VIP E-Newsletter

February 24, 2016 Edition

Welcome to VIP E-News, an electronic newsletter that is distributed to GCS employees and community leaders to update them about important GCS news and events. If you have any questions about the Board meeting or news articles, please contact the Communications Department.
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News

Change in Assignment Choice Lottery Results Posted

Space by Grade Level Will Later Determine Assignments

Greenville County Schools has posted the results of the Change in Assignment Choice Lottery. Lottery results provide the order of selection for each student for each requested school. Parents can access their student's information by using their choice form number. Students' names are not listed.

The lottery order, step three of the process, does not guarantee placement. Space by grade level will later determine school choice assignments. That information will be determined based on student projections for each school by grade. Student choice assignments will be determined and assignment letters sent to all parents no later than Thursday, March 24, 2016.

About 10,000 GCS students attend school through choice, either through Change in Assignment Choice or the Magnet Academy process.

Woodland Elementary Counseling Program Recognized

It's easy to see how Elizabeth All and Sharon Kirton, school counselors at Woodland Elementary, are making a positive difference in their school's learning environment. The amazing transformation of their school counseling program has led Woodland to earn, for the second time, the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation from the American School Counselor Association. Read more about Woodland Elementary Counseling Program.


Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
February 23, 2016

Board Members Present (12): Lisa Wells, Chairman; Dr. Crystal Ball O'Connor, Vice Chairman; Debi Bush, Secretary; Kenneth E. Baxter, Sr., Joy Grayson, Lynda Leventis-Wells, Derek Lewis, Roger Meek, Glenda Morrison-Fair, Danna Rohleder, Chuck Saylors, Pat Sudduth. Absent (0): None.

Recognition of Guests - Boy Scouts, Furman University students

Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance - Mrs. Rohleder

Adoption of Consent Calendar

  • Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - January 26, 2016
  • 3 Home Schooling Applications
  • Personnel Recommendations
  • Justin Ludley, Principal, Greer High School, from Assistant Principal, Southside High, effective July 1, 2016
  • Nicky Andrews, Principal, Greenville Middle Academy, from Principal, Greenbrier Elementary, effective July 1, 2016
  • Michael Parrish, Director, Bonds Career Center, from Director, Enoree Career Center, effective July 1, 2016
  • Dr. Mason Gary - Deputy Superintendent, effective March 14, 2016 (Previously Approved)
  • Whitney Hanna, Coordinator of Community Collaboration and Institutional Advancement, effective March 14, 2016

Appearance of Visitors - Sara Wallace, Bob Davis, Deborah Sanders, Susan Bishop, Doug Smith, Susan Shi, Gina Smith

Superintendent's Report - Dr. Royster recognized Board Member Joy Grayson for her selection as the 2016 National PTA Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year Award. Mrs. Grayson was selected among applicants from across the country for her leadership and commitment to being a powerful voice for all children and a strong advocate for public education. National PTA will honor Mrs. Grayson at the association's 2016 Legislative Conference.

Action Items

Innovative Courses - Approved motion from Committee of the Whole to amend the course offerings so that the Career and Technology Education (CATE) course will be a survey course designed to provide students with an introduction to a variety of career and technology education coursework and career opportunities such as early childhood, law enforcement, emergency and fire management services, construction, automobile technology, manufacturing technology, and culinary arts industries.

P.E. Exemption at Eastside High School (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the physical education exemption for one student at Eastside High School.

Sale of Property to Lake Cunningham Fire District (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the sale of .81 acres at Blue Ridge High School to the Lake Cunningham Fire District for $12,000. Having the Fire Sub-Station on this site allows for prompt response times for Blue Ridge High School and other schools in the area.

Sale of Property on Tindal Avenue (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the sale of 2.81 acres at 37 Tindal Avenue, Greenville to New Focus Builders, LLC for $1.5 million. The proceeds will be used for currently unfunded capital improvement projects. Unfunded projects next on the list are renovation of career centers. The District Office Annex building housed on the property has been vacant since 2010.

Information Items

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

Information / Action From Board Committees / Liaisons

Instructional Policies Committee - Dr. O'Connor stated the committee's work has continued with the assistance of Dr. Pat Dillard, who presented a brief overview of the work to date. She noted the committee is reviewing instructional policies in similar school districts and has received input from GCS principals through a series of focus group sessions. The next steps are to identify policies for consideration of review, draft needed revisions, solicit input from principals, and develop draft policies for consideration by the Board.

SC School Boards Association - Mr. Baxter noted several Board members had attended the recent SC School Boards Association conference, during which Dr. Royster, Dr. Washington and Dr. Gary made presentations.

GCS Foundation - Mrs. Leventis-Wells noted the Foundation Board met earlier and received an update from Executive Director Megan Carpenter.

Advocacy Committee - Mrs. Grayson stated the latest proposed State Budget includes a $150 increase in the base student cost. She also noted the SCSBA's Two Days at the Capitol (2DAC) would be in May.

Finance Report - The report was presented as information.

The meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.