Aiken County Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at the District Office at 7:00 p.m.

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Submitted by vicky_durden on Thu, 05/05/2016 - 2:12pm

Dates:

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 - 7:00pm

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

OFFICIAL AGENDA _ _____ REGULAR SESSION _7:00 P.M._________MAY 10, 2016

Location: District Office Aiken, SC

1000 Brookhaven Drive

REGULAR SESSION: 7:00 P.M.

DEVOTIONAL & PLEDGE: Mr. Tray Traxler

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Regular Meeting – April 19, 2016

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

SC Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame

SMS HAM Radio

SMS Space Camp Scholarship Recipient

NJROTC Recognition for AHS, SAHS, MVHS and SBHS

Public Participation

No requests this meeting.

Office of Board Chairman

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

1. Legislative Update (Mr. Liner)

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 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 exchange students to the high schools in the School District of Aiken County.

4. Public Education Partners Donation to Paul Knox Middle School – FY16 (Mr. Laurence)

Public Education Partners donated $2,000 to Paul Knox Middle School. Funds from the donation will be used to change one of the Synergistic Lab computer modules to Genetics.

5. Mechanical Contractors Association of South Carolina Grant to Aiken County Career and Technology Center – FY16 (Mr. Laurence)

Aiken County Career and Technology Center was awarded a $5,000 Mechanical Contractors Association of South Carolina grant. Funds from this grant award will be used to purchase NCCER Electricity, HVAC, and welding tools, equipment, and supplies.

6. Submission of SC State Department of Education Arts Curricular Innovation Grant Application by New Ellenton Middle School – FY17 (Mr. Laurence)

New Ellenton Middle School would like to submit an application to the SC State Department of Education for the Arts Curricular Innovation grant in the amount of $18,000. This grant will assist in developing and implementing arts initiatives that support quality arts education programs and significantly improve student achievement in the arts.

7. 2016 Replacement of Bleachers at Midland Valley High and Wagener-Salley High (Dr. Foster)

Bids were received for the 2016 Replacement of Bleachers at Midland Valley High and Wagener-Salley High on April 20, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened. There was 1 bidder with the lowest bid being submitted by Master Craft Renovations System. Base Bid A ($128,000.00) replacement bleachers at Midland Valley High for home side and visitor side. Base Bid B ($76,000.00) replacement bleachers at Wagener-Salley High for home side and visitor side and goals being repaired. The Five-Year Facility Improvement Plan for 2016-2017 Athletic Funds has the adequate funding needed to complete these projects.

8. Facilities Health and Safety Cleaning Program for the Aiken County Public School District (Dr. Foster)

The district has been in search of a comprehensive custodial program that would assist with improving the cleanliness and upkeep of our facilities. On March 8, 2016, a Request for Proposal was sent to nine providers, posted on the district site and advertised in the Aiken Standard. On April 13, 2016, one proposal was received by Augusta Janitorial Supplies & Equipment. The cost of implementation of this program which includes developmental services and custodial training and education is $4.00 per student. The proposal also includes unit pricing options for chemicals and tools.

9. Deed of Easement of S.C. Electric & Gas Company – at South Aiken High (Mr. Burkhalter)

Several years ago the District conveyed a small easement area to S.C. Electric & Gas Company for gas piping and equipment and other apparatus behind the Atlanta Bread Company site, at the edge of the District’s property. The utility has contacted District facility officials and requested a small adjoining easement in order to install a pad on which to erect additional gas heater equipment which serves the Aiken community. The have offered $2,000 for an easement over the 20 x 20 area which is shown on the attached plat.

10. Running Track-Resurfacing Project for Aiken High School and Silver Bluff High School (Dr. Foster)

Bids were received for the Running Track-Resurfacing Project at Aiken High School and Silver Bluff High School on April 28, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened. The Five-Year Facility Improvement Plan, which was approved by the Board, has an adequate balance for the 2016-2017 Athletic Facility Needs. There were 5 bidders with AIC Site Construction as the lowest responsible and responsive bidder at Aiken High for $281,000.00 and for Silver Bluff High for $277,865.00.

C. INDIVIDUAL ITEMS:

1. Personnel Appointments (Mrs. Dillon)

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. Comprehensive Revisions to the Code of Student Conduct – First Reading (Mr. Burkhalter and Dr. Foster)

The Code of Student Conduct has been subject to an annual review and update for many years. However, as part of Dr. Alford’s twenty-eight recommendations for the path forward to establishing a premier school district, there was a goal for incorporating community members, parents, educational leaders, teachers and administrators from all three levels to form a committee charges with undertaking a comprehensive review of the Code of Student Conduct. Recommendations include the provision of clear guidance for school administrators in addressing student incidents with the intent of increasing consistency throughout the District. The anticipated needs included more clearly articulated availability of reasonable discretion for administrators and better emphasis on the rehabilitation side of discipline as part of the District’s disciplinary philosophy.

After receiving approval by the Board, a committee was established and began its meetings on November 19^th and has worked continuously and energetically since that time to meet its goal of establishing a revised Code of Student Conduct for Aiken County Public Schools, consistent with these goals and strategies. The committee also focused on streamlining the appeals process, while adhering to due process requirements of the law.

The committee sought input from district staff and area advisory councils, principals, assistant principals, transportation supervisors, parent advisory council, attendance workers, the teacher forum, Public Education Partners, the Tribunal, and the community in general. There were direct presentations as well as posted surveys. Feedback from these sources was included in their deliberations. The committee is making the proposals outlined in this agenda item.

3. Policy GCCA – Shared Leave (New Policy) (Dr. Alford, Mr. Burkhalter and Mr. Traxler)

The School District has had a Sick Leave Bank for a considerable period of time. For those not familiar with the concept, the bank allows a pool of donated sick days (usually one or perhaps two) making the donor a “member” of the bank. When a catastrophic illness or issue occurs, a person who is a member may apply to the Sick Leave Bank for the granting of additional days. This is controlled by an independent committee which operates according to predetermined guidelines. While this concept has aided many persons in need, it has very strictly controlled parameters as to the situations that constitute a catastrophic need. Accordingly, applications that are otherwise worthy frequently cannot be granted. The administration has seen the need for an additional opportunity for shared leave and has recommended the attached policy and administrative rule as a method to address that need.

4. Aiken County Public School District Logo Recommendation (Dr. Alford)

The Board Communication Committee and Visual Identity Subcommittee have worked throughout the last 15 months to engage students, teachers, staff, parents and other stakeholders in an effort to evaluate our school system’s visual identity in the community and create a new logo and subsequent brand fitting to match our community’s evolving vision.

5. 2016-2017 BOE Goals & Strategies (Dr. Alford)

6. 2016-2017 Preliminary Budget (Mr. Traxler)

D. INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS