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Councilman Baten says local school performance and funding threaten workforce development
Summary
Councilman Eugene R. Baten told Sumter County Council on Nov. 12 that the county's public schools rank near the bottom in the state and urged the body to address education funding, linking test scores and workforce readiness to economic development and community safety.
During member reports at the Nov. 12 Sumter County Council meeting, Councilman Eugene R. Baten urged the council and the community to address perceived shortcomings in local public education, which he said are harming workforce development and contributing to social problems.
Baten said the Sumter County School District ranked "#69 out of 75 individual school districts in South Carolina," and that local test scores are "15% to 20% lower than the State average." He argued that a history of underfunding has reduced the ability of local employers to hire a sufficiently trained workforce, noting that when Continental Tire opened previously, Penny for Progress funds helped attract the employer, but current school funding shortfalls have required the company to hire from outside the county.
Baten linked education funding to broader social concerns, saying low millage and a lack of investment in schools contribute to poverty and, in his view, to higher rates of community violence. He asked that his comments be included in the meeting minutes.
Other council members responded with remarks supporting positive engagement with education; Councilwoman Vivian Fleming McGhaney said communities should speak positively to improve outcomes. The council did not take immediate formal action on the subject during the meeting.
