January 26, 2022 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.
subscribe | update your information.

Please "Like" us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/gcschools) and follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/gcschools). Our Facebook page is updated daily with new and exciting information about our students, staff, and schools. We also encourage you to share GCS Facebook posts with your friends. Ask them to "Like" us on Facebook so they can be informed about their public schools.

News

Career Centers Accepting 2022-23 Applications

GCS high school students who are interested in enrolling in a career center program for the 2022-23 school year may apply online through March 18 using their GCS Backpack account. This is a great opportunity to explore careers and earn certifications in fields such as culinary arts, machine tool, mechatronics, aircraft maintenance, welding, building construction, barbering, automotive technology, and firefighting. Interested students should click on "Programs" in their Backpack account to access the appropriate Career Center. Applications must be completed by Friday, March 18 to be considered in the first round of applications. Applying for a career center is one of many ways to become career-ready. For more information on Graduation Plus, and how students can become college- and career-ready, visit the GCS Graduation Plus page. Students returning to the same Career Center program for a second year do not need to re-apply.

Donaldson Career Center
Enoree Career Center
Golden Strip Career Center
J. Harley Bonds Career Center

Two GCS High Schools Earn College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award

Blue Ridge High School and Wade Hampton High School have earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles. Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls' access in AP computer science courses. More about AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award.

Final Opportunity to Register for 2022-23 GCS Virtual Program

Greenville County students have a final opportunity to enroll in our full-time Virtual Program. Registration for the 2022-23 GCS Virtual Program opens at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, January 18 and will continue through 5:00 PM on Tuesday, February 1. To register, students must be enrolled in Greenville County Schools and parents must have a BackPack account. More about Virtual Program Registration.

Board Meeting Summary

January 25, 2022

Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance – Sam Esteban, JL Mann High School

Adoption of Consent Calendar
Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - December 14, 2021
Minutes, Board/Delegation Meeting - January 10, 2022
Home Schooling Applications - 1
Personnel Recommendations - None

Appearance of Visitors
Lara Wannemacher - Support of Schools
Courtney Epps - Social Emotional Learning
Liz Liokumovich - Social Emotional Learning
Amanda Brett - Parent Committees
Terrell Brown - School Board Appreciation Month
Andrea Bruner - Library Books
Judith Tanzola - Book Title
Catherine Schumacher - Teacher Bonuses and Student Mental Health
Sara Merrell - Critical Race Theory and Social Emotional Learning
Denise Cassano - Critical Race Theory

Superintendent's Report
Dr. Royster expressed appreciation to the Board of Trustees for their service in honor of School Board Appreciation Month. He shared that the Board of Trustees represent one of the first forms of local government in our country, and highlighted the critical role that the Board, entrusted by the community, plays as a cornerstone of our community in supporting all students.

Mr. Saylors and Mr. Sudduth were presented with pins from Mr. Meek on behalf of the South Carolina School Boards Association recognizing their 20 years of Board service.

ACTION ITEMS

Schools of Choice and Innovation - Approved four (4) motions from the Committee of the Whole:

Motion from the Committee of the Whole 1: To approve the waiver of Section 59-1-425(A) of the South Carolina Code of Laws as permitted under SC Section 59-19-350 in order to allow the designated schools to begin the school year before the third Monday in August.

Motion from the Committee of the Whole 2: To approve the waiver of Sections 59-5-60(1), 59-25-110, and 50-26-10 of the South Carolina Code of Laws and Regulations 43-62 and 43-63 of the South Carolina State Board of Education as permitted under SC Section 59-19-350 in order to allow the designated schools greater flexibility in employing non-certified teachers under the specified conditions.

Motion from the Committee of the Whole 3: To approve the waiver of Regulation 43-232 of the South Carolina State Board of Education as permitted under SC Section 59-19-350 in order to allow exemptions from the middle school physical education requirement and the required number of minutes per class at the middle school level under the specified conditions.

Motion from the Committee of the Whole 4: To approve the waiver of Regulation 43-234, II. B. of the South Carolina State Board of Education as permitted under SC Section 59-19-350 in order to allow the exemption of seat time requirements for high school credit-bearing courses and implementation of a credit-by-exam system.

Naming of League Academy Auditorium - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the naming of the auditorium at League Academy for Ms. Elaine Donnan. Ms. Donnan began teaching art and theater at League Middle School in 1980, where she excelled, and was recognized as the GCS District Teacher of the Year in 1989. Ms. Donnan made significant contributions to the development of League Academy as an arts magnet program when she moved into the Magnet Coordinator position in 1996, including program development and continuous improvement. In recognition of her successful efforts, she received Metropolitan Arts Council Carl R. Blair Award for Commitment to Arts Education in 2017.

Revision to Board Policy FDC: Naming of Facilities - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the revisions to Board Policy FDC. This committee was formed with the purpose of reviewing Board Policy FDC to determine if changes are necessary, including whether additional parameters should be created pertaining to Roper Mountain Science Center given the unique nature of that facility, including its funding structure, as compared to schools and other facilities in the District. The Committee recommended the incorporation of an exhibit to the policy that provides Roper Mountain Science Center the limited ability to fundraise and to name specific locations and portions of its premises in accordance with the exhibit. Any naming not authorized in this exhibit must still be approved by the Board of Trustees in accordance with the regular process for naming contained in Policy FDC. Any future change to the exhibit must be submitted by the Superintendent to the Board for approval. The Committee also decided that additional language should be added in the last section of the policy that 1) clearly states that the Board has the authority to change the naming at locations and 2) that any gift or donation will not be refunded if a name is altered by the Board.

Naming of Pedestrian Walkway at Roper Mountain Science Center - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the naming of the pedestrian walkway at Roper Mountain Science Center for the late Senator Ralph Anderson in recognition of his service to our community and state, and in particular his significant support for public education.

Employee Bonus - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to provide a one-time bonus to active GCS employees of $1,000 for salaried exempt, hourly, and salaried non-exempt employee groups (prorated by FTE), to include any individual eligible for across-the-board cost of living increases with exceptions as specified; $1,000 for substitutes (prorated by number of days worked); and $100 for adjunct employees (who are not included in the preceding categories) in recognition of their extraordinary efforts this year as presented by the administration. The estimated total cost of this bonus is $12 million. The identified sources of these funds are General Fund revenue in excess of expenditures from FY21 ($11.3M) and, for Food and Nutrition Services employees, FANS Fund Balance ($0.7M). The total General Fund revenue in excess of expenditures for FY21 was $85.3M. At the Board workshop in September 2021, the administration identified $65.3M as a potential source to help fund the proposed changes (cost increase to projects and to accelerate projects as a cost avoidance strategy) to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) through FY36.

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, Easement at M.T. Anderson Support Center - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve a utility easement as requested by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC at M.T. Anderson Support Center. The easement is necessary to replace unreliable infrastructure and improve accessibility for maintenance crews.

Resolution Supporting Gov. McMaster's Efforts to Review School-Based Mental Health Funding - Approved motion from the Committee of the Whole to approve the proposed resolution regarding school-based mental health services. The resolution expresses support by the GCS Board of Trustees with state action to increase access to school-based mental health services.

Information/Action from Board Committees/Liaisons
Roper Mountain Policy Committee - Mr. Saylors - Since the work of the ad hoc committee has concluded, we ask that the ad hoc committee be disbanded. Thank you to those Board members who served on this committee.

Finance Report
Monthly Finance Report - The report was presented as information.