COLUMBIA – Members of the S.C. House passed third reading last Thursday of a joint resolution that would allow schools to increase class sizes and allow teacher furloughs to absorb budget cuts.

The bill has been sent to the Senate.

If passed, the bill would give school districts temporary relief from mandates on how state funding is spent for this school year and next.

The Pickens County school board recently passed a resolution supporting the legislation.

School district officials said they need the flexibility to continue providing quality education while facing nearly $321 million in cuts in funding throughout the state.

There is one catch, however. In order to have more flexibility in how they spend the funds, school districts must spend at least 65 percent of the state funds next year on teachers and other classroom expenses.

Pickens Sen. Larry Martin was one of the co-sponsors of the bill.