Guest column: Accountability, fairness and a better future for Sumter schools
Editor's note: Gregory Walters is a candidate in the Sumter school board Area 5 race.
As the Nov. 3 election approaches, I want to reflect on my candidacy for the Sumter School District Board of Trustees, Area 5, and the important conversations that have taken place throughout this campaign. I have attended forums, listened to parents and educators, and heard from residents who care deeply about our schools. Those conversations have reinforced my belief that school board service demands accountability, transparency, sound judgment and a willingness to ask difficult questions. We may not agree on every solution, but we can agree that students must come first.
Responsible budgeting and taxpayer dollars
Our community deserves to understand how public education dollars are spent, what results those investments produce and how the district plans for the future. When budgets are strained, the first responsibility is to examine spending priorities, contracts, administrative and operational expenses, and long-term commitments before asking taxpayers to shoulder more. I support clear financial reporting, regular oversight, realistic planning and explanations the public can understand. Every dollar entrusted to the district should be treated with care. Before asking taxpayers to give more, we must demonstrate that we are responsible with what we already have.
Fair and thoughtful school realignment
School realignment is not simply moving numbers on a map. It affects children, families, school communities, bus routes, educational programs and property considerations. Any proposal should be guided by reliable enrollment data, facility conditions, school capacity, transportation impacts, academic opportunities and a transparent discussion of costs. Parents and community members deserve to see the reasoning behind proposed changes and have a meaningful chance to be heard. We must avoid solving one problem only to create several more. Fairness means considering the effects on all communities, not allowing the loudest voices to determine the outcome.
Rural schools and equal opportunity
Rural schools are often central to the communities they serve. Families understandably worry about losing that connection, facing longer bus rides or seeing educational opportunities reduced. We should not automatically assume closing a rural school is the best financial answer, nor should we ignore real enrollment and facility challenges. Each option should be examined carefully. Whether a student lives in the city or a rural part of Sumter County, that student deserves access to strong instruction, qualified educators, technology, extracurricular opportunities and the support needed to succeed.
Transportation and student safety
Transportation is an educational issue, not just an operating expense. For many families, especially in rural areas, dependable bus service makes school attendance possible. Long rides, early pickups, late arrivals and communication difficulties affect students and working parents. Before changing school boundaries, the district should evaluate route lengths, travel times, staffing, vehicle availability, safety and costs. Bus drivers and transportation employees should be included in conversations about improvements. A plan that looks efficient on paper must also work for the children who live with it each day.
Declining enrollment and educational choice
Declining enrollment raises questions about funding, staffing and the future of our facilities. We should ask why families choose other educational options and how our schools can earn and retain their confidence. I support exploring strong academic programs, magnet opportunities, career and technical education, and partnerships that prepare students for college, employment or military service. Families deserve meaningful choices and confidence in their neighborhood public schools. Our goal should be to strengthen the entire district, not create winners and losers among communities.
Aging facilities and long-term planning
Students and teachers deserve safe, functional places to learn and work. Decisions about maintenance, renovation, replacement or construction must be connected to a long-term plan that considers building conditions, enrollment projections, educational needs and financial realities. We must be careful about repeated short-term expenditures that do not address the underlying problem. The public deserves to know how priorities are established and why one project is chosen over another. Good planning today can prevent unnecessary spending tomorrow.
Teachers, early education and families
While budgets and buildings deserve attention, the purpose of our district is to educate children. Teachers, support staff, principals and families need a school board that listens and makes decisions with student achievement in mind. Strong early childhood foundations, literacy, mathematics, student services and family partnerships matter. My wife, Chila Walters, and I own and operate Growing Hands & Feet Academy, a childcare center serving children from 6 weeks old through age 12. That work gives us firsthand experience with the needs of children, the concerns of working parents, the importance of safe learning environments and the responsibility of managing resources and earning families’ trust. Supporting children and education did not begin for me when I decided to run for office.
Regular school visits, not just election-season visits
I want to make a clear commitment: if elected, I intend to visit schools throughout Sumter County regularly, not just schools in Area 5 and not only when it is time to seek reelection. I want to learn directly about the accomplishments and challenges in our schools, listen to teachers and staff, and better understand what students and families need. These visits would be coordinated with administrators and follow district policies so that instruction and daily operations are respected. A board member should be visible, accessible and engaged throughout the term. Our schools deserve more than campaign-season attention.
Economic development, military families and fair taxes
Strong public schools are closely connected to Sumter County’s economic future. They help attract employers, prepare a capable workforce and give families reasons to build their lives here. Our military community, including families connected to Shaw Air Force Base, also deserves stable schools and excellent educational opportunities. At the same time, improvement must be pursued with respect for taxpayers. I believe in fair taxation, responsible spending and decisions that consider the burden on residents across the county. Whether you live in the city or in a rural community, your concerns deserve attention, and your tax dollars deserve respect.
Strong leadership and public trust
Strong leadership does not mean having every answer or winning every argument. It means listening, studying the facts, asking hard questions, explaining decisions and working respectfully with others even when opinions differ. Transparency should be a regular practice, not a response to controversy. The public deserves a board that takes responsibility for its decisions and is willing to correct course when something is not working. I am running to represent Area 5, but every decision I make must consider the students, families and communities of the entire district.
Closing: A commitment to all of Sumter County
The future of Sumter School District should not be determined by who has the loudest voice, but by what is fair, responsible and best for our children. I believe our schools can support economic development, our military community and a stronger future while respecting the taxpayers who fund them. We need thoughtful budgeting, fair realignment, attention to rural schools, reliable transportation, strong educational opportunities and leadership that stays present after Election Day. Although I am seeking to represent Area 5, I will not limit my concern or commitment to Area 5. A vote for Gregory Walters is a vote for all of Sumter County. I may be elected by Area 5, but my commitment will be to every child, every family and every community throughout Sumter County.