our readers write

As a Lexington-Richland District 5 trustee I am committed to open dialogue between citizens and the school board. Public participation at meetings is the heart of open communication. It serves as our only public forum for concerned citizens to ask questions.

I have been pleased that we have had a policy that worked well in allowing questions to be answered and our staff has been willing to provide materials asked for.

At the last board meeting the board majority voted on the first reading to change the public participation policy. I abstained to understand why we were changing something that has worked well and is in line with other district’s policies.

I will not support any changes that may give the public less ability to ask questions and receive answers.

I also do not support a change that may appear to be driven by any particular circumstance. I know we all support transparency. Our current policy reflects that.

We must be careful not to confuse the public about the new Freedom of Information Act with important information that taxpayers may request.

We are now allowed to charge the public for the time employees use to answer their FoIA requests. I fear that citizens may confuse this change as a financial burden when it is not an FoIA item. Our current policy does not confuse the public.

I believe that an informed public is a supportive public. Our tax dollars belong to the public. It is our responsibility to be as transparent as possible with all their concerns.

We must use every opportunity to interact with the public, even when we do not agree with them. It works.

Jan Hammond, Irmo

Our government is deeply disordered, its debt increasing, its expenditures wasteful, its disbursements without efficient accountability and its taxes enormous, unequal and oppressive.

John C. Calhoun, 1782-1850