VIP E-Newsletter

December 20, 2017 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

Schools and Offices Closed for Winter Break

Greenville County Schools and offices will be closed for Winter Break from Thursday, December 21 through Tuesday, January 2. Schools and offices will reopen on Wednesday, January 3.

Five Graduates Inducted into Greenville County Schools Hall of Fame

Five outstanding graduates of Greenville County Schools were inducted in the GCS Hall of Fame on November 30, 2017 at the TD Convention Center in Greenville. Read More about the GCS Hall of Fame.

  • Joe Erwin, Eastside High School, Class of 1975
  • John Michael McConnell, Wade Hampton High School, Class of 1962
  • Lorraine Paris, Parker High School, Class of 1944 (awarded posthumously)
  • Nick Theodore, Greenville High School, Class of 1945
  • Travelle Wharton, Hillcrest High School, Class of 1999

School Trustees Elected to State and Regional Posts

Chuck Saylors, member of the Greenville County Schools Board, was elected vice president of the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) during the association’s annual Delegate Assembly earlier this month.

Lisa Wells, Greenville County Schools' board trustee, was elected to her first term as Region 15 Director of the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) during the association's annual business meeting. Wells was previously appointed as Region 15 Director in January to fill a vacancy. Region 15 is a stand-alone region representing Greenville County.  Read More about School Trustees.

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
December 19, 2017

Welcome and Prayer - Mrs. Rohleder

Pledge of Allegiance - Lily Durrance, 5th grader at Brook Glenn Elementary School

Musical Presentation - Thanks to the GCS Teacher Brass Ensemble for performing at tonight's Board of Trustees Meeting. 

  • Conductor
    • Adam Scheuch - Mauldin High School
  • Trumpet
    • Paul Laches - Northwest Middle, Director of Bands
    • Jim Kilgus - Mauldin Middle, Director of Bands
    • Kris Bence - Riverside High, Director of Bands
  • French Horn
    • David Keller - JL Mann High, Director of Bands
    • Carl Wylie - Travelers Rest High, Director of Bands
  • Trombone
    • Jeremy Ladd - Berea Elementary, Music Teacher
  • Euphonium
    • Alex Helms - Lakeview Middle, Director of Bands
  • Tuba
    • Rudge Arnold - Riverside Middle, Choral and Guitar Teacher

Adoption of Consent Calendar

  • Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - November 28, 2017
  • Minutes, Special Called Meeting - December 5, 2017
  • 1 Homeschooling Application
  • Personnel Recommendations - None

Appearance of Visitors

  • Gary Daniels

Superintendent's Report - On behalf of all of our students, teachers, and staff, Dr. Royster wished the Board of Trustees and community a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Action Items

Beck Academy Magnet Focus - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the proposed magnet change at Beck Academy to International Academy for International Relations and Public Policy. School stakeholders helped develop this new magnet to replace the Middle Years International Baccalaureate program that was discontinued last school year.  The new magnet expands the areas of international focus, leadership, and community service.

Advocacy Committee Transportation Workgroup Report - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to accept the Transportation Workgroup report and policy action items as presented. The Greenville County School Board Advocacy Committee requested that the Transportation Workgroup provide a summary of findings relating to buses used to transport public school students within Greenville County (both state and locally owned buses) and the compliance of these vehicles with SC Code of Laws (Section 59-67: Transportation of Pupils; School Buses). The Committee also requested that the Workgroup make recommendations regarding local or state policy needed to improve transportation of Greenville County Schools' students as a result of these findings.

Waiver of Policy BBC allowing Board Chair to appoint COW Liaisons for January through June 2018, with liaisons to serve two months each - Approved recommendation from the Board Chair to waive Policy BBC to allow the Board Chair to appoint COW Liaisons for January through June 2018, with liaisons to serve two months each.  This is necessary due to policy revisions that passed recently moving Board officer elections from December to June.

Information Items

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

Information/Action from Board Committees/Liaisons

Committee / Liaison Reports

  • Lisa Wells, the instructional policies committee chair, announced that the committee has worked with the administration to send out a teacher survey soliciting input into the remaining instructional policies.
  • Mrs. Bush announced the conclusion of the Board Leadership Policies Ad Hoc Committee and thanked Dr. Pat Burns-Dillard for her service in facilitating that process.

Financial Report

Monthly Financial Report - The report was presented as information.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.