Tuesday morning, Gov. Mark Sanford signed H. 3352, commonly known as the school funding flexibility bill, giving school districts more say in how to spend money from the state.

Superintendent Bennie Bennett and board members anticipated the bill’s passage so the district could make financial decisions as it neared the budget season with a projected $2.5 million in state money cuts.

“That’s great news for Newberry County and for (schools across) the state to be able to operate the schools in a way that we feel like we should,” says Don Saylor, chairman of the board. “That is important for Newberry County and it gives us lots of options. It will have a tremendous impact on what we can do with our budget.”

Superintendents across the state with representatives from the State Department of Education pushed for the bill in January, hoping to be able to spend money already set aside or earmarked for certain programs in other areas if it was important for students’ education.

The bill also lifts requirements for how many students a teacher can instruct within a classroom, and allows for teacher furloughs for up to five non-instructional days, as long as district administrators are furloughed for twice the number of days.

It also suggests districts save money by limiting low-enrollment courses and expanding virtual instruction, and suggests that overall travel is reduced for staff, board members and students’ extracurricular and academic competitions.

As far as how the bill’s passage affects teachers, Saylor says compared to the district’s financial situation a few weeks ago before the bill’s passage, the measure will positively affect teachers.

Joel Sawyer, communications director for the governor’s office, says Sanford has long supported local districts’ spending flexibility.

“We’re very supportive of the principle, and would, in fact, like the local flexibility to be permanent, rather than temporary,” said Sawyer.

The flexibility measure is in place through June 2010.