School Board reacts to proposal adding at-large seats

For many years the Aiken County Board of Education has functioned with nine elected trustees, each representing a single-member district.

On Monday, political activist Jane Page Thompson asked the Aiken County Legislative Delegation to consider introducing a bill to restructure the School Board - adding two more members, both elected countywide, and designating them as the chairman and vice chairman.

Thompson told the state lawmakers that the School Board has failed to demonstrate transparency and provide information in a timely manner. The board members are more concerned about their own districts than the entire county and school system, she said.

"This delegation needs to exert its authority over the School Board," Thompson said. "Voting two more board members at-large is vital to assure all of Aiken County full representation."

The existing nine-member trustees do represent different voting districts but are not parochial in their service, said board member Keith Liner.

"We make a conscious effort as a board not to focus on our particular areas," he said. "That's one of the things I feel really good about, that we do consider the district as a whole."

Liner cited the school district's expanded program for alternative education, which has a countywide focus. The School Board also eliminated the assistant superintendent positions in attendance areas, moving personnel to the academic officer positions with a broader scope of duties.

During the past session of the General Assembly, Gov. Nikki Haley was successful in encouraging an end to legislation that affects only a single county. However, that doesn't apply to local legislation that impacts education issues. Any change in the Aiken School District's proposal would required approval from the U.S. Justice Department.

Several Aiken County legislators expressed a willingness to take a look at Thompson's proposal.

S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-S.C., said he shares her concern about constituents who don't feel represented by the School Board members.

"It's incubating," Taylor said of the concept, "and it's an idea worthy of examining. But it needs to be researched, and I'm sure the School Board members would want to have a say in this."

Reps. Roland Smith and Tom Young and Sen. Shane Massey said Thompson's proposal is worth considering. Massey said a lot of people are frustrated by stonewalling from the School Board and the district.

"I don't know if anything will come of this specific proposal," Massey said. "But it is a creative way to get the school district to be more responsive."

South Carolina's 85 school districts bring a hodgepodge of board formats. Some districts have all at-large seats. Others have all single-member districts, and still others have a combination of the two. At least a few do have a chairman's position elected at large.

Bill Burkhalter, the School Board attorney, believes the Justice Department wouldn't accept tying two-large seats to the positions of chairman and vice chairman.

"It would guarantee that no minority would ever be elected chairman or vice chairman," Burkhalter said. He noted that Rosemary English, an African-American, is the current board chair, elected by the board.

"The board should have the prerogative to appoint its own leadership positions," he said. "Typically, that allows some rotation and shared responsibilities. There are lots of arguments either way."

Board member Ray Fleming said the addition of two more board members wouldn't provide a cost-savings and could be unwieldy. Another trustee, Donna Wesby, agreed with Liner that the individual districts are only a point of reference for those living in a specific area. The trustees do look at the entire school system in making decisions, she said.

Such a plan to include countywide School Board members could dilute the authority of single-member district trustees, said Rep. Bill Clyburn.

"It does affect diversity when seats are at-large, and we don't want to get into that in education issues," he said. "I'd rather see them remain non-partisan."