Aiken County Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Midland Valley High School at 6:00 p.m.

 

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

                                       

 

 

 

REGULAR SESSION: 6:00 P.M.

 

 

DEVOTIONAL & PLEDGE:  Mr. King Laurence          

 

           

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

Regular Meeting – February 27, 2018

 

 

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

 

 

No Requests This Meeting

 

 

 

1.         Legislative Update (Mr. Liner)

 

 

 

1.         Ratification of Expulsions (Dr. Alford)

 

            The School Board, according to the Code of Laws for 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.         Submission of the Verizon Innovative Learning Project Lead the Way Gateway Grant for Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle School – FY19/FY20 (Dr. Washington)

 

            Verizon Innovative Learning has partnered with Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Gateway Program to offer middle schools nationwide the opportunity to apply for a two-year grant to support the implementation of PLTW’s Gateway Introduction to Computer Science units.  Their goal is to ensure that students have access to the computer science curriculum and sills that they need to succeed in our rapidly advancing, technology-based economy.  This grant opportunity will expose students at RSM Middle School to curriculum-based, project-based learning and will assist in strengthening critical thinking skills that are crucial to success in today’s college and career arenas.  PLTW Gateway will provide a strong foundation for STEM/STEAM learning in high school and beyond as it challenges students to solve real-world problems.  Upon entering high school, students from RSM Middle School will be prepared to meet the challenges of more advanced courses in mathematics, sciences, pre-engineering, agriculture, health science and entrepreneurship.  Grant funds in the amount of $20,000 will be used for PLTW participation fees, teacher training expenses, and required technology for the program, instructional supplies, and equipment for each unit.  The funds will be distributed as follows:  $15,000.00 for 2018-2019; $5,000.00 for 2019-2020.

 

 

3.         2018 Replacement of Bleachers at A.L. Corbett Middle & South Aiken High (Dr. Foster)

 

            Bids were received for the 2018 Replacement of Bleachers at A.L. Corbett Middle & South Aiken High on February 22, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened.  There were 2 bidders for this project with the lowest and responsible bidder being Learning Environments, Inc.:  Base Bid A ($58,750.00) for A.L. Corbett Middle and Base Bid B ($121,500.00) for South Aiken High.

 

 

 

1.         Personnel Appointments (Mr. Laurence)

 

            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.         Contract for Substitute Teachers and Paraprofessionals (Mr. Laurence and Mr. Traxler)

 

            Affordable Care Act (ACA), considerations prompted an initial review of the district’s procedures for securing substitute teachers and paraprofessional.  In reviewing the multiple aspects of the substitute function it was determined that the process could be more efficient and better meet the needs of schools if it were contracted to a staffing company.  Issues that we face managing substitutes in-house include lower than desired fill rates (82.3% in 2015-16, 82.2% in 2016-17, and 84.8% through December of the current year).  These statistics are enhanced by perception data provided by principals and school office personnel.  That same perception data indicates that substitutes are not as well prepared as schools would prefer.  The district does not have the personnel to provide ongoing training for substitutes.  Professional staffing companies provide initial and ongoing training for substitutes and guarantee a fill rate around 95%.  This is possible because they have a corporate mission and dedicated staff to accomplish those goals.

 

 

          

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:

 

                                    a.         Administrative Appointments                     

 

 

 

4.         OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT:

                       

No Items This Meeting

 

 

 

5.         APPEALS:

 

a.         Student Transfer (Area 2)

 

b.         Student Appeal (Area 1)

 

c.         Student Appeal (Area 1)

 

d.         Parents’ Petition Hearing (Area 1)

 

          

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURN