By MIKE ROSIER/Publisher

Published on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 8:33am |

• News

JOHNSTON – When is panic not an option?

When you have thousands of students and parents and hundreds of teachers and scores of staff members all looking in one direction for leadership and support – yours.

So panic is not an option for Edgefield County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mary Rice Crenshaw. It never has been and it never will be.

But it’s not because the reasons to fear aren’t out there, they are. They are all around her.

If ever there were ever a time for a school district superintendent to panic it’s right now as the state continues to suffer and pass down budget cuts due to a staggered and staggering economy.

Then continue to be a legion of other concerns (especially in 2009) – some more pressing than others to be sure, but all occupying space in the great heap of all things to be considered – such as faculty and staff defections, pressure from outside sources and detractors who do not believe in her vision, retaining teachers and looking to the future.