April 29, 2015 Edition

Welcome to VIP E-News, an electronic newsletter that is distributed to community leaders to update them about important GCS news and events.
forward to a friend | unsubscribe | update your information.

Please "Like" us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/gcschools) and follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/gcschools). Our Facebook page is updated daily with new and exciting information about our students, staff, and schools. We also encourage you to share GCS Facebook posts with your friends. Ask them to "Like" us on Facebook so they can be informed about their public schools.

SAT Question of the Day

Wonder how you would perform on today's SAT? Try answering the SAT Question of the Day. Click here for the today's SAT question and/or to receive a daily SAT question.

News

Southside High's Prateek Shah Named Semifinalist in Presidential Scholars Program

Southside High Senior Prateek Shah has been named one of 565 semifinalists nationwide to advance to the final round of the 2015 Presidential Scholars competition. Prateek was among eight South Carolina students, and the only Greenville County Schools student, to earn a place in the semifinals. The final round of competition will result in the naming of Scholars in early May.

Wade Hampton High Senior Micah Tan Selected for Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarship

Micah R. Tan, a senior at Wade Hampton High School, has been selected to receive a corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship award financed by corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. Micah, who will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, received the National Merit Solvay Scholarship. Solvay is an international chemicals and pharmaceuticals group employing more than 28,000 people in more than 50 countries.

State Festival Ratings for GCS Bands, Strings Programs

Congratulations to the GCS middle and high school music programs that participated in the 2015 South Carolina Music Educators Concert Festival & the South Carolina Band Directors Association Concert Performance Assessment. GCS band program earned a total of 11 Superior ratings, seven Excellent ratings, and two Good ratings. GCS strings programs earned a total of 17 Superior ratings and three Excellent ratings. Click here for a complete list of winners.

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
April 28, 2015

Board Members Present (10): Lisa Wells, Chairman; Dr. Crystal Ball O'Connor, Vice Chairman; Kenneth E. Baxter, Sr., Joy Grayson, Lynda Leventis-Wells, Derek Lewis, Glenda Morrison-Fair, Danna Rohleder, Chuck Saylors, Pat Sudduth. Absent (2): Debi Bush, Secretary; Roger Meek.

Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance - Mrs. Rohleder

Adoption of Consent Calendar
Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - March 24, 2015
Minutes, Special Called Meeting - April 9, 2015
Minutes, Special Called Meeting - April 14, 2015
Personnel Recommendations:

• George Champlin, Principal, Slater-Marietta Elementary, Effective 7/1/15
• Andrew Baker, Assistant Principal, Carolina High and Academy, Effective 7/29/15
• Kimberly Brown, Assistant Principal, Greenview Child Development Center, Effective 8/3/15
• Benjamin Ludwick, Assistant Principal, J. Harley Bonds MSAP, Effective 8/3/15
• David Schoolfield, Assistant Principal, Bryson Middle, Effective 8/3/15

Appearance of Visitors
Sale of Tindal Avenue Property - Nan Johnston, Gina Smith, Elizabeth Smith
Thanks for Naming of Berea High Band Room - Judy Langley

Superintendent's Report - Mr. Royster
The superintendent did not make a report. He recognized new appointees for 2015-16 who were present, including George Champlin, Principal, Slater-Marietta Elementary; Andrew Baker, Assistant Principal, Carolina High and Academy; Kimberly Brown, Assistant Principal, Greenview Child Development Center; and Benjamin Ludwick, Assistant Principal, J. Harley Bonds MSAP.

Action Items

Strategic Plan Update - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the district's and schools' Strategic Plans. The updated, five-year District Strategic Plan describes key data outcomes and progress made within each of the five goal areas and the annual performance objectives. The plan summarizes the most recent progress for each strategy.This is the second of the annual updates to the Strategic Plan. The strategic initiatives included in the plan were the result of planning sessions held from fall of 2012 through the summer of 2013 involving both internal and external stakeholders in preparation for the SACS/AdvancEd Worldwide Accreditation process.

Request for Amendment to Brashier Charter - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve expanding thetotal allowable student enrollment at Brashier Middle College to 440, thereby equalizing enrollment among the Greenville Tech-affiliated charter schools. In August 2014, there was a change in the "sibling policy" to restrict the length of time a student was eligible to receive automatic enrollment as a ninthgrader. The August amendment was created in an effort to allow as many families into the school as possible. This requested amendment for an enrollment increase furthers this effort. The addition of students at Brashier Middle College will remove $126,942 from the FY16 and subsequent General Fund Budgets without reducing costs to the district. As a result, the administration recommends that this request be addressed as part of the FY16 General Fund Budget discussions.

Naming of Berea High School Band Room - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve naming the band room at Berea High School in honor of James McMahan. Mr. McMahan established the first band at BHS in 1962 and nurtured the program throughout the next two decades.Under his leadership, the Berea High School band won numerous honors and was considered one of the top bands in the region.

Right-of-Way Easement at Summit Drive Elementary School - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve this Right-of-Way Agreement with Renewable Water Resources at Summit Drive Elementary School. The right-of-way easement along Chick Springs Road at Summit Drive Elementary School is approximately +/-14,972.3 square feet at a cost of $4,290.

Internal Auditing Services' Project Status Report - The report was presented as information.

Recommendation from the Ad Hoc Committee for Board Evaluation - Approved motion from the Ad Hoc Committee to adopt the SCSBA Board Self-Assessment as the GCS Board evaluation instrument, and recommend that a self-evaluation process aligned to the superintendent evaluation process occur annually no later than March 15.

Information / Action From Board Committees / Liaisons

Committee / Liaison Reports
Mrs. Wells noted that Mr. Sudduth will serve as interim chairman on the Legislative Advocacy Committee in Mr. Meek's absence.

Finance Report - The report was presented as information.

The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.