b'School Boards AdvocateThrough Challenging TimesBy Debbie ElmoreFromsexeducationtoprayeratgraduationtothestudentswhomajorinteaching,reducingsomeof teachingofevolution,schoolboardshavelongbeentheadditionaleducationrequirementsanddirecting flashpoints for issues that are as much national as theya $2,500 pay increase to the states minimum teacher are local.salary schedule, there is still more that can be done.Andso,thecurrentdebatesoflimitingcertainThe bill directing school districts to provide six weeks concepts on race, gender, ethnicity that can be taughtof paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a intheclassroomtochildisagamechanger banningcertainbooks,toand will likely pass but at providingpublicfundstoa cost for school districts. pay for expenses to privateThe bill provides no state schoolscouldseemlikefundingandspecifically anotherdayintheboarddirectsdistrictstouse roomif it werent for alltheir own funds to pay for theotherissuesrequiringthe benefits.immediate attention. Much time in the Senate SouthCarolinaspublicandHousehasbeen schoolsareenduringadevoted to bills providing teachershortagecrisis,public funds for expenses nottomentionalackoftoprivateschoolsand adults willing to drive a bus full of children who arepublic school open enrollment choice bills.experiencingunprecedentedlevelsofdisciplineand school safety issues. And as these discussions continue in the State House and elsewhere, school boards will be in the trenches of The number of weapons being confiscated in schoolstheir school districts advocating for the needs of their is alarming and the number of students with identifiedstudents, teachers and staff and ensuring the classroom mentalhealthissueshasincreaseddrasticallyinourdoors are open and welcoming to all students.state since the pandemic began.Elected school board members represent the voice, the Our state must focus on these critical issues that needvision of parents, taxpayers, businessesthe collective immediate attention.voices of the people in their communities. Although theywearmanyhats,schoolboardmembersputon And while our state lawmakers are taking steps aimeda collective hat, find common ground to focus on the at addressing teacher recruitment and retention suchrole of bringing communities together to build a better asprovidinganadditionalscholarshipstipendtofuture for all students and our state. 14IMARA'