August 28, 2024 Edition

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News

GCS Students Outperform Students Statewide on SC READY Assessment, End of Course Exams and Career Ready Credentials

Greenville County Schools’ test scores show elementary and middle school students outperformed the state on SC READY English Language Arts and Math assessments, Greenville County middle and high school students outperformed the state in all subject areas on the End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP), and 76.0% of GCS students who took South Carolina’s Career Ready Assessment in spring 2024 earned a credential, outperforming the state rate of 72.2%. Complete breakdown of the test scores by grade level

Two GCS Schools Named National PTA School of Excellence

Greenville County Schools is proud to announce Fork Shoals School and Ralph Chandler Middle have been named a 2023-2025 School of Excellence by the National PTA. National PTA School of Excellence is a recognition program that highlights organizations for building strong partnerships between families and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. Throughout the year, PTAs and schools collect feedback from their school communities to create and implement plans of action to improve family engagement and make a difference for every child. Learn more about this prestigious award

2024-25 Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year Announced

This month, Brushy Creek Elementary third grade teacher Chelsey Troutman received the district’s highest teaching honor as Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster named her the 2024-25 GCS Teacher of the Year. Troutman said her philosophy centers on building strong relationships with her students, understanding their unique stories, and celebrating their strengths. She believes that every student can succeed and works diligently to help them connect with their abilities and support their needs. Three runners-up were announced: Bryan Raeckelboom, building construction instructor at Golden Strip Career Center, was named First Runner-up; Karla Cannon, Spanish teacher at Riverside High, was named Second Runner-up; and Frances McNeely, math teacher at Wade Hampton High, was named Third Runner-up. Teacher of the year story

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary

August 27, 2024

Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Caroline Currier, a fifth-grade student at Mountain View Elementary School

Adoption of Consent Calendar
2.01 Minutes, Regular Board Meeting – June 25, 2024
2.02 Minutes, Special Called Meeting - Personnel Recommendations & Economic Development – August 13, 2024
2.03 Home Schooling Applications – 18
2.04 Personnel Recommendations – None

Appearance of Visitors
Dylan Flipse – In Favor of Books
Noelle Norfolk – Book Fair/Book Regulation
Matthew Cazessus – Suspension of Book Fairs, Diversity in Educational Material
Terrell Brown – Employee Raises
Sarah Frick – Book Fair and Parental Choice
Alisha Taylor – ABA Therapy For Disabled Children
Carlos Williams – Bullying
Victoria Moreno-Jackson – 43-170
Noah Heintz – National Book Ratings
Rachel Turner – GCS Future Teacher Academy
Catherine Schumacher – First Class Mentor Award
Marianne Sacasa de Strasberg – Book Limitations
Phanindra Tallapragada – Gifted Program

Superintendent's Report
Superintendent Royster made some clarifying points about the new SC Regulation 43-170 and book fairs. It is important to note, because some of the comments indicate a possible misunderstanding, that the Regulation came from the SC State Board of Education, not from the GCS Board of Trustees. The Regulation references penalties for individual actions by individual employees, including a warning and other potential disciplinary action. The only two means that the State Board has for disciplinary action of individual school district employees are reprimand of that individual and suspension or revocation of their professional certification. There has not been any action taken by the State Board under this Regulation toward an individual employee or school district to this point; therefore, there is no precedent of what action they might take. We have an obligation to protect our employees. The district has not canceled, only paused, book fairs to allow the Administration to have time to work with the 12-15 book fair vendors. The vendors cannot currently assure us of the book titles that they will send, and staff do not have time to vet them beforehand, which means that the current practices could expose some employees to possible sanctions by the SC State Board of Education. The actions we have taken are to protect our employees as we deal with an unknown environment.

Dr. Royster introduced Greg Porter, the new Director of Security, School Safety, and Emergency Preparedness, who was approved recently. 

The Superintendent gave an update on the projects that took place over the summer to prepare for the 2024-25 school year, including hiring and trainings for employees and facility improvement projects ranging from pressure washing buildings to stripping and waxing floors to completion of multiple school addition construction projects.  

Action Items

Revision of Board Policy KNBA: Complaints About Instructional Materials
The Board of Trustees voted to approve revisions to Board Policy KNBA. The revisions align the existing Board Policy with the recently enacted South Carolina Regulation 43-170, which creates state-wide definitions and a process for complaints for instructional material to be removed when it is not age appropriate for students.

Property Acquisition for Northwest Middle School Replacement (Executive Session)
The Board also voted to approve the purchase of 29.22 acres of property necessary for the replacement of the existing Northwest Middle School, contingent upon the Administration effectuating the Post-Closing Agreement with the seller.

Selection of Electrical Engineering Firms to Provide Professional Services (Executive Session)
Trustees voted to approve two of four firms that submitted bids to provide Electrical Engineering Professional Services for the School District.

Selection of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineering Firms to Provide Professional Services (Executive Session)
The Board also voted to approve the highest-ranked five firms to provide Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineering Professional Services for the School District.

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC Perpetual Utility Easement at A. J. Whittenberg Elementary School
Board members approved a requested perpetual utility easement at A. J. Whittenberg Elementary School that will allow Duke Energy to install a parking lot light to the adjoining neighbor's property (Salvation Army).

Physical Education Exemptions (Executive Session)
Board members approved physical education exemptions for one student at Mauldin Middle School, one student at Beck Academy, and one student at Brushy Creek Elementary School.

Information/Action from Board Committees/Liaisons
Advocacy Committee – Mr. Saylors – Members of the Committee will meet prior to the Committee of the Whole meeting on September 17. They are working on a resolution regarding SC Resolution 43-170 that will address book fairs.   

SCSBA Regional Advocacy Committee – Mrs. Morrison-Fair – An additional site for the regional advocacy meetings has been added at the Pickens County Career & Technology Center.

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

The meeting adjourned at 9:11 pm.