Dear Editor,

I hope everyone now sees exactly how our school board operates. The challengers to the school board incumbents in the primary tried repeatedly to tell the people of Troup County what would happen if the voters put your self-proclaimed “ethical and progressive” incumbents back in office.

The challengers promised to keep neighborhood schools open for better parent participation and less travel for the children. Tired children do not learn easily. Now the school board will close Unity, Berta and Mountville Elementary schools. More busing, tired children and less participation by parents will definitely have a negative impact on our already mediocre academic test scores. If the teachers — who were a major target of the incumbents — think they will all keep their jobs with continued school closings, they will be sadly mistaken.

We promised to reduce school tax for seniors, and would have, with sound financial decisions. Now, the board plans to raise the millage rate on everyone, including the seniors who can barely get by on what they now receive. With one of the highest millage rates in the entire state during tough economic times, it inconceivable that the board would continue to treat our seniors so poorly.

The challengers promised to provide safer schools by randomly using metal detectors. “Too much time,” lame duck and Board Chairman John Darden said.

“It’s not worth it,” he said.

Interestingly, a gun has already reportedly been confiscated from a student at Callaway Middle School. Perhaps I place more value on the life of a child than he.

We promised to eliminate Sodexo School Food Service because, as we campaigned, not a single person spoke positively about the food or the reduction in hours for dedicated cafeteria workers.

We promised to keep art and music in the schools and would have done so. Your current board now wants to eliminate all art and music in all our elementary schools. This is first proof of upcoming job loss by teachers. A heartless cut easily made by those who apparently do not sincerely care about our children obtaining a well-rounded education.

I am retired, my children have graduated and my only interests in serving on the board were to improve discipline, improve test scores, increase our embarrassingly low graduation rates, change the way we tax senior citizens, provide a safe environment for our students and teachers and also reduce the wasteful spending by the current administration.

It is apparent that mediocrity is alive and well in the Troup County School System and will continue for at least four more years. It makes no sense to expect any positive changes with the same people doing the same things repeatedly.

In the Troup County School System, nothing changes but the year on the calendar …………. and the increasing amount you pay for continued mediocrity when our children deserve better.

Dariel Daniel

LaGrange