South Carolina teacher advocates and parents filed a challenge Thursday to a new Republican-backed law allowing taxpayer dollars to help families pay for private schools. The groups, which include the S.C. Education Association and state chapter of the NAACP, claim the new law violates several sections of the state constitution, including the constitutional prohibition on public dollars funding private schools.
The lawsuit argues the Education Scholarship Trust Fund voucher program will deprive the state’s already underperforming public school system of millions of dollars in funding while empowering private institutions that lack the accountability measures required of state schools.
“Instead of private school vouchers, we should invest in our public schools by reducing class size, addressing the teacher shortage crisis and increasing parental involvement,” said Sherry East, president of the education association and a high school science teacher from Rock Hill. It “is a clear violation of our state constitution. It cannot go unchallenged.”
Meanwhile, the Charleston County School District Board of Trustees is meeting this morning to discuss the findings of the report on an investigation into the district superintendent, who has been on paid administrative leave for a month.
In City Paper news today:
CP OPINION: Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg deserves re-election
“Over the last eight years, his administration has built or renovated 50 parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities across the city. Six new park projects are underway now, which could grow by another two dozen if voters approve a $70 million parks referendum.”
CP CARTOON:
CP COVER: Fright Life: a photo documentary. Charleston City Paper goes behind the scenes of Southern Screams Haunted House at Holy City Brewing in North Charleston and Boone Hall Fright Nights in a series of photos.
CP NEWS: Charleston fish show high levels of forever chemicals. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control found blue crabs, oysters and freshwater fish in water bodies across South Carolina to have per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals.
CP SPECIAL: DISH magazine highlights oysters, nuts, bowls, more. The special new issue of the DISH dining guide in Charleston offers stories on the Lowcountry’s connection to oysters and nuts, as well as a listing of the Top 50 restaurants in the food-obsessed area, how to elevate your tailgate and the latest craze over food in bowls.
CP FOOD: Firefly Distillery continues to expand 20 years later. Firefly Distillery is best known for its signature sweet tea vodka, but has dipped its toes into the world of whiskey with a wider distribution release of Bend & Steal. The distillery is also finding new ways to bring people into the space with special brunch hours on Sundays.
In other news:
Charleston mayoral hopefuls face off. Six Charleston mayoral candidates took the stage on Thursday night for the race’s only televised debate ahead of the election.
Charleston museum to host sessions on race. The Charleston Literary Festival has formed an international partnership with global news organization, The Guardian, to produce two sessions that will take place at the newly-opened International African American Museum in Charleston, on Nov. 12.
Lack of shade, seating for CARTA bus stops worry riders. According to CARTA officials, systemwide, 219 of 869 (25.2%) stops have shelters or benches, causing concern for some residents for the lack of humanitarian aid.
Family in Six Mile community fight back for their land. A Mount Pleasant family is fighting back against what they claim is an illegal grab by Charleston County and the Town of Mount Pleasant and stopping further development onto their property.
- To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.
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