The debate over House Bill 3792 continues as Clarendon County School Board Chairman John Bonaparte publicly urged Gov. Henry McMaster to veto the legislation, which would keep school budget approval under county council authority and change the method of electing board members.
The Manning Times previously reported that the bill, introduced by Rep. Fawn Pedalino (R-District 64) and supported by Sen. Jeff Zell (R-District 36), passed both chambers of the South Carolina General Assembly and is now awaiting McMaster’s signature.
2021 consolidation law and fiscal autonomy
In 2021, Act 106 consolidated Clarendon County’s three school districts into a single district under an appointed board of trustees. The law granted fiscal autonomy to the school board, but with a key delay:
Opponents of the bill argue that it removes a power before the elected board even had the opportunity to use it.
"House Bill 3792 is intending to take away the fiscal autonomy that the county has worked on for three years," Bonaparte said at the Feb. 10 Clarendon County Council meeting. "We have nine board members with over 100 years of experience as elected officials, educators, and coaches. We are ready to take on this responsibility."
Under House Bill 3792, the school board would not gain fiscal autonomy as planned. Instead, it would continue submitting its budget to county council for approval, as had been the case under the appointed board.
Pedalino and Zell argue that this is not a change, but rather a continuation of the system that was already in place.
"House Bill 3792 restores budget oversight, increases transparency, and ensures fair elections," Pedalino wrote on social media. "It requires the school board to submit the budget to county council for approval—this is how it has always been."
Runoff elections and oversight debate
In addition to keeping budget approval under county council, House Bill 3792 changes the method of electing school board members. Instead of a plurality system, where the candidate with the most votes wins, school board races would now require a runoff election if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in the general election.
Supporters of the bill say this ensures candidates have a true majority of voter support, while opponents argue that runoff elections typically have lower voter turnout and add logistical challenges.
Zell defended the changes, calling the bill necessary for financial transparency and stability.
"In a typical and predictable manner, the South Carolina School Boards Association has weighed in on our local Clarendon County Bill, which aims to remove unchecked fiscal autonomy, implement checks and balances, and ensure that the voice of the people is reflected through a majority election," Zell wrote.
Zell also announced that he had submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for all communications related to the school board’s letter to McMaster, stating, "Based on the contents of the letter, it seems that the board is not only focused on maintaining their fiscal autonomy, but they also appear to have a significant interest in political matters, particularly regarding their stance on plurality vs. majority elections."
Among the nine school board members, eight signed the letter to McMaster. Secretary Kim Jones was the only member who did not, later issuing a statement explaining her decision.
"I chose not to sign the letter requesting a veto of H. 3792 because I believe our focus as a newly elected school board should be on working together, moving forward, and proving that we can make a difference beyond just fiscal autonomy," Jones stated. "Instead of fighting oversight, we should be demonstrating responsible governance, rebuilding trust, and prioritizing students and teachers."
Pedalino has expressed confidence that McMaster will sign the bill. She previously consulted the governor’s office while drafting the legislation and said that there were no concerns that would lead to a veto.
If signed into law, H. 3792 will take effect for the 2025-26 fiscal year, requiring the school board to submit its budget to county council by May 31. The law would also mandate runoff elections for school board races in cases where no candidate receives at least 50% of the vote.
