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Council members criticize School District plans to reclassify funds for R.E. Davis athletic field
Summary
Several Sumter County councilors on Aug. 8 criticized a School District proposal to reclassify $400,000 that had been earmarked for an athletic field at R.E. Davis, saying the move would harm rural students and that more attention is needed to local school facilities.
Several Sumter County council members sharply criticized a School District proposal discussed in recent local reporting that reportedly would reclassify or reallocate $400,000 previously set aside to build an athletic field for R.E. Davis College Preparatory School.
Councilman Carlton B. Washington told colleagues he had received multiple calls and said the School District’s finance chairman—identified in the newspaper coverage—has recommended moving the $400,000, calling it a "dead project." Washington said he opposed the reclassification and framed it as a decision that disadvantages rural students. "If you know better, you should do better," Washington said.
Councilman Eugene R. Baten and Councilman Artie Baker supported Washington’s criticism, voicing frustration with the School District’s handling of school closures and student placement. Baten recounted what he described as broken commitments around building a stadium and said reallocating the funds would be "disrespectful to the parents, students, and citizens" in his district. Councilwoman Vivian Fleming McGhaney said she has taught at R.E. Davis and described the impact of school closures and long bus rides on rural children.
The remarks were based on council members’ accounts of a newspaper report and school-board finance discussions; no School District representative was present at the meeting to respond or clarify the proposal. Council did not take formal action on the matter during the Aug. 8 meeting.
Provenance: Council debate and statements appear in the committee-report and council-comments segments of the meeting record (see council member remarks).
