5-day-a-week requirement for schools signed by S.C. Gov. McMaster

COLUMBIA - South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday signed a resolution requiring South Carolina schools to offer in-person classes to students five days a week starting Monday and for all of next school year.

The House approved the Senate-passed measure Wednesday. It also includes a requirement that districts must pay teachers more next school year if they have them directly teaching students who are in person and those online at the same time.

Every school system in the state plans to meet the Monday (April 26) deadline, the South Carolina Department of Education said Wednesday. Only three of the 79 districts across the state - Colleton County School District, Greenville County School District and Hampton School District 2 - don't have a five-day, in-person teaching option as of this week.

Sumter School District and three other districts - Orangeburg County School District, Florence School District 3 and Lexington 1 School District - returned to five-day, in-person instruction Monday.

State Superintendent Molly Spearman added she was pleased with the legislative measure.

"Every family must be given the option of sending their child to school five days a week face to face, and the science shows that this can be done safely in every community," she said. "I am thankful for the educators who have been making this option a reality for many throughout this school year and look forward to the governor signing this bill into law, ensuring every school will be fully open for in-person learning now and into the future."

The Palmetto State Teachers Association also backed the proposal, especially the part that tries to prevent making teachers work in class and online at the same time.

"While some families may still need a virtual learning model next year, their student deserves to have a fully dedicated virtual instructor, not a teacher trying to work with two different groups at the same time," the organization said in a statement.

The bill also allows retired state employees to return to public education and earn up to $50,000 and not affect their retirement benefits to help with any staffing problems because of COVID-19.

Sumter Item reporter Bruce Mills contributed to this report.