COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Chester School District plans to close schools on May 1st, to let teachers attend an education rally at the South Carolina Statehouse.
Teacher group SC for Ed is encouraging teachers to reflect and take the day to rally for higher pay, smaller class sizes and other education reforms.
Schools in the Midlands, including Lexington One, Lexington-Richland 5, Richland One, Richand Two and Sumter, all explained that they are expecting to have a normal school day on May 1st, but have coverage plans in place for potential teacher absences.
Chester schools will make up the day at the end of the school year.
For years, state lawmakers have worked on education reform and getting teacher salaries above the south eastern average.
This legislative session was deemed the year of education reform and the House passed a bill that would increase starting teacher salaries to $35,000, give 30 minute breaks for all teachers and ease out some standardized testing requirements.
However, there are concerns that the bill doesn't go far enough with decreasing class sizes, recruiting and retaining teachers.
The bill is now in the Senate, but the possibility of it passing is slim as it currently sits in the Senate Education Committee.
Committee Chairman, Sen. Greg Hembree, says he hopes to get the bill out of committee and on the Senate calendar, but does not expect a vote because Senators are debating the future of state utility Santee Cooper and other items.
Sen. Hembree says a subcommittee removed several items from the bill passed by the House, including a "Student Bill of Rights" and a "Zero to Twenty Committee" that would oversee education.