PICKENS — Pickens County Republican Party Chairman Phillip Bowers, also a members of the State Board of Education, has blasted the Pickens County Board of Trustees for “failing in some of the most important categories” when it comes to educating students.

As a result, Bowers said he will discuss the state of education in the district with party members at a 7 p.m. meeting tonight at the Rosewood Center in Liberty.

Bowers is hopeful that what he says will spur individuals to file for three board seats up for grabs. The two-week filing period in District 1, representing the Daniel area and currently held by Dr. Herbert Cooper; District 3, representing the Pickens area and currently held by Alex Saitta; and District 5, encompassing the Easley area and currently held by Dr. Jim Brice, begins at noon Friday and continues through noon, Aug. 15.

Candidates will face off in the Nov. 4 election.

“There is no reason why we cannot have an excellent school system,” Bowers said via e-mail. “We can stop the downward trend, but we must hold the school board accountable.

“A majority on the school board has allowed our once excellent system to falter, but we have an opportunity to set a new direction this November.”

Pickens County School Superintendent Lee D’Andrea refutes Bowers’ criticism, saying the district has moved forward in achieving outcomes established at her hiring in 2006.

“We are continuously focusing on the relationship between the board and superintendent, making decisions that are best for students and best for the quality of life in Pickens County,” D’Andrea said, adding, “We have certainly made progress.”

Bowers cited statistics from the Department of Education’s Report Card for Pickens Schools, stating that the current school board is failing in “some of the most important categories,” including an overall rating that fell from excellent in 2004, to average in 2006; a graduation rate that has dropped from 81.7 percent in 2004 to 75.4 percent in 2007; and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) that only half of the students take and where the average score has dropped from 1038 in 2004 to slightly over 1000 in 2007.

“To put those numbers in perspective, the average freshman at Clemson University scores over 1200 on the SAT,” Bowers said. “Pickens County high school students, on average, can’t compete for admittance into our local state run college.

D’Andrea argues that academic ratings occurred prior to her arrival.

“When you look at the 2007 report card, it was the first time in three years that the improvement rating has gone up,” she said, adding, “It wasn’t where we wanted it to be, but it was heading in the right direction.

“We believe that when the report card is released this year, improvement will be shown for a second consecutive year.”

Citing test scores, she added, “In both reading and math, the percentage of students meeting their individual growth targets increased in every grade level from 2006 to 2007 and from 2007 to 2008.”

Technology is another area in which D’Andrea feels the district has made tremendous strides. She citied statistics from the 2004-2005 in which more than 50 percent of the district’s computers used either Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating systems. “All computers with outdated operating systems have now been moved out of schools and properly disposed of.”

D’Andrea said more than 1,500 new computers were installed this summer alone, more than 1,200 classrooms have an interactive whiteboard in place and that every certified employee has a laptop.

“Our teachers are providing quality instruction, embracing technology and integrating it into their classrooms,” she said. “Their commitment to their own professional development is making a difference for student learning.”

Bowers also criticized the board’s decision in November 2006 to borrow $315 million to undertake a massive facilities improvement plan that included construction of four new high schools.

“Today, more than a year and a half later, there are still no buildings under construction and too many of our teachers and children will go back to yet another year in portable classrooms,” Bowers said.

But the superintendent said the district has taken a series of steps including the purchase of property, hiring architects, holding community visioning meetings and approving contractors.

D’Andrea said construction of a new Liberty Middle School is progressing, dirt is being moved at the site of the new Pickens High School this week, the new Easley High School is in the process of being bid and the new Liberty and Daniel high schools “are still on track.”

“I fully understand how some people wonder when they will see something,” D’Andrea said, adding, “But people will soon see evidence of the thoughtful planning that has been taking place for 18 months.”

The end result, D’Andrea said, will not only be four new high schools, but a new career and technology center, new elementary schools in Liberty and Dacusville and 13 renovated elementary schools.

Bowers said the school board has become too preoccupied with facilities.

“It’s obvious that the school board has become distracted by short-term issues and is failing to see the long-term issues,” Bowers said. “Though the building program is a moot point, having been approved and is in the works, that’s a long-term issue we’re going to have to deal with. The more pressing issue is academics.”

As a state education board member, Bowers said he and the other members are examining dropout rates and looking at options designed to improve graduation rates. Bowers said the board approved new English/Language Arts standards earlier this year and is considering the passage of new mathematics standards.

Another criticism levied by Bowers against the board involves the treatment of many longtime Pickens County School District employees.

“Many dedicated, qualified and experienced Pickens County residents, who have devoted their lives to public service in our schools, are being pushed aside and replaced by those with no experience in our schools and at much higher salaries,” he said, adding, “We had an excellent rated school system in 2004, higher SAT scores and graduation rates, yet, as the people who built that system are being pushed out, we are falling.”

Though unable to comment specifically on personnel matters, D’Andrea said, “We want to put individuals in places where their strengths are best used. Sometimes that involves people inside the district and sometimes it’s outside, but I don’t think that’s different from any other industry. We’re just looking for the most capable human resources we can find and desire to grow some of our youngest and most capable administrators into that next generation of leaders.”

Bowers said he has noticed more interest in this year’s school board elections, as opposed to previous years.

“I hope that, out of this meeting, we will get more and more interest (from prospective candidates) and that it will get the board to look more closely at these critical academic issues,” Bowers said.

The superintendent is hopeful that the school board and local communities can work together in a manner that isn’t divisive.

“Rivalry is great on the football field, but we don’t want to get to the point where this rivalry hurts the school district’s desire to be an economic engine for the county,” she said.