Textbooks, Colleges Cut Under SC Governor Sanford's Plan

Students wouldn't get new textbooks, school districts would be forced to consolidate and three colleges would close under Governor Mark Sanford's budget plan. Spending on colleges and K-12 education accounts for nearly half of the Republican governor's $5.8 billion budget proposal for 2009-2010.

By: AP | WJBF-TV
Published: January 09, 2009

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Students wouldn't get new textbooks, school districts would be forced to consolidate and three colleges would close under Governor Mark Sanford's budget plan.

Spending on colleges and K-12 education accounts for nearly half of the Republican governor's $5.8 billion budget proposal for 2009-2010.

The proposal would close University of South Carolina branches in Allendale, Lancaster and Union counties. It would also force small school districts to consolidate so none would have fewer than 2,500 students.

Sanford proposes no raises for teachers and no salary bonuses for teachers who complete a rigorous national certification process after June 30th. State schools Superintendent Jim Rex had suggested the pay freezes as a way to prevent teacher layoffs.