Aiken County Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at the District Office at 7:00 p.m.

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Submitted by vicky_durden on Thu, 02/08/2018 - 4:53pm

Dates:

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 -

7:00pm to 10:00pm

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

OFFICIAL AGENDA _____REGULAR SESSION _7:00 P.M.______FEBRUARY 13, 2018

Location: District Office Aiken, SC

1000 Brookhaven Drive

REGULAR SESSION: 7:00 P.M.

DEVOTIONAL & PLEDGE: Mr. Jeremy Mace

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Regular Meeting – January 23, 2018

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

School Band/Orchestra Award Presentation

Aiken County Board Recognition

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)

2. Financial Report as of October 31, 2017 (Mr. Traxler)

The financial report of October 31, 2017 is submitted in the approved format.

3. Financial Report as of November 30, 2017 (Mr. Traxler)

The financial report of November 30, 2017 is submitted in the approved format.

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 for South Carolina Sections 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. Demolition and Tree Removal Project at Byrd Learning Center (Dr.

Foster)

Bids were received for the Demolition and Tree Removal Project at Byrd Learning Center on January 18, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened.Bids were received from 6 bidders with Thompson Building Wrecking Company submitting the lowest bud of $46,000.00.Base bid includes clearing of trees, some fencing and removing the house on the property.The design, printing, advertising and 5% contingency amounts to $12,000.00.Total project cost for Demolition and Tree Removal at Byrd Learning Center is $58,000.00.

3. Submission of the Summer Reading Camp Community Partnership Grant (Dr. Washington)

The General Assembly has provided funding to the State Department of Education for the Summer Reading Camp Community Partnership competitive grant opportunity whereby community organizations and school districts can collaborate to provide summer reading camp activities during the mandated Read to Succeed summer reading camp. In this Summer Reading Camp Partnership, a cohort of approximately 500 second and third grade students who are significantly below grade-level reading proficiency from elementary school across the district will participate in a five-week program that focuses on reading, writing, listening, and researching skills. With the $38,464.00 provided by the grant, the school district proposes a community partnership with the Salvation Army Nancy Moore-Thurmond Boys and Girls Club of Aiken to extend the hours of the Summer Reading Camp day in order to move the cohort of students close to proficiently reading on grade level.

4. Submission of the Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) 2018-19 Arts Curricular Innovation Grant (ACIG) Application by East Aiken School of the Arts – FY19 (Dr. Washington)

East Aiken School of the Arts would like to submit an application to the SC State Department of Education for the Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) Arts Curricular Innovation grant in the amount of $21,000.00. This grant will assist in developing and implementing arts initiatives that support quality arts education programs and significantly improve student achievement in the arts. Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) grants provide funds for one-year projects.

5. Submission of the Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) 2018-19 Arts Curricular Innovation Grant (ACIG) Application by Aiken Middle School – FY19 (Dr. Washington)

Aiken Middle School would like to submit an application to the SC State Department of Education for the Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) Arts Curricular Innovation Grant in the amount of $18,000.00. Aiken Middle School will use the funding from this grant to facilitate elevating and expanding its Fine Arts programs, including continuing to expand programs for dance and chorus and the creation of an Artistically Gifted and Talented Instrumental Music program (and continuation of our Artistically Gifted and Talented Visual Arts and Theatre programs). Funds will be used to purchase materials, resources, technology and equipment for these programs. Funds will also be used to pay for artists in residence and field trips for Artistically Gifted and Talented so that students may have access to a more culturally diverse Find Arts education.

6. Submission of NBC’s R.I.S.E. America Project Grant sponsored by the Educational Theater Foundation and NBC by South Aiken High School Drama Club – FY19 (Dr. Washington)

The South Aiken High School Drama Club is requesting to submit a $10,000.00 grant application to NBC’s R.I.S.E. America Project (Recognizing and Inspiring Student Expression) that will enhance or revitalize their theater program. The winning schools can use the grant money to cover various critical needs, including master classes and production expenses. These funds will allow the Drama Club to:

Attend a Broadway Classroom (master class taught by a New York City theater professional) in New York City as well as a Broadway show;
Participate again this year in the South Carolina Theater Association High School Festival, which will take place at Anderson University, to build on their success at the 2017 High School Festival;
Replace a row of lights in the auditorium that was taken out when the new lighting system was put in to hide the dark shadows that now appear on the stage;
Renovate the existing light room by putting in a solid platform for use when managing the lighting and sound in the auditorium.

7. Submission of the Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) 2018-19 Arts Curricula Innovation Grant (ACIG) Application by New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School – FY19 (Dr. Washington)

New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School would like to submit an application to the SC State Department of Education for the Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) Arts Curricular Innovation grant in the amount of $18,000.00. This grant will assist in developing and implementing arts initiatives that support quality arts education programs and significantly improve student achievement in the arts. Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) grants provide funds for one-year projects. If awarded, grant funds will be used to fund artist-in-residencies, professional development, art-based field trips, instructional supplies, and equipment maintenance for each course.

8. Submission of the Kisner Foundation Grant – FY19 (Mr. Traxler)

The Division of Finance is requesting to submit a $69,000 grant application to the Kisner Foundation for funding that will benefit students through expanded athletics instruction and supervision. This grant will allow the District to fund one assistant coach supplement, in each sport and at each school for:

Middle school football, which is currently staffed with one head coach and one assistant coach,
High school softball, which is currently staffed with a head coach who is assisted by the JV coach,
High school baseball, which is currently staffed with a head coach who is assisted by the JV coach, and
High school wrestling, which is only staffed with a head coach.

The addition of 11 supplements at the middle school level and 21 supplements

for the District’s seven high schools will directly impact more than 600

participants. Grant funds will be used for personnel costs only.

9. Grades 2 to 8 Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) (Dr. Washington)

During the 2017-2018 school year, district leadership and stakeholders have researched Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) program for renewal at elementary grades and implementation at middle grades. The CAI Focus Team is comprised of teacher and administrative representatives from each elementary and middle school, Content Interventionists, Educational Technology representation, and Instructional Technology Specialist. The team developed a needs assessment, recommended vendors for consideration, participate in presentations, tested programs with students, and evaluated programs for instructional rigor and technical ease. The feedback from of the CAI Team was submitted to the Instructgional Services Department Leadership Team for consideration and recommendation.

INDIVIDUAL ITEMS:

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. Changes to Policy GCC Professional Staff Leaves and Absences and Policy GDC Support Staff Leaves and Absences- Final Reading (Mr. Laurence)

Policies GCC and GDC establish the basic structure for all types of staff leaves and absences. They include the methods for accruing and using sick leave and detail a variety of leave scenarios. They also detail the disposition of leave days when an employee

3. Changes to Policy JCA Assignment of Students to Schools – Final Reading (Dr. Alford and Mr. Laurence)

Administration recommends the comprehensive review of school attendance zones, enrollment, population trends across the entire school district every (5) five years. The recommendation has been uniquely defined in Board Policy Draft JCA which is attached.

4. Recommendation from the Salary Committee (Mr. Traxler)

The Board created the District Salary Committee in 2015 to develop and recommend new salary schedules and a methodology for providing service credit. The Committee meets periodically to discuss salary matters including, but not limited to, the continued phase-in of the District’s service credit methodology. The Committee most recently met on Friday, January 19, 2018.

5. School Board Meetings Location Changes (Mr. Laurence)

The school board has expressed a desire to provide greater access opportunities to the various communities it serves. By holding its regular meetings in various venues around the distric, citizens will have a greater opportunity to participate.

D. INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS