Richland One School Board shouldn’t be using public money for personal goodies

Recently each member of the Richland One School Board received a “gift” — a Nike hooded windbreaker that was embroidered with the Richland One logo and bore the tagline “Engage — Educate — Empower.”

In all seven windbreakers were ordered at a unit price of $100 each, and the chairman of the School Board used tax dollars for this $700 purchase.

I am a Richland One board member, and this expense has led me to raise numerous questions:

▪ How does this fit into the mission of the district? How is this in the best interest of students and teachers?

▪ Who made this decision to spend taxpayer money on windbreakers for board members?

▪ What policy gives one member the authority to spend money in such a manner, and without approval from the whole board?

▪ Is this expense itemized in the district budget so that the public can see it?

▪ How many other cases are there of money being spent in this manner — and how much money has been spent this way?

Such gifts are unwarranted, and they don’t represent a prudent use of taxpayer money that should be directly invested in classrooms.

To me it’s a moral issue: How on Earth can someone rationalize taking money that should be devoted to children and spending it on lavish apparel for adults — particularly when close to 80% of our children and families are below or near the poverty line?

This sort of thoughtless spending has terrible consequences, and the most damaging one may be the further erosion of public trust. Our district is already struggling to keep our best teachers, and this sort of silliness will not inspire confidence. In addition, many of our teachers are spending their own money to meet the needs of their classrooms.

This sort of frivolous spending is also damaging because it only further deteriorates legislative support for public education; it serves as perfect ammunition for the lawmakers who contend that school districts and school boards are spending the taxpayers’ hard-earned money on themselves instead of children.

There are district officials and board members who regularly blame our state legislators for not “fully” funding education. But how can we make the case that Richland One is a district with unique challenges that no other district faces when we’re spending money on jackets for people who don’t need them?

At a recent board meeting I said that the best gifts that I can receive as a board member are the achievements of our students — period. And I will reaffirm that again.

As for the $100 Nike embroidered jacket, I will continue to stand by what I said when it was offered to me:

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

Beatrice King is a member of the Richland One School Board.