The March 9 edition of The Farmville Herald featured an article titled “Dove remains undecided.” That article contained a quote from Buffalo District Representative and Board Chairman Russell Dove that stated, “Recently, I’m becoming increasingly dismayed by some individuals who appear focused on self-serving tactics and concerning political antics versus what is doing best for our schools.”

I cannot believe that Dove would claim that others are not doing what is best for the schools, when, under Dove’s leadership, the following has taken place:

• According to school board documents, since 2010, the number of students has dropped from 2,459 to a current enrollment of 1,996 students for the current school year. This is an 18 percent decrease in the number of students in the school system, causing millions of dollars lost from state and federal sources. The school system demands that funding is not decreased, so county taxpayers are making up the difference.

• According to school board documents, since 2010, Prince Edward County taxpayers have seen an increase of their portion of school funding rise from $3,251 per student in school year 2010-11 to $3,939 for school year 2015-16, resulting in a 17.4 percent increase in funding paid for by the taxpayers of Prince Edward County.

• According to SchoolDigger.com, Prince Edward County scored 123 out of 131 school systems in the state for the school year 2014-15. There are only eight school systems in the state with lower scores, which means that over 93 percent of school systems in the state have scholastic achievement scores higher than the Prince Edward County school system.

• During the recent announcement that Superintendent Dr. David Smith was leaving the division, Dove stated that the decision was entirely Smith’s. Since Dove, by his own admission, did not pressure Smith to leave considering Smith’s terrible record, Dove was derelict in his duties as chairman of the school board.

• During last year’s budget session of the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors, the school board was asked to reduce its budget by the amount of a large loan payment that had been retired. The school board, under Dove’s leadership, refused to lower its request, causing an increased tax burden to the citizens of Prince Edward County.

Our students and taxpayers deserve better. With the school system spending approximately $24 million per year, according to the recent budget proposal by the county administrator, and horrible scholastic achievement scores, it is time for a new school board member from Buffalo District and a new school board chairman with fresh ideas and strong leadership skills.

Sam Campbell is a Prince Edward County resident, property owner, retired businessman, contractor and engineering consultant. His email address is csinc223@yahoo.com.