Committee reaches agreement on bill firing SC State trustees

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A committee of House and Senate members has agreed to a compromise on a bill firing all trustees of financially troubled South Carolina State University and replacing them with a fix-it board.

The sticking point between the chambers’ versions had been who gets to appoint the temporary board.

The compromise committee agreed Wednesday on the seven officeholders who will choose. All are Republican.

They are Gov. Nikki Haley, Superintendent Molly Spearman, Treasurer Curtis Loftis, Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman, Senate Education Committee Chairman John Courson, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Brian White, and Rep. Jim Merrill, Ways and Means’ higher education subcommittee chairman.

Both chambers are expected to approve the compromise Thursday, sending it to Haley’s desk.

A new board must be in place a week later.