By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | Since the 2010 school year, South Carolina has ignored its law governing how many students that public school teachers can have in classrooms.
But after a budget compromise this week, lawmakers agreed to remove language that allowed schools to ignore state law. The section was part of a proviso added to the annual budget and essentially made classroom size unenforceable. The budget now heads to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk for his signature. Statehouse sources said the removal of the section is not expected to be subject to veto.
S.C. Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun, championed the amendment to the budget.
“This is one of the barriers towards us getting back to where we need to be,” Ott told Statehouse Report.
There are concerns that rural schools may struggle with adhering to state law, but S.C. Department of Education spokesman Ryan Brown said waivers are available and just how much of an impact is unknown.
“We are in the process of collecting current class size data so that a statewide fiscal impact can be issued,” Brown said in an email.
Ott said the benefits outweigh costs.
“It could be an increased cost to schools but it’s a cost worth bearing, quite frankly,” he said. “That is a good use of (school district) money.”
Ott said enforcing existing state law on classroom sizes will also help with transparency because schools will need to report their class sizes to their districts, and the districts will have to report that information to the state agency.
State regulations mandate that pre-kindergarten classes are capped at 20-to-1, kindergarten through third grade are capped at 30-to-1, English language arts and mathematics for fourth and fifth grades are capped at 30-to-1, and all other grades and subjects are capped at 35-to-1. Ott said the classroom caps are still too high. See the state regulations here.
In other news:
Compromise reached on Santee Cooper bids. The House and Senate agreed this week to field binding bids for the sale of or management of the state-owned utility Santee Cooper. The evaluation of bids will be made through the Department of Administration, and the agency is charged with making a report in early 2020. Read more.
Hurricane season begins June 1. Sunday begins S.C. Hurricane Preparedness Week leading up to June 1, the official date of hurricane season. Beginning Sunday, the S.C. Emergency Management Division and local emergency managers will be highlighting ways daily that residents can prepare for the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. State officials are urging residents to download the South Carolina Emergency Manager mobile app as your official tool for emergency planning and follow the official @SCEMD accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected. Download the guide here.
Whittle confirmed as state’s first Child Advocate. During the special session this week, the S.C. Senate confirmed Department of Social Services legal counsel Amanda Whittle as the state’s first Child Advocate, a position that begins July 1, according to S.C. Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington. Whittle was nominated to the position by Gov. Henry McMaster.
CHE search recommends Monhollon. The S.C. Commission on Higher Education’s search committee Thursday recommended a Missouri higher education professional to be its new president and executive director. Dr. Rusty Monhollon, assistant commissioner of a similar agency in Missouri, was tapped to be the South Carolina commission’s new leader. The recommendation will go the CHE Board for a vote on May 31. Another finalist, Oran P. Smith, reportedly had the backing of Gov. Henry McMaster, but his candidacy ran into political hot water when past editorship of a neo-Confederate publication came to light. Past Statehouse Report commentary is here.
S.C. seafood businessman addresses U.S. Senate. Murrells Inlet Seafood founder Rick Baumann told U.S. senators this week that the federal Office of Advocacy is failing to protect water-based businesses like his. The committee was hearing testimony on the reauthorization of the SBA’s Office of Advocacy, whose mission is to represent small businesses in the development of federal regulations. Baumann said “needed regulations” are slowed down or not even considered due to the influence of “big business interests.” Read more.
Tomlin to chair state workforce development board. Gov. Henry McMaster has appointed Donald R. Tomlin, Jr. to serve as chairman of the S.C. State Workforce Development Board. Tomlin is a longtime South Carolina-based investor and entrepreneur, and most recently served as the chairman of the board of the South Carolina State Housing, Finance and Development Authority.
2020 candidate calendar
Throughout the campaign season, we are working to keep South Carolina informed of candidate events in the state. Have an event you want us to know about? Email us at 2020news@statehousereport.com. In the coming days:
- Williamson: Spiritual adviser Marianne Williamson will host town halls May 25 9:20 a.m. at Neck Community Center in Gresham and 11:15 a.m. at Sellers Community Center in Sellers. She will also deliver the keynote address at the Women of Power Conference 7 p.m. May 25 in Florence. On May 26, Williamson will attend the 10 a.m. service at Second Nazareth Baptist Church in Columbia.
- Sanders: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will hold a rally 7 p.m. May 25 at 199 Coker Ave. in Denmark.
- Harris: U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif, will hold a MSNBC town hall 10 p.m. May 28 at Wofford College in Spartanburg. On May 29, Harris will also hold an Education Town Hall 3:30 p.m. at West End Community Center in Greenville and meet and greets 11:45 a.m. at Westside Community Center in Anderson and 1:45 p.m. at a location to be announced in Greenville.
- Moulton: Congressman Seth Moulton, D-Mass., is holding veterans mental health rally 6:30 p.m. May 30 at Carolina Western Pub in Columbia.
- On TV: The Black Economic Alliance will host a presidential forum noon to 4 p.m. June 15 for some Democratic candidates at the Charleston Music Hall. Tickets required, but free. To be aired on BET.
- Hear from 18 of the Democratic candidates. On June 22, the S.C. Democratic Party will have its annual state convention. Eighteen of the 23 declared Democratic presidential hopefuls are signed up to speak. Read more.
Looking ahead
Click below for other items coming up in the Statehouse:
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