South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 352


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO CREATE THE SOUTH CAROLINA JOINT COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION AND TO DIRECT THE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE CURRENT ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA AND DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

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

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is created the South Carolina Joint Committee on School District Consolidation. This committee shall study the current organization of school districts throughout South Carolina and develop a comprehensive plan for consolidation of school districts.

(B)    The committee is comprised of the following:

(1)    one member appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

(2)    one member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3)    two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives ;

(4)    one member appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee;

(5)    one member appointed by the Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee;

(6)    one member appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee;

(7)    one member appointed by the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee;

(8)    one member appointed by the Governor;

(9)    the Superintendent of Education, or his designee, to serve ex officio; and

(10)    the Chairman of the Education Oversight Committee, or his designee, to serve ex officio.

(C)    Any vacancy on the committee must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(D)    Initial appointments to the committee shall be made within forty-five days of the enactment of this joint resolution. The initial meeting of the committee shall be convened by the appointee of the President of the Senate.

(E)    The committee shall elect a Chairman from among its members.

(F)    Members of the committee shall serve without mileage, per diem, and subsistence.

(G)    The staffs of the Senate Education Committee and House Education and Public Works Committee shall provide and coordinate staffing for the committee. Upon the request of the committee, staff support shall also be provided by other committees of the Senate and the House and other state agencies.

SECTION    2.    (A)    The committee shall study the current organization of school districts throughout South Carolina and develop a comprehensive plan for the consolidation of school districts, which must include, but is not limited to, an evaluation of the manner in which school districts throughout South Carolina may be consolidated to eliminate unnecessary administration costs and maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the public education system in South Carolina. The committee shall specifically address the viability of consolidating the existing school districts into an organizational structure where each county will have one singular school district which is comprised of all public schools located in the county.

(B)    In conducting the study, the factors to be considered shall include, but are not limited to:

(1)    geography and demographics;

(2)    student population;

(3)    fiscal impact on both the State and county;

(4)    impact on the ability of students to achieve at high levels;

(5)    impact on student performance;

(6)    administrative consolidation; and

(7)    governance.

(C)    The committee shall submit an initial written report of its findings and recommendations on the initial group of districts six months after the effective date of this resolution.

SECTION    3.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 29, 2009 at 12:11 PM