Aiken County Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at the District Office at 7:00 p.m.

Dates:

Tuesday, January 26, 2016 - 7:00pm

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

OFFICIAL AGENDA ______REGULAR SESSION _7:00 P.M.______JANUARY 26, 2016

Location: District Office Aiken, SC

1000 Brookhaven Drive

REGULAR SESSION: 7:00 P.M.

DEVOTIONAL & PLEDGE: Mr. Tad Barber

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Regular Meeting – January 12, 2016

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

Board Appreciation

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. One Child – One Chance (1C-1C) (Mrs. Bassford)

2. Financial Report as of November 30, 2015 (Mr. Traxler)

The financial report of November 30, 2015 is submitted in the approved format.

3. Legislative Update (Mr. Liner)

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. Alford)

The School Board, according to the Code of Laws of South Carolina Section 59-63-240, is authorized 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. Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation Toolbox for Education Grant to Jackson Middle School – FY16 (Mr. Laurence)

Jackson Middle School was given a $4,000 Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation Toolbox for Education grant. Funds from this grant award will be used to purchase a greenhouse kit, irrigation lines, and supplies to start a garden at the school.

3. Iorio Charitable Foundation Grant to Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School – FY16 (Mr. Laurence)

Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School was given a $3,500 Iorio Charitable Foundation grant. Funds from this grant award will be used to purchase furniture and furnishings for the office.

4. General Mills Box Tops for Education Donation to Millbrook Elementary School FY16 (Mr. Laurence)

Millbrook Elementary School has been awarded a $3,268.50 donation from General Mills Box Tops for Education. The funds from this donation will be used to purchase janitorial equipment and supplies.

5. New Leavelle McCampbell Middle School Project Final Architectural Contract Documents (Dr. Foster)

The architects, McMillan, Pazdan, Smith Architecture for this project have completed the final working drawings for construction of the New Leavelle McCampbell Middle School Project and are prepared to present these final plans and construction budget under separate cover to the Board for approval.

6. North Augusta High School Addition Phase 2A and 2B Project Final Architectural Contract Documents (Dr. Foster)

The architects, McMillan, Pazdan, Smith Architecture for this project have completed the final working drawings for construction of the North Augusta High School Addition Phase 2A and 2B Project and are prepared to present these final plans and construction budget under separate cove5r to the Board for approval.

7. Proposed Calendar for 2016-2017 (Dr. Foster)

The administration prepares a new calendar each year for Board approval. Policy ICA provides guidance in the development of the school calendar and was last revised on January 12, 2016.

8. 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 22, 2015, survey forms were distributed to all students in the District in order to determine

the number of eligible students. Subsequent verification was performed

and is on-going.

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 Academic Officers.

2. Recommended amendments to Policy DA – Fiscal Management Goals/Priority Objectives – First Reading (Mr. Traxler and Mr. Burkhalter)

In discussing bond issuances, presentations regarding bond rating agencies, and similar subjects with bond counsel and financial advisors, it was noted that bond rating agencies liked to see formal investment policies and formal debt management policies. The Board has an existing Policy DA dealing with financial management goals and priority objectives which would better serve the District’s needs by having some updating in the language and amendatory provisions to make the policy consistent with presently recognized best practices.

3. Recommended Policy on Debt Management – Policy DCC – Debt Management – First Reading (Mr. Traxler and Mr. Burkhalter)

The District heretofore has had no specific policy on debt management. The District has followed protocols and practices regarding this important consideration in implementing its fiscal practices, but discussions with bond counsel and financial advisors has led to the conclusion that the District would benefit by having a stated policy related to this important subject.

4. Policy DFA – Revenues From Investments [recommended new policy] – First Reading (Mr. Traxler and Mr. Burkhalter)

In addition to an amended policy on fiscal management and a new recommended policy on debt management, another needed policy relates to revenues from investments. The District already follows sage investment protocols and practices, and also complies with state mandates concerning limiting undue risks for investments and maximizing security with federal deposit insurance or collateralized securities issued by the United States government. Most of these investments must be short term in order to match funding needs.

5. Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2016A (Mr. Traxler)

On November 4, 2014, the voters of Aiken County approved a referendum for collection of a 1% Education Capital Improvement Sales & Use Tax over ten years. Ten percent of collections will be utilized for property tax relief with the remainder earmarked for school construction. As a companion to the sales tax referendum, voters also approved the issuance of general obligation bonds not to exceed $125,000,000. The referendum bonds can be issued in a single issuance or multiple issuances with the debt serviced through the collection of the sales tax, over the life of the tax.

D. INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS