Let’s begin. S.70
Section 59-19-710. The purpose of this article is to enhance local school governance by promoting the highest standards of ethical behavior.
Who determines these so-called "highest standards of ethical behavior"? Answer: The State Board of Education (SBE).
Seventeen people in Columbia will decide for over 80 school districts across our state what is ethical? Take a guess at how that will play out. Hint: Maybe lead to more censorship.
Section 59-19-730 (A). The State Board of Education shall adopt, and revise as necessary, a model code of ethics for local school board members. The code shall include penalties for violations that the State Board of Education determines are reasonable and necessary.
That’s a pretty serious bar coming from a board that does not meet those standards itself.
Section 59-19-720. For the purposes of this article, "board member" means a person holding membership, whether by election or appointment, on a board of education, including a charter school board or the South Carolina Charter School District board, other than the State Board of Education.
Why are Charter Boards getting dragged into this? Weren't charters designed to be free from this kind of state-level meddling?
Oh, and check this out: the SBE does not have to follow its own model ethics policy. How convenient is that exemption?
So the State Board writes the ethics rules, decides the penalties, and then says, “None of this applies to us.” It must be nice to be the king, right?
Section 59-19-730 (A). The State Board of Education shall adopt, and revise as necessary, a model code of ethics for local school board members. The code shall include penalties for violations that the State Board of Education determines are reasonable and necessary.
"Reasonable and Necessary" penalties? According to whom?
Section 59-19-730 (B)(1). A local school board shall adopt a local code of ethics applicable to that board within three months after adoption of the model code of ethics by the State Board of Education. A local code must include, at a minimum, the State Board of Education's model code of ethics.
Is this a model or a mandate? If local boards must adopt the state’s version at a minimum under Section 59-19-730(B)(1), isn’t “model” just a fancy way of saying do what you’re told?
Section 59-19-730 (B)(2). If the State Board of Education adopts a revision to the model code of ethics, then local school boards shall adopt and incorporate the revision into their local code within three months of the adoption of the revision by the State Board of Education.
What’s the three-month rush? The state takes forever to do anything, yet local districts will have to pivot on a dime every time the SBE changes its mind.
Section 59-19-730 (B)(4). A local school board may not adopt or follow a code of ethics that prevents its members from freely discussing the policies and actions of the board outside of a board meeting.
Thank goodness, a free speech protection clause.
Section 59-19-730 (B)(4) continues: …This does not preclude a local school board from adopting a policy in a regularly scheduled meeting that prohibits certain disclosures allowed by law.
Oh, wait, so much for free speech. This effective muzzle clause will make sure the school board member is muzzled.
SECTION 2. Section 59-19-45 (A)(1). The State Board of Education shall adopt a model training program for training local school board members. Every three years, the State Board of Education shall review the training program as it considers necessary and adopt revisions.
Who creates the model training, and under what standards is this so-called model created? What happens if the model training starts including social-emotional learning or other woke agenda trends? Do our local boards have any power to say no and still keep their seats?
This is a sleeper provision in Section 59-19-45 (A)(1): "every three years." The State Board can easily decide to add woke or globalist standards to the model three years from now.
Section 59-19-45 (B). …training program in the powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board member including, but not limited to, topics on policy development, personnel, superintendent and board relations, instructional programs, district finance, school law, ethics, nepotism, conflicts of interest, and community relations.
Sounds like thought control. And why is the state so worried about your cousin getting a job as a janitor, but not worried about globalist corporations getting multi-million-dollar software contracts in every school?
Section 59-19-45 (C). In addition to meeting other requirements provided by law, a person serving on a local school board shall sign a statement certifying that he understands and is in compliance with the South Carolina ethics law, the applicable local code of ethics, and the training required pursuant to this section.
Is this a loyalty oath to the SBE? If a board member has to certify compliance under Section 59-19-45(C) with a local code of ethics that must, at a minimum, mirror the State Board’s model, are they pledging loyalty to the people who elected them or to the bureaucrats in the state capital?
Honestly, this is a textbook sleeper bill. Most legislators will support it based on the title alone, likely without reading how it fundamentally reorders the chain of command. It is a calculated transfer of power that establishes the State Board of Education as the final authority over local governance and free speech.
CTA: Kill This Bill.
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