By FITSNews || It gives us no great pleasure to endorse Newberry College President Mick Zais over Elizabeth Moffly in next week’s Republican runoff election for State Superintendent of Education – as we’re sure it probably gives Zais no great pleasure to receive our endorsement.
It’s not that we dislike Zais (or vice versa, we hope), we simply aren’t convinced that he’s the reformer that South Carolina parents and taxpayers need in this critical position after twelve years of status quo mismanagement under Democrats Jim Rex and Inez Tenenbaum.
Also, it’s no secret that we were solidly in the camp of Dutch Fork High School teacher Kelly Payne. Not only did Payne articulate the most comprehensive vision for this position, she would have brought a vital ground-level perspective to the job – particularly as it relates to getting tax dollars into the classroom. Payne was also hands-down the GOP’s best bet to win in November.
Unfortunately, she narrowly missed the runoff.
Now we are confronted with a choice between Zais and Moffly – both of whom have stated their support for long-overdue reforms like parental choice, but neither of whom seems willing to expend significant political capital on their behalf.
Of the two we choose Zais, based in large part on Moffly’s 2006 decision to endorse Rex – which played a key role in helping him secure his razor-thin margin of victory (and which subjected our school children to four more years of institutional failure).
Whoever ascends to this office in January 2011 has their work cut out for them, though.
First and foremost, our next Superintendent must advocate relentlessly for a universal choice plan – not some limited, means-tested “pilot” program. After all, South Carolina’s current disaster calls for real reform – not more of the same half-measures (a.k.a. “Reform In Name Only”).
Second, they must radically restructure the current funding formula to make sure that education dollars follow the child, not the bureaucrats. There’s absolutely no sense whatsoever in pumping more money into a system that spends half of every dollar on non-classroom expenses – and “backpacking” money is the best (and fairest) way that we’ve seen to address a host of inequities.
Third, our next Superintendent must scrap our state’s failed assessment and accountability “standards” and replace them with diagnostic tests that give teachers the ability to see what their students are (and are not) learning. These tests must also allow for apples-to-apples comparisons with other states, something we currently don’t have.
Fourth, they must implement merit-based raises for teachers as opposed to raises based on national certification.
Fifth, our next Superintendent must support the ability of future governors to appoint their position as part of the executive Cabinet, not permit it to continue existing as its own island of underachievement.
Sixth, they must require every educational expense to be placed in an online checkbook so that taxpayers can break down each dime of the record $9.5 billion they spend
Finally, they must champion consolidation at all levels of the public school system – including school district consolidation.
It’s a tall order, to be sure, but absent these (and other) reforms, South Carolina will continue producing the nation’s worst public school system at increasingly exorbitant costs …
WEB EXTRA
In Their Own Words – School Choice
By sclawboy June 15, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Greenville had a former military guy as a superintendant a few years ago named Bill Harner. Epic fail. Left town with his tail between his legs.
Do not vote Zais if you care about education in this state.
By vicupstate June 15, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Damn, I was goin gto vote fro Zais, now I have to re-examine that.
BTW, sic, you don’t think much of Karen Floyd as GOP chairman, but you think she would have been the best choice for Superintendent in 2006?
By Ricky Ticky Tavy June 15, 2010 at 4:03 pm
she came in 3rd…get over it. Her experience was in the classroom only, never administrative…oh snd laying on her back for our Comptroller…apparently that’s becoming a reason to run
By crackahasscrackah June 15, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Will:
You were solidly in the what of Dutch Fork High School teacher Kelly Payne? You have got to stop all of this runnin’ yo mouth boy if you ever expect any game ever again. Yeah, I know, you’re married now.
But you are right, the last thing General Zais wants or needs is your endorsement. Meanwhile, Frank Holleman and the Democrats are praying that that nutjob lady from Awendaw somehow pulls out the Republican nomination.
By John Holmgren June 15, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Will Folks endorsement of Zais is the overwhelmingly best reason to vote Moffly on the 22nd! Birds of a feather?
Enough said …..
By Kyle S. June 15, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Zais has already broken campaign laws…
http://garnetspy.com/2010/05/31/converse-chellismick-zais-potential-campaign-ethics-violations/
By Kyle S. June 15, 2010 at 8:22 pm
See also this own websites critique of illegal campaigning by Zais
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/06/01/candidates-ad-strategy-questioned/
By Legal Eagle June 15, 2010 at 9:55 pm
I have seen first hand how Mick Zais turned around Newberry College, got it out of debt, is at maximum enrollment, has added a nursing program and 2 only in state programs in forensics and veterinary technology. He did this through cooperation and leadership. Sure he was an army general, but with that came discipline, and that is what is needed. He listens to all opinions, but takes no crap. That’s the sort of leader we need in this very administrative position.
By Zais over Moffly June 16, 2010 at 8:44 am
Moffly is not a leader. She wants to dumb down the curriculum.
By ZaisLies June 16, 2010 at 11:18 am
Legal Eagle… if Zais was so good for Newberry, why did he get fired? (Read: Asked to step down.)
Why is he telling people that he was ranked higher in the military that he actually was?
Why is he stealing Mrs. Moffly’s platform? He admitted it!
K-12 is not college for a reason… these kids do not need MILITARY DISCIPLINE, they need equal opportunities..
And “Zais ver Moffly” … “dumb down the curriculum?” Really? She wants to change our 7 point grading scale to 10 points LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, so that our kids here can have equal opportuities.
How many “A” students are told they are B students and miss out on the top colleges? How many miss out on the good jobs because of their unfair grading? GRADES = BETTER COLLEGES = BETTER JOBS = BETTER SC
Business will NOT come to South Carolina when we are rated among the bottom of the country in graduation rates! That’s not dumbing down the curriculum…
If the higher ranking states can do it (who by no coincidence have better jobs and companies in their area) why can’t we?
Please learn the facts.
Also, learn why Nelsen AND Burgess were PROMISED 6-figure jobs in the Department of Education to endorse Zais. TRUTH.
Burgess would only support candidates who would give him a job… Mrs. Moffly refused to BUY votes. She wanted her platform and ideas to speak for themselves.
Zais is ALSO being funded by: Howard Rich! The guy KNOWN for swaying SC elections.
Do not get this guy anywhere NEAR our schools.
By Zais lies is biased for Moffily June 16, 2010 at 3:19 pm
“Zais lies”, got any proof for that assertion that Zais offered six figure jobs in the Dept. of Ed., to Nelsen & Burgess?
If he did, that’s a criminal offense, and at least Zais is going to jail.
If he didn’t, you just committed libel.
Care to either back down or provide proof?
Howard Rich money isn’t in this race. In fact, the odd thing is, for the only office that the Democrats own, hardly anyone’s money is in this race.
Kelly Payne had a lot of grass roots support and couldn’t raise anything.
Nelsen had Sen. DeMint’s backing and he couldn’t raise anything.
Zais, as a college president for the last ten years, has had as his job, raising millions for Newberry, and he hasn’t been able to raise anything for this race.
Burgess & Moffily haven’t raised any money, and Glen Price didn’t even try.
Frankly, the rank and file Republican voter doesn’t care about this race, and if they don’t start, then as much as I hate to say this, you can get used to saying Superintendent Frank Holleman. FITS will have a new punching bag for another four years, but beyond that, not many conservatives are caring much about this race.
By Toyota Kawaski June 16, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Tell that Fleabag Kelly “unqualified” Payne to get her dam yard signs down that she strew all over Beautiful Aiken County!
By Scott June 16, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Methinks that “Zais Lies” is none other than the incompetent Jeff Sewell. Maybe Jeff should ask Ms. Moffly why were PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT was filed AFTER the election (just 17 days late) and why her STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS was filed just today – 60 days late?!?!?!
Inquiring minds want to know…
By Zais over Moffly June 16, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Elizabeth isn’t qualified and has no experience even in the classroom. Zais is clearly the better choice. It’s sad but true that South Carolina doesn’t care about education.
By SnakeMD June 16, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Heard Moffly on WVOC today. Her voice is lower than Lauren Bacalls. Not that it matters, but it fits right in with all of the other relevant comments found here…….
By Zais = fail June 17, 2010 at 10:59 am
Kelly Payne just endorsed Mick Zais. Nice job FITS
By The Colonel June 18, 2010 at 3:50 am
Zais Lies,
To your allegation that Dr. Zais lied about his military rank –
Checked his web site, he claims to be a Brigadier general (Retired)
Checked his official military file, it shows him as a Brigadier General (Retired)
There is a military rank of General (4 stars) so if you are alleging that he is implying that he’s a 4 star, you’re too stupid to know that all generals, Brigadier Generals (1 star), Major Generals (2 Stars), Lieutenant Generals (3 Stars) and Generals (4 Stars), are referred to as “General” as in, “I am General So and So” or “this is General So and So”.
Moffly’s “fewer credits scheme” completely undoes her “lower grading scale scheme”.
Colleges rank HS’s performance based on the required credits and the grading scheme. Even if the student has a better GPA, a lower academic rigor standard makes him less competitive. Either might be a good idea alone but the two combined would be a death blow for admission to many higher tier schools.
My recruiting network says Zais quit, he was not fired.
If you’ve spent a tenth of the time in our schools that I have, you’d know that without discipline, no learning take place. Zais was not implying that he wanted to instill “military discipline”, just discipline.
To the allegation that he couldn’t raise money – apparently he raised enough – he won and don’t see Howard Rich’s name all over him either.
There is no “if” in the statement “…Zais was good for Newberry”. I work with their recruiting staff. He has done great things there. He has pissed off a few of the “entrenched staff” because he is ruthless in regards to performance and not afraid to cut a failing program or staff member – seems to me that’s exactly what we need in the State Superintendent of Education’s office.
By Berkeley voter June 18, 2010 at 4:17 pm
General Zais promised Newberry in 2000 that he would stay for at least 10 years and he kept his word. He had an incredibly difficult job there and made huge improvements. SC is very fortunate to have someone with his qualifications and experience in this race.
By BIN News Editorial Staff June 19, 2010 at 9:36 pm
General Zais? Wasn’t he in one of the Superman movies?
No. Sorry.
That was “General Zod.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Zod
The good news is Dutch-ForKelly, Kombat-Katherine and Manatee-Mandee are gone from the political scene.
Give it up (xic) willie. Vouchers are dead in SC. Just ask a Midlands’ Elected Official you once claimed has a Strom problem.
BTW. Still waiting for the proof you promised on that.
Just like the proof about your claim of hanky-panky with Nikki-Nikki.
Voting for Nikki is like 4 more years of Sanfraud.
We can hear those buses cranking up now.
You know: “Republicrats for Sheheen”
By BIN News Editorial Staff June 20, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Gosh. The State must be reading posts from BIN News.
Enuff is enuff. A vote for Nikki-Nikki is like 4 more years of Sanfraud.
By Smokey June 21, 2010 at 6:18 am
Fits says that they endorsed the general(“students are like soldiers”)
because Moffly endorsed Rex in 2006. But you cannot tell me
Karen Floyd should have been Sup. of Ed.While verbal, she
was and remains a vacuous creature whose job now is to wreck the
Republican party, at which I’ll admit she is succeeding. Moffly
was on Rex’ transition team and got the office of school choice established
as well as pushed hard for the end of the PACT test. She
was booed unanimously by that committee for her School Choice
position, but she prevailed. No one has seen The “students are like Soldiers” General working anywhere on secondary as Elizabeth has for
years.
I’m a Newberry College grad., as is my wife. My father was
head of the history Dept. there. And Zais’ martinet posture
certainly did not go over with the staff. Zais is another GOP, make that
GOB choice. Moffly is coming straight from the grass roots.
And to make sure the editors read this, let me say Kelly Payne, Kelly Payne, Kelly Payne and….Kelly Payne
By Rev. Dr. Cornelius campbell October 27, 2010 at 4:44 pm
I endorse president Mick Zais.
I’m so sure that he will WIN, that I’m
asking for a position in the State Dept.