Dear Editor,

In response to an article in The LaGrange Daily News dated Aug. 16 that the Troup County Board of Education has agreed to pay Cole Pugh, the superintendent of the TCSS, (in pursuance of a predetermined contract) the remaining time left on his contract agreement in the amount of $152,891.

The intent of this letter is not to insinuate that there was at anytime, anything crooked or under the table that took place here, but at the same time there are a lot of unanswered questions that need to be addressed and released to the taxpayers of the county. For example, is the BOE responsible for agreeing to such a contract? If Mr Pugh resigned, then why should we taxpayers that pay annual school tax be liable for the remaining salary? I have never been hired and told if I resigned the job I would be paid such an exorbitant amount.

Maybe there’s something I don’t know about this, but it sure doesn’t pass the smell test. There are seniors on social security who can’t buy their medicine or groceries that still have to pay school tax although they haven’t had children or even grandchildren in school in years.  I have asked our lawmakers about this and their response is “We have no control over this, it’s controlled by the BOE.” I say instead of being presented with smoke and mirrors, tell us the facts surrounding this so we seniors will know how to vote in the next election.

GEOFFREY THROWER

LaGrange