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URL: http://www.independentmail.com/and/news/article/0,1886,AND_8203_3583780,00.html

Debate Planned to Address Tuition Tax Credit

By Alison Glass
Independent-Mail
February 28, 2005

The state Superintendent of Education and a South Carolina Board of Education member will debate in Anderson Thursday about a tuition tax credit plan now before the state’s lawmakers.

Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum and Board of Education member Kristin Maguire will address a forum sponsored by the Anderson-based group Alliance for Local Leadership.

Ms. Tenenbaum has spoken in opposition to the tuition tax credit plan, while Ms. Maguire supports it. Ms. Maguire, of Clemson, sits on the Board of Education as an appointee of Gov. Mark Sanford, who proposed the legislation.

"We consider this to be part of our civic duty as a group of concerned citizens," Alliance for Local Leadership convener Cordes Seabrook said about the event. "Having such notable speakers come to Anderson to present their views will give us a chance to form our opinions on first-hand information."

The Alliance, a group of Anderson citizens who discuss local issues, wanted to have different opinions about the tuition tax credit proposal represented at the forum, officials of the organization said.

The speakers will present summaries of their thoughts and will answer questions, both from each other and from audience members, event organizers said.

The governor’s proposal would establish tax credits that parents could apply to private or parochial school tuition for a child, to home-schooling expenses or to tuition associated with having a student attend a public school outside the school district where the child lives.

Individuals or qualified organizations that grant scholarships for the same three purposes also could qualify for tax credits.

At one time former South Carolina Superintendent of Education Barbara Nielsen was scheduled to speak at the Anderson meeting, but organizers said Friday that Ms. Maguire would attend instead.

Ms. Nielsen said Monday that she had to change her plans because of a scheduling conflict.

IF YOU GO
What: Forum about tuition tax credit plan before South Carolina General Assembly
When: Thursday, 6 p.m.
Where: Christian Activities Center of Boulevard Baptist Church, 700 Ridgecrest Ave., Anderson.

Alison Glass can be reached at
(864) 260-1275 or by e-mail at
glassag@IndependentMail.com.