To hear South Carolina educrats tell it, times are tighter than ever – even with billions of dollars in federal “stimulus” funds flowing into the state.
Of course, that’s not stopping hundreds of these purveyors of institutional failure from spending your money on an all expense paid vacation to a ritzy oceanfront resort.
In case you hadn’t heard, the S.C. Association of School Administrators is currently holding its annual “leadership retreat” at the luxurious Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach – a not-so-little shindig that kicked off Sunday and runs through this Friday.
Must be nice, right?
Ironically, after spending all that taxpayer money to send these educrats to this conference, we’re apparently shelling out even more taxpayer money so that they can … wait for it … not attend the conference.
From the official brochure:
Wait … WTF? Come again?
These weeble wobbles – who are singularly responsible for the worst system of public education on the planet – don’t even have to leave their friggin’ hotel rooms?
We’ve officially heard it all.
Of course, rather than cry out against any of this obvious boondoggling, S.C. Superintendent of Education Jim Rex is attending the conference himself. In fact, he’ll be delivering his “State of the Schools” address (presumably after wiping the Coppertone from his nose) from Myrtle Beach tomorrow, while the following day he heads to another fundraiser for his upcoming gubernatorial bid.
Funny … the more things change …
By UpYers June 23, 2009 at 9:26 pm
The only thing luxurious about Myrtle Beach is the gated retirement homes. The Coppertone is to protect the skin from the sewage drenched seawater.
As far as watching sessions from the comfort of the hotel room – at least when the presenter bores you to sleep you have a place to rest your head.
You’re right – SCASA attendees use this as an excuse for a subsidized vacation. It’s a perk for being an administrator.
By Lexvegas June 23, 2009 at 10:05 pm
This is nuts… don’t they have the PR skills try and hide this -or run it as a low cost video conference? Maybe the taxpayer funded consultants are giving them bad advice on purpose!
By Elmo June 23, 2009 at 10:15 pm
These educators must have figured out that sitting in a room while someone talks at you for 8 hours is not the best way to learn.
I am sure they will hurry home with a sunburn and come fall have the kids sit in a room for 8 hours a day.
By sunshine June 23, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Didn’t the Policy Council do a study on summer leadership junket spending by the School Boards Association years ago? Think they also did a district-by-district look at outside legal expenses which numbered in the millions annually.
By madcock June 23, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Yeah, this is really inexcusable.
If only they had taken a state vehicle paid for by S.C taxpayers to escape from their wife and kids on Father’s Day in a national park paid for by U.S. taxpayers. Now that’s the kind of vacation the pro-family, pro-low taxes Republicans like.
You know this might not the best week for you right-wingers to demagogue on the vacation issue. Just a friendly tip.
No wonder you people can’t get elected dog catcher anymore.
By madcock June 24, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Sanford has taken at least 3 taxpayer funded trips to Buenos Aires, home of his beloved Maria.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24164.html
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