Aiken County Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at the District Office 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. Bill Burkhalter

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

Regular Meeting – January 10, 2017

 

 

 

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

 

                                    No Requests This Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

4.         Construction Status Reports for the Leavelle McCampbell Middle School Project (Dr. Foster)

 

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

 

 

 

5.         Construction Status Reports for the Aiken High School Phase 2A Addition Project (Dr. Foster)

 

            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.

 

 

 

6.         Financial Report as of November 30, 2016 (Mr. Traxler)

 

            The financial report of November 30, 2016 is submitted in the approved format.

 

 

 

7.         Legislative Update (Mr. Liner)

 

 

 

 

 

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 (Mr. Laurence)

 

            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.”

 

 

 

Foster)

 

Bids were received for the 2016 New Irrigation System @ Midland Valley High Football Field on January 5, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened.  The Five Year Facility Improvement Plan, which was approved by the Board, has adequate balance for the 2016-2017 Athletic Facility Needs.  There were 2 bidders with Budget Sprinkler & Landscaping submitting the lowest responsible and responsive base bid in the amount of $40,900.00.

 

 

 

 

Nine activity buses have been determined to be obsolete and is no longer of use to the District.  Board approval is necessary to dispose of the any surplus items (Procurement Regulations: Surplus Management XXVII, C,1).

 

 

 

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, 2016, 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.         

 

 

 

Construction Site (Mr. Burkhalter)

 

As part of the routine site work and infrastructure for any building, the S.C. Electric & Gas is providing both electrical and natural gas supplies to the new Leavelle Middle construction site.  The site grade has been established and the utility has been in the process of actual installation for these utilities.  They asked for an easement agreement in order to document both their right to make the installation, as well as the location thereof.

 

 

 

            Improvement & Erosion Repair Project (Dr. Foster)

 

Bids were received for the 2017 Construction Bids for the Hammond Hill Elementary Drainage Improvement & Erosion Repair Project on January 19, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened.  Bids were received from 3 bidders with Gene Ray Fulmer Construction Co., Inc. submitting the lowest bid of $143,430.00.  Base bid includes demolition, grading, paving sidewalk installation, hauling in topsoil, irrigation system installation, placing sod, grass seeding and mulching and installing fencing to repair current and to prevent future erosion problems in the northeastern portion of the school property.  The budget for the Disrict-Wide Paving is adequate.  The design, printing, advertising and 5% contingency amounts to $18,000.00.  Total project cost for the 2017 Construction Buds for the Hammond Hill project is $161,430.00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.         Personnel Appointments (Ms. Smalls)

 

            The certified and classified personnel presented have been screened by the Personnel Services Department and interviewed and approved by the Principals and Executive Directors.

 

 

 

2.         Policy Changes Related to Reorganization- Final Reading (Mr. Laurence)

 

Beginning in fall 2015, the District has undergone a realignment of its organizational structure. Many current policies (GBEBC, GCK and GCK-R) refer to positions and titles that no longer exist.

 

 

 

 

3.         Changes to Policy GCB Professional Staff Contracts and Compensation – Final Reading (Mr. Laurence)

 

This policy establishes the structure for professional staff contracts and compensation.  Recent legislation extends the annual deadline for teachers to accept contacts.  Section 59-25-420 of the S.C. Code, 1976, as amended states, “A teacher who is reemployed by written notification pursuant to Section 59-25-410 shall before May eleventh notify the board of trustees in writing of his acceptance of the contract.”

 

 

4.         Changes to Policy GDC Support Staff Leaves and Absences – Final Reading (Mr. Laurence)

 

This policy establishes the structure for all types of support staff leaves and absences.  Recent new and/or updated policies impact that structure.

 

 

 

Section 59-1-425(B) of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 250 of 2006, reads: “(B) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, all school days missed because of snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions requiring schools to close must be made up.All school districts shall designate annually at least three days within their school calendars to be used as make-up days in the event of these occurrences.If those designated days have been used or are no longer available, the local school board of trustees may lengthen the hours of school operation by no less than one hour per day for the total number of hours missed, operate schools on Saturday, or may waive up to three days.”The SC Department of Education clarifies that the first three missed days must be made up.Days four through six may be waived by majority vote of the local school board or may be made up by extending the school day or on Saturdays.Days seven through nine may be waived by the State Board of Education.

 

Aiken County Public Schools has lost a total of four days due to weather-related closings. Those dates are September 2, 2016, and October 5-7, 2016.September 2, 2016 was made up on January 3, 2017.Since January 3, 2017 was a scheduled teacher workday, teachers made up the time through extended hours.

 

 

D.        INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS

 

 

 

                                   

 

 

 

 

E.         OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

F.         EXECUTIVE SESSION:

 

 

            1.         CONTRACTUAL ISSUES:

 

                                   

                                     No Items This Meeting

 

 

 

2.         LEGAL BRIEFINGS:

 

 

 

 

 

3.         PERSONNEL ISSUES:

 

 

                                    No Items This Meeting

 

 

 

4.         OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT:

 

                       

No Items This Meeting

 

 

 

5.         APPEALS:

 

 

 

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURN