Declaration of emergency in at-risk schools

A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-1520, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DECLARATIONS OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN AT-RISK SCHOOLS AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-1570, RELATING TO DECLARATIONS OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN AT-RISK SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BOTH SO AS TO REVISE THE ACTIONS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT IS AUTHORIZED TO TAKE IN THESE SITUATIONS, INCLUDING REPORTING VIOLATIONS OF LAW TO THE GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND APPROPRIATE CIRCUIT SOLICITOR, TO PROVIDE THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT IN REGARD TO AN AT-RISK SCHOOL, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT MAY NOT REPLACE THE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL OR TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHOOL, BUT INSTEAD MAY RECOMMEND TO THE DISTRICT BOARD THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL, AND TOGETHER WITH THE DISTRICT BOARD SHALL IMPLEMENT OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT MADE BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH ARE MANDATORY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON CAPACITY BUILDING; TO PROVIDE THAT IN REGARD TO AN AT-RISK SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT MAY NOT TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT BUT INSTEAD, TOGETHER WITH THE DISTRICT BOARD, SHALL IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT MADE BY THE STATE BOARD AND THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH ARE MANDATORY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON CAPACITY BUILDING; TO PROVIDE THAT IF AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT IS SELECTED, AS PERMITTED BY THIS SECTION, THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT MUST BE PERMITTED TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST ONE YEAR BEFORE A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT IS SELECTED; AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HAS DIFFICULTIES WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE STATE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE MEDIATION TO THE PARTIES; AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE AT-RISK DISTRICTS.