City of Charleston Mayoral Candidate, Clay Middleton, released the statement below on Charleston County School District Board of Trustees' majority actions regarding Superintendent Dr. Eric Gallien:
“Our children, our families, and our community deserve nothing less than a world-class education system. This requires an effective, competent, and visionary Superintendent with the authority and influence to do their job. It also requires a School Board that fully supports the Superintendent and puts our children first and personal agendas aside. As Mayor and a father of school-aged children, I am committed to being an active partner in the Charleston County School District and creating the environment for this world-class education system to thrive.
I want to reinvigorate the Mayor's Office of Children, Youth, and Families to ensure that there remains a consistent connection to the Superintendent and my administration. We must stop rationing out progress and segregating success. Our children deserve an early investment in their education so that they grow up to be productive, adult citizens in our community.
I am grateful to School Board Members Courtney Waters, Daron Lee Calhoun II, Darlene Dunmeyer-Robinson, and Dr. Carol Tempel for truly putting the needs of our students and families first. As Mayor, I am not seeking to control the public education system, but I will not be on the sidelines. Educating our future now is everyone's business.”
