Greenville County School Board Receives 2012 Legislative Advocacy Program of the Year Award
Left to right: Danna Rohleder (Area 21), Megan Hickerson (Area 24), Lynda Leventis-Wells (Area 22), Chuck Saylors (Area 20), Lisa Wells (Area 28), Dr. Paul Krohne, SCSBA Executive Director, Glenda Morrison-Fair (Area 23), Debi Bush (Area 19), and Joy Grayson (Area 17).
The legislative advocacy efforts of the Greenville County School Board during the 2012 legislative session have been deemed the best in the state by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA). The Aiken County School Board also received recognition for their legislative efforts.
Members of the Greenville County School Board were presented with the SCSBA Legislative Advocacy Program of the Year award during the annual Legislative and Advocacy Conference at Hilton Head Island.
Greenville County School Board Advocacy Efforts
- Utilizes an Advocacy Committee composed of five board members who serve as the board’s legislative working group. The committee annually reviews information from SCSBA, NSBA to develop recommendations for the board’s legislative statements, which are voted on by the board. Once approved, the statements are shared with employees, PTAs, community groups and other key contacts. The statements are also provided to members of the local legislative delegation.
- Actively communicates with members of the legislative delegation on education legislation both informally through email or the district’s legislative staff liaison or formally through letters or resolutions approved and signed by all members of the board.
- Shares the board’s information on the “Board’s Eye on Legislation” webpage. The webpage includes links to SCSBA and other educational organizations websites and an email signup service for residents who want to receive legislative information and alerts.
- Provides input on legislation to the legislative delegation on proposed legislation and encourages staff to become engaged in the legislative process. The superintendent’s leadership conference focused on the importance of legislative advocacy and featured the theme “Stand-Up, Speak-Out for Greenville County Schools.” This focus has extended to teachers through the district’s Teacher Forum, which has led to increase participation of teachers in the political process.