South Carolina school board members could soon face a new set of statewide ethics standards aimed at promoting good governance and upholding public trust in office.
The South Carolina Board of Education this week gave first reading to a new model code of ethics for local school board members, advancing one of the key requirements of Act 191, which Gov. Henry McMaster signed into law in May.
The new law strengthens training requirements for school board members and directs the State Board of Education to develop a model code of ethics pertaining to board member conduct. Once the model is finalized, local school boards will be required to adopt an ethics policy that meets the state’s requirements.
The changes come after South Carolina has seen varied reports of alleged misconduct and ethics violations involving school board members in recent years.
Those controversies can have consequences well beyond the individual board members involved.
Every scandal has the potential to erode public trust, consume staff time and taxpayer resources, hurt teacher morale, and generate the kind of headlines no school district wants. More importantly, controversy can distract school boards from the question that should remain at the center of their work: Are students learning?
That is one reason the Carolinas Academic Leadership Network expressed support for the measure at Tuesday’s State Board of Education meeting.
There is real value in giving board members clearer expectations about their roles, responsibilities, and ethical red lines. Better training won’t prevent every instance of misconduct, but helping board members recognize potential problems early can keep smaller issues from becoming much bigger ones.
In my view, some of its strongest provisions offer a useful framework for good governance.
The model encourages what it calls “student-centered governance,” including consideration of how budget decisions may affect student outcomes. It also emphasizes thoughtful deliberation before voting, continuous district improvement, and the broader responsibilities that come with overseeing a public school system.
Those expectations matter.
School board members make decisions affecting thousands of students, employees, and taxpayers. While disagreements over policy are inevitable—and often healthy—boards function best when members understand their respective roles and keep their attention on governing effectively.
The model code is not final. It must receive two more readings from the State Board of Education and could be revised along the way. Questions surrounding enforcement, including how alleged violations might be handled, are likely to be firmed up in the process.