March 27, 2019 Edition
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News
Travelers Rest High’s Shelley Smith Named SC Teacher of the Year Finalist
State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman surprised Travelers Rest High School social studies teacher Shelley Smith at her school with news that she has been selected as one of five finalists for the South Carolina Teacher of the Year award. "Shelley gives selflessly of her time and energy to ensure that every one of her students are prepared to be productive citizens and lifelong learners," said State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman. "She is a model educator and her work is inspiring our young people to follow in her footsteps." Shelley is a Master Teacher for the Teacher Residency Program at Clemson University and she received a nomination for the Gilder Lehram Institute of American History's National History Teacher of the Year award. Read more about "Travelers Rest High’s Shelley Smith Named SC Teacher of the Year Finalist".
Stephanie Thomas Named to SCASBO Board
Stephanie Thomas, Greenville County Schools Director for Budget Services, has been named 2019-2020 Junior Director for the South Carolina Association of School Business Officials (SCASBO) Board. SCASBO works with educational organizations and governmental agencies at all levels to improve school business management, accounting, and administration. School business officials are the professionals behind the scenes whose job it is to make sure that available resources for educating students are used efficiently and effectively, a job that Thomas takes seriously every day. Thomas has been in governmental accounting for 21 years, and has served Greenville County Schools for the past 15 years.
Dr. Mason Gary Publishes Second Book
Dr. Mason Gary, Deputy Superintendent for Greenville County Schools, will soon publish his second book focusing on improving public schools. The book, entitled Creating and Sustaining a Freshman Academy, tells the story of how, as principal of Palmetto High School in Anderson District 1, he worked with his freshman-level teachers to build South Carolina's first and the nation's second Freshman Academy for incoming ninth graders. In the early 2000s, Palmetto High School was only graduating about 64 percent of its students. "So we started looking at the reasons, and it came back to ninth grade failure, usually physical science," said Dr. Gary. Typically, if a student fails a grade twice he or she will drop out of school. Read more about "Dr. Mason Gary Publishes Second Book".
Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
March 26, 2019
Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Caroline Thomasson from Blythe Academy of Languages. Caroline is in the fifth grade and is involved in the school's safety patrol and chorus. Outside of school, she enjoys dance, swimming, church-league basketball, church choir, and spending time with friends.
Awards Presentation
Miracle Worker Award: Julie Cooke
Adoption of Consent Calendar
Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - February 26, 2019
Minutes, Special Called Meeting - March 12, 2019
Home Schooling Applications - 3
Personnel Recommendations
Karen Greene, Principal, Mauldin Middle School
Appearance of Visitors
Ellie Peoples
Carlos Jimenez Cahua
Thomas O'Neal Bailey
Superintendent's Report
Dr. Royster presented a video on teacher pay in South Carolina and the need to raise pay to a level that is competitive with other sectors. He also encouraged all who support public education to attend a public hearing on SC education reform with the Greenville County Legislative Delegation Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Wade Hampton High School.
Click here to view the video or visit the GCS Facebook page.
Action Items
Approval of Annual Personnel Contract Recommendations (Executive Session) - Approved the annual personnel contract recommendations as presented.
Revision of Policy IDDF: Instructional Program: Students with Disabilities - Approved a substitute motion to approve Board Policy IDDF as revised on 3-26-19. The revisions to this policy update the language pertaining to the employability credential from both state law and regulation. The additional language provides a summary of the employability credential, the purpose of the credential, and procedural and notification requirements related to an IEP team determining that the credential is educationally appropriate for students.
Revision of Policy EEA: Free Food Service - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the revision of Board Policy EEA. The revisions to this policy update the language related to the food service program and free and reduced meals. The primary focus of the revisions is to emphasize the District's obligation to provide eligible students with free and reduced-priced meals without unnecessarily identifying those students to others and having any negative effect or stigma associated with that eligibility. Consistent with law, the information for parents and/or students to communicate complaints is contained at the bottom of the policy.
Long Range Facilities Program - Capital Improvement Program Funding Impact - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the March 2019 Long Range Facilities Plan and Capital Improvement Plan with updated costs, scope, and funding as presented and outlined in the LRFP-CIP document and the LRFP-CIP Finance/Spend Down Plan. Greenville County Schools updates the Long Range Facilities Plan and Capital Improvement Program (LRFP-CIP) annually.
Budget Adjustment for Fountain Inn High School Project - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve an additional $17,022,000 in funding for Fountain Inn High School. An additional 30,000 square feet has been added to the original scope of work for Fountain Inn High School in order to fully implement the focus on Advanced Manufacturing and STEAM. Due to this change as well as increases in the projected costs for design and construction, an additional $17,022,000 will be necessary to meet our goal of opening the facility in August 2021, for a total project cost of $84,217,000.
Budget Adjustment for Roper Mountain Science Center Project - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve an additional $1,732,000 in funding for Roper Mountain Science Center. As the focus of the program for the Roper Mountain Science Center Environmental Science Building was fleshed out, additional needs were identified: supplemental building components to support museum-quality exhibit spaces such as air-handling systems to maintain appropriate humidity levels in the presence of large-scale water features; building components to allow the facility to serve as an instructional resource that complements the curriculum; and new and enhanced utility services to support all RMSC facilities, including future expansion. Due to these changes, as well as increases in the projected costs for design and construction, an additional $1,732,000 will be necessary to meet our goal of opening the facility in 2020, for a total project cost of $12,267,000.
Budget Adjustment for Greer High School Athletic Facilities - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve an additional $2,418,750 in funding for Greer High School athletic facilities. The scope of work for this project has expanded from an auxiliary gym only to include a weight room, as approved by the Board of Trustees in 2017, as well as a girls' locker room. The expansion includes additional CATE space, due to the growth of programs. Due to these changes, as well as increases in the projected costs for design and construction, an additional $2,418,750 will be necessary to meet our goal of opening the facility in 2020, for a total project cost of $3,568,750.
City of Fountain Inn Permanent Utility Easement Right-of-Way at Fountain Inn High School - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the request for a permanent utility easement right-of-way on the Fountain Inn High School property. A permanent utility easement right-of-way will be granted to the City of Fountain Inn for the relocation of an existing 8" sewer line to a designated utility corridor traversing the Fountain Inn High School site. The relocation of this existing sewer line to the utility corridor is required to move from under the proposed new Fountain Inn High School Building. This utility corridor will be used to provide utility services to the new Fountain Inn High School.
Audit of Employee Work Hours - Approved recommendation from Internal Auditing Services to accept the audit of Employee Work Hours. This audit was performed to determine if full-time, salaried, non-exempt employees are meeting the minimum number of required hours for their job position for the fiscal year in accordance with the District's guidelines.
Audit of Extended Day Programs 2016-17 - Approved recommendation from Internal Auditing Services to accept the audit of Extended Day Programs. This audit was performed to ensure that fee-based Extended Day Programs (EDPs) were in compliance with policies and procedures outlined in the Student Activity Funds (SAF) Accounting Handbook and the EDP Administrative Manual.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Internal Auditing Services' Project Status Report - The report was presented as information.
INFORMATION / ACTION FROM BOARD COMMITTEES / LIAISONS
Committee / Liaison Reports
Mr. Lewis reminded the board that there will be a public hearing at Wade Hampton High School Thursday night from 6-8 regarding the education reform legislation making its way through the General Assembly.
FINANCE REPORT
Monthly Financial Report - The report was presented as information.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.