The Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce's mission is to serve its members by strengthening the business environment, enhancing the quality of life, communicating the views of business and supporting constructive initiatives on major issues of public policy.

In meeting its mission, the chamber often takes proactive positions on legislative issues. Such is the case with S.B. 260, the legislation introduced by Sen. Louis Pate that would reduce the number of school board members from 12 to seven and would lower the length of terms from six years to four. It has passed the state Senate and Rep. Bill Cook is now shepherding it through the House.

The conversation about a smaller school board dates back to the 1980s, when the city and county school systems merged. The merged board was reduced to 12 from 14, but the contemplated reduction to a much smaller number — which was advised by the U.S. Department of Justice — never occurred. In the past two years, chamber surveys and a Daily Reflector poll have affirmed that such a change is still desired by business and citizens.

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