Halting this bill would keep party politics out of the school board and out of policy-making for public education. School boards across the state have increasingly recognized that districts are best governed by nonpartisan boards that achieve their goals through consensus and not through a party majority. Only four of the state's 85 school boards in South Carolina are chosen on a partisan basis.

Bringing party politics into the school board will increase the likelihood that decisions will be based on partisanship, including the selection of superintendents. Political patronage may well become a consideration with a partisan board.

Some critics of the board contend that most of its membership is Democratic, and that is why Democrats on the local legislative delegation oppose the proposal. But none of the current board members ran as a member of any political party or on a partisan platform. The candidates took positions on public education issues, and the voters responded accordingly.

Gov. Sanford might find it difficult to oppose members of his own party who serve on the legislative delegation of his home county. Nevertheless, doing so would be consistent with other vetoes of local legislation. Not allowing the board to be remade in the image of local partisan legislators would be a service to the school district, its students and their parents.