Letter: Resounding defeat could bring change

Despite opening two new public schools and a local parochial school since 2013, the Beaufort County School District is asking voters to approve both a 1 percent sales tax and a jump-start bond referendum. Any tax dollars generated are above the ever-increasing operating expenses deemed necessary by Superintendent Jeff Moss and his large district staff to improve student performance. Unfortunately, teachers remain underpaid and in short supply while student performance has shown only slight improvements.

Moss has a history of aggressive school building and controversy in his previous superintendent positions. He claims no responsibility for enrollment projections that led to the overbuilding and unused space in one school system and to a decision to delay building by superiors in another.

The impact of the Jasper port is a major component of Moss’ growth points. Yet the port has just begun the lengthy permitting process required before construction starts. Any port impact is beyond the district’s normal five-year planning cycle.

The nepotism hiring controversy resulted in the superintendent paying fines for ethics violations while taking no responsibility for his actions. The actions of the school board majority are questionable. Neither has made an effort to restore the public trust lost by last fall’s fiasco.

I believe a resounding defeat at the polls is the only way to ensure the dynamic changes needed to improve our county’s student education at a reasonable cost to taxpayers.

This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Letter: Resounding defeat could bring change."