H 4315 General Bill, By Beck, Clyburn, Mason, Sharpe, R. Smith and Spearman
 A BILL TO AMEND ACT 503 OF 1982, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE AIKEN COUNTY
 SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO REVISE THE
 BOARD'S AUTHORITY WITH REGARD TO ADMINISTRATIVE AREA OFFICES AND AREA ADVISORY
 COUNCILS.

   06/05/97  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-83
   01/13/98  House  Read second time HJ-61
   01/14/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-9
   01/15/98  Senate Introduced SJ-4
   01/15/98  Senate  Placed on local and uncontested calendar without
                     reference SJ-4

INTRODUCED

January 15, 1998

H. 4315

Introduced by Reps. Beck, Mason, R. Smith, Sharpe, Spearman and Clyburn

L. Printed 1/15/98--S.

Read the first time January 15, 1998.

A BILL

TO AMEND ACT 503 OF 1982, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE AIKEN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO REVISE THE BOARD'S AUTHORITY WITH REGARD TO ADMINISTRATIVE AREA OFFICES AND AREA ADVISORY COUNCILS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Sections 14, 15, and 16 of Act 503 of 1982 are amended to read:

"Section 14. The board of education is authorized to appoint for each administrative area an area advisory council composed of seven members in each area, whose terms of office shall be three years; provided, that initially three members shall be appointed for a term of three years, two for a term of two years, and two for a term of one year. The length of the terms of the members initially appointed shall be determined by lot. In Administrative Area No. 4 two members of the area advisory council shall be residents of that portion of Saluda County formerly designated as Ridge Springs School District No. 2 of Saluda and shall be appointed as provided in Act 244 of 1959 (formerly designated as Section 21-3954, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1962); provided, that the length of the term shall be three years rather than four and staggered terms are set as provided elsewhere in this or other acts. Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to require the creation or continuation of an area advisory council. Such a decision is within the sole discretion of the board of education.

Section 15. The area advisory councils shall may determine local policies in their respective administrative areas; provided, such policies are not inconsistent with the policies set forth by the County Board of Education. The County Board of Education may delegate additional authority to the area advisory councils to the extent necessary for the effective operation of the public schools in the county.

Patrons of the schools in each administrative area shall present their grievances to their area advisory council through their area superintendent. Appeals may be made to the County Board of Education.

Section 16. (A) Each of the administrative areas shall may have an area superintendent appointed by the County Board of Education upon recommendation of the district superintendent. Each area superintendent shall may be responsible to the district superintendent for the operation of the schools within his area and the annual preparation of a proposed classified budget for the operation of the schools in his administrative area. The area superintendent shall may have supervisory control over the expenditure of funds allocated to his area. Each area superintendent shall may recommend to the district superintendent for nomination to the county board for employment those school personnel whose services are required to his administrative area. The area superintendents shall may be delegated additional authority as deemed necessary in consultation with the district superintendent of schools by the County Board of Education.

(B) Should it be determined by the majority of the school board members that the administrative area offices and/or the area advisory council is not in the best interest of the efficient, effective, and/or fiscally responsible operation of the school district, the area offices and/or the area advisory council may be eliminated. If the decision is made to eliminate administrative area offices or the area advisory council, all areas of the county, to the extent practicable, must be treated uniformly, and in no event may one area office or area advisory council be eliminated if all are not eliminated."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.