VIP E-Newsletter

June 28, 2017 Edition

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News

Bus Drivers Needed

Greenville County Schools will host a Job Fair to hire bus drivers for the 2017-18 school year on Wednesday, June 28, 9 AM - 12 PM at Mauldin High 701 E. Butler Road, Mauldin. Applicants can apply online at the Job Fair. Bus driver pay starting pay is $13.91 per hour. Training is provided. Great benefits, including health and dental, retirement, sick leave, and free life insurance, are available for employees who work 30 or more hours per week. If you are interested in working at a job where you can make a difference in the quality of our community and receive great benefits, you are encouraged to attend this event. For more information contact INFOLine at 355-3100 or visit the Employment section of our website.

SC Works Regional Job Fair

SC Works Upstate is hosting a Regional Job Fair on Thursday, June 29 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Greer High School, 3000 E. Gap Creek Drive, Greer. Eighty (80) employers have confirmed their participation. For more information, visit www.scworksupstate.com.

Roper Mountain Science Center Eclipse Extravaganza - A Once-in-a-Lifetime Celestial Experience

Greenville SC is the place to be for an awe-inspiring total eclipse of the sun happening on Monday, August 21st at 2:38pm. For approximately 2 minutes, Greenville and parts of surrounding counties will be engulfed in darkness as the path of totality moves over our area.
Roper Mountain Science Center is offering three days of special events leading up to the solar spectacle at the Eclipse Extravaganza on Saturday August 19, Sunday August 20 and Monday August 21 from 10am to 5pm each day. More: Roper Mountain Science Ceter.

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
June 27, 2017

Welcome and Prayer - Mrs. Rohleder

Pledge of Allegiance - Elisa Parker, Student Body President, August Circle Elementary

Adoption of Consent Calendar
Minutes, Public Hearing and Second Reading of FY 18 General Fund Budget - May 22, 2017
Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - May 23, 2017
Minutes, Special Called Meeting - June 13, 2017
Personnel Recommendations

  • Cynthia W. Williams, Assistant Principal, TBD, eff. 8/7/17
  • John B. Pachter, Assistant Principal, Carolina High & Academy, eff. 7/31/17

Appearance of Visitors

  • Debbie Dill
  • Larry McNair
  • Phyllis Foster
  • Bill Edwards
  • Bob Davis
  • Belle Jones
  • Mindy Cornelison
  • Nancy Welch
  • Jane Fleming
  • Stan Plowden
  • Jim Hennigan
  • Kim Whelehan
  • Rev. Pat Jobe
  • Bob Lentz
  • Susan McLarty

Superintendent's Report - Dr. Royster recognized Dr. Ken Peake and Leroy Hamilton on the occasion of their retirement after 45 years and 43 years, respectively.

Action Items

PE Exemption for Student at JL Mann High School (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the PE exemption for one student at J. L. Mann High School.

 Change of August Board Meeting Date - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the change of the August Board Meeting date to August 29, 2017. The change is requested because August 22 is the first day of school, requiring the full focus of administrators and staff.

Revision of Policy II: Academic Achievement: Assessment Program - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the revision of Policy II: Academic Achievement: Assessment Program.

Revision of Policy IHA: Academic Achievement: Grading Systems - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the revision of Policy IHA: Academic Achievement: Grading Systems as amended.

Revision of Policy IHE: Academic Achievement: Promotion and Retention - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the revision of Policy IHE: Academic Achievement: Promotion and Retention.

Revision of Policy IDG: Curriculum Design: Lifelong Learning - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the revision of Policy IDG: Curriculum Design: Lifelong Learning.

New Policy IDF: Curriculum Design: Non-Traditional Learning Programs (Second Reading) - Approved recommendation from the Board to approve the adoption of new Policy IDF: Curriculum Design: Non-Traditional Learning Programs.

New Policy IHC: Academic Achievement: Credit and Content Recovery (Second Reading) - Approved recommendation from the Board to approve the adoption of new Policy IHC: Academic Achievement: Credit and Content Recovery.

New Policy GBV: Classification of Employees: Defining and Maintaining Professional Staff/Student Boundaries (Second Reading) - Approved recommendation from the Board to approve the adoption of new Policy GBV: Classification of Employees: Defining and Maintaining Professional Staff/Student Boundaries. This policy will be one of a few nationally to address such  issues as improper text messaging and use of social media with students, and detailing expectations pertaining to staff and student interactions in school and outside of school.

Recommendation for Indefinite Delivery Contract Design Services for Multi-Term, Small Projects - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to select Firms 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, & 7 to provide Architectural Services for the multi-term, small projects throughout the District for the next five years. Architectural services will be needed for small projects under $3,000,000 throughout the District over the next five years.

FY 18 General Obligation Bonds Resolution - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the Resolution for the FY 18 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2017. The Administration annually projects the amount of General Obligation Bonds that must be approved for issuance to fund the BEST bond payments and the operations of the Facilities Department. The amount to be issued for FY 18 is not to exceed $135 million.

FY 18 Debt Service Budget - Approved motion from the Administration to approve the FY 18 Debt Service Budget with a debt millage levy of 52.1 mills. Through careful planning and efficient management the District has required only one increase to the debt service millage since 1999, a 5.0-mill increase in 2013. The Administration has, during the past two years, presented information to the Board foreseeing the need for a millage increase for FY 18. A continuous, intensive review of the funding of projects (including the new Fountain Inn High School), athletic facility needs, technology refresh program, student classroom furniture, security enhancements, large maintenance items, and increasing construction costs result in a needed millage increase this fall for debt service of 4.6 mills, bringing the debt service millage to 52.1 mills (Note adjustment of additional 0.1 mills due to the impacts of the new gas tax legislation).  In addition to the primary consideration of meeting projected growth, projects have been scheduled in a manner that minimizes the total amount of needed millage increase and defers it to the latest practical point in time.  This funding plan fully funds the Long Range Facility Plan - Capital Improvement Plan approved at the May 23, 2017, Board meeting and, absent any unforeseen material changes, the Administration does not foresee the requirement of another millage increase through FY 30.

FY 18 BEST Debt Service Budget - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the FY 18 BEST Debt Service Budget. During FY 18 interest and principal payments totaling $69.4 million for BEST Bonds will be paid on December 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018. The funding sources are Interest Income and transfers from District Debt Service.

FY 18 Building Fund Budget - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the FY 18 Building Fund Budget. During FY 18, the projected expenditures are $ 84.2 million with major projects, roof renovations and technology refresh programs the largest scheduled expenditures.  The projected revenues are interest income, proceeds from General Obligation Bonds, and designated fund balance.

FY 18 Food and Nutrition Services Budget - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the FY 18 Food and Nutrition Services Budget and reclassify it from an Enterprise Fund to a Special Revenue Fund. The revenue budget reflects a 2.64% increase in the USDA per meal reimbursement rate. It also includes an increase in the estimated number of lunches and breakfasts due to the projected enrollment increase, a 10 cent increase in adult meal prices and a 10 cent increase in full paid student lunch prices as required by the USDA.

FY 18 General Fund Budget - Revision - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the revised FY 18 General Fund Budget of $592,639,000.  The State's final FY 18 budget includes the following changes from the Senate version: Positive increase in the Teacher Salary Supplement, new revenue from Education Foundation Supplement (Hold Harmless) and a reduction in revenue for the Education Finance Act - BSC. Additionally, the State has changed the allocation methodology for the State Retirement Employer Contribution by directly appropriating the second 1% of the 2% increase to SC Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA). This will negatively impact Employer Fringe Benefits revenue. The corresponding Employer Contributions expenditures will be reduced by the amount of the PEBA credit. The changes produce a balanced, revised budget of $592,639,000 which is $3,979,000 less than the FY 18 General Fund Budget approved by the Board on May 22, 2017.

FY 18 Special Revenue Budgets - Approved recommendation from the Administration to accept the proposed FY 18 Special Revenue Budgets.  A "Special Revenue Budget" is established when the District receives Federal, State or Local funds that have restrictions on how the funds can be spent. While the District's "General Fund Budget" funds the "general" day-to-day operations of the District, a special revenue budget is set up with a specified purpose or direction.  There are 20 special revenue projects for which the District has not received the final FY 18 allocations. This includes the projection for Title I, which reflects an anticipated 10% decrease of $2,273,000 per changes communicated by the SDE.

Information Items

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

Information/Action from Board Committees/Liaisons

Committee / Liaison Reports - Mrs. Grayson reported that the Advocacy Committee met earlier in the day and was bringing two resolutions to the Board for approval.  The Board voted to approve resolutions regarding penalties for those who pass when school bus stop arms are deployed and to urge the General Assembly to continue to provide funding to local school districts to cover all mandated increases to the General Fund and EIA share of the employer contribution for the South Carolina Retirement Fund.

Mrs. Bush reported an initial meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee to review Board Leadership and Development policies.  Dr. Pat Burns-Dillard will assist with this committee work.

Finance Report - The report was presented as information.  Mr. Knotts, Executive Director of Finance, answered general questions.

The meeting adjourned at 10:38 p.m.