HORRY CO, SC (WBTW)- Three local republicans are vying for a chance to be considered for the Horry County School Board chair seat that was left open by late Joe Defeo. Tuesday is the primary election and the candidates talk about issues facing the district.
Ken Richardson, Patricia Milley, and Janice Morreale’s names will be on the republican primary ticket.
The Horry County School District is facing rapid growth and in need of new schools and renovations. Horry County Schools are growing by 800 students every year and the school board is still discussing a plan with more than 750 million dollars worth of projects over the next 5 years. The school board has not voted on funding yet, but the most extreme scenario would mean a property tax increase by 30 dollars for someone who has a 100 thousand dollar home. Every candidate said renewing the penny sales tax is crucial.
“I don’t feel like we’re in a situation where we need to raise taxes for Horry County Schools I feel like the penny sales tax is covering some of the construction for the schools,” said Ken Richardson.
Janice Morreale has served on the school board for 6 years and said a tax increase is something they try to avoid.
“The board has worked really hard to not have to do any tax increases and we’ve been using the penny sales tax which we will definitely need voters to renew, but any increase in taxes I would recommend the voters decide,” said Morreale.
Morreale said once the 5 year plan is decided they need to immediately work of funding for a 6 to 10 year plan.
Patricia Milley doesn’t want a tax increase either, but she’s in favor of an impact fee for out of state people moving to the area
“We need more schools, more roads, more police and more fireman so we need to attach 20 thousand dollars to every home of a person not born in South Carolina,” said Milley.
School security is also a top issue in the district. Next school year every Horry County school including all elementary schools will have armed guards.
Schools in the unincorporated areas of Horry County use armed guards from a private security company instead of Horry County Police officers. The school board made that decision last year, but school board chair candidate Ken Richardson wants uniformed officers back in schools.
“Children need to get used to seeing a uniform officer in the school because if they get used to it they wont be afraid of the uniform, and they’ll get where they can maybe pal up with them and talk to the officer,” said Richardson.
Candidate and current school board member, Janice Morreale, thinks the armed guards have been an asset and says they’ve helped decrease the number of arrests in high schools.
“I don’t see any problem or any need to change with that. I think they have been able to form relationships and our arrests have gone done from students in schools because you don’t have the officer there just to quickly arrest a student the school has to make that phone call,” said Morreale.
Patricia Milley said she doesn’t care if it’s private security or police officers, but an armed officer must be in schools. She said her main focus is the mental health of students.
“We are breeding shooters, we are breeding bullies, we are breeding dope addicts, we are breeding mentally unhealthy children,” said Milley.
Horry County Schools will have eight more behavioral specialists in schools next year, but Milley said they are not treating the problem. She said children are overstressed and should have no more than 20 hours of instruction a week.
“We have to have security officers, but as mental health improves we can get rid of security officers,” said Milley.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Heather Johnson, who’s running unopposed on the November 6th ballot. The polls are open from 7 until 7 on Tuesday, July 17th.
Here is a link to polling places:
