News 12 at 11 o'clock, September 1, 2010

AIKEN,S.C. -- After Tuesday night's school board meeting in Aiken County, board members say they're going to do all they can to listen to the public, make changes for the better and even possibly re-introduce the bond referendum down the road.

North Augusta school board members Ray Fleming and Keith Liner are planning to have a combined meeting within their districts called "Community Chat" where they will listen to all suggestions from their two North Augusta districts and then take back suggestions to the other board members. Some parents like Lorraine Dunaway are glad to hear that. Dunaway says she plans to attend the public input meeting because it's effective.

"I'm for the school board and I respect the school board, but maybe they weren't as transparent as they could be on this issues, "said Dunaway.

North Augusta mother of two Lorraine Dunaway - says she voted for the bond referendum because she knows the bad shape some of the Aiken county schools are in and how much the money would have helped to fix them properly.

"I've been to the high school I"ve seen it, its horrible," said Dunaway. "I think in this economy a lot of folks heard -your property taxes are going to be raised. Folks just don't want any kind of increase right now, and I think maybe there wasn't enough information out there either.

Dunaway, like many other parents, wants to see the school board get back on track and moving forward even if it means more of her tax money.

News 12 spoke with some school board members by phone on Wednesday who say it is imperative that the communication between parents and the board must be clearer going forward. Without understanding each others intentions and goals, the county could be right back in the same position down the road.

"I wasn't confused about the bond referendum, but I thought it did come up rather quickly,"added Dunaway. "I think maybe they[school board members] learned something from that. In the future maybe they'll be a little more transparent."

Dunaway says she only wants the best for her children and that the more involved parents can get at the meetings with ideas the easier the job will be for the school board members.

"I haven't heard a whole lot about their path going forward, but I know there is a path, which is good, but I'm not sure what that path is,"said Dunaway.

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"Community Chat" Meeting:
Monday, September 20th
Nancy Carson Library
6:30pm
Open to the public, specifically North Augusta residents