Limited School Choice Bill Pitched to General Assembly

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — In a South Carolina General Assembly session that has already shown some sharp divides between lawmakers and teachers and school administrators, a school choice bill has them trying to sing from the same sheet of music.

The bill would require every school district in the state to offer some type of program to send children to a school outside their zoned areas and to allow children to go to a school in a different district. A Senate subcommittee rekindled the proposal at a meeting Wednesday.

Subcommittee chairman Scott Talley listened to representatives of teachers, administrators and school boards who said they support the goals of the proposals with a few tweaks. The Spartanburg Republican didn't call for a vote on the proposal

“Let us have some time to digest what we have heard and what has been presented," Talley said.

The bill would put some limits on choice — schools, classes and programs can't get overcrowded, students have to meet eligibility requirements for special programs and expelled students can't use choice to switch districts. Students who go to a school outside their attendance zone would have to find their own transportation.

One point of contention with the bill from educators was a requirement that schools let parents know within 10 days if they can go to a school they choose. Some special school programs and magnet schools have tryouts and interviews, which can take weeks to complete and rate.

There also is a question of what would happen to the school district's share of the money it provides for a student if that student were to attend a school in different district.

We “strongly support the expansion of true school choice,” said Palmetto State Teachers Association Executive Director Kathy Maness, who also is running this year as a Republican for education superintendent.

Other education bills in various committees this session don't have that kind of support from educators. A voucher bill has them worried money that could be spent to improve public schools will go to private ones instead and several bills dealing with how race, history and other topics are taught has teachers fearful their subjects will be watered down or they could be singled out for teaching tough topics.

County Honors Wren State Championship Cheerleading Team

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County Council honored the Wren High School the 2021 South Carolina AAA Championship Cheerleading team Tuesday night.

Head Coach Kristee Brady praised the hard work and effort of the students and the commitment of parents for helping make the championship possible.

The team members include: Abby Strating, Anisley Williams, Ally Fortner, Anabella Gannom, Auburn Bailey, Ava Hawkins, Chloe Timms, Dakota Sutton, Daya Ross, Ella Lofting, Emma Martin, Emmalee Raymond, Erin Chapman, Hadley Burgess, Jocab Floyd, Jayden Lee, Johanna Austin, Kadince Carrion, Kaylie Stoddard, Kaylee Clement, Lily Gass, Maritza Acatitlan, Rachel Palassis, Skyla Norris, Summer Morgan and Trinty Franklin. 

Council Approves Redistricting Map; Sewer for S.C. 8/I-85

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County Council on Tuesday gave final approval to the redistricting map for the county’s seven council seats. The redrawing of lines was in response to population changes based on data from the 2020 United States Census. Final map, with minor changes in county council districts one, two and five:

Also on Tuesday night, council approved an agreement with Renewable Water Resources to provide sewer service for the area surrounding S.C. 8 and I-85.

The expansion will allow the development of proposed commercial development projects on three tracts of land at the intersection of Midway Road and I-85 which currently are not served by sewer service.

The vacant lot behind the historic courthouse will soon been filled and covered with grass. Council approved $331,900 for what is being called the Great Lawn Park Project. 

“This will be green grass, we are not putting picnic tables or other things there,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns, who added that the project is a placeholder until appropriate development is approved for the site. Burns said the property is a legacy property and that whatever is eventually built there will impact the future of the city and county.

“This is going to be good for downtown Anderson,” said County Councilman John Wright Jr. “It’s been an eyesore.”

Council heard a report from the Public Safety Committee updating the efficacy of the countywide EMS system launched in September. More on those results here http://andersonobserver.com/news/2022/1/31/county-pleased-with-initial-response-rates-of-countywide-ems.html

County council also approved tax incentives for Project Faith, a company which plans to invest $3,825,000 in Anderson County and promises to create 10 new full-time jobs.

County Pleased with Initial Response Rates of Countywide EMS

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Four months after it was launched, Anderson County's countywide EMS system seems to be meeting goals.

County Council's Public Saftety Committee announced Monday that the new system is fully staffed and response time goals are being met 95 percent of the time. The acceptible times for respose are defined as 9 minutes, 59 seconds or less on critical calls. Prior to the new system, the collective system across the county's acceptible response rate is 65 percent.

Only four months in, the new system is 100% staffed and response time goals—defined as 9 minutes, 59 seconds or less—are now being met 95% of the time on priority 1 calls compared with 65% this time last year. Staff noted this progress has been made in the middle of a pandemic and despite a 40% increase in the number of calls for service coming into 911.

County officials are pleased with the numbers during a time of increased calls due to the pandemic.

“When we made the changes to unify the system a few months ago, I do not think any of us could have imagined we would see such significant improvement in such a short period of time," said Public Safety Committee Chairman Ray Graham. I could not be more proud of our first responders and what they are doing every day to save lives in Anderson County.” 

“And Although I am pleased with where we are, I am looking forward to continuing work with our community partners towards even better continuity of care, better quality of care, and, ultimately, better patient outcomes for all of us, throughout our healthcare system. Response times are just one piece, and our goal is to have the best healthcare system we possibly can.” 

Council to Consider Expansion of ReWa Coverage in County

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Andreson County Council will consider a resolution to approve an authorization agreement between Renewable Water Resources and the county to provide sewer service to certain areas south of South Carolina Highway 8 in the vicinity of the intersection with I-85 as part of Tuesday night's meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Anderson County Civic Center.

A 6 p.m. honors and presentation meeting will honor the 2021 S.C. Champion Wren High School Cheer Team.

Full agenda here. 

Countywide Broadband Initiative Now Under Way

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County announced a partnership with Upcountry Fiber on Friday to provide high-speed broadband to areas of the county which are unserved or underserved. 

Upcountry Fiber, an internet service provider created by utility cooperatives Blue Ridge Electric Co-op (BREC) and West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative (WCTEL) will provide more than 2,800 miles of high-speed fiber internet access to those areas of Anderson County currently in need of the service. A projected $175 million will be needed, which will be paid by federal and state infrastructure funds, to complete the project. 

More than a third of the county currently lacks high-speed broadband, according to Anderson County Chief Communications Officer Mark Williamson. 

“We are proud to partner with Upcountry Fiber to bring a better quality of life and economic competitiveness to Anderson County through broadband internet access,” said Williamson.  “This project will advance with the speed of the funding that can be appropriated by our elected officials at the federal, state and local level, as well as investment from Upcountry Fiber. We look forward to the next step of beginning construction.” 

The pandemic over the past two years emphasized the need for schools and businesses to have reliable broadband to complete tasks at home. 

Upcountry Fiber had already planned to expand its service to the La France/Pendleton, Piercetown and Townville areas in 2022 as a part of its existing broadband rollout strategy.

Local superintendents, council leaders, state leaders, partners and others talk about the new venture in this video.

Partnership to Bring High-Speed Broadband Countywide

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County is joining Upcountry Fiber (a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric and West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperatives) to bring high-speed broadband fiber internet to underserved/unserved areas of the county. 

Close to 20 percent of Anderson County currently has no or limited access to high-speed internet connections.

A study conducted by Palmetto Engineering helped identify areas where help is needed, and the new partnership will install more thanb 2,800 miles of fiber to complete the $175 million project.

Much of the cost will be paid for by infrastrucure funding from state and federal COVID relief funds.

The pandemic, which led to schools shifting to online instruction and many workers in Anderson County working from home, exposed how serious the need it for making service available to all citizens.

Some areas, including large parts of La France, currently have no options for useful internet connections.

"It's like electricity and water," said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. "High-speed internet is now a utility just like those, one Anderson County citizens cannot do without."

The county and its partners will debut the new program Friday at 11 a.m. at the Anderson County Civic Center.

County officials will be joined by Jim Lovinggood, President and CEO, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Jeff Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative; George Wyatt, CEO, Founder & Principal, Palmetto Engineering & Consulting; and Mark Williamson, Chief Information Officer, Anderson County. 

Green Pond Trash Clean Up Tournament Weighs in on Beautification

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The weigh-ins should be interesting.

On Feb. 19, local high school and college fishing teams, along with other volunteers will have a chance to compete for a different kind of championship at Green Pond Landing at the surrounding areas of Hartwell Lake.

The Lake Hartwell Clean Up Tournament, set for 8 a.m.- noon, will challenge teams and groups to see who can pick up the most trash and debris, complete with weigh-ins to see who brings in the biggest “catch.”  

“There will be areas to clean up for people with boats and others without boats,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson. “We hope the high school and college teams will be joined by volunteers and other community groups for the cleanup event.”  

The Palmetto Boat Center will award prizes for the teams with the heaviest totals of garbage gathered during the tournament.  

School teams are asked to wear their competition jerseys for the event. The top three teams in the High School Division and top three teams in the College Division will receive $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place. 

Giveaways and other prizes will also be available to each participating team, which will be provided with orange vest, tools and trash bags (provided by Anderson County Solid Waste).  

Visit Anderson will provide lunch for all participants at 1p.m. 

For more information and to RSVP your team, contact Neil Paul at Visit Anderson at neil@visitanderson.com or 864-716-3660.

S.C. Senate Votes to End Hospitals "Certificate of Need" Expand

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina hospitals would no longer need state permission to build new facilities, make expansions or buy expensive equipment after senators voted overwhelmingly to get rid of the requirement Tuesday.

The 35-6 vote eliminates the Certificate of Need program, long criticized by free market Republicans, and sends the bill to the House.

The issue wasn't on many observers' radar when the session began, but the Senate acted swiftly for its part, fending off any attempts to keep parts of the program by supporters — such as the South Carolina Hospital Association — who say it protects health care in rural areas and can prevent hospitals from overspending because of competition.

The repeal's most enthusiastic supporters came from rapidly growing areas like Horry County and the suburbs just south of Charlotte, North Carolina. Groups there have been unable to convince state regulators and the

“Eighteen years, no hospital. Eighteen years, no medical care. Broken bones, ruptured spleens, heart attacks, births — all of it came and went," said state Sen. Michael Johnson, a Republican from Fort Mill.

The Certificate of Need law requires permission from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to build or expand hospitals or to buy expensive equipment like MRI machines. Supporters, including hospital systems across the state, said the rules save money by avoiding costly duplication of services, encourage health care to locate or stay in rural areas and assures care offered is the highest quality. Fifteen states have repealed their programs, which were mandated by the federal government in the 1970s.

The six senators who voted against the repeal said they were worried that already dismal health care options in rural areas would get worse.

“I hope I’m wrong about what this repeal will do," said Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Manning, who said he was asked to vote no by his local McLeod Health Clarendon hospital, which fears a glut of competition will run the hospital out of business and those competitors would then leave rural areas themselves. 

But the bill did get some Democratic support. “It is impossible for it to get worse when you have no hospitals," said Sen. Mike Fanning, who represents rural Fairfield and Chester counties.

The bill's main sponsor, Sen. Wes Climer, R-Rock Hill, said the mergers of hospital systems across South Carolina and the COVID-19 pandemic turned the tide on repealing the law.

Before, any medical business had to hire a consultant to help go through the Certificate of Need process, plus a lawyer to read over the paperwork, and — if they won a certificate — even more lawyers to fight the inevitable appeal of the decision, Climer said. 

"All you have to do now is raise the money and go build," he said.

U.S. News & World Reports Ranks AU High in Online Programs

Observer Reports

The new "U.S. News & World Report" list of best educational programs finds Anderson University with improved nationalnumbers and some of the state's top rankings. 

Anderson University’s online bachelor’s; master’s in business administration; master’s in business (non-MBA); graduate education; and graduate nursing programs, all fared well in the new rankings report. 

“Anderson University is grateful for this recognition of academic excellence,” said AU President Dr. Evans P. Whitaker. “Digital learning is an important part of a students’ comprehensive and holistic education. That is why we have always been intentional about providing premier online learning experiences for both graduate and undergraduate students.”

For 2022, Anderson University increased its rank in each of "Best Online Programs" categories:

Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs: #57 in the nation (#72 in 2021); #2 in South Carolina; #1 among private institutions in the state. 

Best Online Master’s in Education Programs: #80 in the nation (#91 in 2021); #4 in South Carolina; #2 among private institutions in South Carolina; #2 in Upstate South Carolina.

Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (non-MBA): #87 in the nation (#91 in 2021); #2 in South Carolina; #2 among private institutions in South Carolina; #1 in Upstate South Carolina.

Best Online Bachelor Programs: #101 in the nation (#122 in 2021); #5 in South Carolina; #2 among private institutions in South Carolina; #1 in Upstate South Carolina.

Best Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programs: #121 in the nation (#139 in 2021); #2 in South Carolina; #1 among private institutions in South Carolina; #1 in Upstate South Carolina.

Administrator Rusty Burns Highlights Progress in County

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County economic development director shares news and updates, plus updates on the county's parks, the Civic Center and more in this interview with the Anderson Observer, news from people you trust.

S.C. Offer Free COVID-19 Test Kits

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s public health agency plans to start handing out thousands of free coronavirus tests kits for residents to use at home.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control says it has about 140,000 at-home rapid antigen tests that it will begin distributing Monday. That’s a fraction of the 2 million total tests the agency has ordered, with the rest expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

Half the kits will go public health departments, where residents can each pick up one kit containing two tests, The State newspaper reported. The other half will go to first responders, school districts, correctional facilities, nursing homes and state agencies.

Demand for COVID-19 tests has been overwhelming during the latest surge, with new infections reaching record highs because of the highly contagious omicron variant. Store-bought tests have all but vanished from retail shelves, and South Carolina's free public testing sites have seen long lines and slow turnaround times. DHEC has called long delays in processing tests “unacceptable.”

Public health officials say South Carolina residents should not go inside health department offices for test kits if they have COVID-19 symptoms. Instead, they say, health department staff should be notified and will bring kits out to them.

Anderson County Schools Move to eLearning again Friday

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

All Anderson County School Districts have announced Friday as an eLearning day, with students doing schoolwork from home.

Anderson County Schools are adapting normal plans due to the potential for black ice Friday morning due to late night rain and temperatures at or below freezing.