June 28, 2023 Edition

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News

Greenville County Sheriff’s Office named 2023 GCS Partner of the Year

Greenville County Schools has named the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office its 2023 Partner of the Year. Sheriff Hobart Lewis accepted the award at the Salute to Education banquet in May. The agency dedicates time and resources to Greenville County Schools’ teachers and administrators, providing proactive training and conducting active law enforcement drills on an ongoing basis. In the late 1990s, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and Greenville County Schools formed the School Enforcement Unit, the only entity of its kind in South Carolina. The unit includes School Resource Officers, zone patrol officers, investigators, weapon detection system technicians, security specialists, drug dogs, crossing guards, and more. More about GCS Partner of the Year

Fine Arts Center earns Exemplary School designation

The Arts Schools Network Board of Directors named the Fine Arts Center an Exemplary School in recognition of its commitment to excellence. The five-year designation is awarded for 2023-2028. ASN is the nation’s largest professional membership organization of specialized arts schools. It awards Exemplary School designations to members that follow A Guide to Assessing Your Arts School in strategically evaluating their school’s purpose, operations and educational programs. ASN will honor the school during its annual conference in Birmingham, Alabama. More about FAC Exemplary School designation

GCS Board of Trustees approves FY 24 General Fund Budget

The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees approved the proposed FY 24 General Fund Budget by a 9-3 vote following a public hearing and the budget’s second and final reading. The FY 24 budget reflects revenue and expenditures totaling $864,195,000. A major focus of the budget is to increase salaries for employees to address inflation and remain competitive in recruiting and retaining the best personnel in all positions. The budget includes a step increase and an additional $2,600 per teacher cell. All other eligible employees will receive a step. If the step is not valued at a minimum of 3.5%, it will be adjusted to equal a 3.5% increase. Employees not eligible for a step will receive a 3.5% increase. To make that investment in teacher and employee salaries, the budget includes a proposed increase of 9 mills in order to meet the needs associated with growth and inflation, which is significantly below the total taxing authority of 34.3 mills available to the Board this year. More about FY24 General Fund Budget

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary

June 27, 2023

Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance – Elizabeth Glenn (Mauldin Middle School) and Eloise Dulin (Monarch Elementary)

Adoption of Consent Calendar
2.01 Minutes, Regular Board Meeting – May 23, 2023
2.02 Minutes, Public Hearing - FY 24 General Fund Budget - June 5, 2023
2.03 Minutes, Second Reading - FY 24 General Fund Budget – June 5, 2023
2.04 Minutes, Special Called Meeting: Personnel Recommendations - June 13, 2023
2.05 Minutes, Special Called Meeting: Social Media Multi-District Litigation & Continuation of Board Self-Assessment - June 13, 2023
2.06 Personnel Recommendations

• Interim Principal:
• Tatiana Shea – Southside High School
• Assistant Principals:
• Kristen Bell – Hughes Academy
• Carrie Garrison – Dunbar Child Development Center
• Mel Hayes – Monaview Elementary School
• Holly Rollison – Oakview Elementary School
• Jeffrey Whitener – J.L. Mann High School

Appearance of Visitors
Jack Logan – Presentation

Superintendent's Report
In addition to introducing the personnel recommended above, Dr. Royster also introduced personnel who were recently approved and present for the meeting:

• Principals:
• Stephen Hampton – Monaview Elementary School
• Leroy Platt – Tanglewood Middle School
• Adrian Mayes – Hughes Academy
• Assistant Principals:
• Katey Duty – Wade Hampton High School
• Regina Eudy – J.L. Mann High School
• Jennifer Robinson – Fork Shoals Elementary School

Dr. Royster also shared that the district tracks vacancies closely. At this time, we have 126 teaching vacancies for the coming school year. Given the size of the district and the fact that we're still in the process of hiring for the 2023-24 school year, that is not a great number. It's important to note that at this same time last year, there were 218 teaching vacancies so that's a notable improvement. This is a positive trajectory regarding the recruitment, hiring and retention process.

Action Items

Innovative Course Approvals
The Board of Trustees approved six new honors courses that were designed to raise the academic challenge and performance of students. The courses include Accelerate Pre-Engineering Honors Parts 1 & 2, Criminal Law Honors, Emerging Automotive Research Honors 1 & 2, and Family Law Honors

Champions for Public Education Award Nomination
The Board approved the nominations of the District's 15 high schools for the SCSBA Champions for Public Education Award for the fall of 2023.

Revision of Board Policy GBRIC: Personal Leaves and Absences: Parental Leave
Trustees voted to revise Board Policy GBRIC to reflect the new paid parental leave law enacted by the South Carolina General Assembly.

Naming of Greer High School Alumni Room
The Board approved the naming of the Greer High School Alumni Room in honor of Pat Sudduth, former teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and Board of Trustees member.

Physical Education Exemption (Executive Session)
The Board approved a physical education exemption for a student at Mauldin Middle School.

Building Fund – Fund Balance
Trustees voted to assign $11,000,000 in Unassigned Building Funds for security enhancements, new Chromebooks and LED exterior lighting at schools and support facilities.

FY 24 General Obligation Bonds Resolution
The Board approved a resolution to not exceed $175 million in General Obligation Bonds to fund BEST bond payments and the operations of the GCS Facilities Department.

FY 24 Debt Service Budget
Board members voted to approve the FY 24 Debt Service Budget which accounts for debt service revenues, annual general obligation bond payments, and distribution of general obligation bond proceeds to the BEST Debt Service Budget and Building Fund Budgets.

FY 24 BEST Debt Service Budget
The Board also approved interest and principal payments totaling $78.3 million for BEST Bonds will be paid on December 1, 2023 and June 1, 2024. The funding sources are interest income, transfers from the District Debt Service Budget and fund balance.

FY 24 Building Fund Budget
Board members approved $230 million for major project expenditures including roof renovations, HVAC upgrades and technology refresh programs.

FY 24 Food and Nutrition Services Budget
The Board voted to approve the FY 24 Food and Nutrition Services budget, which reflects the addition of 61 new schools to the CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) program. During FY 24, 82 schools will participate in CEP, which means that all students at these locations will receive free breakfast and lunch.
The Board also agreed to keep the full-pay lunch price at $2.50, marking the seventh year at that price.

FY 24 Special Revenue Budgets
The Board approved the FY 24 Special Revenue budgets, which are comprised of federal, state and local funds and must be used in a specific manner.

Information Items

Internal Audit Report Package
Dr. Royster presented the Board with a package of audit reports from 2022 detailing the District's preventative maintenance process and whether it was properly adhered to.

Information/Action from Board Committees/Liaisons

Ad Hoc Committee for Superintendent's Evaluation – Dr. Styles – The Committee met today and had a productive meeting. Research regarding an effective superintendent evaluation process was reviewed, and we are expecting a product that sets the bar for the state.  

Finance Report

Monthly Finance Report – The report was presented as information.

Election of Board Officers

Carolyn Styles (Area 17) – Chair
Debi Bush (Area 19) – Vice-chair
Glenda Morrison-Fair (Area 23) – Secretary

The meeting adjourned at 9:32 pm.