May 26, 2021 Edition

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News

2021 Graduation Schedule

All 14 traditional GCS high schools are scheduled to graduate in-person at Bon Secours Wellness Arena (BSWA), June 1-4. BSWA provides enough space for all schools' graduates and guests to socially distance. Graduates will receive six or eight tickets each, depending on the size of their graduating class. The Greenville Early College and Lifelong Learning (Adult Education) have much
smaller graduating classes, so their events will take place at the Furman Younts Center and Wade Hampton High School, respectively. Last year, each graduate was limited to two guest tickets. Bon Secours Wellness Arena has a NO BAG policy for all events, including Greenville County Schools Graduations. Medically necessary items are exempted, while diapers and other baby supplies are allowed if carried in a clear bag. Camera bags are prohibited as are wristlets and other small purses. MORE about 2021 Graduation Schedule

No Tax Increase Required to Fund Greenville County Schools in FY 22

The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees gave unanimous approval to the proposed FY 22 General Fund Budget last week after the second reading of the budget at a Special Called Meeting. The proposal, which funds the general operating costs of the district such as most salaries, utilities, maintenance, and instructional costs, totals $714.7 million, but does not call for a tax increase. Additional revenue needed to meet the proposed budget will primarily be provided by the increasing value of a local mill, a $10 million increase in state funding, indirect cost transfers from Special Revenue Funds, and the use of $14.7 million in General Fund fund balance, generated from underspending the budget in past years. MORE about No Tax Increase

GCS honors partners, students, and staff at 49th annual Salute to Education

Greenville County Schools celebrated the 49th annual Salute to Education banquet on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at the Greenville Convention Center. This end of the year celebration recognizes outstanding accomplishments by GCS schools and staff members from throughout the year, unveils the newest GCS Partner of the Year, reveals the winners of the 2021 Employee of the Year program, and recognizes honor graduates from each of the district's 14 high schools, the Fine Arts Center, and four career centers. MORE about Salute to Education

Board Meeting Summary

May 25, 2021

Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes, Special Called Meeting - April 13, 2021
Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - April 27, 2021
Minutes - Special Called Meeting - April 27, 2021
Minutes, Board Budget First Reading - April 29, 2021
Minutes, Special Called Meeting - May 11, 2021
Minutes, Budget Public Hearing - May 18, 2021
Minutes, Budget Second Reading - May 18, 2021
Amendment to Previously Approved Minutes - Special Called Meeting, December 8, 2020

Personnel Recommendations -
Principal Northwest - Daniel Greene
Kevin Duncan, Assistant Principal - Northwood Middle School, Effective 8/2/21
Brittany Jackson, Assistant Principal - Beck Academy, Effective 8/2/21
Lindsey Hubert, Assistant Principal - Travelers Rest High School, Effective 7/27/21
Adrian Mayes, Assistant Principal - Hughes Academy, Effective 8/2/21
James Reid, Assistant Principal - Beck Academy, Effective 8/2/21
Heather Sherman, Assistant Principal - Virtual Program/Elementary, Effective 8/2/21
Nickie Templeton, Assistant Principal - Greenville High School, Effective 7/27/21

Adoption of Public Comments

APPEARANCE OF VISITORS
Sarah Maddox
Dan Wallen
Catherine Schumacher

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
None.  The Superintendent used this time to introduce new administrators to the Board of Trustees.

ACTION ITEMS

Request for CARES Act Funding and Re-designation of Previously Designated Budget Expenditures from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER I-CARES and ESSER II-CRRSA) to American Rescue Plan Funds (ESSER III-ARP) - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to re-designate $32,600,000 of previously approved budgeted expenditures from ESSER I-CARES and ESSER II-CRRSA to ESSER III-ARP AND to designate $37,480,000 from ESSER I and II for expenditures as detailed on Board Docs.

Addition of Board Policy ACB: Educational Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the revisions to Board Policy ACB.  The administration has developed this policy to reflect the District's commitment and unequivocal support of educational equity, inclusion, and diversity. In developing this policy, the administration reviewed policies within South Carolina as well as nationally. This policy addresses the District's commitment to maximize opportunities for all students and to eliminate opportunity gaps and barriers. The policy also acknowledges that the administration will use data to assess which students are experiencing the least amount of achievement and target resources to address the identified needs of those students to improve outcomes and increase success. The policy also addresses the District's commitment to hiring and maintaining a diverse workforce committed to educational equity and creating a welcoming, inclusive, and bias-free culture in schools.

The policy, which is purposefully broad in nature, instructs the Superintendent to develop an administrative rule that provides additional detail and specificity regarding actions to promote equity and opportunity in furtherance of the policy. In addition to providing a place to attach this administrative rule, the policy provides an overarching policy that provides, through amendment or revision, a place to address any policy recommendations for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion going forward. The current Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Stakeholder Team comprising community leaders, parents, and staff will assist in the development of the administrative rule.

Resumption of Publicly Attended Board Meetings - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to align Board meeting protocols to be consistent with that of the district, and the Superintendent would work with the Executive Committee of the Board for open meetings by August 2021.

Naming of Gymnasium at Rudolph G. Gordon School - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the naming of the gymnasium at Rudolph G. Gordon School for Jackie Parker. The Rudolph G. Gordon School community would like to recognize Mrs. Jackie Parker for her 41 years of service to our students, District, and community as an educator. Mrs. Parker, who is retiring at the end of this school year, was the founding Principal of Gordon and oversaw its expansion from a regular elementary school to a K-8 school. Mrs. Parker has always been an avid sports fan. She played basketball at Berea High School and continued her love of sports by playing basketball, softball, and volleyball while attending Furman University. She has loved cheering for her children, grandchildren, and students in numerous sporting venues across the district. To honor her legacy, the school community is requesting that the middle school gymnasium be named for her.

Naming of Atrium at Blythe Academy - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the naming of the atrium at Blythe Academy for Dr. Sandra Griffin. The Blythe Academy school community would like to recognize Dr. Sandra Griffin for her 36 years of service to our students, District, and community as an educator. Dr. Griffin has done an outstanding job at Blythe Academy, leading a large, diverse school with a highly successful foreign-language immersion magnet program. She holds a core belief that everyone who enters Blythe Academy should feel welcomed, loved, and appreciated. One of the ways she has instilled a sense of community in the school is by stationing herself in the school's atrium to greet teachers, staff, students and parents with a warm welcome and make lasting connections with them.

Naming of Front Entrance at Roper Mountain Science Center Environmental Science and Sustainability Center - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the naming of the front entrance at the Roper Mountain Science Center Environmental Science and Sustainability Center for Dr. Jeff and Mary Lawson. Dr. Jeff and Mary Lawson, along with Jeff's medical practice, are generous supporters of the arts and sciences. Jeff, a rheumatologist with Piedmont Arthritis Clinic, has also served as a Clinical Instructor and is the author of several publications. He is a long-time member of the board of Roper Mountain Science Center Association as well as numerous other charitable organizations in the Greenville community. Mary has worked with the local art museum and is co-owner of The Polished Antique.

Naming of Deck at Roper Mountain Science Center Environmental Science and Sustainability Center - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the naming of the deck at the Roper Mountain Science Center Environmental Science and Sustainability Center for Drs. Linda and Tom Hamilton. Drs. Linda and Tom Hamilton both appreciate the importance and value of science education, especially for the fields of medicine, and as it is so superbly provided at RMSC. Linda, a physician, has served multiple terms on the RMSCA Board, as secretary, and on the team for every fundraisers for a number of years. Tom is a local urologist with Palmetto Greenville Urology, affiliated with Bon Secours St. Francis Health System.

Naming of Chestnut Oak Staircase at Roper Mountain Science Center Environmental Science and Sustainability Center - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the naming of the Chestnut Oak Staircase at the Roper Mountain Science Center Environmental Science and Sustainability Center for Tommie and Ron Reece. Tommie and Ron Reece have supported RMSC and public education in our community, with Tommie having served multiple terms on RMSCA's board, currently as president. Elected four times to the Greenville County School Board, she served as Board Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary. She worked at Furman University and Greenville Technical College, completing her career as Roper Mountain Science Center's first Director of Community Engagement. Ron, a clinical psychologist in private practice specializes in consulting with family-owned businesses.

Naming of Downstairs Classroom at Roper Mountain Science Center Environmental Science and Sustainability Center - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the naming of the downstairs classroom at the Roper Mountain Science Center Environmental Science and Sustainability Center for Dr. Bill and Jean Schmidt. Dr. Bill and Jean Schmidt are well known in the Greenville community, having moved here for Bill to become, in 1990, the first Medical Director of Prisma Health's Children's Hospital. He also served as Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and later as the Vice President of Development, before retiring in 2019. He and Jean have been champions for children, giving generously to numerous community efforts. In 2018, Dr. Schmidt received the prestigious Order of the Palmetto, our state's highest civilian honor.

J.E. Sirrine Scholarship Award Recipients - New and Renewals - 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.

Architect Selection for New Elementary School (Former JL Mann HS Site) - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve negotiations to commence with the top-ranked firms and, upon conclusion of successful negotiations, accept the applicable highest ranked firm as the designer of record for the proposed New Elementary School. The Long Range Facilities Plan and Capital Improvement Program (March 2020) calls for a new elementary school, with a student capacity of 750 and a core capacity of 1,000, to be constructed at the former J L Mann High School Site located at 61 Isbell Lane in the city of Greenville.

Duke Energy Utility Easement at A.J. Whittenberg Elementary - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the utility easement as requested by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC at AJ Whittenberg Elementary School. The easement is necessary for utility upgrades and improved power infrastructure for the surrounding community.

Greer Commission of Public Works Sanitary Sewer Easement at Greer Middle School and Greer High School - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to convey the sewer system contained within the easements as described in the four easements to the Greer Commission of Public Works. Greer CPW is seeking to extend sewer services at Greer Middle School to accommodate a planned development on a piece of property (TMN: 0536010104100) adjacent to the school. For the proposed easement (4), Greer CPW is offering $10.00. Greer CPW is also seeking to take ownership and sole responsibility for all the associated existing sewer infrastructure on the Greer Middle School campus that will connect the proposed development to existing infrastructure on the Greer High School campus, of which Greer CPW is already the owner and operator.

Approval of Annexation of Rudolph G. Gordon School into City of Fountain Inn - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the forms giving permission for the annexation of Rudolph G. Gordon School into the City of Fountain Inn.

Property Quit Claim at Summit Drive Elementary to the City of Greenville - Approved the quit claim deed of 0.1025 acres of District property to the City of Greenville for the construction of a mini roundabout and to approve the temporary construction easement for this project as presented. The mini roundabout will be located at the new school entrance off Chick Springs Road. 0.1025 acres of District Property will be needed to complete this mini roundabout. The City of Greenville is also seeking a temporary construction easement as shown on Exhibit B with the Quit Claim request to complete the construction of this project.

Amendment of Mauldin CenterPointe Intergovernmental Agreement (Executive Session) - Approved recommendation from the Administration to approve the amendment to the CenterPointe Multi-County Industrial Park Agreement as contained in Exhibit A. The original CenterPointe Multi-County Industrial Park (MCIP) Agreement was approved in 2017. The City of Mauldin recently approached the School District requesting the approval of amending the original agreement because there has been less economic development at the MCIP during the past four years than originally planned. The amendment extends the time that New Investment Fees (those generated by improvements to the property) attributable to School District millage will be distributed between the City of Mauldin and the School District by four years. The amendment also adds six parcels of nearly 44 acres of property to the current MCIP. That property is adjacent to the current MCIP property and there are no businesses/buildings on the property.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Information/Action from Board Committees/Liaisons -

Election of Audit Team Committee - Accepted recommendation that the five board members who nominated themselves for the audit committee be approved. The Board members who nominated themselves for the committee at the May 11 Committee of the Whole meeting were:
Ms. Leventis-Wells, Ms. Goodwin-Calwile, Mr. Saylors, Ms. Morrison-Fair, Mr. Meek.

Committee / Liaison Reports
Mr. Saylors provided an update the legislative action related to GCS/public education taking place in Columbia. The RMSC committee should have a recommendation on a naming policy by the August Committee of the Whole.

Monthly Finance Report - The monthly Financial Statements were presented as information.

The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.