Aiken County School Board Meeting - March 22, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

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Submitted by Migration on Tue, 03/22/2011 - 5:03pm

Dates:

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - 10:00pm

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

OFFICIAL AGENDA _____ _ REGULAR SESSION __7:00 P.M.______MARCH 22, 2011

Location: District Office Aiken, SC

1000 Brookhaven Drive

REGULAR SESSION: 7:00 P.M.

DEVOTIONAL & PLEDGE: Mrs. Rosemary English

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Regular Meeting – March 8, 2011

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

· South Aiken High School Calliope Magazine - National Award Winner

· District Spelling Bee Winner – Tialeisha Nitika Corley

· Public Participation

No requests this meeting.

· Office of Board Chairman

No items this meeting.

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 January 31, 2011 (Mr. Traxler)

The financial report of January 31, 2011 is submitted in the approved format.

3. 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. Funding Flexibility for the Quarter Ending March 31, 2011 (Mr. Traxler)

Joint Resolution H.4299 and provisos 1.43, 1.50 and 1A.23 provide school districts and special schools funding flexibility for 2010-2011. Flexibility procedures require each district’s board and superintendent to certify on a quarterly basis where noninstructional programs and nonessential programs have been suspended and the specific flexibility actions taken. The certification must be in writing, signed by the board chairman and superintendent, and delivered electronically to the State Superintendent of Education. An electronic copy would subsequently be forwarded to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee.

3. South Carolina Office of Exceptional Children Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 611 (Regular) funds and 619 (Preschool) funds (Dr. O’Gorman)

The South Carolina Office of Exceptional Children award Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 611 (Regular) funds and 619 (Preschool) funds to school districts each year. The Department of Special Programs received a grant application for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 611 (Regular) funds in the amount of $5,208,888.11 and a grant application for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 619 (Preschool) funds in the amount of $202,850.46. These funds, collectively, are used to provide specialized instruction and services to students in Aiken County Public Schools ages 3 to 21 who meet eligibility criteria under the IDEA.

4. Revision of Policy IKA Grading/Assessment Systems – First Reading (Mr. Burkhalter)

State Board of Education Regulations, 43-232, Defined Program Grades 6-8 (6/27/97) allows students in the seventh or eighth grade to take courses for high school credit. Our district has been limiting this opportunity to eighth graders.

The state has been recommending that we reduce the number of introductory computer classes taught in high school in favor of more rigorous coursework.

State regulation and current district policy states that the criteria and cut-off dates for the determination of honors graduates is a local decision. The recommended change will give the benefit of including all grades earned during a student’s high school career for purposes of these computations.

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.

2. Re-employment of Certified Personnel for the 2011-2012 School Year (Dr. Hewett)

Personnel are employed for a one-year period by the Board of Education. According to State law, certified personnel must be informed by April 15 of their employment status for the ensuing year, or they will automatically be deemed “re-employed”. Pursuant to procedures previously approved by the Board, certified persons not otherwise subject to special conditions or requirements and whose contract entitlements are not affected by reassignment, are recommended as a group for re-employment for the following year (with the exception of employees who have given notice of their retirement or who have indicated an intention to resign prior to the start of the next school year).

3. Non-Renewal of Identified Induction Contract Certified Personnel for 2011-2012 School Year (Dr. Hewett)

For certified personnel under Induction Contracts, non-renewal of employment notifications require a certain type of motion. All personnel are employed for a one year period by the Board of Education, and such personnel must be informed by April 15^th of their employment status for the ensuing year or be deemed automatically “re-employed.”

4. Non-Renewal of Identified Annual Contract Certified Personnel for

2011-2012 School Year (Dr. Hewett)

Personnel are employed for a one year period by the Board of Education. According to state law, certified personnel must be informed by April 15^th of their employment status for the ensuing year or be automatically deemed “re-employed.” Persons presently serving under annual contracts, but who are not being recommended for re-employment, have limited due process rights under South Carolina law.

5. Non-Renewal of Identified Continuing Contract Certified Personnel for 2011-2012 School Year (Dr. Hewett)

Personnel are employed for a one year period by the Board of Education. Pursuant to state law, certified personnel must be informed by April 15^th of their employment status for the ensuing year or they will be deemed “re-employed.” Continuing contract teachers are entitled to full due process procedures, as provided by the Teacher Employment and Dismissal Act found in Chapter 25 of Title 59 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina.

6. Re-employment of Certified Personnel, Subject to Certain Conditions, for the 2011-2012 School Year (Dr. Hewett)

Personnel are employed for a one year period by the Board of Education. According to state law, certified personnel must be informed by April 15^th of their employment status for the ensuing year or they will be deemed “re-employed.” Many certified employees who are otherwise recommended for employment for the next school year must nevertheless meet certain qualifying conditions or stipulations. These may be in order to qualify for the continuation of employment, or they may be conditions affecting their status for the following year. (Appearance of names of employees on this list should not give rise necessarily to a perception of a problem or concern, as many of the required stipulations are very routine in nature, as already mentioned.)

7. Proposed District’s Administrative Organizational Structure (Dr. Everitt)

D. INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS

1. AGENDA ITEMS SUBMITTED BY INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS:

· Mr. Richard Hazen – Commitment Concerning School Finance

Reform Project

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:

No Items This Meeting