SC board rescinds policy, ends lawsuit threat

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Board of Education has rescinded a rule requiring the elected state superintendent to provide a monthly report on multi-million-dollar grants available to schools.

The vote on Wednesday ends the threat that the state board will sue Superintendent Mick Zais.

Both Zais and the board’s new chairman, Dennis Thompson, say they’re putting the squabble in the past and moving forward cooperatively.

The rule approved last November would have required Zais to report on any federal or private grant exceeding $10 million for which South Carolina schools are eligible, and to justify his decision on whether to apply.

Zais argued the board has no authority over him and he reports to voters, not the board.

The disagreement stemmed from Zais’ refusal to seek federal Race to the Top grants.