March 26, 2025 Edition
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News
Greenville County Schools Announces Top 10 Teacher of the Year Finalists
Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster surprised ten GCS teachers with the announcement that they have been named the Top 10 Finalists for 2025-26 GCS Teacher of the Year. These deserving educators were chosen from approximately 6,000 teachers across the district. The process of selecting the ten finalists began last fall when schools and centers selected their individual Teacher of the Year. Teachers interested in being considered for the GCS Teacher of the Year then completed an extensive application that was reviewed by Screening Committees and a Judges Selection Committee. The Top 10 Finalists will be narrowed down to three finalists and the 2025-26 Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year through in-person interviews and classroom observations. The 2025-26 Teacher of the Year will be announced on August 7. Complete list of the Top 10 finalists
SC Ready Testing Scheduled for April 21-May 23
The South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessment (SC READY) program is a statewide assessment in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics administered to students in grades 3-8, and the SC READY science assessment is administered to students in grades 4 and 6. All students are required to participate in SC READY at the applicable grades with the exception of students who qualify to participate in Alternate Assessments. All testing will be conducted at each school’s physical location. Remote testing is unavailable. Schools will schedule students for testing within the district’s testing window, April 21-May 23. Your school administrator will contact you with your student’s testing schedule. District’s testing calendar
Parents Encouraged to Register Children for Kindergarten, First Grade
Children who will be five years old on or before September 1 of the current year must enroll in public or private kindergarten unless the parent or legal guardian signs a waiver. The form must be completed and signed by administration at the child’s home-based school. Any child who will be six years old on or before September 1 of the current year must enroll in first grade. Students who are currently enrolled in a GCS 4K or 5K program do not need to register. Parents should set up a Backpack account, then click on “Enroll A Student” and follow the instructions. Additional registration information
Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
March 25, 2025
Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Christian Dean Boatwright, an eighth-grade honors student at Bryson Middle School.
Adoption of Consent Calendar
2.01 Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - February 25, 2025
2.02 Minutes, Special Called Meeting, Student Discipline Appeal - March 11, 2025
2.03 Minutes, Special Called Meeting, Board Self-Assessment - March 11, 2025
2.04 Personnel Recommendations (Executive Session) - None
2.05 Home Schooling Applications (Executive Session) - 2
Appearance of Visitors
- Princella Lee-Bridges - Long Range Plans
- Katie Haitz - Technology Use in K-5
- Coleman Henry - Future Teachers Academy
Superintendent's Report
The Superintendent gave an update on the process for the district's Shared Ownership Strategic Review of special education services. There were 1,859 responses to the survey that went to parents of current GCS students with disabilities. After removing any personally identifiable information, the results will be shared publicly later in the process. Currently, feedback is being gathered from principals, assistant principals, and teachers. Upcoming steps in the process include hosting in-person forums for parents and guardians to provide input; analyzing the data from the forums; garnering feedback from the Shared Ownership Summit; and compiling recommendations, commendations, and considerations to share with the third-party consultants handling the district's External Review. The American Institute of Research (AIR) was selected as the third-party evaluator through a competitive bid process. AIR will look at systems, procedures, policies, staffing, alignment between special education and general education, and communication.
Action Items
Long-Range Facilities Plan-Capital Improvement Program
The Board of Trustees approved the March 2025 Long Range Facilities Plan and Capital Improvement Program as presented.
The board also approved the transfer of $70,740,080 from the Unassigned General Fund Fund Balance to the Building Fund, the transfer of $750,000 from the Unassigned FANS Fund Balance to the Building Fund, and the use of $10,682,640 in Building Fund interest earnings to support the district's Capital Improvement Program.
Approval of Personnel Contract Recommendations (Executive Session)
Board members approved the annual personnel contract recommendations as presented.
Student Discipline Appeal (Executive Session)
Trustees voted to affirm the Hearing Officer's decision and deny the disciplinary appeal.
Committee/Liaison Reports
Advocacy Committee – Mr. Saylors – The Committee is meeting on April 22. Trustees have been receiving questions about what's happening at the federal and state levels. It is unclear if funding from the U.S. Department of Education will transfer to the state. Over the next month, the Advocacy Committee will work with the district administration to compile questions and seek clarification.
Finance Report
The District's monthly financial statements were presented to the Board of Trustees as an information item.
The meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m.