May 23, 2013

SC Senate votes to give Clemson more independence

Legislation that would give Clemson University some freedom from state bureaucracy on certain construction and real estate projects is now headed for the South Carolina House.

Artist's rendering of possible future work on Memorial Stadium. The project could soon be exempt from South Carolina's bureaucratic oversight (Source: Clemson University)

Artist’s rendering of possible future work on Memorial Stadium. The project could soon be exempt from South Carolina’s bureaucratic oversight (Source: Clemson University)

The measure passed the Senate after a 37-4 vote Thursday. It would let the school create a special “enterprise division” to oversee construction projects related to economic development and athletics. That division would be exempt from the grueling approval process that universities must follow.

A college currently must get approval from the Commission on Higher Education, then the Joint Bond Review Committee, and finally the Budget & Control Board, before proceeding with any construction or land deals. The bill would exempt the “enterprise division” from those steps. However, the school would still have to submit a list of all its capital projects or real estate deals each year.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney), who sponsored the bill, says the idea would ultimately save taxpayers money. “Government is a slow-moving beast sometimes. This helps them to create jobs and help our economy.” He said the idea is to give the school more leeway to partner with private and nonprofit groups.

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Furman University president stepping down

Smolla, Rod_cu

Smolla has been at Furman about three years.

Furman University President Rod Smolla will step down on June 30 for personal reasons. Details are not being disclosed at this time.

The school’s board of trustees has elected Dr. Carl Kohrt, a graduate of the Furman Class of 1965, to serve as interim president.

The Southern Baptist-founded university in Greenville is consistently ranked as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation.

“I have enjoyed my tenure at Furman, which is truly one of the gems in American higher education, and I am confident that the institution will continue to grow in influence and reputation,” Smolla said in a press release. “The decision to resign was reached only after long and thoughtful deliberation, and in the end I felt that the needs of my family must be first among my priorities.”

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Four-year-old kindergarten gaining support in state Senate

State senators would expand four-year-old kindergarten across the state, under legislation that cleared its first hurdle this week.

State Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) sponsored the legislation that would expand pre-K education

State Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) sponsored the legislation that would expand pre-K education

Under the conditions of a 2006 court order, South Carolina is currently offering all-day pre-K education in about eight at-risk school in a pilot program. Now a group of state senators wants to expand it for all at-risk children across the state

“It’s time to act and I think the time is now,” Sen. Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg) told South Carolina Radio Network. “While we might not be able to fully fund it this year, I think we can fund it and get it into more schools next year.”

Right now, all school districts offer half-day pre-K programs, but only eight at-risk districts participate in the full Child Development Education Pilot Program (CDEPP). A Senate education panel voted 6-1 Wednesday in favor of a bill expanding beyond the CDEPP program to other high-poverty school districts. That bill sponsored by Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) now heads to the full Senate Education Committee.

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SC State trustees face unlikely re-election vote Wednesday

Six seats on the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees are up for a vote in the Statehouse on Wednesday. And it does not look good for any of the incumbents.

Several legislators told South Carolina Radio Network that they do not expect any of the current trustees up for a vote Wednesday to be re-elected— even those not accused of any wrongdoing at the embattled school. Two of the seats are currently vacant. Most of the others will be up for re-election in 2014 or 2015. The governor chooses the last member of the board.

“There’s been way too much turmoil, way too much division,” Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) told South Carolina Radio Network. “It is in the best interests of South Carolina State University, the community, and most importantly the students that we have some stability.”

“I think what we’re going to see is that probably none of the incumbents will be returned,” Rep. Jerry Govan (D-Orangeburg) said.

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Exit exams could no longer be required for high school graduation

South Carolina may soon end a requirement that high school students pass an exit exam in order to graduate. Legislation that would remove the mandate unanimously passed the state House Education and Public Works Committee Tuesday. The bill now heads to the SC House floor, where lawmakers will try to advance it to the Senate before a critical May 1 deadline.

Rep. Phil Owens (R-Easley) FILE

Rep. Phil Owens (R-Easley) FILE

The idea has support from legislators of both parties. State Rep. Phil Owens (R-Easley) said students with learning disabilities who have passed the required 24 credit hours to graduate can still be tripped up by the High School Assessment Program (HSAP) test.

“Passage of the exit exam becomes an impediment to some of our students who have learning disabilities or who are challenged in taking tests,” Owens told South Carolina Radio Network.

Students usually take the exit exam late in their sophomore year. Those students who do not pass both the English and math portions on their first attempt are allowed to try again. The test is not considered difficult. Last year, 80 percent of test-takers in South Carolina passed both sections on their first try, according to the state Department of Education. However, roughly 8 percent of seniors were not able to graduate in 2012 because they failed to pass the HSAP.

The bill would not actually eliminate the HSAP exam. Students would still be required to take the test to judge their progress in high school, but it would no longer determine whether or not they graduate. Owens said federal education law requires the state to use some kind of test to assess students’ progress through high school.

Owens said the bill would create a study committee to find a new assessment test to use and still comply with federal law. For example, North Carolina uses the ACT and WorkKeys tests for rising high school juniors.

A spokesman for Education Superintendent Mick Zais said Zais supports ending the exit exam graduation requirement.