COLUMBIA --- A bill to centralize the business functions of multiple school districts located within a single county drew praise from a House panel, but legislators voted Tuesday to delay a vote until the bill could be made more specific.
The bill would target procurement, personnel and financial activities by placing the activities in one county office. Area counties that contain more than one school district include Barnwell and Hampton counties.
But Scott Price, general counsel for the S.C. School Boards Association, told the House K-12 Subcommittee the bill would render a school district's chain of command unclear.
The sponsor of H. 3430, Rep. Don Bowen, R-Anderson, estimates the change could save $160 million.
Sandy Smith, spokeswoman for the S.C. Department of Education, suggested the bill should start on an optional basis.
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