SC bill would require every school board meeting to be recorded, posted

Palmetto Promise Policy Analyst Felicity Ropp is quoted in this article, originally published in WJBF and WSPA.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – In Columbia, lawmakers are making headway on a bill that would make school board meetings more accessible to the public.

Supporters said the legislation, if passed, would increase transparency between school districts and families.

The bipartisan bill would require public and charter schools across the state to record school board meetings and post them within two business days of the event.

“They should always be doing it, and we need concrete requirements for live streaming spelled out so that parents and constituents can go back and watch meetings after the fact,” said Felicity Ropp, with the Palmetto Promise Institute.

The bill would require the South Carolina Board of Education to create a model policy, with each school district would follow suit. The model would then need to be approved by the district’s superintendent and the state board of education.

Additionally, the recording cannot impact the public’s request for in-person attendance.

“This meeting isn’t being live streamed. Why not? Because it’s not required,” said Lexington County resident, Debbie Heim. “So that makes it difficult for somebody like me who’s in the community.”

The bill passed unanimously in the senate, and will be debated on the house floor Tuesday. In the committee meeting last week, Ropp testified the bill should not include an added cost.

“As long as you have a camera on your cell phone, you should be good to go,” Ropp said. “In 2025, it’s not a huge ask for school districts, and it should be common sense.”

Heim added that it is crucial for lawmakers to record every meeting for South Carolinians, and it should be the same for schools.

“The purpose of FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] is to prevent secret government activity and asking school districts not to stream their meetings or not making a requirement that all meetings [is] subject to FOIA,” said Hopp.

If schools do not follow the policy, penalties could include taking away one percent of their state funds.

If passed, the one exception would be a lawful executive school board session.