Bill 3426

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3426
Ratification Number:       35
Act Number                 288
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Relating to the Jasper County Board of
                           Education

(A288, R35, H3426)

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 601 OF 1971, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Board; powers and duties

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Act 601 of 1971 is amended to read:

"Section 2. In addition to those powers and duties of the county board of trustees now devolved on the board and those already provided for by general and special legislation, the board has the following powers and duties relative to the public schools of the district:

(1) adopt and publish board policies and procedures and maintain a system of public relations which will keep the public fully informed of the operation of the public schools;

(2) prescribe uniform employment procedures, position qualifications, and a uniform salary schedule for all professional personnel and establish and maintain a program of professional personnel recruitment to enable all schools in the county to employ fully certified and capable employees;

(3) upon recommendation of the superintendent of education of the Jasper County School District, appoint a number of professional, resource, and other personnel as are necessary;

(4) provide programs of inservice education for professional educational personnel in the county and promote the continuous development of qualified public leadership for the county schools;

(5) determine and evaluate the educational program in the schools and provide a systematic program of curriculum development and revision designed to provide maximum educational opportunities for each child in the county;

(6) provide for physically and mentally handicapped children educational programs organized and conducted in cooperation with the social or civic organizations and agencies in the county or community; provide for intellectually gifted children a program which challenges their talents;

(7) adopt a system of budgetary controls and annually adopt a budget, with power to revise when necessary, sufficient to meet the educational needs of the county;

(8) provide for the disbursement of all county, state, and federal educational funds received by the school district;

(9) establish and maintain a central purchasing system for the purchase of all equipment and supplies pursuant to rules promulgated by the board;

(10) purchase and sell land, plan and construct new school facilities, and maintain and repair existing facilities;

(11) issue bonds to construct, repair, and maintain buildings, and pledge capital outlay funds from state, federal, and local tax sources for their repayment. Before issuing bonds under the provisions of this section, the board shall either (a) secure the written consent of the legislative delegation of the county or (b) submit the question to the qualified electors of the county. In case an election is ordered, the voting precinct must be the same as in the general election and the board has the power to appoint the managers of election, canvass the ballots, and declare results. No special registration is required for a special election held pursuant to this section. The board shall prescribe and have prepared the necessary ballots for special elections;

(12) borrow in anticipation of the collection of taxes, state or federal aid. The borrowing must be in the form of notes, maturing not later than one year from the date of issue, bearing a rate of interest as determined by the board. The notes must be payable, both principal and interest, from the funds in anticipation of the receipt of which they are issued, and to the payment of the principal of and interest on the notes for which the funds must be pledged;

(13) keep an accurate record of board proceedings, which must be kept in the office of the board and open to public inspection;

(14) direct a continuing school census;

(15) arrange with adjoining counties and states for the interchange of pupils or educational services;

(16) have prepared not more than ninety days from the end of each fiscal year, an audit prepared by a C.P.A. as to the operation of the public schools of Jasper County and have one copy filed in the office of the Clerk of Court for Jasper County, to be open to the public;

(17) pay any outstanding judgment against it when sufficient funds for this purpose are available;

(18) perform any other duties and responsibilities not inconsistent with local and state laws which may be necessary to meet the educational needs of the county."

Appointment of superintendent

SECTION 2. Section 3 of Act 601 of 1971 is amended to read:

"Section 3. The board shall appoint a superintendent of education for the operations of the schools of the county, whose qualifications must enable Jasper County to maintain an accredited school system.

The term of office of the administrator must be determined by the board in making a contract with him, but he must not be hired for a term to exceed four years. The salary and expenses of the administrator must be fixed in his contract."

Powers of superintendent

SECTION 3. Section 4 of Act 601 of 1971 is amended to read:

"Section 4. The superintendent of education has the following powers and duties, plus any others the board prescribes:

(1) effectuate the policies of the board and recommend to the board changes in procedure and policy as he feels will improve, effectuate, and carry out the policies of the board;

(2) provide leadership in planning, operating, managing, and evaluating all phases of the instructional program;

(3) select and recommend all personnel for appointment and guide the inservice growth of school personnel;

(4) prepare the school budget for submission to the board and administer the financial program adopted by the board;

(5) determine school building needs, recommend priorities, and administer building programs, including construction, operation, and maintenance;

(6) serve as educational leader for the board, staff, and community work for the improvement of the educational system;

(7) have general supervision over the administration of recruitment and teacher welfare activities, research activities, and public relations;

(8) assign all personnel employed."

Responsibilities of finance officer

SECTION 4. Section 5 of Act 601 of 1971 is amended to read:

"Section 5. The finance officer for the Jasper County school system is the secretary and executive officer of the board. He is responsible for the receipt and preparation of budgets, for the allocation of funds, and for all other matters relating to the fiscal affairs of the school system of the county. He shall make a quarterly report as to the fiscal conditions of the school system to the county council."

Conflicts

SECTION 5. Section 6 of Act 601 of 1971 is amended to read:

"Section 6. Should any conflicting or overlapping of duties of superintendent of education and finance officer occur, the board shall designate the duties to the officer it considers best qualified or more in keeping with his responsibilities."

Time effective

SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.