This website has written several stories recently about the unmitigated disaster that is government-run education in Jasper County, S.C.
This is the absolute worst-performing government school district in the worst-performing state in America – and its administrators are as dishonest and corrupt as they come.
But hey … don’t tell that to local school district. This week, Jasper County leaders inexplicably gave Superintendent Vashti Washington a “satisfactory” performance rating – which automatically extends her $165,000 a year contract (excluding benefits) for another year. Additionally, Washington will receive a bonus in the form of a $15,000 contribution to an annuity.
Assuming the school board goes through this same charade next year (and there’s absolutely nothing to suggest they won’t), Washington will receive a $20,000 contribution to an annuity.
Amazing …
So … what standards were used to evaluate Washington’s performance? No one knows. And don’t bother asking the school board members who evaluated her …
According to The Jasper Sun, Washington’s evaluation, contract extension and raise were all discussed and agreed to behind closed doors – with nothing in writing.
Why not?
“(Past written evaluation forms) resulted in (Freedom of Information Act) demands for the forms, and became embarrassing for the superintendents, so nobody uses forms anymore,” the school district’s attorney told the paper. “Most districts don’t.”
Wow. Just … wow.
Because God forbid we cause overpaid, corrupt, incompetent administrators who are screwing tens of thousands of children out of their futures any “embarrassment.”
What a state, people … what a state.
And these educrats have the audacity to attack the accountability of free market schools? Unreal …
19 comments
Idi Amin is smiling
His ass may be in flames, but he is smiling
Who hires the school board? I blame them.
Consent of the governed is a bitch when the governed are not competent enough to understand what they are consenting to.
Tough love! Sad but true.
Again, as you said earlier M326, another demographic, cultural problem. Fox/hen house type of thing.
Not likely to change any time soon.
School boards I have dealt with in the past thought they had superior intelligence imbued upon them by virtue of being voted to the board, when in actuality, they were damn near illiterate.
I blame Bush
What do Gavin Rossdale, Chris Traynor, Corey Britzand Robin Goodridge have to do with anything?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-duPeBbEaVo
I blame global warming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTdiq61-VOQ
Does Howie Rich give Christmas bonuses? He must cause Sic Willie is trolling for one.
Verily, TBG says unto thee
C – N…… S – Y – D.
Surely your jar is “full up” with “government run” tips?
In the spirit of Christmas…take us all to Ruth’s Chris!
TBG, called to make our reservations. They said most any night while the Carl’s Jr team is in FL will work as there will be more tables available since certain football team members won’t be using them.
Senate District 46 includes part of Jasper County. District 46 is the district of carpetbagger Davis. Has carpetbagger Davis been asleep at the switch? How could he let this occur?
Isn’t Jasper where you want to build that port thingy ma jig?
Can you imagine All these “uneducated cretins” handling large quantities of dangerous or hazardous materials in large quantities near water as they load and unload ships?
For many years, “government-run” school educated technicians assembled fleet ballistic missiles with MIRVed nuclear warheads at POMFLANT in Goose Creek. Maybe the similarly uneducated can handle cargo.
Come on Cyn – we both know the bomb builders were run through Navy training under the tutelage of sumbich LPO/CPO instructors.
Until we have the guts to acknowledge that our “education” problem is also a demographic and cultural problem, we will have little impact on it. The problem is not so much the structure or quality of education (though that leaves much to be desired) but is primarily a cultural problem. Until a world view and value of eduction is instilled in the families from which these children come, there will be little improvement. The real question is how to instill that in rural Jasper County, SC.
Thankfully, citizens in that county who actually give a damn about their community have greater options. In other news yesterday, the Jasper County Council voted to accept a donation of land to help the local charter school (Royal Live Oaks Academy) secure land in downtown Hardeeville in coordination with the city. What’s amazing is that in only one year of operation, the charter school’s academic composite score was already twice that of the county schools.
it would be pretty strange to find a great, or even a decent school district in such a crappy place. schools aren’t separate from their communities.