Goodloe-Johnson's Party

Smell Test

I’ve had a couple of e-mails questioning our Saturday story reporting that companies that do business with the Charleston County School District were asked to pony up $7,000 for a going away party for outgoing Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson. The gist of the e-mails is that we weren’t being fair to Goodloe-Johnson, as this was a practice that apparently started with the farewell party for her predecessor, Ron McWhirt.

We’re checking that out now and also trying to determine if this goes on in other school districts.

Regardless, it’s a lousy idea. SSC Service Solutions, which chipped in $6,000, has a $3.4 million six-year custodial contract with the district, which could be extended for four more years. So what do you think their options were when school officials asked them to contribute to the party? They couldn’t get their checkbook out fast enough.

School board member Arthur Ravenel Jr., put the deal in proper perspective when he said: “It doesn’t pass the smell test.”