It was with a great deal of malice that the only school in the small town of Ehrhardt has been closed. The reason given was a decline in the number of students. This decline came about when entire grades of students were taken from Ehrhardt in the last few years and transferred to Bamberg by Mrs. Schwarting.

The entire process of closing Ehrhardt Elementary School was handled improperly. The school district was in violation of the Freedom of Information Act by voting to close the school without giving proper notice. Most Ehrhardt residents learned of the school closing when they saw it on the front page of The Advertiser Herald on April 30. The decision had already been made by district Superintendent Phyllis Schwarting and the Bamberg School District 1 Board. Compromises, alternative suggestions and consideration offered by the people of Ehrhardt were ignored.

In addition to Ehrhardt Elementary being a school with great tests scores, it is the newest school in the district and is mold and mildew free. Richard Carroll Elementary School (where Ehrhardt students must now attend) has a history of reported health-problem-causing mold and mildew.

As one Ehrhardt resident pointed out, it takes no more gas to bus Bamberg students to Ehrhardt than it does to bus Ehrhardt students to Bamberg. The cost is the same. Ehrhardt students who are 4 years old to 15 years old will now be on school busses as early as 5:30 a.m. and return home as late as 5:30 p.m. That’s a very long day for children.

The letter from Sandy Rhoad from Branchville said she couldn’t believe Ehrhardt citizens would boycott Bamberg businesses because “one of their schools was closed.” It was not that ONE of Ehrhardt’s schools was closed -- it was Ehrhardt’s ONLY school. It’s understandable that Ehrhardt residents are upset. Our school and our churches are the hub of this community and we’ve been badly hurt by the school being closed.

Not once during the meetings held in Bamberg (where over 200 people from Ehrhardt attended) did I see a concerned Bamberg merchant show up or come forward and say, “We care about the people in Ehrhardt, so maybe there is a way we can help solve this and keep Ehrhardt Elementary School open.” It was not until it was published that Ehrhardt residents may not shop in Bamberg that people spoke up. If Bamberg can’t elect school board members who are not puppets of Mrs. Schwarting and vote their own convictions, then give Ehrhardt equal representation on the school board and solve all future problems. Three to one (plus the chairman -- who never votes) is not fair representation.

If Ehrhardt residents are treated like second-class citizens, why should we care about the city of Bamberg or patronize their merchants?

— Waldene Edinger, Ehrhardt

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