May 29, 2024 Edition

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News

GCS Board of Trustees Approves New Elementary School Name

The new school opening in August 2025 at 61 Isbell Lane in Greenville will be named Reedy Laurel Elementary School. The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees approved the name at its May 28, 2024 meeting. An ad hoc committee chaired by Area 24 Trustee Dr. Anne Pressley made the recommendation to the full Board, noting the new name acknowledges the history of the community and the former Laurel and Laurel Creek Elementary Schools, while also recognizing the two bodies of water the school site is located between, the Reedy River and Laurel Creek. Additionally, the name complements the environmental science focus of the new school. Learn more about the naming process for Reedy Laurel Elementary School.  The school will serve up to 750 students in grades preK-5. It will sit on the former site of J.L. Mann High Academy, which moved to its current location in 2007. The attendance plan for Reedy Laurel Elementary will be provided for public input in the fall. Access the school site plans

2024-2029 Strategic Education Plan Approved by Board of Trustees

Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees has approved the 2024-2029 Strategic Education Plan, which goes into effect July 1, 2024. The plan focuses on student achievement, a premier workforce and a caring culture and environment. The Strategic Education Plan was built with broad input from GCS stakeholders including parents, teachers, students, and partners in business, industry, government, and non-profit sectors. View the full plan. Greenville County Schools will be sharing detailed information and resources for stakeholders moving into the start of the 2024-25 school year. Timeline and the steps taken to incorporate public input leading up to the approval of the Strategic Education Plan

GCS Honors Students, Staff and Partners at Salute to Education

Greenville County Schools held its annual Salute to Education banquet on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the Greenville Convention Center. This end-of-the-year celebration recognizes honor graduates from each of the district's high schools, Greenville Early College, the Fine Arts Center and five career centers. The event also highlights the outstanding accomplishments by GCS schools and staff members from throughout the year, unveils the annual GCS Partner of the Year, and reveals the winners of the 2023-24 Employee of the Year program. This year's Master of Ceremonies was Sydney Shadrix from WYFF4. This Year's Honorees

Greenville Technical College Named as 2024 GCS Partner of the Year

Greenville County Schools has announced Greenville Technical College (GTC) as its 2024 Partner of the Year. The college works closely with the district to provide students with dual credit opportunities through the college transfer program and within technical fields all at no cost to GCS students. GTC has more dually enrolled students than any other college in the state of South Carolina, with the majority of those being GCS students. GTC plays a pivotal role in youth apprenticeship programs, such as Prisma Health's nursing support assistant apprenticeship and technical scholar programs at Michelin and BMW. The college also worked directly with GCS and Clemson University to create Expressway to Tiger Town, an accelerated pathway-to-teaching program, which allows GCS students to return to the district as teachers with degrees from both GTC and Clemson University. Read more about the 2024 GCS Partner of the Year.

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary

May 28, 2024

Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Lathyn Carson, a rising 5th grader at Pelham Road Elementary School.

Miracle Worker Award Presentation to Monarch Elementary Medical Emergency Response Team
Members of Monarch Elementary School's Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) were presented with the District's Miracle Worker Award for helping save the life of a preschooler who suffered a medical emergency in April.

Adoption of Consent Calendar
2.01 Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - April 23, 2024
2.02 Minutes, Ad hoc Committee for New Elementary School Naming – May 7, 2024
2.03 Minutes, FY 25 Budget First Reading - May 8, 2024
2.04 Minutes, Special Called Meeting - May 14, 2024
2.05 Personnel Recommendations:

• Stephanie Smith, Principal, Fountain Inn High School

Appearance of Visitors
Minh Wyman – Board Policy JBB, IHE, JBCCB
Susana Saravia – Porn and Suggestive Sexual Material
Carey White – Porn and Suggestive Material

Superintendent's Report
Dr. Burke Royster introduced new leaders who were approved recently:

• Dr. Tim Scipio, Director of West Greenville School
• Stephanie Smith, Principal, Fountain Inn High School
• Dr. LaTonya Leeks-Shepherd, Director of Secondary Support

He also recognized several district leadership team members who are retiring or transitioning into new roles for their service to Greenville County Schools:

• Dr. David McDonald – Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership – Middle Schools
• Brenda Byrd – Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership – Elementary Schools Group 2
• Scott Rhymer – Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership – High Schools

The Superintendent presented the results of the Cognia Accreditation and Engagement Review. Greenville County Schools earned a score of 318, which is well above the average score of 253 and shows that the District meets Cognia's expectations for accreditation.

Action Items

2024-2029 Strategic Education Plan
The Board of Trustees approved the District's 2024-2029 Strategic Education Plan, which focuses on student achievement, a premier workforce and a caring culture and environment.

2024-2029 School Strategic Education Plans
The Board also approved the 2024-2029 School Strategic Education Plans, which describe in detail key data outcomes for each school in the areas of needs assessment, stakeholder findings and priorities, and action plans for each of the three goal areas.

Naming of New Elementary School at 61 Isbell Lane
Trustees voted to name the new elementary school at 61 Isbell Lane "Reedy Laurel Elementary School."

Video Livestreaming of Board Meetings
The Board of Trustees voted to utilize existing resources to add video to the current audio livestream for Regular Board Meetings, Committee of the Whole Meetings, and Special Called Meetings of the Board of Trustees.

Metropolitan Sewer Subdistrict Sanitary Sewer Right of Way and Easement Request at New Bryson Middle School Property
Board members voted to approve a temporary construction easement and permanent sanitary sewer right of way as requested by Metropolitan Sewer Subdistrict at 905 Fairview Road for the new Bryson Middle School.

Acceptance of Audit Team Committee
The board voted to accept the names of Amanda Brett, Jeff Cochran, Michelle Goodwin-Calwile, Glenda Morrison-Fair, and Chuck Saylors to serve on the Audit Team Committee for 2024-25.

J.E. Sirrine Scholarship Award Recipients
The Board of Trustees approved the new and renewal scholars for Sirrine Scholarships in the amounts specified in the Sirrine Scholarship Program Report for 2024-25 school year.

Information/Action from Board Committees/Liaisons

Ad Hoc Committee to Review Board Policies IFA and KNBA – Mrs. Dulin – The Ad hoc Committee had a preliminary meeting and does not yet have a date for the next meeting.

Advocacy Committee – Mr. Saylors – Reminder the Committee will meet on June 11 immediately following the Committee of the Whole. Members received a draft of a resolution to ask for a rating system for library books.

Monthly Finance Report

The District's monthly financial statements were presented to the Board of Trustees as an information item.

The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.