Opinions - Others' Views

Friday, Jul. 04, 2008

Others' Views

On school funding

Poorer school districts continue to push the state's courts to make the General Assembly give them more money. Their appeal should be made to lawmakers rather than judges.

The courts interpret the law and the state constitution. They have already examined the issue of school funding and have determined that the South Carolina Constitution requires the state to provide a "minimally adequate" education to the children of the state.

What the state does beyond this minimum obligation is up to lawmakers, not the courts. The level of school funding and distribution of the state's education money are matters of policy, not law. They have to be decided by lawmakers. ...

The time is ripe for poorer districts to approach those lawmakers and lobby them for better funding. Attempting to go over their heads and push the court to demand a larger slice of the pie is counterproductive.

It's also consuming time and resources that would be better used in designing a new funding formula at the legislative level.

South Carolina has to make changes in its education funding system. Everyone knows that. But those changes will have to be made within the democratic and legislative systems. They are matters of policy rather than law and shouldn't be pursued in the courts.

On the Highway Patrol

The S.C. Department of Public Safety might not be in a state of anarchy, but it drifted close enough over the years to warrant severe scrutiny and change.

Change will take time, and the man now in charge of the department pledges he will be more involved in all disciplinary matters than some of his predecessors.

Mark Keel, an attorney and former chief of staff at the State Law Enforcement Division, took over the department in April. When he was sworn in two weeks ago as director, he acknowledged that change was needed but that he probably could not do anything about punishment meted out for past infractions.

That a new day is needed at the department is an understatement. When employees or citizens think they can get away with any violation of rules or regulations, you can almost declare a state of anarchy. ...

Law enforcement from municipal police departments to the Highway Patrol is a stressful profession. ...

Keel said recently that his immediate priority would be to review the department's disciplinary policy, but it will take time. We hope it won't linger, though. South Carolinians deserve a force with integrity to provide security. Change the policies and enforce the rules that will get rid of the bad eggs quickly.