PCSD schedules May 21 board summit after review finds FOIA, fiscal and governance issues at some charter boards

The South Carolina Public Charter School District told trustees on May 15 it will host a board summit on May 21 to provide certification-level training for charter school board members and to address recurring governance problems the district has identified through recent reviews.

John Payne, a district staff member who has conducted outreach to charter boards, told trustees he has met with roughly three-quarters of school board chairs and found recurring problems in several areas: failures to comply with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by not posting agendas and minutes, budgeting mistakes (including failure to pass a public budget in one case), thin financial margins and excessive debt at some schools, and interpersonal conflicts that undermine board functioning.

"If a governing board is not properly functioning, it can be detrimental to the entire school community," Payne said. He told trustees the district is partnering with the South Carolina Department of Education to deliver certified training that satisfies a Charter Act requirement that all charter board members receive an orientation within their first year.

Payne said the district will host the summit from 10 a.m. to about 2 p.m. on May 21 with Department of Education staff delivering the certification portion; district deputies and staff will present the second half of the agenda. He said the district will pay lunch and is covering the event logistics; participating schools will cover travel or other local costs for their members.

Payne described specific fiscal concerns discovered in his reviews: some schools had recurring net monthly losses, some were paying salary-and-benefit packages amounting to 75–80% of gross revenues (well above recommended ranges), and some had taken on unsustainable debt. He said the district issues corrective-action plans where violations are found and, in recent cases, required external training by a third party as part of those plans.

Payne also said that when boards resist suggested changes, he notifies district deputies and other staff who can take action through accountability channels; he emphasized that he himself does not have enforcement authority but escalates issues to the appropriate deputies and the district's authorization and accountability teams.

The district said the summit and the increased oversight are intended to strengthen governance, improve compliance with FOIA and budget rules, and support long-term school viability.