$800,000. That’s what the State Newspaper says the now-suspended early childhood learning center has cost Richland One since construction was suspended while the school district is investigated by the S.C. Inspector General (IG).
14 Teachers
With $800,000, Richland One could hire 14 additional teachers. Teacher shortages are not new to the district and money is not the sole factor driving teacher retention. However, with the district short on certified teachers and students reportedly “teaching themselves,” parents need to ask whether $800,000 wouldn’t be better spent on more teachers.
10 social workers
With $800,000, Richland One could hire ten additional social workers. Social workers are an integral part of the school ecosystem, providing essential support for our students and their families. Students whose emotional needs are met with caring, professional support perform better in school.
4 school buses
With $800,000, Richland One could buy at least four brand new 90 seat flat-nose buses to replace older models or to add to the fleet, shortening the time kids spend on the road traveling to and from school.
With so many financial needs, it’s hard to stomach spending $800,000 to watch an idle construction site, but that’s precisely what Richland One has and will continue to do because it broke ground on a massive project without getting the requisite permits.
So, what does $800,000 mean for Richland One? Unfortunately, lot’s of missed opportunities.
Source: Estimates based on average salary ranges in Richland One and SC Dept. of Education.
