Kershaw leaders warn proposed state mandates could raise district costs in 2025–26 budget

Kershaw County School District staff told the school board on April 8 that several proposed changes in the South Carolina Legislature could materially increase local costs and complicate district operations if enacted.

Mr. Willett, a district staff member who presented the budget update, said the district has reviewed amendments that would expand paid parental leave, require cardiac emergency planning and AED placement, and mandate mobile panic alert systems. Superintendent Dr. Goodwin and district staff detailed preliminary fiscal-impact estimates and the operational challenges of implementation.

“There has been an amendment proposed to move [maternity leave] from 6 weeks to 12 weeks,” Willett said. He explained the district has averaged 975 combined maternity and paternity leave days in recent years; doubling those days to reflect a 12-week/4-week…