On hold: High court needs to rule on 1993 case

APRIL 20, 2012 — It takes four years for most high school students to graduate from high school. Most college students traditionally also graduate in four years.

But four years apparently isn’t enough time for the state Supreme Court to come to a conclusion about a festering school funding case first filed by poor South Carolina school districts in 1993. Yes, 1993. A student in first grade back then should, by now, be out of college and could even have a master’s degree. This thing has been going on that long.

Back-door school voucher bill defies logic

MARCH 30, 2012 — If you ever thought the folks at the Statehouse take voters as “April fools,” just delve into a newly-passed House bill that seeks tax credits for parents who have kids in private school. The House of Representatives has passed a so-called “school choice” bill that supporters claim gives parents more choice in education. Over the last few years, proponents have received more than $2 million to push the legislation from New York millionaire Howard Rich.

$700 million problem: SC’s lack of commitment to education

MARCH 2, 2012 — Despite overwhelming evidence that investing more money in early childhood education will yield huge dividends in the lives of South Carolina’s children, the typical refrain from Republicans who lead the legislature is cold and disheartening: “Well, you just can’t keep throwing money at education. You just can’t.”

Ahem. Yes, you can. And yes, you should.

You can invest more money by paying teachers better than average. You can invest more to give them the support they need so they can teach. You can upgrade technology. And you can get rid of old schools that aren’t good enough to be used as warehouses.

Zais should lead, not be idealogue

DEC. 9, 2011 — Leadership is more than just saying no.

It’s about showing up for work, inspiring people, setting reasonable goals, providing the tools and flexibility to develop innovative solutions and, in many ways, fostering an environment of trust that will lead to future dividends.

Over the last year with state Superintendent of Education Mick Zais at the helm of the state Department of Education, things seems to have gone awry pretty quickly — from a culture that, while somewhat bureaucratic, seemed to focus on students to one where the leadership plays politics most of the time.

Partisanship trumps intelligence: Zais wrong on grant money

MAY 27, 2011 – Maybe Mick Zais (rhymes with “face”) is a retired general who just can’t think outside of his hyperpartisan box. That’s the only way we can explain the odd pronouncement this week by the new state superintendent of education that South Carolina won’t compete to get a $10 million to $50 million [...]