On Monday, the same day that the S.C. Supreme Court denied a rehearing of a school equity case filed 21 years ago, House Speaker Jay Lucas announced five people who would serve on a new education task force and represent the poor counties that brought the suit.
The suit, filed by some of the poorest districts in the state, complained that they had not been getting a fair share of funding. In the fall, the high court ordered the plaintiffs and state to develop a solution. Monday’s ruling, which thwarts a push by Gov. Nikki Haley and legislators for the court to review the case and provide more guidance, essentially pushes state leaders to start working out a way to make school funding fairer across the state.
Last week, Lucas announced a special task force to work on education reform in light of the court’s decision. At the time, he said he would later announce the five people associated with the poor counties that brought the suit who would be on the special panel.
“Today’s Supreme Count announcement further confirms the dire need for comprehensive education reform,” Lucas said in a statement. “In light of the court’s decision to deny a rehearing, I am hopeful that the House Education Task Force will immediately begin its work to develop a robust strategy that ensures every child is given access to the best possible education in every part of our state.”
Lucas said the five additional members of the task force would provide significant insights and help. They are:
- Wanda L. Andrews, Lee County School District superintendent.
- David Longshore Jr., former superintendent of Orangeburg District 3.
- Terry K. Peterson, senior fellow at the College of Charleston and a former chief counselor to the U.S. Secretary of Education.
- Rick Reames, executive director of the Pee Dee Education Center.
- John Tindal, Clarendon County District 2 superintendent.
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