SC bill gives school systems added budget freedom

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina school districts are a step closer to some budget relief: Not more money, but more flexibility in how to spend what they already have.

The Senate unanimously approved a bill Thursday giving districts freedom from some state mandates this school year and next to help them deal with budget cuts.

"It's a finger in the dike," said Debbie Elmore, spokeswoman for the state School Boards Association. "It will certainly help them manage what they're looking at."

District officials are currently crafting their budgets for 2009-10.

They face an April 15 deadline to hand out teacher contracts for next school year. The bill would extend that by a month, giving budget writers more time to figure out how the federal stimulus money might help them. A chunk of that money meant for South Carolina is in question, with Gov. Mark Sanford saying he won't ask for $700 million of the federal cash over the next two years.

If officials are forced to make personnel decisions now, they might unnecessarily lay off teachers, said state schools chief Jim Rex.

"This is just in time," he said about Thursday's vote.

Since July, K-12 public education has been cut by $387 million, with more than $370 million of that coming from school districts. Several hundred educators, mostly administrators, already have been laid off, according to a survey cited by the Education Department.

The measure allows districts to shift money around to cover shortfalls. For example, lottery money can be used for all grades, rather than limited to the primary years.

It also lets districts increase classroom sizes, except in 4-year-old kindergarten, and furlough teachers for up to five days when students aren't in the classroom, provided administrators also take 10 days of unpaid leave.

"It's vital that we give school districts as much flexibility as possible while we are forced to slash their budgets," said sponsoring Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill.

The bill faces another vote before going back to the House, which approved a similar version last month. Senators on Thursday inserted a requirement that districts detail online all of their spending over $100.

The bill also:

—Lets districts negotiate salaries below the state minimum for retired teachers who have returned to the classroom.

—Requires districts suspend some testing in first, second and ninth grades.

—Allows school districts and the state to buy the cheapest diesel to run buses, rather than be required to buy biodiesel.

—Allows districts to forgo new textbooks.

—Encourages districts to offer more online classes, reduce travel for staff and extracurricular activities, and cut back on courses with few students.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.