May 25, 2016 Edition
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News
Public Education Partners Celebrates Make Summer Count!
Public Education Partners (PEP) kicked off its annual Make Summer Count reading program this week at East North Street Academy. PEP's Make Summer Count program sponsors free book fairs at 29 Greenville County elementary schools with at least 50 percent of their students qualifying for free or reduced price meals. The more than 18,300 students at these schools are able to choose up to 11 free books from a total of 201,300 to build home libraries and stabilize reading achievement over the summer. Summer reading loss throughout elementary school leaves many children with an accumulated gap in reading achievement of almost two years by the end of sixth grade. Read more about Public Education Partners
Six Staff Members Named GCS Employees of the Year
Greenville County Schools and Greenville Federal Credit Union announced the winners of the GCS Employee of the Year Awards at the annual Salute to Education banquet. Winners are Steve McRae, Michael Delaney, Leroy Hamilton, Amanda Enfinger, Maxi Farnsworth, and Emily Gerard. Each award winner received $500 cash and a special award commissioned by Greenville Federal Credit Union. Their school or department also received $500 cash so all employees can share in the honor. Read more about Six Staff Members Named GCS Employees of the Year
2016-17 (FY 17) General Fund Budget - First Reading
The FY 17 Proposed General Fund Budget of $575,956,000 was presented for first reading to the Board of Trustees on May 18, 2016. The Board will consider approval of the General Fund Budget, including any revisions, at the Second Reading on Monday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m., which will be preceded by a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. Proposed Budget - Key Points
Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
May 24, 2016
Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance - Mrs. Rohleder
Adoption of Consent Calendar
Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - April 26, 2016
Personnel Recommendations
- Andreya Boggs, Assistant Principal, Welcome Elementary
- Nathan Deese, Assistant Principal, Ellen Woodside Elementary
- Natalie Pough, Assistant Principal, Phinnize J. Fisher Middle
- Charlotte Sauls, Assistant Principal, Grove Elementary
- Michael Stone, Assistant Principal, Blue Ridge High
Appearance of Visitors - Bob Davis, Traci Fant, Tessa Hubbard
Superintendent's Report - Dr. Royster introduced five new assistant principals as listed above. Dr. Royster also recognized the heroic efforts of GCS staff members who recently used their First Responder training to save lives. A maintenance employee working at Hollis Elementary Academy came in contact with a live wire that resulted in a severe electric shock. The school's First Responder team began CPR and utilized the automated external defibrillator (AED) until the employee became responsive. GHS doctors said staff and responders clearly saved this gentleman's life. Two days later, a visitor at Duncan Chapel Elementary suffered a heart attack while on school grounds. First Responders and a certified nurse who was on campus to pick up her child administered CPR and used the AED until EMS arrived. Doctors said that without the benefit of CPR during the period of time between the onset of the heart attack and the arrival of EMS, the victim would not have survived.
Action Items
Revision of Policy IHA: Academic Achievement: Grading Systems - Approved recommendation from the Committee of the Whole to approve Policy IHA: Grading Systems as revised. The State Board of Education, at the recommendation of the South Carolina Department of Education, voted to move to a 10-point grading scale for all Carnegie-unit bearing classes. The administration recommends revising the District grading scale for grades 2-8, so that all GCS students operate under a consistent grading scale for all classes.
J.E. Sirrine Scholarships - New and Renewal Requests (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the new and renewal scholars for Sirrine Scholarships in the amounts specified by the Sirrine Scholarship Program Report.
Materials Review Committee Pool - Approved recommendation from the Committee of the Whole to approve the list of appointments to the Materials Review Committee. As challenges come up from parents/community, members will be pulled from this list to serve on the committee in the various roles needed, as outlined by board policy KNBA.
Lease of Portables with Greenville Tech Barton Campus - Approved recommendation from the Committee of the Whole to approve the lease with Greenville Technical College for two portable classroom buildings in use at the Greer Campus. The current lease expires June 28.
P.E. Exemption for One Student at J.L. Mann High (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the P.E. exemption for one student at J. L. Mann High School.
SCSBA Board of Directors: Nomination of Chuck Saylors as Treasurer - Approved request to nominate Mr. Saylors for the office of Treasurer for the SCSBA Board of Directors.
League Academy Audit (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from Internal Auditing to accept the audit of Internal Control Review Student Activity Funds at League Academy for the period of July 1, 2011 - March 24, 2015.
Eastside High Audit (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from Internal Auditing to accept the audit of Internal Control Review Student Activity Funds at Eastside High for the period of July 1, 2009 - March 17, 2015.
Greenville Middle Audit (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from Internal Auditing to accept the audit of Internal Control Review Student Activity Funds at Greenville Middle for the period of April 8, 2013 - October 28, 2015.
Issuance of Qualified Zone Academy Bonds - Approved recommendation from the Administration to authorize The School District of Greenville County to enter into a $20,159,000 Acquisition and Use Agreement, designated as a qualified zone academy bond, to fund the LED Lighting Project and the Boiler Replacement Project. The proceeds will be used to fund the LED Lighting Project for 64 specific schools and the Boiler Replacement Project for 9 specific schools.
BEST Director Reappointment - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the reappointment of Andrew Jones to serve an additional three-year term on the Building Equity Sooner for Tomorrow (BEST) Board of Directors.
Approval of BEST Board of Directors Resolution - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the Resolution adopted by the BEST Board of Directors on May 12, 2016 that impacts six properties.
Sale of Old Berea School (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the sale of the old Berea School. The school was sold to Greenville County for $475,000.
Sale of Tindal Avenue Property (Former District Office Annex) (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the sale of 2.699 acres at 37 Tindal Avenue, the former District Office Annex. This building is vacant and has not been used since 2010. The property was sold to the Croft Company for $1.5 million.
Designation of Fund Balance - Approved recommendation from the Administration to designate $12,249,700 from the current fund balance of the General Fund to fund the Personalized Learning project in a manner that maintains the Board's fund balance policy and sufficient balance to meet cash flow needs. The planned expansion of Personalized Learning includes staff development for teachers and devices which will allow all pupils in grades 3 - 12 to engage in the learning process any time, any place, and at any pace
Internal Auditing Services' Project Status Report - The report was presented as information.
Committee / Liaison Reports - None.
Finance Report - The report was presented as information.
The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.