SPARTANBURG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO



SPARTANBURG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 7

Minutes of Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees

Charles H. Humphries, Jr., Administration Building

Spartanburg, South Carolina

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

6:00 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Mrs. Julie Lonon

Ms. Sharon Porter

Mr. Sanders Lee

Mr. Vernon Beatty

Mrs. Meg Clayton

Mr. Rick Gray

Mr. Clay Mahaffey

Dr. Ernest White

MEMBER(S) ABSENT: Mr. Andy Hayes

NOTICE TO MEDIA: In accordance with the S.C. Code of Laws, 1976, Section 30-4-80, as amended, the following were notified of the time, date, place and agenda of this meeting: THE SPARTANBURG HERALD/JOURNAL, WSPA, WYFF

I. CALL TO ORDER: Mrs. Julie Lonon called the meeting to order. The invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were given by Mr. Gray.

II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: A motion was made by Mr. Gray to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Beatty. All were in favor of the motion. The motion passed.

III. GOOD NEWS: Sally Hammond, Chief Communications Officer recognized Missy Campbell for receiving an publication award from the SC Chapter if the National School Public Relations Association. Additionally the District received seven other awards that recognized the outstanding contributions of the communications department. The awards were given for: Annual Financial Report, Apple iPad Manual, Capital Improvements Powerpoint, District Visibility Cards, Holiday Card, Viking Skybox Invitation, D7 Website, and 7Headlines e-newsletter. Spartanburg High School was honored for being named by The Washington Post, for the 5th consecutive year, as one of America's Most Challenging High Schools. SHS was one of 15 high schools in S.C. to make the annual list. The Post's list identifies high schools that are excelling in preparing students for college-level work. The news magazine collected data on more than 21,500 schools for the report, which for the first time included graduation rates as a factor in the rankings. Fern Powell and Linda Cooke from St. Paul United Methodist Church where honored for spearheading the church’s Food Pantry/Back Pack Buddy partnership with McCracken Middle. Since August St. Paul’s Food Pantry has been providing backpack buddy weekend food items for 40 children of great economic need at McCracken Middle. St Paul’s has also provided school supplies at the beginning of the school year for students who did not have what was needed to start the school year.  Ken Higgins, Director of Food Service, was honored for earning his National School Nutrition Association School Nutrition Specialist certification. A School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) is a professional who has successfully passed the School Nutrition Specialist exam, demonstrated the knowledge and competencies necessary to manage school nutrition programs in today’s challenging climate. Having SNS Credentials represents the highest level of professional development a director can obtain within the child nutrition program. McCarthy Teszler Coach Lesley McAbee was recognized for being named the Area 12 Special Olympics “Outstanding Coach of the Year”. Let’s Move! Active Schools organization will be showcasing Jesse Boyd Elementary and PE Teacher Kevin Brabham as a featured national “Success Story” on the Let’s Move! Active Schools website for the school’s exceptional efforts related to physical education and the promotion of physical activity among the student body. Pine Street Teacher Tiffany Anderson and her class was honored for their video which took the top spot in the Junie B Jones Spartanburg Youth Theatre contest for all elementary schools in the county. Lauren Ellis, 3rd grader Jesse Boyd, was honored for placing first in her division at the SC Braille Challenge. The Braille Challenge is an annual, two-stage academic competition motivating blind students to emphasize their study of Braille, a reading and writing method that breaks language into a code of raised dots.  The judged in four categories: spelling and reading tactile charts; reading comprehension; braille speed and accuracy; and proofreading. Nemiah Miller 11th grade art student at SHS was honored for being named the 1st Place winner of the 4th Congressional Art Competition.  This award is represented by Congressman Trey Gowdy and encompasses Spartanburg, Greenville, Union, and Laurens and students attending the Governor's School and the Greenville Fine Arts High School.  Nemiah's piece will hang in the Capital complex in Washington, DC for a year. The 1st Place winner also receives two round-trip place tickets to the national awards ceremony in July. Lisa McCulley, Spartanburg High School Publications Teacher, and her students each year produce an award-winning yearbook and additionally her student’s work is published in a school newspaper the Norse News. The SHS newspaper staff as members of the SC Scholastic Press Association compete each fall and spring and then for yearly winners in 13 categories for Excellence in Scholastic News Awards.  The students include: Jack West, Danielle Cassells, Kate Copeland, Makrina Nayfa, Nora Grace Smith, Caroline Carey, Zane Austill, Jillian Hoffman, and Jeremy Powers.

IV. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS: There were no Citizens’ Comments

V. ACTION ITEMS:

A. Consent Agenda: A motion was made by Mr. Gray to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Dr. White. All were in favor of the motion. The motion passed.

VI. Approval of Board Policy IKA Grading/Assessment Systems – First Reading: A motion was made by Mr. Gray to approve Board Policy IKA Grading/Assessment Systems – First Reading, seconded by Mr. Beatty. All were in favor of the motion, the motion passed.

VII. REPORTS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION:

Human Resources: Dr. Carlotta Redish, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, provided the monthly staffing report.

Communications: Ms. Sally Hammond, Chief Communications Officer, provided a copy of the communication’s overview and media report along with a list of pertinent dates for the month.

Instruction: Dr. Terry Pruitt, Deputy Superintendent, said the fourth cohort for the Viking Early College had been selected and was made of of consisting of 16 students, that makes the total number of students in the program 52. He noted the countywide program at Spartanburg County Early College High School at SCC Main Campus, now in its third year, would host 17 of the District’s female students and that the Scholars Academy at USC-Upstate currently had nine students. Dr. Pruitt noted that the District’s 7th annual in-district professional learning conference, 7Shares, was scheduled for Wednesday, August 10 at SHS. The opening session will begin at 8:30am and he encouraged Board Members attend. He noted 7Reads would be held September 12 & 13, 2016 and that this would mark the 10th anniversary of the community-wide reading initiative. Dr. Pruitt said a District Summer Camp would be held this summer at Houston Elementary and would serve 90 students in 3rd grade. He also noted Summer School would take place at SHS, Carver, McCracken, and Mary H. Wright.

Student Services: There was no report.

Financial Report: Ms. Missy Campbell, Chief Financial Officer, presented the Financial Reports for March 2016. She said comparing March 2015 year-to-date activity to March 2016; the District revenue was up slightly (5.2%) due to local tax collections. She stated some of the percentage increase over prior year is due to timing of collections. The District’s expenditures are within target ranges and consistent with percentages from prior year.

Planning & Operations: Dr. Thomas White, Assistant Superintendent for Planning and Operations, provided a update on the Phase I of the Pine Street Elementary School building envelope and HVAC project. He said the project was progressing well and that through the remainder of the school year, crews would be working in available areas so as not to disturb classes or student activities. He said Pine Street would be without air conditioning for most of the summer and consequently, all activities had been moved to other locations. The project is scheduled for completion by early August 2016.

VIII. SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT:

Uniform Grading Scale – Policy Revision: Dr. Booker reminded the Board that the State Board of Education had voted unanimously to move South Carolina schools to a 10-point grading scale. The statewide shift applies to all students in grades 9-12 and will take effect August 2016. He said given the option by the Board of Education to extend the policy more broadly, District 7 would use the new scale for students in grades 2-12. With the change, Dr. Booker explained the need to update Board Policy IKA Grading/Assessment to address the implementation of the 10-point grading scale. The first reading of the Board Policy IKA Grading/Assessment Systems Revision was approved.

2016-2017 Budget: Chief Financial Officer Missy Campbell presented information concerning the 2016-2017 budget. She noted they were still working through the budgeting process, but wanted to provide as much information as possible leading up to the June Budget Hearing. She said the proposed budget is estimated at $68.4 million and that this was an increase of 5% over last year’s budget. She noted a 2% adjustment to the teacher salary schedule along with the mandated step increase equates to roughly a 4% pay increase for teachers. Ms. Campbell said the District had proposed a similar increase for classified staff within the district. She noted it had been nearly nine years since an adjustment has been made to the teacher salary schedule. Ms. Campbell said the proposed budget does not include a millage increase, but it will require us to balance the budget to the fund balance as we have done over the last several years.

Capital Improvement Planning Update: Dr. Thomas White said work is continuing on the Capital Plan and numerous meetings are taking place with the many stakeholders involved in the planning process. Representatives from Harper Corporation and M B Kahn officials spoke regarding efforts to recruit local, small, women and minority owned businesses for the building program. Dr. Booker mentioned both firms were working together to tap into local resources and local contractors. Dr. White said the District was progressing with all required approvals from the S C Department of Transportation and Office of School Facilities.

FILOT Agreement – Ordinance No. 0-16-05: Dr. Booker mentioned that another reading on April 18 had been conducted by Spartanburg County Council pertaining to the new FILOT Ordinance that would create a new distribution of the Fee In Lieu of Tax Revenue generated by new industrial and business parks. He said he would keep members updated regarding potential business parks and the impact they would have on our district.

IX. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: June 7, 2016 Board Meeting. A copy of the June 7, 2016 Board agenda was provided.

X. EXECUTIVE SESSION: There was no Executive Session:

XI. ACTION ON MATTERS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION: There was no action taken.

XII. ADJOURNMENT: At approximately 7:18 p.m. a motion was made by Mr. Lee to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Mahaffey. All were in favor of the motion. The motion passed.

____________________________ ______________________________

SUPERINTENDENT CHAIR

______________________________ _______________________________

SECRETARY MINUTES APPROVED

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download