Lawmakers in Columbia are advancing a bill intended to enhance public accessibility to school board meetings across the state. Supporters of the legislation believe it would foster greater transparency between school districts and the families they serve.
The bipartisan bill mandates that all public and charter schools in South Carolina record their school board meetings and make these recordings publicly available within two business days following the meeting.
The legislation would also require the South Carolina Board of Education to develop a model policy that each school district would be obligated to adopt. This model policy would then need approval from both the district’s superintendent and the state board of education.
The bill explicitly states that the requirement for recording meetings should not impede the public’s right to attend school board meetings in person.
Concerns have been raised by community members regarding the lack of live streaming and readily available recordings, making it challenging for individuals unable to attend in person to stay informed.
The bill has already passed unanimously in the Senate and is scheduled for debate on the House floor on Tuesday. During a recent committee meeting, proponents argued that the recording requirement should not impose significant additional costs on school districts, suggesting that readily available technology like cellphone cameras should suffice.
Advocates for the bill emphasize the importance of recording all meetings for the benefit of South Carolinians, drawing parallels to the principles of the Freedom of Information Act aimed at preventing secret governmental activities. They argue that requiring schools to stream or record their meetings and making them subject to FOIA principles is a matter of common sense in the current technological landscape.
The bill outlines potential penalties for school districts that fail to adhere to the policy, including the possible withholding of one percent of their state funding.
A notable exception to the recording requirement would be lawful executive sessions held by school boards.
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