August 23, 2023 Edition

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News

GCS accepting applications for Materials Review Committee

Greenville County Schools is soliciting an eligible pool to serve on the Elementary, Middle and High School Materials Review Committees for book challenges. The committees are responsible for handling complaints from the public concerning the appropriateness of instructional materials. The deadline for submitting interest forms is September 4, 2023. More information about the Materials Review Committee

Greenville County Schools offering PSAT/NMSQT testing for students in grades 8, 10 and 11

Greenville County Schools is offering the PSAT/NMSQT testing opportunity for grade 8, grade 10, and grade 11 students who are currently enrolled in Greenville County's schools (in-person and virtual students) and homeschool students in Greenville County's attendance area. Students will test at the school they attend or are zoned to attend. This year, the PSAT/NMSQT will be administered digitally. All students will test using district-owned devices, such as Chromebooks. Each school will schedule testing from October 16-27. More information about PSAT/NMSQT Testing

The new school year may have just started, but high school seniors already know which day and time they will graduate. Greenville County Schools has released its 2024 high school graduation schedule. While the number of ticket allocations and specifics on ceremonies will be announced at a later date, the complete schedule of graduations is available. Schedule of Graduations

Lindsay Zika named 2023-24 Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year

Lindsay Zika, a Multilingual Learner Program teacher at Greenville Senior High Academy, recently received the school district's highest teaching honor. During a ceremony at Greenville Convention Center, Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster named Zika the 2023-24 GCS Teacher of the Year. Growing up, Zika was inspired by her mother's example as a speech-language pathologist and the teachers around her. She says connecting with students and their families is her top priority as an MLP at Greenville High. More information about Teacher of the Year

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary

August 22, 2023

Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Dr. Carolyn Styles, Board of Trustees Chair

Adoption of Consent Calendar
2.01 Minutes, Special Called Board Meeting: Appeal of Denial of Change in Student Assignment - June 27, 2023
2.02 Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - June 27, 2023
2.03 Minutes, Board Kick-Off Event - August 3, 2023
2.04 Home Schooling Applications - 19
2.05 Personnel Recommendations

Dr. Royster introduced personnel who were recently approved and present for the meeting:

• Interim Principal
• Tatiana Shea – Southside High (in Board packet June 27)
• Assistant Principals
• Wes Dodgens – Woodmont High
• Kristen Bell – Hughes Academy
• April Camp – Grove Elementary School
• Melle Hays – Monaview Elementary

Appearance of Visitors
Becky McLaughlin – Retention
Terrell Brown – Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Catherine Schumacher – First Class Mentor Awards
Bobby Hines – Children Left Behind and Costs

Superintendent's Report
Dr. Royster then gave the Board an overview of the work performed during the summer in preparation for the school year. Some highlights included:

• Building Services and Maintenance Operations replaced/refinished 306,883 square feet of flooring, painted 867,550 square feet, trained 640 custodians, and completed the CTE Innovation Center.
• Transportation conducted recertification training for more than 600 drivers, aides and subs for a total of 3,600 training hours, and conducted 27,181 calls to parents about bus stop locations and times for the coming year.   
• Food & Nutrition Services served 141,536 summer meals.
• Human Resources processed 1,028 hires.

Action Items

Revision of Policy JGI: Child Abuse/Child Neglect
The Board of Trustees approved a revision to Board Policy JGI that requires school administrators to contact both the South Carolina Department of Social Services and law enforcement when child abuse and/or child neglect is suspected. This revision will provide additional safeguards to ensure that the legal obligation of mandatory reports is met and that both DSS and law enforcement have the necessary information to investigate the suspected abuse or neglect in a prompt manner.

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, Easement at the New Elementary School on the Old J. L. Mann High School Site (61 Isbell Lane)
The Board approved a utility easement, as requested by Duke Energy, at the new elementary school on the old J.L. Mann High School site.

Information/Action from Board Committees/Liaisons
Advocacy Committee – Mr. Saylors – The next Committee meeting is October 24, and there will be a presentation by the Planning & Demographics regarding local development.

South Carolina School Boards Association – Mrs. Morrison-Fair – The Upstate SCSBA meeting will be Thursday, October 26 at Roper Mountain Science Center. The Board also received a copy of resolutions to rank as SCSBA puts together state-level strategies. The Law Conference is in Greenville starting Friday, August 25.

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

The meeting adjourned at 7:36 pm.