School District Earns Transparency Award

Sunshine Review has awarded the School District of Pickens County a 2012 Sunny Award for its transparent website.

SDPC was the only South Carolina district to receive the award from the national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency. Anderson County and Aiken County were the only other South Carolina agencies to receive awards.

Editors at Sunshine Review analyzed more than 6,000 government websites and graded each on a 10-point transparency checklist. Editors looked at content available against what should be provided. They sought information on items such as budgets, meetings, lobbying, financial audits, contracts, academic performance, public records and taxes. The winners of the Sunny Award all received a grade ranging from A- to A+ during the extensive grading process.
SDPC’s grade of A+ was a score achieved by only 26 school districts across the nation.

“The Sunny Awards recognizes governments/school districts that are doing an exemplary job at proactively disclosing information to taxpayers,” said Michael Barnhart, president of Sunshine Review. “We would like to congratulate the School District of Pickens County for being a champion for transparency and serving as a leader to every state and local government around the nation.”

“We have made transparency a priority,” said Dr. Henry Hunt, superintendent. “Transparency is important in everything we do, and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts. We will continue providing information so that the citizens can access what they need to be informed.”

The Sunny Awards announcement preludes the launch of “Sunshine Week,” March 11-17, a period nationally recognized by hundreds of media and civic organizations, that celebrates the efforts of activists and the strides taken towards open government.

Sunshine Review is a nonprofit organization dedicated to state and local government transparency. Sunshine Review collaborates with individuals and organizations throughout America in the cause of an informed citizenry and a transparent government. Since its inception in 2008, Sunshine Review has analyzed the websites of all 50 states and more than 6,000 state and local entities.