A bottomless pit filled with money must be out there somewhere for elected school officials to use as they see fit.
At least that’s the impression given by members of the Fannin County Board of Education who voted unanimously to ask that their own compensation be more than doubled.
The board passed a resolution at their September 12 meeting asking the Georgia legislature to set each member’s pay at $12,000 annually. Currently, each member gets $4,800.
That’s an additional cost to taxpayers of $36,000 a year. And while some gray area was left as to exactly where this money will come from, it doesn’t matter. Any extra money from any source should be used for students, not for higher board salaries.
The move was a shock coming from the board members who are normally very conservative, especially when it comes to watching over the school system’s finances. They have traditionally prided themselves on managing all funds for the benefit of student education.
If there is an extra $36,000 laying around somewhere that is not earmarked for classrooms, it should be used for the students in the extracurricular activities – sports, clubs, special academic activities. These students, along with their adult leaders, parents and anyone else who will help, constantly have to “beat the streets” for countless dollars to make organizations and their projects successful.
School Board members shouldn’t be asking their own salaries be increased or accepting an increase. Theirs are positions of service, not profit.
Extra money should go where it belongs, to the students.