March 28, 2018 Edition

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News

Bus Driver Heroes

A Greenville County Schools special needs bus was hit by a tractor trailer on Tuesday, March 20 along Fairview Road in Simpsonville. The four students on board were unhurt. "I just watched the bed of that truck come toward me and I held up my arms to cover my face because I knew it was going to hit us," said driver Tammy Cummings. Read more about Bus Driver Heroes.

Greenville County Schools and Greenville Chamber Announce New Partnership

Attracting and retaining a skilled workforce is the number one challenge facing employers in Greenville, particularly in high-demand industries like advanced manufacturing, construction, and healthcare.

Recognizing that work-based learning benefits students, employers, schools, and the community, the Greenville Chamber and Greenville County Schools have partnered to create LaunchGVL, an initiative to connect high school students with paid work opportunities in Greenville's high-demand occupations. Read more about LaunchGVL.

Hillcrest, Mauldin, Riverside, and Southside Teams Head to National Tournament

Members of the Speech and Debate teams at Hillcrest, Mauldin, Riverside, and Southside High Schools will compete at the national competition in Fort Lauderdale in June.
Hillcrest National Qualifiers
Mauldin National Qualifiers
Riverside National Qualifiers
Southside National Qualifiers

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
March 27, 2018

Welcome and Prayer - Mrs. Rohleder

Pledge of Allegiance - Jackson Bowles, 5th grade, Duncan Chapel Elementary School

Awards Presentation
Presentation of Miracle Worker Awards to GCS transportation employees Tammy Cummings, Carletta Cyprus, and Brenda Copeland

Adoption of Consent Calendar

Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - February 27, 2018
1 Home Schooling Application
Personnel Recommendations

Joseph Foster, Principal, Woodmont High School
Darah Huffman, Principal, Riverside High School
Shawn McCain, Principal, Ellen Woodside Elementary School
Joseph Stowe, Principal, Grove Elementary School

PE Exemptions - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve one PE exemption from Greer High School and one PE exemption from Mauldin High School.

Appearance of Visitors
Bob Davis
Cynthia Sexton

Superintendent's Report
Instead of a report, Dr. Royster introduced the newly appointed principals in attendance.

Action Items
Innovative Courses - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the Local Board Courses as presented. The following courses were approved at the honors level under the new South Carolina Honors Rubric:

Art 1 Honors
Art 2 Honors
French Language Arts 7th Honors
French Language Arts 8th Honors
Honors Biomedical Engineering
Honors Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Introduction to Engineering Design Honors
Spanish Language Arts 7th Honors
Spanish Language Arts 8th Honors
Sports Medicine Honors
Health Science 2 Honors
Principals of Engineering Honors

The following courses were approved under the innovative course process:

French Immersion Social Studies 6
French Immersion Social Studies 8
French Language Arts 8

Approval of Fund Balance Expenditures - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to assign $4,185,000 of the General Fund - Fund Balance to fund four items related to safe, efficient transportation and school security. This assignment will not impact meeting the requirements of Board Policy DM in maintaining an adequate fund reserve, the other Board approved assignments, or the financial activity of the FY 18 General Fund Budget.

Replace District-owned 1995- and 1996-model activity buses, which are prone to thermal events: $1,620,000
Purchase five (two 15-passenger and three 30-passenger) school-bus compliant mini-buses to pilot on rural routes, to increase efficiency of bus routes: $265,000
Accelerate the security camera replacement and enhancement cycle, to implement the upgraded cameras and software as rapidly as possible in lieu of the current two-year funding rollout: $2,000,000
Increase the number of zone patrols by law enforcement at elementary schools for remainder of the 2017-18 school year, to enhance school security by reducing the number of schools in each zone and increasing the number of daily patrols at each school: $300,000

Naming of Eastside High School Track - Approved recommendation from the Administration to name the Eastside High School track for Mr. Ed Boehmke. The Eastside High School community, as well as the track and field community, has expressed strong support for honoring Coach Ed Boehmke, who taught and coached at Eastside High for 38 years and served as a statewide leader in the sport. He continues to assist the program since his retirement.

Approval of Legal Representation (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to provide legal representation for Susan Moree in accordance with Board Policy GAEA in the matter of 2018-CP-23-1192.

Approval of Annual Personnel Contract Recommendations (Executive Session) - Approved the annual personnel contract recommendations as presented by the administration.

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 gave an advocacy report with a summary of the State's work on the budget. GCS Board members are invited to 2DAC on Thursday, April 12.