Education board hopes to resolve dispute with Zais

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Board of Education says it will try to resolve a dispute with Superintendent Mick Zais before Christmas.

The board voted Thursday that if a resolution can’t be reached by Dec. 23, the attorney it hired could pursue legal action. Zais has refused to give the board the monthly report it wants on any federal grants above $10 million for which South Carolina schools are eligible.

Spokesman Jay Ragley says the new rule is political, and Zais answers to voters, not the board.

Zais did not appear at the meeting. Ragley says he is on personal leave this week that he scheduled last year. But Ragley says Zais would not have given the report regardless.

The superintendent is not required to attend state Board of Education meetings.