Sumter High presents ‘Spamalot’ A5 USA TODAY PERSONAL FINANCE
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Trump becomes 45th president Signs his 1st executive order on ‘Obamacare’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Pledging emphatically to empower America’s “forgotten men and women,” Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday, taking command of a riven nation facing an unpredictable era under his assertive but untested leadership. Under cloudy, threatening skies at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, Trump painted a bleak picture of the America he now leads, declaring as he had throughout the election campaign that it is beset by crime, poverty and a lack of bold action. The billionaire businessman and reality television star — the first president who had never held political office or high military rank — promised to stir a “new national pride” and protect America from the “ravages” of countries he says have stolen U.S. jobs. “This American carnage stops right here,” Trump declared. In a warning to the world, he said, “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it’s going to be America first.” Eager to demonstrate his readiness to take actions, Trump went directly to the Oval Office Friday night, before the inaugural balls, and signed his first executive order as president — on “Obamacare.” The order notes that Trump intends to seek THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump waves to the crowd as he walks with first lady Melania Trump during the inauguration parade FriSEE TRUMP, PAGE A11 day on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
Rally held for more School board gets update education funding Stipend recommendation and consultant reports BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com A small crowd of concerned educators, parents and students gathered at Sumter County Courthouse at noon on Saturday for a rally to support better state funding for Sumter School District students. The rally was organized after the school district board of trustees made the decision to cut jobs and end stipends,
among other things, in order to reduce spending after the announcement of the district’s $6.8 million debt crisis for fiscal year 2016-17. Danielle Alexander, an English teacher at Lakewood High School who helped organize the event, said the purpose of the rally was to raise awareness about the lack of state funding for local students.
SEE RALLY, PAGE A13
Item photographer dies FROM STAFF REPORTS Keith Gedamke, longtime award-winning photographer of The Sumter Item, died Saturday afternoon after a battle with lung cancer. Family and close friends were present when he died at Palmetto Health Tuomey Hospital. Hubert Osteen, editor-inchief of The Sumter Item, in making the announcement,
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said of Gedamke: “The Item family is deeply saddened by the death of Keith. He had many friends in the Sumter GEDAMKE community who knew him and admired his work. Not only was he a superb photojournalist but an even better person.” More information will be forthcoming when available.
BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com The Sumter School District Board of Trustees will receive an update from its outside financial consultant and a committee recommendation on previously approved stipend cuts Monday at its regularly scheduled monthly work session. On Jan. 9, the board unanimously selected Scott Allan, of School Support, Inc., to work as the district’s finance consultant and guide it through its current debt crisis. Three days later, on Jan. 12, the board approved by a 5-2 vote Superintendent Frank Baker’s emergency financial plan to cut 47 district jobs and stop payments on all stipends for the remainder of the fiscal year, through June 30, among other cash-preservation efforts. Before the board voted on the $6.8 million in budget cuts, Allan had reviewed every line item of Baker’s financial plan and was in agreement with the cost-saving measures, according to board Chairman the Rev. Daryl McGhaney. The board took Allan’s recommendations into consideration before voting, McGhaney said at the time. Since then, many district employees who receive stipend supplements — in particular athletic coaches — have expressed frustration with the board’s decisions, according to some coaches who spoke to The Sumter Item on condition of anonymity. After a board finance committee meeting Thursday — held mostly behind closed doors in executive session — committee chairman and board member Johnny Hilton said the committee
DEATHS, A13
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Juanita McLeod Carrie Scott Rosa Sanders Helen Chris Perroy Anthony S. Baker Johnny D. Williams
Barbara Keels Bernie Shuler Travis Barger Ruth Anderson Claire M. Petit
will propose an alternative recommendation to the board on stipends on Monday. Hilton said at the time he was not at liberty to identify that recommendation. The board’s finance committee includes board members Hilton, McGhaney and Lucille McQuilla and private business leaders in the community, including Greg Thompson, Ben Griffith, Bobby Anderson and William Byrd. Employee stipends range from $450 to $6,700, based on experience and other factors, according to district Public Information and Partnerships Coordinator Shelly Galloway. ALLAN The average stipend supplement in the district for an assistant coach of a major high school sport — such as football, basketball or baseball — is in the range of $3,000 to $5,000, according to coaches who spoke to The Sumter Item. HILTON Generally, district employees who receive stipends are paid those supplements during a 12-month calendar year. Since stipends were stopped earlier this month, employees received a 50 percent payment on these supplements for this school year. The stopped payment on stipends represented $867,000 in cash preservation for the district. The $6.8 million in total cuts were made to save cash so other bills could be paid and the district could end this
SEE STIPEND, PAGE A13
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