The children of Georgia's public schools have consistently scored at the very bottom of the national rankings. It could be said that they are slow learners. But who can blame the kids in Fayette County? They are led by a board of education and an administration that are very slow learners.

How many times do the citizens have to tell them that we are not going to pass a new sales tax (SPLOST) before they learn the lesson? They have now spent between $45,000 and $50,000 of the county's money to have special elections. Had they waited six weeks they could have been on the November ballot. But they wanted the chance to indoctrinate captive audiences at back-to-school night with unopposed SPLOST propaganda just before the vote. Didn't work.

They have failed to understand the voters. It is as my next door neighbor said, “Voting on whether to raise taxes is a no-brainer.” This is a very conservative county and no self-respecting conservative ever voted for a tax increase.

Before the vote Debbie Condon was quoted as saying that if SPLOST does not pass they will need to tighten their belts. If we are in such straits, why have belts not been tightened long ago? I think what did in the “new board” was their “stadium blunder.” Borrowing $2 million to build a stadium that was in no way, shape or form a need probably doomed the vote. People who cannot distinguish needs from wants are not going to be given extra money to mismanage.

Connie Hale has been quoted as saying that the board will just have to come back with SPLOST again next year. That would be a stunning example of ridiculously slow learning. Hopefully, the Fayette County school system paid attention to what we taught them for the second time, on Sept. 21. But if they were still looking out the window in the “classroom” daydreaming, they need to wait until November's voting or front the money for a special election themselves.

Bill Webster
Peachtree City

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