Aiken County Board of Education Meeting on June 23, 2015 at the District Office at 7:00 p.m.

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

OFFICIAL AGENDA _ _______ REGULAR SESSION _7:00 P.M.______JUNE 23, 2015             

Location:                                     District Office                                                     Aiken, SC

                                                   1000 Brookhaven Drive

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Special Called Meeting – June 2, 2015

Regular Meeting – June 9, 2015 

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

·       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.         Legislative Update (Mr. Liner)

2.         Facilities Construction Department Quarterly Change Order Notification (Mr. Caver) 

         Policy FGG sets the limit of approval for construction change orders by the Superintendent or designee up to $15,000.00. The policy requires a summary of such change orders to be presented to the Board at least once a quarter for notification.

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 of 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.         Out-of-District Transfer Requests (Dr. Stowe) 

            Board Policy JFABC allows the Aiken County Board of Education to arrange with other school districts for the interchange of students. The policy stipulates that when students transfer out of the District, “the School District of Aiken County shall assume no responsibility for tuition to the receiving district.” 

  3.         Request to Admit Foreign Exchange Student (Dr. Stowe) 

            School Board Policy JFABB establishes guidelines for the admission of exchange students to the high schools in the School District of Aiken County. 

4.       2016 Graduation Ceremonies in USC-A Convocation Center and Proposed Graduation Schedule (Mr. Caver) 

             Since 2009 graduation ceremonies have been held in the Convocation Center. The schools have been supportive of this. The Convocation Center has been very accommodating to the schools for the graduation exercises. 

  5.         Funding Flexibility for the Quarter Ending June 30, 2015 (Mr. Traxler) 

            Provisos 1.31, 1.36 and 1A.16 provide school districts and special schools funding flexibility for 2014-2015. Among the requirements, each district’s board and superintendent must certify the specific flexibility actions taken. The certification must be in writing, signed by board chairman and superintendent, and delivered electronically to the State Superintendent of Education. An electronic copy must be sent to the SC Department of Education which will subsequently forward the information 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. 

              Furthermore, the certification must be presented publicly at a regularly called school board meeting and be posted on each district’s website.

  6.         Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2015 (Mr. Traxler) 

             Section 15 of Article X of the Constitution of the State of South Carolina provides that subsequent to November 30, 1982, school districts of the State may incur bonded indebtedness in an amount not exceeding eight percent (8%) of the assessed value of all taxable property therein. 

            The School Board approved issuance of $18.0 million bonds in the District’s adopted 2015-2015 budget and as part of the District’s Five Year Facilities Plan. 

7.         Change Order Number 1 for the 2015 Installation of Flooring at South Aiken High, East Aiken Elementary, Millbrook Elementary, Belvedere Elementary & Chukker Creek Elementary (hallways @ new building)  (Mr. Caver)

              Change Order Number One for the 2015 Installation of Flooring at South Aiken High in the total amount of $34,635.00.

               8.          Chukker Creek Elementary Playground Surfacing Project (Mr. Caver)

                            Bids were received for the Chukker Creek Elementary Surfacing Project on May 11, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. and publicly opened. Bids were received from 2 bidders with Bliss Products & Services submitting the lowest bid of $62,190.72. Based bid includes installation of rubber surfacing in the kindergarten playground. The District-Wide Playground account has adequate funds for this project. 

                 9.          Byrd Elementary Playground Surfacing Project (Mr. Caver)

                           Bids were received for the Byrd Elementary Playground Surfacing Project on May 11, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened. Bids were received from 3 bidders with Bliss Products & Services submitting the lowest bid of $58,611.19. Base bid includes installation of rubber surfacing in the kindergarten playground. The District-Wide Playground account has adequate funds for this project. 

            10.           Gloverville Elementary Playground Surfacing Project (Mr. Caver)

                         Bids were received for the Gloverville Elementary Playground Surfacing Project on May 11, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. and publicly opened. Bids were received from 3 bidders with Superior Recreation of the Carolinas submitting the lowest bid of $37,264.96 with alternate #1 deduct (stone instead of concrete) for $3,020.00 Base bid includes installation of rubber surfacing in the kindergarten playground. The District-Wide Playground account has adequate funds for this project. Total project cost for this project is $34,244.96.

             11.           Jefferson Elementary Playground Surfacing Project (Mr. Caver)

                         Bids were received for the Jefferson Elementary Playground Surfacing Project on May 11, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. and publicly opened. Bids were received from 3 bidders with Bliss Products & Services submitting the lowest bid of $102,336.44. Base bid includes installation of rubber surfacing in the kindergarten playground. The District-Wide Playground account has adequate funds for this project.

            12.           Request for donation of two surplus mobile units by Unity Holiness Church (Mr.       Caver)

                        The organization is requesting that two mobile classrooms be donated to them to expand their family and community ministry located on Edgefield Highway in Aiken. The addition of the unit will help with their startup of community food bank. 

             13.     Sunshine House Donation to Chukker Creek Elementary School – FY15 (Mr. Laurence)

                       Chukker Creek Elementary School was given $3,572.35 donation from Sunshine House. The funds from this donation will be used to purchase supplies and technology equipment.

            14.           FY2016 Application for Title 1 of No Child Left Behind (Mr. Laurence)

                           Title 1 of Public Law (PL) 107-110, No Child Left Behind, provides federal assistance to school districts to help fund high quality, challenging instructional programs for children in schools that serve areas that have high concentrations of poverty. The State Department of Education has projected that $7,514,712.55 in Title 1, Part A funds will be allocated to the District for the 20015-2016 school year.

  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 Academic Officers. 

  2.         Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) - Final Reading (Mr. Caver and Mr. Laurence) 

             With the use of the internet, intranet, e-mail and computers there is a need to review and revise the district’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). The Instructional/Technology Committee has developed a policy that recognizes the many uses for technology in instruction. The attached has been revised by the committee.

In its 2015-2016 budget calendar; the Board scheduled presentation of the preliminary budget for April 21, 2015, the tentative budget for May 12, 2015, and the final budget for June 23, 2015. 

                          To date, the Board has also conducted three budget work studies and held a public input session and the budget hearing as part of its preparation of the 2015-2016 budget. 

1.            AGENDA ITEMS SUBMITTED BY INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS:                          

2.              CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESSED TO BOARD MEMBERS:  

3.              REPORTS FROM BOARD LIAISON TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES: 

·       Update 

·       Consider of Contractual Matter 

·       Superintendent Search                                 

·       Legal Briefing 

                                      No Items This Meeting 

                        a. Student Appeal (Area 5)