Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
COMMITTEE REPORT
April 24, 2002
H. 4911
Introduced by Reps. Kelley, A. Young, Loftis, Bales, Edge, Clyburn, J.R. Smith, Whipper, Barfield, Chellis, Davenport, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Harrison, Harvin, J. Hines, Hinson, Keegan, Law, Leach, Owens, Rodgers, Sandifer, Scarborough, Townsend and Witherspoon
S. Printed 4/24/02--H.
Read the first time March 14, 2002.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4911) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-5-72 so as to provide that the State Superintendent of Education shall appoint an advisory panel, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking SECTION 1 and inserting:
/SECTION 1. In an effort to determine the effects of increasingly earlier public school starting dates on the tourism industry of South Carolina and to determine the advantages or consequences of having a uniform starting date for schools as close to Labor Day as possible, there is created a task force to examine both the economic and instructional aspects of standardizing the beginning date for all public schools.
The task force shall be composed of the following:
( 1) South Carolina State Board of Education chairman or his designee;
( 2) South Carolina School Boards Association executive director or his designee;
( 3) South Carolina Association of School Administrators executive director or his designee;
( 4) Palmetto State Teachers Association executive director or his designee;
( 5) South Carolina Education Association executive director or his designee;
( 6) South Carolina Congress of Parents and Teachers president or his designee;
( 7) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education chairman or his designee;
( 8) Education Oversight Committee chairman or his designee;
( 9) State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education executive director or his designee;
(10) South Carolina Council of University Presidents chairman or his designee;
(11) South Carolina Chamber of Commerce president or his designee;
(12) South Carolina Economic Developers Association executive director or his designee;
(13) South Carolina Association of Counties executive director or his designee;
(14) South Carolina Municipal Association executive director or his designee;
(15) Hospitality Association of South Carolina president or his designee; and
(16) South Carolina High School League executive director or his designee.
The task force shall be co-chaired by the South Carolina State Board of Education and the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education members. The task force shall convene no later than June 30, 2002, and may elect any other officers as it considers necessary. The task force shall issue their report to the House Education and Public Works Committee and the Senate Education Committee no later than January 15, 2003.
Task force members shall receive the usual mileage, subsistence, and per diem provided by law for members of state boards, commissions, and committees while on official business of the task force. Upon issuance of their report, the task force shall be abolished. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend totals and title to conform.
RONALD P. TOWNSEND for Committee.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-5-72 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION SHALL APPOINT AN ADVISORY PANEL TO RECOMMEND TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION BY JUNE 1, 2002, A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM SCHOOL TERM STARTING DATE AFTER LABOR DAY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SOUTH CAROLINA BEGINNING WITH THE 2003-04 SCHOOL YEAR AND SUGGESTED PACT TESTING DATES FOR THE 2003-2005 SCHOOL YEARS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD SHALL ACT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADVISORY PANEL BY AUGUST 31, 2002, AND IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2003-04 SCHOOL YEAR.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-5-72. The State Superintendent of Education shall appoint an advisory panel composed of nine members to recommend to the State Board of Education by June 1, 2002, a plan to implement a uniform school term starting date after Labor Day for public schools in South Carolina beginning with the 2003-04 school year and thereafter. The starting date for students must be after Labor Day to allow students and their families to participate in the summer tourism industry of South Carolina. The date also shall allow teachers and administrators to participate in regional and statewide professional development training.
The advisory panel shall be composed of three educators, three business leaders representing the tourism industry of this State and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, and one representative each from the South Carolina School Boards Association, the Education Oversight Committee, and the State Board of Education. These members shall be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education and shall convene immediately after appointment. Panel members shall receive the usual mileage, subsistence, and per diem provided by law for members of state boards, commissions, and committees while on official business of the panel. The advisory panel at its first meeting shall also organize and elect such officers as it considers necessary.
The recommendations of the panel shall include the starting date for schools, any waivers and the procedures for any waivers that may be needed, and suggested PACT testing dates for the 2003-2005 school years.
The plan must be presented to and approved by the State Board of Education by August 31, 2002, and become effective beginning with the 2003-04 school year. All school districts of this State must adhere to the decision of the state board as to the starting date for the annual school term. Nothing prevents the state board from requesting revised recommendations from the advisory panel that meet the requirements of this section. Upon adoption of its recommendations by the state board, the advisory panel is abolished."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2:24 P.M.