For Dillon School District Four, it’s simple, as the common problem maybe the common denominator.
“The state has got to come in and do something to help the plight of these kids…in a lot of that it’s just going to come down to dollars,” mentioned Superintendent Ray Rogers.
Just over 20 years ago, 33 school districts sued the state over what they say is a lack of funding.
On that list districts was Dillon School District Four.
“Yea, it was 1993 when the initial lawsuit was filed. They would do a little bit and found out that wasn’t near enough and finally we had to go the state supreme court to get some relief,” Rogers explained.
The state Supreme Court ordered the house to form a committee to see what it can do, along with a laundry list of issues districts like Dillon Four face.
“Lack of facilities, teachers, and pay for teachers…until we get those things our kids are going to suffer,” added Rogers.
State and education leaders, along with community met on Monday afternoon at Dillon Middle School.
This is the first panel meeting outside of Columbia.
“A child doesn’t have a say to where they are born or to where parents live or where they go to school. You know if you pay to educate them there’s a whole lot things on the end that you can avoid,” Rogers said.
According to Rogers, the state supreme court mandated the committee comes back with answers and recommendations by next February.
