despite a contracting student population?
Several teachers we spoke with told us that the overcrowding problem has been exacerbated by district policies designed to reduce available teaching space.
Specifically, the addition of state-supported 4K programs, creative student-teacher ratio adjustments and the allocation of ninety minutes per day for each classroom to be used exclusively for “teacher planning” have combined to cut the percentage of available classroom space - necessitating the “need” for portable classrooms.
“That leaves about 25% of classrooms vacant and creates the need for more classrooms, hence more portables and the perception of an overcrowded school,” says Kim Murphy, a local parent who has repeatedly challenged the district to come clean with its numbers.
Speaking of numbers, after posting “excellent” absolute ratings from 2003-2006 on its state-issued report cards, last year saw Lexington-Richland Five slip to “good.” Additionally, the district’s improvement rating dropped to “unsatisfactory” last year.
Not surprisingly, the district blames those losses on inadequate facilities for a growing student population - despite the fact that the numbers do not support those claims.
So what is the driving force behind the $250 million referendum being sought by Lexington-Richland Five?
Well, pushing the spending plan again this year are powerful local developers who have a direct stake in placing new schools next to their planned subdivisions. These interests - led by the Mungo Company - have bankrolled the last two pro-referendum campaigns, which have invariably outspent their opposition by considerable margins.
District administration leaders also serve as the referendum’s cheerleaders, devoting a whole section of their taxpayer-funded website to a “Fact or Fiction” page designed to drum up support for the referendum.
Fortunately, voters aren’t buying the spin.
Last year’s $256 million referendum was defeated 56-44%, and a $230 million referendum two years earlier was defeated with over two-thirds of the vote.
Will they be successful this year?
With Andersen ethically-compromised and his numbers failing to compute, signs point to “No.” But count on them to keep putting the referendum on the ballot year after year, anyway.
Comments»
AndersEn.
Nothing wrong with the keyboard.
You can bet your a55 Donnie Myers and Legal Tediums, Inc., are involved in this — tighten the noose around his neck!!!
……..
At any rate, we knew you wouldn’t let us down Sic Willie! We Heart You and Mrs. Sic!
[What a woman she must be -- to live amicably with you!!!]
Grammar Patrol
I just don’t get it - manipulation of the true situation like this would never fly in the real world. I mean, if I’m running a business and need investors to chip in more to expand the operation, I would need definitive numbers for justification of my request. And, if I inflated my numbers to get what I wanted, I would be in a whole lot of trouble if caught - possible job termination or legal problems that could lead to jail. Why do public officials so often do things like this and avoid consequences like we face in the private sector?
Legal Patrol, pls delete 1st comment
This is bullshit. If you want to oppose the ballot, fine. I would probably be with you on that. But, the personal stuff, what’s that about. Are you really that pathetic or just not gettin’ enough so you have to think about how everybody else is gettin’ what you ain’t.
Ah, the clean tactics of the Sanford people.
Great story! Now if we can just get some attribution on the quotes, sources for the numbers, and documentation for the claims it looks like the bond request is going down the tubes.
I am not saying there isn’t a story here, but attribute quotes, numbers, claims and other information to a source.
Great post.
This is classic “old government” at work. Not just school admin, but “old” government.
These people can not separate themselves from their appointed mission, and therefore they become one, and the whole thing becomes a mess.
Good work married guy Will. The State will publish the same article in 2011…so until then I am thankful for your efforts.
AnderSIN
“Following an evaluation of Superintendent Scott Andersen in an executive session at last week’s meeting, the District 5 School Board agreed to increase his salary by 3.85%, bringing his annual pay to $166, 296.” (NIN)
Is that pay increase for his GIGANTIC alimony and child support payments he will be making???
TRUTH IS IN THINGS, AND NOT IN WORDS
D5 Staff -
We are in the home stretch of this school year. Only 16 days left!!!
I am letting you know that we have updated information about enrollment, facilities and a potential future bond referendum on our facilities website: http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us/about.cfm?subpage=38. If you click on “PRESENTATION”, you will see the updated material. Here is a direct link to the presentation: http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us//files/filesystem/Enrollment, Projection and Other Ref Info 2008.pdf.
The update includes information about the financial of a potential referendum this fall. One of the option shows a referendum total of $243 million. Depending upon the length of the payback for the bond, the cost per $100K home would be either ONLY $14 per year for a 20 year pay back or $0 for a 25-year pay back.
I hope you find the information helpful. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions or comments.
Have a terrific day!
Scott
The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.
H. L. Mencken
Evil and good are God’s right hand and left.
“Mormons have nothing whatsoever to do with this polygamous sect in Texas. The fact is that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially discontinued the practice of polygamy in 1890: 118 years ago. It’s a significant part of our distant past, not of our present”
Has AnderSIN read this?
New motto for District 5
“Scientific truth is marvelous, but moral truth is divine and whoever breathes its air and walks by its light has found the lost paradise.”
Unfaithfulness in the keeping of an appointment is an act of clear dishonesty. You may as well borrow a person’s money as his time.
As one who “singlehandedly defeated” Hampton One’s bond referendum last fall (not my words), I see the same thing in all these school districts. The District offices can (and with our tax money, will) say anything that makes the situation look dire.
In Hampton One we have an aging school that truly needs to be replaced. But the district, seeing an opportunity brought on by the school funding shift, swung for the fences, and turned a $15M school into a $30M referendum. And tried to sell doom and gloom the the 10,000 or so folks who would have to pay for it. And because we are rural, and are economically depressed , a much smaller number of property owners would actually be paying for this boondoggle.
Fortunately, despite a miserable turnout, the referendum was handily defeated. So soundly, in fact, the Superintendent found it was a good time to move on.
It’s not over, though: there’s a new, local-grown superintendent with legislative experience. Wish us luck.
#17- The rural schools in our state definitely need an overhauling. Ultimately it is the children that are being affected the most. Your need is valid. Lex. 5 are also in valid need of change too. Change in ADMINISTRATION. The best way to fix the problem in our district is to fix the existing schools that are in desperate need of restructuring. The Board should have gone with the two-question ballot.
Oxymoron:
Referendum: Referendumb
T.Petty: S.AndersEn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isKvVN8MXC8
Is this Petty? ………………. getting too deep
Hey You — District 5:
Hillary Clinton has the rights to this
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isKvVN8MXC8]
song — including all power, rebel-yell-in-your-face angst, and associated glory until after the DNC in Denver in August. Got it?
You Have Been Herein Thusly Warned.
[...] It’s been a sweltering summer of discontent for one Midlands-area South Carolina school district, and the heat doesn’t seem likely to subside anytime soon. Link [...]
I agree with #18 — two question ballot. One question on whether to build new schools in the most rural part of our district (next to land Mungo owns) and one question on whether to renovate and add on designed classrooms to existing schools. Don’t count on the board budging. It’s all about getting the 3 new schools and getting 50% of the voters plus 1.
For a computer wiz, Andersen can’t even get the link right on his own mass email. Thanks for posting it, #11. Incidentally, that email was sent to all of D5 staff on May 14 and the link should be: http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us//files/filesystem/Enrollment,%20Projection%20and%20Other%20Ref%20Info%202008.pdf page 6 to see Irmo High projection as 650 in 5 years.
“Honest, open and transparent” are Andersen’s words describing himself at his very first board meeting in D5 and then again in other venues. Ha! Did you catch his “not-so-honest” statement in his email seen in post #11? “Depending upon the length of the payback for the bond, the cost per $100K home would be either ONLY $14 per year for a 20 year pay back or $0 for a 25-year pay back.” Try again Andersen.
The Board approved the first option, but it’s not as Andersen states. The truth… if you voters approve this Bond Referendum, your debt service will be $14 MORE than the $196 per $100K home for 20 years you are already paying now - not “ONLY $14″ as he says so matter-of-factly. But wait a minute… He also fails to tell you the most important fact… most of that $196 that you’re paying now will go away because… in March of next year ALL YOUR DEBT WILL BE PAID OFF. Tricky, tricky.
Do you think he’s not telling you how much the Bond Referendum will really cost you because he’s afraid you might not vote for it? (He, Robert Gantt, Ed White and their buddy Mungo really want these new schools.)
And when is he going to tell you how much your taxes will go up to pay to operate them?
And then this appeared 15 days later. Now Irmo High will have 2,000 MORE kids in the next ten years???http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us//files/filesystem/Enrollment%20and%20Capacity%20Slides.pdf page 5
sic(k) willie, you’re low-ness in attacking children knows not bounds. It seems silly to go down this road. You’ve admitted taking money from those in that school district who attack children’s future.
Shame, sic(k) willie. How much are they paying you to attack kids?
BIN -
How you think raising the questionable morals of an individual leader is “an attack on kids” amazes me.
Lets see, The voters say no, the school district comes back, the voters say no….yep you’re right sic willie you devil, its all about the kids. and the contractors and the teachers and the union and the damn this could get boring.
Still waiting for the district to come clean- it is the right thing to do- we trust you
[...] blogger exposes the widespread use of over-estimation and deception by bureaucrats looking to justify more spending [...]
Fits - For the sake of the children - thanks. Our so-called “leaders” need to be exposed when it gets to this point. Bogus presentations meant to mislead - inappropriate relationships… We teach “character education” in this district. Quoted from Board Policy IDBC -
“The district believes that the home is the primary source of moral, ethical and religious instruction and that the role of the school is to support and reinforce the importance of the character traits inherent in these teachings. To be effective, character development needs to be evident in the entire school district at every level. …these traits should be demonstrated, modeled and supported by the words, actions and deeds of all employees and official representatives of the district including the members of the board.”
Ohhh yall are just being too hard on Andersen and Coles. Look, it is simple, as a supervisor how do you give an inexperienced, young female teacher the principal role at the largest and newest elementary school in the district and make the situation good?
Of course you take a hands on approach. You get on top of the situation and you push and push and push until your satisfied. But I guess only Melissa knows if it was micro management….or if in the end his involvement left a bad taste in her mouth. What is odd is her husbands promotion YEEEOUCH…. :0 I don’t even want to know about that arraignment LOL
Is this AndersEn’s solution to meeting the growth projections he reported? Got to give him credit for innovative thinking. Too bad his wife took like 7 kids out of the district. He better get busy if he wants to hit his target number.
This is a travesty. District 5 continues to excel in EDUCATION. District 5 continues to educate our children and strives to REMAIN one of the best in the nation. These outrageous lies are vindictive. The persons responsible for initiating and perpetuating these myths should look at THEMSELVES. There are those out there that don’t care who they hurt - children, an administrator, a family/families in crisis… wholly for their own gains. How dare anyone make these accusations and let them bring forth the burden of FACT. They cannot, because this is a horrible display of people in a feeding frenzy of lies organized by political sharks.
D5 Supporter,
Take off your rose-colored glasses and look at the facts. The only way to better this district is face them and clean it up. Family/families in crisis IS sad. And if the accusations of inpropriety are true, it’s too bad the adults in leadership positions made such poor choices or even went as far as putting themselves in positions that are the least bit improper.
Seems odd Andersen would be parked in a wooded area in a panel van during work hours. Get out of the van in a pair of shorts and t-shirt, look around cautiously and then proceed to walk a mile back to his house. Worse yet a Chapin student and Mom saw it and thought what’s going on here…. I think Jimmy Buffet has a song titled like that “You call it jogging, I call it runnin’ around”
Maybe Jack Spratt is right above…. Maybe the real issue is with Coles? If DS Supporter is right AndersEn is doing a great job and Coles just got picked out…. Now why is that? Why if it is false would someone target Melissa Coles? Has she acted in a manner in the past that would have made her a target? I would love to hear why she was picked out if the story isn’t true.
All this controversy really puts a new meaning behind saying yes to AnderSIN and the board. IF Melissa said yes to Scott and that is what she got think what would happen if we say yes to the board.
Where is the rest of the school board on this topic? Hiding behind some personal reasons for the sell of his house. A simple, “this is not true” statement from the board would be nice to hear. They like the fact fiction thing at the school so here lets see if they can fill this in
Fact: Andersen’s house is for sell
Fact: Andersen was seen by a Chapin student getting out of a van in wooded area around 4 oclock on a Thursday. Saw him walk 8 tenths of a mile to his house and then saw the wife show up later. Behavior was odd enough that she told her parents.
Fact: Andersen’s wife has left with 7 children
Fact: Cole’s husband left Melissa
Fact: Cole’s husband was promoted to assistant principal
An official response from the board would clear this all up. BTW if the allegations are true and the board is covering for little Scotty then they are as culpable of the impropriety as he is.
Shame on the Builders? Really?
You say shame on builders like Mungo who are trying to do something to help our children get a better education, but considering that the United States is ranked 19th in the World for children’s education, it seems that we should be applauding those that are making a difference for our kids rather than always complaining about their efforts to assist.
I say thank you to them and builders like them that help provide my child with a better place to learn!
Yep, me too! Since their not turning a profit it only stands to reason its for the kids….rose colored glasses and pass the cool-aid.
If the numbers the district is giving are wrong and there have really only been an increase of 90 students at Irmo High in the last 15 years then it sounds like we need to REZONE. Yes, I said it. REZONE. Chapin is very overcrowded so we need to move the the line and move some students from the Chapin feeder area to the Dutch Fork area. Then take students from the Dutch Fork area and put them i the Irmo area. We will still need to build, but not quite as many schools so quickly. No one wants their neighborhood rezoned and this will not keep us from needing new schools, but it is a start.
Oh my God. I am APPALLED at what I have seen on this site. I am so sorry I took the time to look into what a friend said she saw in the Irmo news (which was a reference to this site). As a parent of River Springs Elementary Students, I can tell you that Melissa Cole is a wonderful person and an excellent leader of our school. Anyone who KNOWS her personally couldn’t possibly be writing these hateful, destructive messages. It makes me sick. What I am seeing here is evidence of the hideous, hurtful, ugly rumor mill that destroys kids in school. I can not believe that parents are talking like this. I can only imagine what the kids are learning from these conversations since I doubt it ends online and does not continue at the kitchen table and in the front yards. I am scared that my children may be attending middle or high school with the children of some of the people behind these messages. I am seeing despicable things written about two people based on RUMORS. And they are then telling these two people (that they don’t even know) how THEY should behave….what is moral and ethical….you are kidding me, right…???? Look back at what you have written and take that to your family, friends, and your God, and tell me if you think what you have done is right. I don’t know my scripture as well as most do, but I know the spirit of it and it goes something like this…” why do you see the speck in his eye, but not the plank in yours”
I, too, know the parties involved. This hate campaign is backed by a gorup of persons that want to skew reality. There is NO proof to these claims. Do not stoop to the level of even questioning this FICTION.
Here is the proof: District 5 is a respected educational leader. Schools like Dutch Fork High have been recognized as one of the best places to educate our children. Newsweek magazine named DFHS as one of the top 100 schools in America. This district has done an excetpional job of hiring the brightest and the best teachers that have worked tirelessly to provide the safest, most nurturing, and academic environment for CHILDREN.
Please get off your political agendas. You are defacing an icon - District 5. You are using malicious lies to further your hate campaign. And what is your underlying campaign? Basically, you don’t want your property values to go up. You don’t want the schools to be less crowded. You don’t want our schools to continue to excel. Why? You are too worried that your taxes will increase each time a child succeeds. You are too worried that your pocket book will suffer to help children succeed.
Bottom line - this smear campaign is based on vicious political group that DOES NOT WANT to see District 5 succeed, because it will hurt them financially. Childen are the last thing behind this horrible attack.
These attacks should be seen for what they are… They are another way that can detract the mainstream public away from the facts that District 5 is DEFINITELY overcrowded, and that technology and space are woefully needed to help our children continue to strive towards excellence.
You see guys, these are not the times that WE grew up in… Our kids are more technologically savvy than we ever had to be. Keep in mind that it will be our CHILDREN that take care of us when we are seniors. We need to give OUR CHILDREN the opportunities that are available to us TODAY. Things are NOT like they were 30 years ago. And if you think so… think about this. Do you still want to use the old lawn mower that was not run on gas? No, you are moving with technology. You are SMARTER than that.
Do not let these insane lies, get in the way of the real issues. This is just a ploy to keep JOE PUBLIC misinformed and not focused on the real problems that face our growing district.
Why would anyone listen to these malicious lies?
You talk about ROSE COLORED GLASSES… The glasses you want the mainstream public to wear are lined with lies, deception, a blatant manipulation of fact… all to make YOUR cause seem plausible. And these same villans SAY that they CARE about our children.
No, they care only about the almighty dollar bill. CHILDREN are the last things on the minds of this political group piloted by a few and fueled by many that don’t care to look any further than the surface for truth.
Look back to post #37
The “facts” this person suggests have nothing to do with these horrible allegations based on myth. The “facts” are stupid and do not suggest any truth to these allegations.
He/She wrote: “Fact: Andersen’s house is for sell”
Hello, WHERE did this guy go to school? How can you listen to someone that cannot even write using correct english?
Sounds like he/she needs a good school to go to! Good news! District 5 is still the BEST in SC. Sign him up today!
WOW!!! I can’t believe adults are actually acting like this. It reminds me of the HS games people play. Take a ounce of truth and add a gallon of lies. This article is BS.
BS, Concerned DF Supporter. Facts are facts.
“s.carolina.gal - July 18, 2008
Shame on the Builders? Really?
You say shame on builders like Mungo who are trying to do something to help our children get a better education, but considering that the United States is ranked 19th in the World for children’s education, it seems that we should be applauding those that are making a difference for our kids rather than always complaining about their efforts to assist.
I say thank you to them and builders like them that help provide my child with a better place to learn!”
To you Gal…
I think you’re right. I think we should build Mungo another school!
Well #41, you think Melissa Cole is a wonderful person? Fine. Did you think her predecessor was also? Wonder why Lynn Robertson left River Springs Elementary? She was having an affair with one of her employees. She didn’t retire voluntarily and surprisingly she isn’t retired now. She went to Richland One and is now a principal there. See what happens when a School District does not reprimand unethical behavior. She may be wonderful, but she learned from a pro. I will NEVER vote for a bond referendum in a district that cannot handle their “house”. How can they handle that much money.
To Unpopular Patty-
I am so glad that someone had the nerve to finally mention REZONING. I used to live in one of the neighborhoods that SHOULD be rezoned out of the Chapin feeder. My family moved because we felt that rezoning was imminent and really SHOULD take place to make the best use of the facilities available . Nobody wants to mention rezoning as a solution, because it would certainly be hard to get reelected to a school board if the Board has to do the right thing and rezone. I have always been supportive of Bond Referendums to fund building projects in this district. However, I’m afraid that with all that MAY be going on with the Superintendent (and lack of action OR explanation by the Board) and with the declining state of the economy, it may be time to face reality and do what no one really wants to do. REZONE!!
By the way, Board and Dr. Andersen, the portables in front of Chapin High School are lovely. Hope it accomplishes what you have set out to do!!
Another thing that the Board needs to stop allowing is School of Choice (even retroactively) for the schools that have capacity issues. Another parent told me that there are students attending the Chapin feeder schools, Chapin Middle, and Chapin High School that are attending out of their attendance area, even when the schools are so overcrowded. I told her that there was no way that the District would allow this, but yet, when I checked into it, she was correct. Why would you allow this? Seems rather short-sighted, in my opinion, especially when you are trying to drum up much-needed support for a Bond Referendum.
Don’t let this smear campaign detract from the true issues. Here are the FACTS. This agenda to smear the good names of hardworking individuals like Melissa Cole is meant only to keep the referendum down. But JOE PUBLIC is getting smarter and is refusing to listen to inaccuracies.
FICTION: The passage of the referendum will increase the property taxes of a homeowner by $1,300.
FACT: Not true. The owner of a $100,000 home will see taxes increase by $14 annually. Studies to determine the cost-effectiveness of building on to existing structures have been done and where feasible those renovations have been made a part of the plan. Those spaces will not come anywhere near meeting our need for classroom space…for now or in the future.
FICTION: The school district is saying not to allow “nay-sayers” to spoil the election.
FACT: Not true. The school district is urging community members not to rely on misinformation but to seek accurate, verifiable information, make an informed decision, and vote.
FICTION: The 135-Day count is 62 students fewer than last year.
FACT: True. For the same reason we show fewer students in our 45-Day count this year. This data ignores the results of our residency verification process conducted last summer where we know there were more than 400 students who were no longer enrolled in our schools in 2007-08, who were there in 2006-07 thanks to our Affidavit and Verification of Address process.
FICTION: The cost of the referendum is actually more than the district is saying since an additional $8.8 million is being funded with 8% money.
FACT: Not true. The cost of the referendum is just what the school board approved, $243,664,692. The design work being funded with 8% money is within the funding limits set by law and will NOT result in any additional increase in millage.
FICTION: The entrance to the proposed new high school demonstrates the district is constructing a Taj Mahal.
FACT: Not true. First of all, the entrance to the school and the overall design has not been determined nor has it even been discussed. The artwork being shown by a group of citizens is from a PREVIOUS project of one of our architects. Secondly, and most importantly, the estimated cost per square foot for all of the referendum projects is $111.33. The state average cost is $152. There are no plans for extravagant and and/or luxurious buildings. They will be cost-effective and cost-efficient spaces to create a learning environment to support quality teaching and learning.
FICTION: One in every five students in the district will be rezoned if the referendum passes.
FACT: Not true. There is absolutely no way to know the impact on attendance lines at this point. When new schools are opened there will be attendance line adjustments to populate those schools. Those lines will be drawn with community input and every effort will be made to minimize the movement of students and maintain community schools.
FICTION: The district will have no funds to operate the three new schools and refuse to discuss the issue.
FACT: Not true. The schools will be operated with funds from the General Fund Budget. Most of the cost of operating the new schools will be staffing costs already being budgeted and paid to staff housed in overcrowded schools. These costs will be moved to the new school. Additional operating costs will be redirected within our budgeting means…part of which will come from the money currently being used to operate and support hundreds of portables which will no longer be needed.
FICTION: The district overtaxes residents and creates an excessive “slush fund”.
FACT: Not true. There is no “slush fund”. Every school district in the state maintains a fund balance. This fund balance is created by carefully managing costs during the year. Financial analysts carefully observe fund balances since they are an indication of a district’s financial health. As a result, school districts that have strong fund balances do not have to issue Tax Anticipation Notes and benefit from lower interest loans…all of which save taxpayers millions of dollars in interest expense.
FICTION: Chapin Elementary has grown by 49 students yet the district refuses to add the needed capacity of 195 students to the school.
FACT: Not true. Renovations and additions to Chapin Elementary include increasing the in-building capacity from 655 students to 750, plus adding space to the media center, cafeteria and other spaces to support the increased number.
FICTION: District Five is not listening to the public.
FACT: Not true. Throughout the process of developing the current facilities plan, community members were involved. Parents, non-parents, senior citizens, educators, business people and county leaders all helped to develop the plan. This was done with two separate committees. In addition, the school board held several hearings to receive input on the plan.
FICTION: Using a combination of 8% money and bond money is a unethical and a “flimflam.”
FACT: Not true. There is nothing unethical about funding building renovations and improvements using this method. School Boards are authorized by law to use 8% money to address building needs, including renovations and maintenance. When those funds are not enough to meet building needs, school boards are authorized by law to conduct bond referendums.
FICTION: It will be many years, if ever, before all of the requested sewer taps in the Chapin area will be used so this is not an indication of growth in the school district.
FACT: Chapin Mayor Stan Shealy’s information about the number of sewer taps is that nearly all of them will have been used within 10 years.
FICTION: Renovations proposed at existing schools are being designed to deliberately reduce capacity.
FACT: The only adjustments to capacity have been programmatic adjustments over the years along with smaller class sizes. Schools are not being designed, nor built for smaller student capacity. In fact, most renovation plans bring students from portables into the building.
FICTION: The district is ignoring the fact that the community voted no on the referendum and is using other means to move forward, such as using 8% money.
FACT: Growth continues in School District Five and the board is using every resource available to address growth…including 8% money to pay for designs for new construction and renovations. These designs will allow us to move ahead as quickly as possible when a successful referendum is passed and the funds are available to do the work.
FICTION: The district is ignoring the general maintenance of schools in order to fund renovation projects.
FACT: Money has been allocated within the 8% limits to maintain our schools. An aggressive repayment schedule allows us to free funds to be used for the renovation projects and design work.
FICTION: It would be more cost-effective and practical to build on to existing schools as opposed to constructing new ones.
FACT: Studies to determine the cost-effectiveness of building on to existing structures have been done and where feasible those renovations have been made a part of the plan. Those spaces will not come anywhere near meeting our need for classroom space…for now or in the future.
Hmmm. Let’s see. Sic Willie, Gov. Sanford, “Putting All Students First”, Kim Murphy, Don Carlson and this blog. What do all these have in common? They HATE district five schools.
This post and this site are disgusting.
Hmmm…
ROD SHEALY, JR. BEATS HIS DAD IN LOCAL REFERENDUM RACE
FITSNews - November 8, 2007 - He doesn’t have his father’s scraggly beard, infamous reputation or penchant for Magnum P.I.-style Hawaiian shirts, but Rod Shealy, Jr. does have bragging rights over his dad after a Midlands-area bond referendum was defeated 56%-44% earlier this week. Shealy, Jr. advised the “Vote No” campaign, putting him up against his famous father, who was a vocal proponent of the referendum.
The $256.5 million building plan for Lexington-Richland School District 5 was the second bite at the apple for the less-than-forthcoming school district in as many years. In 2005, voters rejected a $230 million referendum by a 67%-33% margin, the only school bond referendum in the state to be defeated that year. In the interest of full disclosure, the “Vote No” campaign in 2005 was advised on a pro bono basis by our very own Sic Willie.
Shealy, Jr., whose resemblance to Shealy, Sr. in appearance and mannerisms is downright disarming, downplayed the victory over his prodigious papa, who in 2006 re-established himself as one of the top political consultants in the state with wins in three intensely-competitive statewide races.
“(Rod Sr.) wasn’t helping the other side,” Shealy, Jr. told FITSNews. “He just strongly supported it, and endorsed it in his newspaper.”
Maybe so, but Shealy Sr.’s individual pull in the area is legendary, and his network of newspapers wields tremendous influence on local politics.
Shealy Sr. told FITSNews that he was merely a “supporter,” not a paid advisor to the pro-referendum forces.
PUTTING ALL STUDENTS FIRST VICTORY MISSION STATEMENT
While recognizing the excellent academic achievement of Lexington/Richland District 5, two additional areas of excellence must be incorporated into the overall District operational system. They are Vocational Education and sound, responsible financial management. Given the totally dysfunctional management provided by the past board officers and the monumental problems that they have created, our new board needs our patience, encouragement and complete support as they work to correct years of inept direction. The Putting All Students First Committee will be in the forefront of this gigantic challenge by keeping you informed and offering sound suggestions to our new board.
So why you might ask, do I spend so much time examining the financial and management practices of District 5? Because after 32 years of demanded performance and its attendant evaluation, it becomes obvious that with the District’s excellent reputation for college bound students, there was basically nothing being offered for the non-college bound. In addition, the financial and business management systems are dysfunctional at best. It’s my objective to give facts not fancy to the public so the necessary changes will be made.
Eph. 4: 31 - Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Lake Murray Dad - I kinda agree with you on the rezoning, but I see it a little bit different. I am afraid of federal intervention. Irmo is something like 40%+ minority. Dutch Fork is more than 35%. Chapin is less than 9%. Richland county has a much higher percentage minorities than Lexington around Chapin. If we (AND I EMPHASIS WE PEOPLE) in our community are not careful with our rezoning and new schools, we will face with the same issue that Georgetown County faced. If we rezone without consideration to these matters, the federal government can come in here and they could define what schools go where…. THAT scares me more than all this dribble of “sex,lies and Educrats” (I am not discounting the seriousness of this article because it is a problem - true or not)
Let’s face it, we are growing (maybe not as much as the school board’s projections / maybe more than the other groups). What about a new Chapin school? Argue for it in town, out of town I don’t care (there is a lot to say about a one town school). Maybe a zoning plan that recognizes Chapin as 4A…. (yes I said it 4A). Expand Chapin, rezone to include more kids from “out of the area” too. Ease the crowding in Irmo and DF, be cognizant of an equitable distribution plan and at the same time keep the school count (operation cost) to a minimum. Keep just the three High Schools all of them 4A.
No argument from me - This is a good educational district. It is the kids that make it that way: because we as adults sure are not doing anything to help. Lake Murray Dad - I hate to say it: No, You are wrong, the trailers look bad. Putting kids in that environment to prove a point….come on. You don’t believe that. I can tell by what you wrote. Don’t cut off your son/daughters nose to spite his face. Yes, stop the dribble and finish this issue about “sex” scandals. This rumor/truth needs finality. Someone needs to have the guts to make a statement. Andersen, Cole, Board, a witness…. Someone. Bad news is like old meat. It stinks worse with time. I am certainly not sticking up for Murphy et al but at least that lady states what she believes. Ms Murphy you are not always right, but you are always Kim Murphy. It may be wrong sometimes but I am thinking they are not lies. I respect that.
We really have no idea what property values and taxes will do. We don’t know that the operation costs won’t go up. We think we know but we really don’t. If you do know, help me out on some of my stock picks PLEASE. SOMEONE please show some leadership and provide acceptable alternatives, don’t hit me with facts. Stop pointing fingers and get to work or it will be “no” in the vote. Not because of people don’t want the renovations but because people can not think past their nose.
Don’t run Andersen out of town on a scandal. If anything, run him out for failing to lead and foster community on this issue of schools.
Dear School Board, the vote was roughly 60 - 40 No last time. Give us other options. If you cut the board again, it will still be too short.
This is the same Committee that was using my Uncle’s good name to endorse their political agenda. My Uncle had Alzheimer’s and could not remember where the bathroom was much less being an active supporter of this group! They had a petition letter going around a few years back and had his name as an endorser of their campaign. I personally called Don Carlsen (Member of this Committee) on the phone and asked him WHY they would falsely use his name. Don Carlsen said that he would look into the matter… When talking to other senior citizens on the list, it was also found out by my Mother (Senior citizen in Chapin) that other names had been used as well without their consent. This letter continued to circulate throughout the Irmo/Dutch Fork Area for MONTHS after Mr. Carlsen promised to “look into” the matter.
Any group that would stoop to this level is NOT a group that should be respected or TRUSTED. They are very adept at taking an ounce of truth and twisting the true meaning.
BEWARE of this group - The ONLY agenda they have is spread rumors and lies. Unfortunately, my Uncle was unable to speak up for himself.
So, I say “Putting all Students First” - HA!
This is not hearsay, speculation, or pure fiction. I am stating a FACT.
Their real name should be Putting Our Egos and Wallets First. They will do anything to pass their “agenda”, which includes vouchers, charter schools, and anything else that erodes public education. They are politically motivated and highly funded and they use professional political consultants to write their material and forward their campaign. It is truly sad.
#56 and #57 - Are you doubting the information in the Fitsnews article? Do believe there is no truth to what is being said about the supt’s relationship with the principal? And do you think 2,000 more kids in the next ten years in Irmo High is a realistic growth projection? Fitsnews has a pretty good reputation of being right on the money, so as a reader - I’d love to hear if you think they’re wrong.
WOW I am amazed. I have to say I am relatively new to the district just a couple of years so maybe I don’t understand all the issues… There seems to be more hatred and infighting than there is progress. Like ya’ll I have seen Don’s letters to the Editor - WOW - unbelievable detail. Like yall I see these attacks on the elected leadership. What I don’t see is people pulling together to move forward. So you got Kim and Don out there saying what they believe. The only thing I am certain of is they don’t know everything, but they are trying. I see the school district trying to find a solution but the only thing they will consider is put it up for vote again… again… again… And if they don’t like the outcome they just find another way to buy the land and put up trailers for public displays…
People People, somehow I doubt I am the only person on this blog that is willing to say WOW good point Don operation costs may very well change and we need to control them. WOW interesting information Kim you might be right that the speculation on growth is non-determinant from the compiled information. AND wow Board there is a lot on your plate but you guys are holding the schools together so far.
58 - From what I understand about the 2,000 figure is that it is ONE of the projections from the district’s computer system. The basic enrollment projection presented last year was that the district would grow by a minimum of 300 students each year. Certainly one could conclude that the other figure is above the minimum. The 2,000 number is a distraction and smoke screen. The district needs schools now regardless of how much more they grow. The question is how many more schools are they going to need. Kim and Don mislead you with one small, and sometimes insignificant fact, to divert attention away from the real issue - the needs of the children.
The “rumors” are TRUE!! The School Board met in executive session for SIX hours to discuss the “problem”. I am NOT a member of any vigilante group that IS alive and well in Chapin; however, covering this up is WRONG! I voted for the referendum the last time …but…unless the board has the gumption to expose (no pun intended!) the two parties, I will vote “NO” this time. This is a bad situation that has only been made worse by he school board trying to keep this quiet.
Melissa Cole is totally devoted to the best interests of students at River Springs. She fights for this constantly in spite of other employees demanding she conform to sub-standard procedures. She is a wonderful person and leader of schools.
“43-58. Disciplinary Action on Educator Certificates.
(Statutory Authority: S.C. Code Ann. Sections 59-1-445 (2004), 59-5-60 (2004), 59-5-65 (2004), 59-25-110, et seq. (2004), 59-25-530 (2004), 59-26-40 (2004), and 20-7-840, et seq. (Supp. 2004))
The State Board of Education has the legal authority to deny, revoke, or suspend a certificate, or issue a public reprimand for the following causes…
…8. immorality,
9. any conduct involving moral turpitude,…
…The intentional failure of a district board of trustees to instruct the district superintendent to report the termination of school employees as required by this regulation shall be considered by the State Department as an accreditation deficiency pursuant to R43-130 and, upon approval of the State Board of Education, all district schools will be placed on an accreditation status of probation.”
I am thinking with these potential outcomes on the plate this problem won’t go away any time soon. We may have to have a bond referendum to deal with the lawsuits before it is over.
There appears to be no evidence of “immorality or any conduct involving moral turpitude,” but only speculation, rumor, and gossip. And how exactly would we define those behaviors? Shall we revoke the certificates of any school employee who has a child out of wedlock, visits a topless beach, drinks too much, fudges on their taxes, dirty-dances at a bar? At least those might be behaviors with some form of evidence, none of which has been offered in this case.
Oh, let’s see. Evidence. There is a man and his wife who have separated and she has moved out of state with their children…scandal, indeed! And their house is for sale!!! Shocker! Unheard of! And don’t forget this salacious tidbit: a teenager saw a man park a van in the woods and walk around and then meet his wife. Perhaps Jimmy Hoffa was in the van. Too bad the kid didn’t check; that might have made a story. This is not a story, it’s a non-story.
People’s fascination with this non-story might be amusing were it not for the fact that there are lives, careers, and families at stake, not to mention reputations and a school district’s honor.
Debating the financial and other legitimate issues of the district is fine but the discussion of a personal relationship (based solely on rumor) is juvenile and only makes the legitimate arguments sound petty. Separate the two issues and drop the personal relationship thing.
Thank you #65. Monday night’s board meeting will probably put the personal (personnel) issue to rest. We anticipate a resignation. But don’t expect to see the board drop the referendum even after losing their number one sales person.
As #66 says, the superintendent is the sales person for the school board. A superintendent may have his/her own initiatives, but the main job, especially on major issues, is to serve at the pleasure and direction of the board, selling their ideas to employees and constituents. With elected board members, we can expect a board to be as politically split as the community they represent, which often means a lot of division and little progress. (True leadership would mean one person steering an organization, hired with confidence to do so and doing so even in opposition…although accountability to someone — stockholders, voters, customers — still exists.)
So it begs the question if whether attacking a superintendent is like shooting the messenger. And, if dismissing a superintendent (driving them off?) isn’t like offering up the sacrificial lamp, only to leave the fox in the hen-house (a mix of metaphors, I know.)
The personal issue should NOT be dropped. This coverup has happened before maybe many times in this district. (See #47). As an employee of SD5, I believe if I were having an affair with my principal, I would be fired. I would expect that. Married or not, it is unethical. Why shouldn’t Superintendent AndersEn be held accountable? Wouldn’t he hold his employees to that standard? We have a great school district, great students and awesome employees. Let’s not let two people ruin our reputation. School Board, do the right thing.
Just Do It is clearly has a personal issue and since she was dumb enough to let the fact be known that she is an employee, it exposes her. The board should do the right thing and not act on rumors that people like Just Do It fabricate and pass on throughout the community. Grow up and truly think about the children.
EMBARRASSED is right. Let’s start looking at all of the behaviors of the board, administrators, teachers etc., throughout the district. This is so disappointing.
This is NOT some made-up rumor. Melissa Cole’s husband has left her also. If you talk to teachers in the district, they are all aware of the situation. Morale is down because if this incident….and…the fact that it is being “hush-hushed”.
I understand why some people are defending Melissa Cole and the job she has done at River Springs. Melissa was a tennis player (Melissa Odom then) at Irmo HS. The fact that she was a good tennis player; the fact that she is being touted as a good principal have no bearing on what she has done after school hours….which is committing adultery.
Why is this anyone’s business? (the relationship). If you start getting into every teacher, principal, board member and staff member’s personal “affairs” half the school district could be targeted for this sort of public treatment. Could we stick to the financial and/or other public interest problems?
Darla, we know who you are. Ryan Cole and Melissa Cole’s marriage break-up has nothing to do with any of this. Thanks.
Darla, I think you must have a hidden agenda here. What does being a tennis player have to do with commiting adultery, which no one has any basis to prove. I guess now you will show up with a different name.This web-site is pure trash.
A teacher at River Springs. Went into her office and told her I don’t care whether it is true or not, she is the BEST principal I have ever worked for.
Darla is sure is easy to throw anonymous claims on a blog. Your personal vendetta is very transparent and ridiculous. Get a life.
Morale isn’t a problem at River Springs. We are looking forward to another good year.
To #61 Darla. You should vote based on the needs of the children in this district and not on two personal rumored incidents.
Morale isn’t a problem for me and the people I work with either. We love our jobs, we love our administrators and we love the direction we are heading as a school and a district. Stop trying to make things up. You are pathetic.
At RSES we will continue to do what we have been doing…working everyday to ensure that the highest quality of teaching and learning occurs for each child. I have no doubt that Mrs. Cole will continue to stay focused on this goal and lead the rest of us to continue to do so also. We will not be deterred or distracted by rumor…to do so would be letting down our students and families, as well as each other and our principal. The rest of the district may be caught up in a frenzy of rumor but we will simply ignore it and do our jobs.
Want to work at a happy school? Join us at RSES!
Darla: two people who work together have each separated from their spouses. So what? This can be said of many people in our district. Are you going to start connecting imaginary dots between them all? That’ll keep you busy.
IF there is a morale problem it’s because of this kind of gossip-mongering. Those of us who aren’t promoting this gossip are quite content in our jobs, thank you very much.
This mess is such a major distraction to the true focus of educating our children. Knowing some of the “players” in this mess, and the likelihood that some of these indiscretions are true, one is left with one big question: Why should we trust this superintendent, and this inept school board, with the stewardship of even MORE money (can you say fall bond referendum?) when they can’t even take care of basic moral issues, the same that we all learned in kindergarten? I for one will never vote for a bond referendum until two things happen: First, we clean house; second, we get honest impartial information. I think those Chapin folks who were so vilified last year for scuttling the last bond referendum are the real truthtellers here.
This is amazing. I keep coming back here hoping to learn something about the options for advancement in the schools and all I see is this stuff. The article sites like 2 paragraphs to the alleged “turpitude” and like 20 paragraphs to the issue of the referendum and growth or the lack there of. Yet the blog is almost all about the alleged “turpitude”.
What I want to know is how we can continue to allow our children to excel. OK, so we get a resignation; we don’t; Melissa is buddy buddy with her teacher friends huddling together. Who cares!
What alternatives are out there? Clearly after two years of defeat, “loss of a salesman”, gross disparity in numbers, failing economy, slump in housing and on and on, I am wondering what options we have.
Why can’t we just expand the existing schools? Can someone answer that? (BTW - Please don’t respond with the same FACT/FICTION crap that clearly failed to advance us the last two times. Give me logic)
Let me ask a question and please don’t beat me up I am new here. The Student First Group says there is no growth. The District says it is huge. I am guessing it is between the two. Why can’t we use the money that everyone claims is held in reserve, and being used to buy land and portables to begin expansions on the schools.
Build a strategic plan that will take several years to complete. If we did it that way we could accommodate the issues of growth (if they occur) and placate the naysayers at the same time. Build it a piece at a time. Stop buying portables and expand the existing structures. Why can’t we grow slowly into a solution instead of a HUGE referendum that apparently is leading to terrible infighting and according to this blog is ruining people’s lives. Is the referendum really the only way? I will be quite disappointed if the sole purpose of the next board meeting is to accept “resignation” (#66).
#67 you may be right. The school board made up their mind about how they want to create new schools and they will sacrifice even their hand selected leader to accomplish their goal. Perhaps all the anger I read in this blog should be directed at the Board and not Cole and Andersen. I am more confused on the real issues now than I have ever been.
Misguided focus and confusion…welcome to another bond referendum season in SD #5! Paid political consultants or small-town watchdogs…either way, someone sure knows what they are doing.
Well, number 69, my manliness is now insulted. Not that it matters. I think everyone has lost track of what this blog is about.
I fear you are right, mission accomplished. Unfortunately, dedicated educators who have devoted their professional lives to serving the best interests of children are no match for this anti- machine. It really is a terrible shame.
Sorry #86, whether you are male or female is not the point. You have no manliness by throwing unfounded claims on some ridiculous and disgusting blog. I agree, you have lost track.
[...] behest of a local developer - is expected to announce the resignation of embattled Superintendent Scott Andersen at its board meeting on [...]
More unfounded trash from FITS and the anti-public education machine. What sources?
Andersen has done a lot of good for the district. It is a shame people have taken the gossip approach to a good man.
I seriously doubt that anyone knows my name. If you do, that’s fine with me. I have not uttered (written) one untruth. I have merely been trying to say that these are not unfounded rumors…but…actual facts. I love district 5…and I would NEVER say anything in a malicious hurtful way….BUT…I DO have a problem when morals are “thrown out the window”…. and nothing is done by the board. We are all entitled to our personal opinions. I DO, however, have a problem when people in authority transgress/aka/”cross the line”.
Response to #79. You are EXACTLY right. The children/students are the major concern. I do, however, question the referendum IF the numbers are PROVEN to have been inflated. I have no faith whatsoever that this board is student-focused. Sad…but…my opinion. Response to #82. I am in NO way a “gossip monger”. I have not discussed this with anyone who did not INFORM me of the “problem”. I learned of the situation 3 weeks ago from someone at the district office. I did not say a WORD to anyone. A teacher sent me an email with this website….I don’t know how to find this kind of stuff..nor..would I make a practice of commenting even if I did. I don’t know why I am wasting my time trying to explain this to you. You obviously have a very bad opinion of me and my reasons for commenting. You don’t have a CLUE how I feel about district 5. Trust me….you would be SHOCKED!! Right is right…..and WRONG is wrong. What these people did was/is WRONG. I don’t like it any more than you do. Peace.
A message from church today…
The Book of James
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not…
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion…
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peacable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality…
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Darla, I do not doubt that you care strongly for this district and its students. In fact, I think parties on all sides of all the issues do care very much for the district and the students and, as always, there are passionate disagreements about what constitutes the right vs. wrong thing. So, please understand, this is not about anyone’s lack of genuine concern for the students of District Five.
Hearing something from a district office employee does not make it a fact. D.O. employees have their own agendas (we all do) and they gossip at least as much as anyone else.
Even if one or both people leave their positions within the district, it still won’t mean anything in regards to the rumors. Who would want to stay around and work in this environment if the rumors are just that, rumors? And a lack of support for employees on the part of board members probably stems from much deeper issues than some rumors, which they could easily manage if they wanted to.
As to the referendum, numbers are slippery things. Two people can take the same set of data and interpret it to mean totally different things. I completely support your concerns about the board and the referendum…there are questions yet to be answered satisfactorily and you (we) all have the right to push for those answers and to suggest other possibilities. Unfortunately, it’s a rare situation that all constituents are going to be satisfied with any decision.
Response, again!! #95… I totally agree with every word that you wrote. The only point I would like to make is this: I am NOT on the “bad side”. My children graduated from District 5. My grandchildren now attend elementary school in District 5. I am NOT one of those “Chapin people”! The information that I received was NOT from a “gossipy” female. It came from a respected male…who, sadly does know the facts. I hope that I have not said anything that would lead people to believe that I am “happy” with this situation. It disturbs me tremendously. I do find the situation MORALLY wrong. The school board is fully aware of it. I do not like for anyone to be publicly embarrassed….BUT….when “public officials” do wrong…covering up the situation only makes matters worse.
Darla - can you write and publish a book on how you have managed to live your life perfectly? You will surely make millions as everyone will want to be just like you. You are my hero.
Hey Darla, if it is fine with you that people know your name (Post #92), why don’t you just tell us? Come on, it’s “fine with you.”
Also, you said you did not hear it from a “gossipy female” but from a “respected male” at the district office. It’s good to know the “respected male” is earning his respect by spreading rumors to you. Since he is so respected, tell us his name too so we too can benefit from his respected reputation and lend credence to this situation.
Judge Darla, I have not lived my “life perfectly”. I sin every day..but..I have never committed adultery. I believe that “heroine” would be the appropriate term that you used to try to insult me. Jesus is MY HERO!! I am NOT “throwing stones”…..BUT.. I will repeat myself…”Right is RIGHT…and wrong is WRONG”. IF I have come across as being sanctimonious, I apologize…. BUT….you need to focus less on me and MORE on the current situation in district 5. Peace.
Darla - There are a lot of folks who agree with you. Facts are facts and our district deserves a superintendent with strong moral values. (Dennis McMahon doesn’t fit that bill.) Andersen has got to go if he crossed the line.
Darla we all sin everyday. Those sins are between us and the Lord, who serves as our final judge. Not you. Your hero Jesus, died on the cross that we might be forgiven. He is THE JUDGE.
Darla… Males gossip too and you ARE a gossip monger! The “Darla’s” out there who have spent the last month destroying the reputation of Melissa Cole should take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves if they are proud of themselves! Those of US who have had the pleasure of volunteering at RSES and working alongside this marvelous leader are disheartened that people like Darla have taken a perfectly fine friendship between Cole and AndersEn and twisted it into some crazy affair. So you say it is TRUE? Did you walk in on them? Did you see it yourself? No, you listened to some guy at the District Office! Shame on you and the other “Darla’s” out there! Leave her alone and please go away!
I figured this group like Bible versus so I thought I would look and see what the Bible tells us…..
Corinthians 15:33
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
1 Corinthians 6:9
9 do you not know that the unrighteous will not (B)inherit the kingdom of God? (C)Do not be deceived; (D)neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
“Darla”…..PLEASE continue to post as your comments have provided me with a great deal of comic relief! I find it mind boggling that you are ready to condemn two people based on nothing but RUMORS!! Oh wait…..that’s right, I almost forgot about your “well-respected” district office MALE employee. Maybe your source is the former Irmo Elementary principal who is now working at the district office…oh no..I doubt you would respect him since he left his wife for another woman and has since married her. GASP….that’s right…. not only did he not lose his job…he was promoted. Well, maybe your source was the Chapin High prinicpal who has had affairs in the past…no…I guess you would not respect his opinion. Well then, maybe it was one of the MANY teachers in the disctrict who have cheated on their spouses all the while teaching YOUR children and now YOUR grandchildren. No…I guess you would not respect their opinions either. I find it interesting that none of these people are being raked over the coals and nobody is requesting that they lose their jobs. Oh..that’s right..none of these people are the superintendent so that story would not be juicy enough or serve a higher political purpose! You have no proof that these RUMORS hold any truth…and even if they do it seems the two parties involved are following the lead of many other district employees!! If you are going to throw stones they lets make sure to peg everyone!!!!
Right on Saint Darla (#104). I find it interesting that people are pairing Andersen and Cole together based on the fact that they both happen to be seperated from their spouses. What about the fact that the district teacher of the year left her husband and shortly after Cole’s husband (who works with the district teacher of the year) left Melissa Cole. Since then the RUMOR is that they have been spotted together frequently and are an item!! If this site is devoted to spreading rumors lets make sure to cover them all!!!
Maybe the whole district needs a good cleaning. From what I have read, I would start with the board, who, at this point, appears to be tolerating too much foolishness according to what you ALL have written.
Bottom line - The district claims there is a crisis for new schools.
The people of the district have said no - Twice.
Instead of tending house and finding a solution, the board has let this thing fester into some political witch hunt, and we as the people of the district have begun taking sides.
Where’s the leadership? Fire them all. Let’s get a team in there that can actually talk intelligently with a soccer mom and retired guy. That can handle a developer who wants schools put in his/her development area. That, for goodness sake, can select a leader that knows the appearance of impropriety is close enough to be impropriety at his level. Leaders are lonely people for a reason. Subordinates are bad “friends” beyond the work place.
Think about your logic here people, a couple of “rumors” and 2 people writing articles in their spare time to the news paper are derailing progress for an elected board of High Speed Lawyers, Educators and Real Estate professionals. WOW Either Don and Kim are REALLY good or the Board and AndersEn are well…. So I will back off maybe Facts ARE Facts….
School Board - 0 Other group - 2 Who else is running?
Saint Darla - Don’t forget board members!
Help to UNITE District 5 by stopping the rumors and focusing on the REAL issues. The Chapin Political group has a lot of power because the general public is complacent with the level of education that their children are receiving. It is an AWESOME job that District 5 teachers and staff do in making a difficult situation like overcrowding, inadequate facilities, technology depraved schools, etc.work every day. But NOW is the time to come to the aid of these teachers, staff members, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, etc. We are a TEAM in District 5 and we need the help of the community to truly LOOK at the financial facts in our schools. It is time to take a bold step and truly put our children first above our own political agendas. It is time to VOTE for change. Stop wasting valuable time speculating on rumors and lies that are fueled by a political group so devious that they are willing to ruin the life of a wonderful administrator and person like Melissa Cole. Get a life. And think of the children!
I’ve been teaching middle school in Irmo and Chapin for the past 25 years . I get upset with blanket statements that attempt to paint a picture of the district as a whole. First let me say that if the allegations are true, so be it. We didn’t condemn Americans when Bill Clinton had an affair in office. His actions did not reflect the belief system of each person in America. While stupid, his choice did not make America a bad country or individuals in the country bad people. So should it be with the district. Dr. AndersEn is an employee of the district, and while he is a spokesman for the district, he is just a spoke in the wheel that is the district as a whole. If the spoke is broken, get rid of it. A district superintendent has very little to do with my morale as a teacher. Over a career, superintendents come and go. I have a tough, complex job. There are so many variables to my profession that I wake up everyday wondering what kind of student I’m going to teach today and what factors, outside my classroom, will affect my classroom. I get down, but it’s not about the superintendent. I more likely have issues with students, the learning environment, or one more stupid meeting that takes time from my teaching. Ask me in February if I like teaching and I’ll say “I can’t wait to retire!”. Ask me in August, and I can’t wait to start. It’s all perspectivie. Having lived through infidelity, I know how hurtful it can be. We all know people who define their life by that hurt and they are sad, self-centered people. I just don’t think our district needs to be a sad and self-centered place that only focuses on the bad. A good number of the blog comments appear to have that tone. Instead, I’d like to see our district pick up, go on, and be better than before. I get tired of people looking for conspiracies around every corner. People make mistakes and can be regrettably dim-witted. Let’s not define the learning environment of our children by the alleged mistakes of others.
Lisa - very well said.
#104 Get your facts straight. The ex-IES principal has not yet married her. That aside…does any one know the results of tonight’s school board meeting?
Change is in the wind. It is time to make some changes and those changes SHOULD focus on the needs of our children not on vicious lies and rumors. Our schools NEED to be updated. Our facilities NEED to be more technologically savvy for this unique group of children growing up in a techno-conscious world. And our children DESERVE schools that are not over capacity.
It is our RESPONSIBLITY to educate our children with the best. Change is in the wind. Stop the rumors and start a campaign that TRULY does put children first and one that does not USE our children to advance the political agendas of a few.
No matter what happens… District 5 will stand strong and weather this unfortunate chain of events. Honestly, since Dr. Andersen has been harrassed for his personal issues, it would be a wonder if he chooses to stay. In any event, let us not lose the focus which is the CHILDREN and not allow this hate campaign which is designed to trick the general public into forgetting the real issues that face this GREAT school district.
Curious - I do not know about the meeting, but I know that Board Chair Paula Hite was talking about it in the grocery store BEFORE the meeting. She said “big changes” were in store and that she wanted prayers for the district. So much for her professionalism and discretion. This board is pathetic.
Post #113, I agree. Anderson is being harassed by board and by the people who really run the district: the anti-crowd. From what Robert Gant is telling people, the Board is working hard to dig up some type of dirt on Anderson so they can take some type of action. If this is true, this is incredible. What ever happened to focusing on what is good for our children and my grandchildren.
No action by the board tonight. I guess the news on this page was wrong and unfortunately, the witch hunt continues.
Once again nothing happened at this board meeting. Dr. AndersEn was not present and has not been at work for two weeks and one day. I wonder if he is still getting paid, yet not having to work.
This is a great district, but we have lacked vision. I believe we need a new leader at the helm, and not someone already in the district for all the above things mentioned. Dr. Shirley being promoted shows a continuation of the good ole boy system at work.
109 Lisa said it best- Let the wonderful teachers do their jobs and give them the facilities they need to do this. The administration needs to be looked at closely. If you call the District office with a question, you get the run around, different answers or just plain misinformation. From everything from the Special Ed department to the gifted programs, nobody seems to know what is going on and they certainly don’t want to inform parents.
School Board Meeting…
Well, he’s still here — sort of. Board chair said, “Some of you are aware that the superintendent is not here tonight… At the appropriate time we will make a statement.”
He didn’t show up for work today, he’s been on “vacation” for the last two weeks — since the boards “called” meeting a two weeks ago.
Did he cross the line??? After tonight’s meeting, I’d be willing to bet money on it. Doesn’t look like this is going away anytime soon.
To Hear, Hear (#112) - I HEAR you! Godspeed! Let’s move on to important matters like the bond referendum! Thanks for your post!
Based on the State Newspaper - Dr. Andersen did not show for the Lexington District 5 Board Meeting. With or without Dr. Andersen, District 5 should continue the task of bettering our schools for the futures of our children. This smear campaign may have succeeded in railroading Dr. Andersen out of his position. Congratulations to all the powers that spent countless hours degrading individuals with no concern for their families and the aftermath of their actions. This campaign will continue long after this scandal dies down. It is a shame that the “Putting Children First” campaign has resorted to such malicious measures to try to detract from the real issues. Now District 5 - Stand up, stop letting others decide what YOUR child’s future will look like, and get involved. FInd out the facts from persons other than HATE GROUPS that take an ounce of truth and twist it for their own personal agendas. Keep the focus on the children. We cannot afford to let our children’s education be compromised through this mist of trickery.
Vote YES - for our children
Vote YES - to stop the lies and trickery
Vote YES - to help overcrowding, allow new technology, and enhance current schools and school programs
Vote YES - because it is the RIGHT thing to do for the future of our Children
Vote YES- And by doing so, stand against those who choose to LIE and use deceit to further their own political agendas. See Post #56. We already have PROOF that this group uses lies, the sick, and the edlerly to further their campaign. The ONLY agenda these people have is keeping their current taxes low. They don’t want their property values to increase. They DO NOT put Children First. Do not be confused by their catchy title. It is all a farce. You cannot believe anything they say because they twist the truth and make it seem like reality. In fact they are destroying the good name of this GREAT district.
Vote YES!
WIth or without Dr. Andersen - It is time to UNITE District 5!
Help to UNITE District 5 by stopping the rumors and focusing on the REAL issues. The Chapin Political group (Putting Children First - HA!) has a lot of power because the general public is complacent with the level of education that their children are receiving. It is an AWESOME job that District 5 teachers and staff do in making a difficult situation like overcrowding, inadequate facilities, technology depraved schools, etc.work every day. But NOW is the time to come to the aid of these teachers, staff members, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, etc. We are a TEAM in District 5 and we need the help of the community to truly LOOK at the financial facts in our schools. It is time to take a bold step and truly put our children first above our own political agendas. It is time to VOTE for change. Stop wasting valuable time speculating on rumors and lies that are fueled by a political group so devious that they are willing to ruin the life of a wonderful administrator and person like Melissa Cole. Get a life. And think of the children!
Ever notice that everything is for the “children”? Question, are the parents (taxpayers) getting the maximum effectiveness for the dollar spent in the educational experience? Is this school meeting its performance commitments? Are the Teachers and Staff given the tools and freedoms to maximize the opportunities for learning? What I’m hearing is that 2 people may or may not be bumping bellies and others find it their business to intrude. If indeed there is belly bumping going on then allow the affected spouses their day in court, otherwise its about maximum effective use of taxpayer resources. Focus on the real issue, use of taxpayer resources to enhance the teaching capabilities of the staff.
I was told by a district office person that they knew Andersen was not going to be there Monday night because the board asked him not to be there.
Speaking as a teacher…
We are in need of updated facilities.
We are in need of less crowded conditions at many of our schools.
We are in need of updated technology.
We are in need of staff development which will support new programs which will help our district advance in the areas of math and science.
With these tools we can continue to challenge, excite, and motivate our students.
When people say: “Everything is for the Children”, they are speaking about ALL students in Lexington District 5 from the tiniest 3 year old to the 18 year old graduating senior.
I hope this helps you to define what we SHOULD be using our school monies for #123.
For some it is evident, for others they need clear cut definitions. I hope this helps you.
just to let it be known…message from “concerned parent” #117 is not the same author of message from “concerned parent” #41.
From a teacher…
We need updated facilities.
We need to alleviate some overcrowded schools.
We need to grow in the area of technology.
We are sorely lacking in many areas.
It is only with the creativity and ingenuity of incredible administrators, awesome teachers, and fantastic students that District 5 remains an educational force.
To No Show: When we say: “Everything is for the Children”, we are speaking of all students in district 5 from the tiniest 3 year old to the graduating 18 year old.
I hope this answers your question. Teachers want our children to excel - We are showing you the way.
Vote YES.
So I went to my first school board meeting ever last night. I figured at 40 I would live it up a bit LOL. #121 you want me to vote yes???? You must not have been there.
I had heard Don and Kim were two nut cases out to stop district progress. Unlike most of this blog I am coming in as an outsider. Don was the most reasonable and articulate person in the room. He suggested a reasonable solution - break the vote in two. If the vote is a good idea, both items will win. What could it hurt?
As for Kim, well she at least knew that the modelling system was called GIS. Ed White is a lawyer for goodness sake and he knows that words have meaning. In attempting to correct the record on what he said he referred to the model as GSI at least 3 times. He never once called it GIS. Ed - the model is GIS (Geographic Information System). Either White doesn’t know the most basic information or a soccer mom reading a statement of documented events makes him nervous. Which one is it? Please say he just doesn’t know because fearing documented events is a much bigger issue.
Despite all that, what really got me was the discussion on the trailers and finances. If you look at the transcript from last night, future events were all addressed as “when the referendum passes” What happens if it doesn’t pass?
No #121 your wrong. Right now I am leaning to vote NO. Not because Kim and Don said to Vote No, but for the following reasons
No - Because Ed White doesn’t know the name of the model suggesting he doesn’t understand the outcome of that growth model
No - Because the Board is making plans based on the passage when it has failed twice in the past
No - Because AndersEn and the Board has caused so much controversy that AndersEn cannot even show up at the meeting
No - Because the group opposed to the referendum has asked for a reasonable alternative
No - Because the Board and Chapin Principal have created an in your face policy on the trailers on the main road into Chapin
#122 District 5 needs to Unite Tell the Board No to “one way or the highway”
Good for you Post #128 for taking the first step to getting involved! Keep Looking 128. Ask teachers 128. What do WE need? Ask someone you trust. Ask the teachers in your child’s school. Please do not ask them on school grounds. They are bound to be unbiased in their place of work. But ask them in the community. District 5 is bursting at the seams. It is a fact. District 5 is in desperate need of technology updates. It is a fact.
We need a YES vote to keep our district moving forward into the next generation. Vote YES because of the NEEDS of our students.
You would listen to Don Carlsen that has already been exposed by post #56 as a person that supports a group that used Senior Citizens names WITHOUT their consent. One name being used was a senior with Alzheimers. This is not hearsay.
I am post #56. I know this to be fact. Ask Don Carlsen if I called him. I did. I called him at his home and called him out on the lie.
As I stated, this group is well known for taking an ounce of fact and making it SEEM like something that it is not.
Please continue going to board meetings. If you still have your mind set on a vote no, do so, but at least do so with more facts than one meeting that was obviously already in an upheaval because of the vicious lies and scandal created by this hate campaign. Vote no, it is your right. But vote no with all the facts.
Hopefully, Mr. White and other board members will be more articulate at your next meeting. The very best to you! Get your friends and neighbors involved as well. There are issues that run deep here. Keep coming back. Keep involved. We NEED involved nonbiased persons that have questions.
Right on 115. I think Mr. Gant and his wife are working over time on digging up dirt rather than trying to solve the real issues in this district. We need a progressive leader who will keep this district one of the best in the state. We need new facilities to keep up with the other districts or we will fall behind. Perhaps rezoning, although unpopular, needs to be considered. This should start at Seven Oaks, Leaphardt, Harbison West, and all the way to Chapin.Harbinson West needs to be integrated. Maybe Chestnut Hills needs to go to Harbinson West. Or other areas rezoned.
Gosh - Ryan Cole’s involvement with a teacher, who also left her husband, puts an interesting bent to the drama. Oh well for the gossip.
What is most ironic about all of this community discussion is that it is being done on a BLOG that has been banished from the District Internet access. Wow, how is that for a great epiphany.
Will Folks for Superintendent!
Agree with 115. The gossip is old. Who cares. Let’s move on to the best interests of the school district and the total picture. Put the kids first.
I agree with #113. This has been a non-reproductive hate campaign and not designed to putting the kids first.
I agree with 127. No gossip, but a positive approach to putting the children first.
Will we be seeing SD5 on the new show Swingtown?
HA! HA! We are making progress! We will win again in November regardless of the tactics we chose. Go Don Carlson!
Message 138 not from Murphy. Practical joke in poor taste. My apologies.
Writer of 138
!
Message 139 not from 138 from 141.
Thanks post 129. Like you respect my current leanings, I respect your position. Might I offer the following personal experience:
4 years ago I was hired to run Operations at Allen University. They, like other small Universities had significant hurdles in terms of funding and facilities. We balanced the books and showed a profit and past reaffirmation of accreditation at the same time offering more services and expanding facilities. (for the record I resigned after the accreditation was completed) So why say this?
The problems here are little different from what I found at AU. The district has to do more with less. It is a function of the business climate. Those that report, adding more schools will increase operation costs, are correct. Look at the plan. There are no economies to scale offered.
For instance: The district stated last night that they installed 700 computers. That is 700 * 0.50 a day in energy cost alone. That is $350 a DAY in energy consumption. Not to mention the IT support and inevitable disposal and upgrades. What in the new plan tries to reduce that number while giving the same solution?
The district noted they are out of space for the management team at the district office. What in the plan addresses reducing management with the expansion of schools. Go read the lawsuits about consolidation that is occurring in Sumter County. It is a great example of education meets business world.
I want to vote yes for expansions. I want to vote yes for rezoning PROVIDED I can be assured minorities get a fair shake and aren’t all moved to Irmo. I want to vote yes to giving the kids what they need. I still have to say no to the current plan.
So here is what I think needs to be done before you could even consider a yes vote:
Develop and publicly release proposed redistricting maps assuming complete passage, assuming passage for renovations, assuming no change. Ensure in the plan balance in minority populations in all schools.
Develop a green energy strategy to reduce operation costs in electrical consumption. Implementing active and passive solar solutions and geothermal heating and cooling. Seek matching grant money.
Develop a technology plan centered around thin client devices and Open Source software. Thin clients consume 1/3 the energy and the Total Cost of Ownership using LINUX is less than 1/2 of traditional PCs. Seek matching grant money.
Address the Busing issue. More schools mean more buses. I have no idea how to fix this…. But we need to know the costs. The rezoning will ultimately drive this.
Develop an organizational plan that streamlines and reduces district overhead. Set a goal to return 10% of district positions to classroom duties.
Demonstrate construction consolidation. To reduce maintenance standardize everything but the color of the paint. Consolidate maintenance to one facility and dispatch from there.
Here is a hard one - Review Teacher Pay. Our district pays on average 10% more per teacher than the rest of the state. We have one of, if not the highest, retention rates for teachers and one of the lowest available FTE counts of any district in the state. If the teachers want new facilities, are they willing to take a cut in pay to get them?
Ultimately a 3 to 5 year ROI should be developed. Maybe I should stick with business….
Oh never mind. I just saw tomorrow’s news Sorry everyone. I quit. Maybe I can convince my wife to home school….
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/475249.html
The problems in this district are obviously BOARD related!!!! They try to mislead the public time and time again. First they tell us they don’t know where Dr. Andersen is and make it appear as though he just skipped out on the meeting. The next day they admit that they asked him not to come!!! Maybe there sneaky and dishonest tactics are the reason they can’t hang on to a superintendent. I am sick of the moral police putting in their two cents. Live your own life and unless your involvement with others has a positive outcome then keep your mouth shut!!!! I will be sending three kids off to school in the next couple of weeks….all district five schools. Thank goodness that my kids attend schools with great teachers and administrators who seem to overlook all of this mess and focus on the students. And by the way…..my two youngest go to River Springs Elementary!!!!! Thanks to Melissa Cole and all the wonderful teachers at River Springs for all they have done for my kids and all the students they come in contact with each year!
I am not sure where you are getting your stats on teacher pay but I was in Richland District 1 and took a huge pay cut in coming to Lexington District One. Then I moved to Lexington District Five and took another pay cut. I would love to know what pay scales you are reviewing because District 5 owes me some back pay!
By the way #143. I think your other ideas are solid. I think rezoning will help with over all overcrowding issues but, it will not solve them. AND here is the bottom line, everyone WANTS rezoning until their neighborhood is on the chopping block. Then all H*#*! breaks loose. All the communities come out and cry out in anquish. They all have great reasons for wanting to stay at their zoned school.
I am all for options and you are right about technology in this district. It is a shame that our email systems our so antiquated and our main server crashes at least twice a month. We are in desperate need of a technology solution and not a quick fix. All the things you have discussed require monies.
Looks like we are back to voting YES with some minor adjustments, amendments, and a little consensus on the part of the community and board.
Please talk to your neighbors, co-workers, etc. Get everyone involved and focused on the real issues of educating our children. Thanks for all the great educators and administrators that are doing just that. We need to work towards solutions like Post 143 suggests and not on hearsay and gossip. Thanks again Post 143. Don’t give up. You bring up great points! And thanks also for the link to the news article.
Yeah post #145. I was just going to say the same thing. I am gaining more respect for Dr. AndersEn–I am so glad he let us know why he wasn’t at the meeting. Doesn’t seem like he’s the problem here!!! The board misleading us about the real reason he wasn’t there shows where the problem is.
Remember Richard Nixon?
How much longer does anyone out there think Lexington Five will remain a “top” school district in this state? I wonder how many employees have left Lexington District Five in the past two years…and not because of alleged affairs and moral turpitude that some of the world’s most vile maggots have disclosed on this blog. Lexington Five’s loss is Lexington One’s and Richland Two’s gain…take notice as the Lexington One community supports its schools by passing referendums…and watch out for Richland TWO–this district is innovative, accepts growth and change, and doesn’t try to keep the bloodline “pure”!
WAKE UP ALL CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBERS– YOUNG AND OLD –AND DO NOT LET “YOU KNOW WHO AND THE CREW” CONTINUE TO MISREPRESENT THE TRUTH!
On second thought, just let Chapin secede from the district.
I find it interesting that in yesterday’s paper the board chair said she didn’t know where the superintendent was and Buddy Price the PR flunky indicated that he didn’t know. He then later came out and said the superintendent was on vacation. Then we find out that he was asked by the board to not show up. Does anyone know what is going on or are they all a bunch of liars?
I became aware of this blog and tune in every few days to catch up on the latest. In reading all the reasons to vote no from #128 - Ed White using the wrong initials for GIS (yawn), Don Carlson & Kim Murphy not sounding like nut cases (for once), the Board being misleading and causing controversy (they are politicians), and Dr. AndersEn’s alleged infidelity (what can I even say about that), I have yet to see the reason that our schools are NOT overcrowded. You didn’t say that one - and it’s the only one that really matters. You can’t dispu