The governor's spokesman had this to say of the veto: "When the local delegation indicates a preference and there is no constitutional prohibition, the governor is inclined to support that preference."

But what about the preference of the elected school board whose members generally oppose the shift? After all, each member of the school board can claim that he or she is more representative of the sentiment of Charleston County voters than members of the local delegation. Each school board member was elected by the majority of voters throughout Charleston County in contrast to members of the House delegation. House members are elected from comparatively small districts and none represents the county as a whole.

Sadly, Charleston will join the handful of counties that have partisan school board elections. Of the 85 school districts, four elect board members on a partisan basis. Most districts recognize that nonpartisan school boards better serve the consensus-building needed to advance public education.

The community should keep a close eye on partisan corrosiveness following the next school board election. District positions should not be subject to political patronage, for example.

If there is good news in the legislative delegation's meddling on the school front, it is that a plan to institute single-member districts instead of the current at-large plan failed passage. But if past is prelude, some legislators again will seek to remake the school board in their image. Legislative parochialism, so often in evidence, should provide a sufficient reason to avoid the legislative example on this or any other public board.

Voters should listen carefully to the platforms of school board candidates when they run for election, and not to simply take a party line, either Republican or Democrat. The inclusion of the school board among the partisan races is one more good reason not to pull the master lever.