October 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 often 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
21 GCS Students Named 2023 National Merit Semifinalists
Twenty-one GCS students have been identified as Semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $28 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title. For the list of GCS Semifinalists, click here.
District Provides Update on EVOLV Weapons Detection System
Since the implementation of the EVOLV weapons detection system for the 2022-23 school year, more than 156,000 individuals have been screened during middle and high school arrival, randomly throughout the school day, and at athletic and other after-school activities. To date, 16 weapons have been found, none of which were firearms, and 296 vapes confiscated. EVOLV is a weapons detection system that is used on a random, rotating basis around the district during the school day and at after-school events. The system is a more current and superior technology compared to traditional metal detectors. The EVOLV system is fully-portable, weather-rated for outdoor use, and travels from school to school. The EVOLV system allows multiple students to pass through at the same time at normal speed, which creates a safe and efficient process. For more information about EVOLV, click here.
72% of Greenville County Schools Rated Excellent or Good on State Report Card
In Greenville County, 44% of schools scored Excellent and 28% scored Good on the South Carolina Department of Education (SDE) annual school report cards for the 2021-22 school year, which is significantly higher than the 21% of schools across the state scoring Excellent and 22% scoring Good. The district's high school graduation rate increased to 84.8%, which is an increase over last year and an increase of 12.4 points since 2012. Additionally, 72.7% of the 2021-22 graduation cohort met one or more of the markers for College and Career Readiness, which is a 6.9% increase from last year. To see how individual schools performed, click here.
Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
October 25, 2022
Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance
Adoption of Consent Calendar
2.01 Minutes, Ad Hoc Committee for Board Self-Assessment – August 23, 2022
2.02 Minutes, Regular Board Meeting – September 27, 2022
2.03 Minutes, Board Workshop – October 11, 2022
2.04 Home Schooling Applications – 3
2.05 Personnel Recommendations
Appearance of Visitors
Garey Collins – Bus Safety
Nate Manning – Former JL Mann High School Site & Athletic Complex
Sasha Patton – Recess
David Harner – Proposed Elementary School
Rachel Turner – Thank You
Crystal O'Connor – Thank you
Action Items
Innovative Course Approvals
The Board of Trustees approved several new courses in subject areas such as Astronomy and Emergency Medical Services that were previously unable to be offered at the honors level.
Revision of Board Policy IHC: Credit and Content Recovery
The Board approved changes to Board Policy IHC to more accurately reflect the current procedures pertaining to both credit and content recovery programs and to better align with requirements contained in the Uniform Grading Policy.
SCSBA Delegates
Trustees certified a slate of delegates to SCSBA with each Trustee named as both a delegate and an alternate, and with the Vice-Chair assigned three votes and the remaining Trustees' two votes each.
Nomination of SCSBA Region 15 Director
The Board approved their recommended motion from the Committee of the Whole meeting to nominate Glenda Morrison-Fair for the office of SCSBA Region 15 Director effective November 8, 2022.
Physical Education Exemptions (Executive Session)
Trustees approved physical education exemptions for one student at Riverside High School and one student at Wade Hampton High School.
Information/Action from Board Committees/Liaisons
GCS Foundation Liaison Report – Mrs. Leventis-Wells thanked the district and everyone who planned, participated in and helped to make the GCS Foundation Scholarship Golf Tournament a success this year.
Finance Report
Monthly Finance Report – A summary of the District's ESSER fund spending was presented as information and in accord with the Board's approved ESSER plan.
The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m.