Rex: political involvement by educators key to continuing public school improvements
June 23, 2010
MYRTLE BEACH, SC – June 23, 2010 – In his final state of the schools speech to South Carolina school administrators today, Superintendent of Education Jim Rex touted the K-12 reforms of the past three years and said political involvement by educators is key to continued improvement.
We have to stop playing defense and start playing offense, Rex told his audience at the annual Leadership Conference sponsored by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. If we truly want change, then we have to get involved in the political process.
Rex reminded educators that it was their respectful but consistent pressure that resulted in legislative overhaul of the state’s education accountability system in 2008 and kept the fight for federal stimulus dollars in the public eye. He said a similar push is needed now to revamp the state’s finances.
South Carolina’s public schools will start the next school year with $800 million less that we had two years ago, Rex said. The base student cost – our basic funding measurement – will be the same as it was 15 years ago. It’s true that part of the blame rests with the economy, but part also rests with state leadership that has consistently failed to fix our broken tax system and our broken school funding system.
Rex made more fair and equitable funding one of his five reform goals when he sought the superintendent’s post in 2006 but said it’s not even close to being met. Achievement of that goal and other school improvement measures is dependent upon educators’ political understanding and participation.
Rex urged educators to back candidates for office who are public education supporters regardless of party affiliation.
The quality of our public schools is affected by our state’s politics, Rex said. We need to help people connect the dots to see how school quality is important for economic success and quality of life.
Rex thanked administrators for their work in expanding public school choice options, promoting innovation and elevating the teaching profession – signs that change can occur from within the K-12 system and does not have to be forced on us from the outside.
I hope you will continue to pursue change to make our schools better, Rex said. We’re the best people to drive that change. If not us, who?
