Good ideas for schools

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A task force appointed by Gov. Sanford recommended some highly constructive ideas for improving public education, but Sanford immediately cast doubt on his ability to achieve several of the goals — such as raising teacher salaries. The governor said the state's budget crisis is tying his hands.

That budget shortfall is indeed staggering. The state is having to operate with $1 billion less than it had two years ago. But Sanford has promised big savings through bold governmental reform, and South Carolinians are expecting him to deliver on that promise.

Sanford may not be able to achieve all of the task force's recommendations, but leadership requires that he make an earnest start and chart the course toward educational improvement.

Most significantly, the panel recommended raising teacher salaries to the national average. Perhaps the best thing Sanford can do is champion the initiative as a post-recession goal.

The panel endorsed some of Sanford's educational proposals such as a $500 sales tax credit for families with homeschooled children. But Sanford's spokesman suggested such initiatives also would be hard to fund.

Sanford looked most favorably on four modest recommendations that would cost little or no money such as reinstating conduct grades and allowing homeschooled students to participate in extracurricular activities within public schools.

Gov. Sanford created a high level of expectation that he was going to improve education through bold and innovative leadership. The test of that leadership will be whether Sanford embraces high goals for education even in the face of a daunting budget crisis.