Aiken County Board of Education Meeting - January 25, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

 

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

                                       

 

  

Location:                                     District Office                                                     Aiken, SC

                                                   1000 Brookhaven Drive

 

 

REGULAR SESSION: 7:00 P.M.

 

 

 

 

DEVOTIONAL & PLEDGE: Mr. Richard Hazen

 

 

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

 

 

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

 

Special Called Meeting – January 4, 2011

 

                    

 

 

 

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

 

 

·         Board Appreciation Recognition – Dr. Elizabeth Everitt

 

 

 

·         Public Participation

 

No requests this meeting.

 

 

 

·         Office of Board Chairman

 

 

 

 

A.                  INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: The following items are for information only and do not require Board action.

 

1.                  Construction Status Reports for the North Augusta Middle School Addition Project (Mr. Caver)

 

In an effort to keep the Board current on the status and budget of this school construction project, the Architects for this project, LS3P Associates LTD., and the Administration prepare a monthly status report for the Board’s review.

 

 

 

 

2.                  Financial Report, as of October 31, 2010 (Mr. Traxler)

 

The financial report of October 31, 2010, is submitted in the approved format.

 

 

 

           

3.                  Financial Report, as of November 30, 2010 (Mr. Traxler)

 

The financial report of November 30, 2010, is submitted in the approved format.

 

 

 

 

4.                  East Aiken School of the Arts Update (Mrs. Mary Robinson)

 

 

 

  

5.         District Report Card (Dr. O’Gorman)

 

 

 

  

B.                 CONSENT ITEMS: The following items will be voted on as a group. Individual items may be discussed prior to a vote being taken.

 

 

1.                  Ratification of Expulsions (Dr. Everitt)

 

The School Board, according to the Code of Laws for South Carolina, Sections 59-63-240, is authorizes to expel students from school. Although the Board may receive recommendations for expulsion from others, it solely is empowered to take the final expulsion action.

 

 

 

 

2.             Revision to Policy GCB – Professional Staff Contracts and Compensation - Second Reading (Mr. Burkhalter and Dr. Hewett)

 

Policy GCB was implemented in 2001 during a comprehensive re-codification of the School District’s Policy Manual. Although this policy had language which was new to the District, portions of existing District policies were incorporated into it, particularly from old Policy GBA. The policy contains language concerning teacher contracts which is found both in the School District’s enabling legislation and in a general statute dating back to the early twentieth century. The policy requires Board approval before any employment contract is considered legally binding. Board approval for all hiring recommendations is still the final legal step in the District’s hiring policy. However, as this District has grown larger through consolidation, and with the advent of yearly budgeting procedures and the allocation of positions for operating the District, the administration has followed a practice utilized by many districts which allows, on occasion, recommended candidates for employment positions who have been screened, cleared, and approved according to all hiring procedures and policies, to begin work a week or two before the Board meets to give approval. The continuation of such employment is subject to final approval by Board action. Existing positions which become vacant, and also positions that may be new but were previously approved and funded by the Board, and within general budget allocations, can be filled on a conditional basis without violating the funding proscription of the policy language and old statutory provisions. However, a literal reading of existing Policy GCB could reasonably raise an issue of interpretation concerning this procedure.  

 

 

 

  

3.             Kimberly-Clark Corporation Donation to Jefferson Elementary – FY11 (Dr. O’Gorman)

 

Jefferson Elementary School has received a $2,000 donation from Kimberly-Clark Corporation. The funds will be used to purchase instructional materials and general supplies for the classroom.

 

 

 

  

4.             AREVA Federal Services Donation to Kennedy Middle School – FY11 (Dr. O’Gorman)

 

Kennedy Middle School has received a $2,882.79 donation from AREVA Federal Services LLC. The funds from this donation will be used to purchase three desk top computers.

 

 

 

  

5.                   AREVA Federal Services Donation to South Aiken High School – FY11 (Dr. O’Gorman)

 

South Aiken High School has received a $2,905 donation from AREVA Federal Services LLC. The funds from this donation will be used to purchase a SmartBoard and other technology for the classroom.

 

 

 

 

6.                   Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation Grant to Schofield Middle School – FY11 (Dr. O’Gorman)

 

Schofield Middle School has been awarded a $3,750 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant from Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. The funds from this grant will be used to purchase books and three bookcases for the library.

 

 

 

  

7.                  Application for Impact Aid (Section 8003, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) (Mr. Traxler)

 

Section 8003 provides funds to school districts for students residing on or having parents working on federal property. On October 19, 2010, survey forms were distributed to all students in the District in order to determine the number of eligible students.

 

 

 

 

8.                  Budget Adjustment #5; Fund #2, 3, 8 and 9 (FY11) (Mr. Traxler)

 

Periodically during the fiscal year, the Division of Fiscal Services submits adjustments to the approved budget as may be required in the conduct of operations.

 

 

 

 

C.        INDIVIDUAL ITEMS:

 

 

1.         Personnel Appointments (Dr. Hewett)

 

The certified and classified personnel presented have been screened by the Personnel Services Department and interviewed and approved by the Principal and the Area Assistant Superintendent.

 

 

 

D.        INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS

 

 

1.                  AGENDA ITEMS SUBMITTED BY INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS:

 

·     Donna Wesby – Policy/Procedure for public accessing     paperless board web site

                        - Process for handling correspondence addressed to Board members

 

        Keith Liner - Master Building Plan for Aiken and North Augusta High   

 

2.                  CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESSED TO BOARD MEMBERS:

 

 

3.                  REPORTS FROM BOARD LIAISON TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES:

 

 

 

 

 

E.         OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT:

 

 

·         Update

 

 

 

 

 

F.         EXECUTIVE SESSION:

 

 

            1.         CONTRACTUAL ISSUES:

 

                                   

·         Review of the District’s Administrative Organizational Structure

 

 

 

 

2.         LEGAL BRIEFINGS:

 

 

·         Legal Briefing

 

 

 

  

3.         PERSONNEL ISSUES:

 

 

                        No Items This Meeting

 

 

 

  

4.         OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT:

 

 

      No Items This Meeting

 

 

 

  

5.         APPEALS:

 

 

a.                  Student Appeal (Area 2)

 

b.                  Student Appeal (Area 2)

 

c.                  Student Appeal (Area 3)

 

 

 

  

 RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

 

ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION:

 

ADJOURN