Commentary: Canty calls NAACP accusations 'egregious,' responds without apology
After 78-plus years of life, most of which have been dedicated to public service as a Civil Rights activist, legislator, school board member, pastor and businessman, I take all allegations, innuendos and attacks seriously, regardless of the source.
I understand the wisdom of those who would suggest keeping silent and disregarding the distractors. Trust me, I would love to do just that. But, I cannot sit idly by and allow others to frame the narrative, especially when I know the distortion, though eloquently stated, is profoundly inaccurate and untrue.
To the point of consolidation of the two former school districts, I contend, the idea was noble. To put it bluntly, Sumter County was too small and limited in resources to have two school districts, and it definitely was not cost-efficient. Unfortunately, the legislation was enacted too hurriedly, without due consideration of all the nuances, variances and dynamics that are natural in such a dramatic shift. So, instead of focusing on the children, ensuring equality in every school and creating a world-class education system, some folks with a narrow perspective and personal agendas hijacked the transition, and Sumter School District became a battleground for control and dominance. The end thereof was almost default and dissolution. Do I need to remind us that the fund balance dipped below $110,000 in 2016? A hiccup that could have marked bankruptcy and demise. We are just rebounding from that repressive and regressive domination. This is what makes this assault so tragic.
In November 2022, the citizens of Sumter County elected seven new board members and two veterans to comprise a new school board. Personally, I couldn't have a better board with whom to work. They represent different ideologies and varying opinions but have demonstrated a sincere commitment to the construct of an educational system that empowers our children and provides unwavering support of the superintendent.
Without signing an accord or engaging in lengthy discussion or debate, seemingly, every member of this board came to the table with a conviction that the revolving door to the superintendent's office had to be closed. Hence, we have faithfully and consistently supported Dr. William Wright. Understanding his role as executive/educator/visionary-in-chief, we took the time at the onset of our term to discuss strategies with him, teachers, former board members, recent candidates for seats and the public. The results were the creation of a document titled "Shared Visions," which was presented to him in the hope it would help him in developing an overarching vision for the district. While his vision for the district has not been disclosed, some of these ideals have already been implemented.
I cannot overemphasize the extent to which we have wholeheartedly embraced him. Additionally, he recommended a new code of conduct, and we endorsed it; he recommended a new salary schedule, and we approved it; he reassigned principals, and we supported it; test scores improved, and we applauded it; and when the teacher shortage was reduced, we saluted it. On the other hand, when the superintendent failed to attend the Commander's Breakfast, Sumter's State of Education Forum, last year's teachers' retirement reception or this year's new teachers' orientation and was late for the opening session of his own district ceremonies last fall, we continued to support him by not issuing either verbal or written reprimands. Be mindful, while the board exists to support the superintendent, it is also our responsibility to oversee his work, evaluate his performance, establish, review and enforce policies.
Recently, we gave the superintendent another document, asking him to define certain matters we did not fully have a grasp of and to update us on the current state of matters, which have been on the table for the past year. The caveat is that knowledge is powerful, and the more informed the board is, the more potent and proactive we can be in the community supporting his initiatives. To claim that we "browbeat, handcuff or hang from a tree the superintendent" is egregious.
The superintendent sits in a powerful seat of authority and leadership; he is compensated above most people in this county, and expectations are as high as the seat where he sits and the compensation he receives. His age, sex, race or any other such distinction will not excuse him from a performance commensurate with his position and pay.
When I was re-elected, I came to the first meeting with the idea of creating some system of collaboration between educational entities, which exist in the county. It just made sense to me. My life has been dedicated to eliminating barriers, dismantling walls and cracking glass ceilings. We have made tremendous progress and should continue to build upon it, making diversity work to the benefit of all especially our children.
Let it be known I will not apologize for thinking out of the box. I think that it is in the best interest of Sumter, every educational institution and especially our children that we be totally committed to making our city/county a citadel of educational excellence and superiority. It should be our desire that every child gets the highest-quality education attainable. I am a student of history, but I do not believe that what has happened in the past should prevent new and better opportunities from emerging. Learn from the past, yes, but yearn for much more than the past provided.
What a vision! The creation of a platform which allows every public, private, parochial, charter and home school to compete and cooperate - modeling best practices, sharing ideas, accessing data and critically assessing effectiveness and viability. And, what an opportunity to create a model for other communities to replicate!
Admittedly, it will take time, prayer, patience and processes to fully implement such an innovative ideal. But we must start, and we have started. The chairmen of the boards of Wilson Hall, Liberty STEAM and I have met three times, mainly to discuss the proposition philosophically and pragmatically. We are convinced that the project has the potential for radically enhancing our educational agenda. Our meeting is historic, but our vision is futuristic.
In our last meeting, we agreed to ask Trevor Ivey (Liberty STEAM) and Dr. William Wright Jr. (Sumter School District) to develop a vision for the group. That document, upon adoption by the respective boards, would have given the concept legitimacy and approval for further discussions and development.
Sumter School District sends representatives, including the superintendent, to meet with other educators and board members from around the state and across the nation. It makes sense to confer with those who have similar vision, mission and values. If this principle is valid, shouldn't it also make sense to speak with neighboring entities up the street or around the corner?
Why should a local federation be confronted with suspicion or hostility?
What we seek is collaboration, not consolidation. This should be considered as another phase in our ongoing process to reimagine and reconstruct education and educational opportunities for our children.
A K-4 initiative is nothing new. It's a great idea, and I will not apologize for supporting it. Can we get it? It is too late to pour thousands of dollars into programs when eighth-graders are reading on a third-grade level or seniors who are not college and career ready. Of course, we must continue to serve them and use every technique available to prepare them in the limited time remaining in their secondary careers. Strategically, though, we must make the shift to preschool. And, yes, that service should be available to every preschooler in the county, especially for those who need it the most.
Can you believe the amount of money we spend on inmates at the state Department of Juvenile Justice, South Carolina Department of Corrections or in the federal corrections system? Whatever the idea may have been for their creation, it is not working. And the cost continues to soar through the roof. The cost of taking care of juveniles and adults, including three meals a day, is staggering, and it is a major encumbrance on the economy. The federal government is struggling from week to week to avoid shutdown and default, partly because of a fatalistic commitment to the industrial prison complex, which exists to house and feed folks who should have been empowered to work and feed themselves and their families who are wards of the state.
We cannot fix the economy until we fix the educational system. And we cannot fix the educational system until we intentionally shift our investment in our children to the front end. A total of $3,000 a year for a child in preschool is far cheaper than $45,000 for an incarcerated child. Empowerment of all is the critical key to a healthy, robust economy and a safe, progressive community.
In South Carolina, we boast of being a "right-to-work" state. Well, great, let's give every child the opportunity to develop the skill and intellect needed to work, rear families, purchase homes and to co-exist in the American mainstream. I believe it is immoral to be a proponent of life and not be committed to the principle that every life should have the right to experience dignity, quality and nobility.
Finally, I will not apologize for being a leader. And as a leader, I will continue to strive for unity and solidarity instead of isolation and polarization. I will remain perched on the ridge of the future envisioning those things that are "not yet," lifting us from the usual and customary to the exceptional and extraordinary.
From the spiritual "Walk together Children," I plead, let us journey on reaching "the not yet" and beyond, leaving what has been behind. The promise is before us
Ralph W. Canty Sr. is a Sumter resident and serves as Sumter School District Board of Trustees chairman, representing Area 3.