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Gail Hughes and Charlie Stoudenmire recently spent some time in Washington.

They returned with a lot of information but not a lot of help, they said.

The two Dorchester County School District Board trustees were in the nation’s capitol attending the recent Federal Relations Network Conference. The annual event is an opportunity for public education officials from all over the country to meet with members of Congress to discuss issues and present public education needs.

What the board members got from the conference was a lot of information –  but not a lot of support – for public education.

There were several bills Congress voted on that affect public education, Stoudenmire said.

“Most of them voted by party line,” he noted. “It seems the government wants to get out of the education business – but they’re still mandating things.

Only one of the six members of the South Carolina delegation voted in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which provides for a slight increase in funds for IDEA and Title I programs, Stoudenmire said.

The Empowering Parents Through Quality Charter Schools act overwhelmingly passed the house at 365-54, he noted. The intent of the bill is to promote the development of high performing charter schools and offer alternatives for parents of students enrolled in under-performing schools. However, its net effect is to reduce funding to local school districts, Stoudenmire said.

Other bills seek to maintain or decrease federal funding for local school districts over the next decade, he said.

“The result is to increase local taxes, increase class sizes, and cut other programs to implement the mandated programs they have,” he said.

Both Stoudenmire and Hughes expressed concern and disappointment with the South Carolina legislative delegation, particularly Reps. Tim Scott and Joe Wilson.

“Our congressman has said he supports charter schools and vouchers,” Stoudenmire said.

“We were really disappointed in our Senators and Congressmen,” Hughes noted. “They publicly stand up and express their support for us, but their voting records do not reflect that.”

“We were really disappointed in Tim Scott,” she added. “We were excited last year that we were sending someone to Washington that would stand up for local school districts. That is not the case this year.”

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