Timmonsville Residents Were Left, Disturbed, Dismayed And Disgusted Following The Florence Four And Florence One Transition Committee Meeting

Residents of the town of Timmonsville say the meeting held by the transition team had no substance, and none of the questions that they asked were addressed.

Timmonsville residents say they were disappointed, and somewhat disturbed following a meeting that was held by the transition committee on June 8. Citizens were invited to attend the meeting in person or via Facebook live. Right out of the gate residents who attended the meeting virtually began messaging the transition team, because they were having trouble hearing the speakers. According to those who attended the meeting in person, there really was not anything of value discussed at any point during the 32 minute meeting.

Many of the residents walked away feeling like they were attending a planning session. “I am still trying to understand why the transition team needed us there. The public was invited to make comments, and ask questions, but there was not one question that was asked by those of us who attended the meeting in public or online that were addressed. There was no interaction. We just basically sat and listened as the committee members talked. Some of us are beginning to wonder just what kind of a horse and pony show these people are trying to put on here? And by the way, where was Molly Spearman? She should have been at the meeting with bells on, after all this is her party isn’t it?” Lawrence Becote said.

Some of the questions citizens say they wanted answered concerned the transition committee. Citizens say they have a right to know the criteria used to select the transition team, who members of the team were appointed by, and what the specific function of the team is. “It just feels like everything pertaining to this merging of our schools into Florence School District One is a done deal. They know exactly what they want to do, they just don’t want us to know. There is a lot that is not right here, like the fact that there is not one parent sitting on that transition team.”, Angela James said.

There were a number of questions submitted via Facebook during the meeting that were not addressed as well according to some attendees. “The bottom line is this, we have a right to know which school our kids are going to be bussed to, and we also have a right to know how a school district that is already having problems with transportation is going to handle transportation for our kids. I personally just find it difficult to place any faith in a team of people whose chairperson told us with a straight face that an advisory committee and a transition committee were the same thing. Yep, that really happened,” Lawrence Becote said.