The Aiken County Board of Education Meeting, May 25, 2021 at 6:00p.m. at the District Office 1000 Brookhaven Drive Aiken, SC 29803

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Submitted by Kim_Chriswell on Fri, 05/21/2021 - 10:09am

Dates:

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 - 6:00pm

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

OFFICIAL AGENDA REGULAR SESSION 6:00 P.M. MAY 25, 2021

Location: 1000 Brookhaven Drive Aiken, SC

Tuesday’s meeting will be live streamed on our website, acpsd.net

REGULAR SESSION: 6:00 P.M.

CALL TO ORDER

MOMENT OF SILENCE & PLEDGE: Dr. John Bradley

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Regular Meeting – May 11, 2021

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

Public Participation

No Requests This Meeting

Video Recognitions

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Awards
Perfect Attendance – Trent Peterson –Midland Valley High School
21^st Century Grant Award – Leavelle McCampbell Middle School

Office of Board Chairman

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

No Items This Meeting

B.CONSENT ITEMS: The following items will be voted on as a group, individual items may be discussed prior to a vote being taken.

Ratification of Expulsions (Mr. Laurence)

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.

Out-of-District Transfer Requests (Dr. Minolfo)

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.”

Out-of-District Transfer Requests (Dr. Minolfo)

Board Policy JFAB allows the Aiken County Board of Education to arrange with other school districts for the interchange of students.The policy stipulates that non-resident students transfer into the District “the parent/legal guardian must assume responsibility for transportation.The Board will hold nonresident students to the behavioral and academic requirements set out in policy JFAA, admission of resident students.The district may charge tuition to nonresident students seeking to enroll in district schools.”

Request to Admit Foreign Exchange Student (Dr. Minolfo)

School Board Policy JFABB establishes guidelines for the admission of the exchange students to the high schools in the School District of Aiken County.

Aiken County Public School District Head Start/Early Head Start Program American Rescue Plan (ARP) Grant Application Submission –FY21 (Mrs. Glover)

As a result of Public Law 117-2, the American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (ARP) which is a $1.9 trillion plan that includes $1 billion for Head Start programs for one-time activities in response to COVID-19, all Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grantees are eligible to receive additional funds proportionally based on funded enrollment levels.The Aiken County Public School District’s Head Start/Early Head Start Program has been allocated $459,456.00 in ARP grant funds.

Head Start programs may need to undertake a wide range of one-time, specific actions or activities in response to COVID-19, Activities will include:

Providing additional weeks of Head Start/Early Head Start programming through summer programs or as extensions of the program year.
Purchasing services, materials, and technology to ramp up recruitment and enrollment efforts.
Enhancing family supports by addressing their employment, education, and career goals and provide mental health support for children and families.
Providing meals and snacks not reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Distribution of health & nutrition packages to families to address food insecurities and materials/equipment to support remote food delivery.
Providing staff wellness and mental health support.
Providing training and professional development for staff on infectious disease management, trauma skilled practices and other topics.
Purchasing necessary supplies and contracted services to sanitize and clean facilities and vehicles.
Renovation facility and/or other spaces modifications such as room dividers.
Other actions that are necessary to maintain and resume the operation of programs, such as investing in technology infrastructure, making improvements to air conditioning systems, or other emergency assistance.

Local School Board Courses for 2021-2022 (Mrs. Glover)

The School Board must approve locally designed courses annually.

Leavelle McCampbell School Alumni Association – Donation to Leavelle McCampbell Middle School – FY21 (Mrs. Glover)

Leavelle McCampbell Middle School has been given a $1237.50 donation from the Leavelle McCampbell School Alumni Association.The funds will be used to purchase Kona Ice Treats for students after testing.

Asphalt Track-Resurfacing Project at Paul Knox Middle School (Dr. Murphy)

Bids were received for the Asphalt Track-Resurfacing Project at Paul Knox Middle School on May 4, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. and publicly opened.The Five-Year Facility Improvements Plan, which was approved by the Board, has an adequate balance for the 2021-2022 Athletic Facility Needs.There were 2 bidders with Beam’s Contracting, Inc. submitting the lowest responsible and responsive bid in the amount of ($129,000.00) for Base Bid A; ($3,500.00) for Base Bid B foe a subtotal of $132,500.00.

Change Order Number 1 for the 2020 Painting at Jackson Middle, LBC Middle, and North Augusta Middle (Dr. Murphy)

Change Order Number 1 for the 2020 Painting at Jackson Middle, LBC Middle and North Augusta Middle from G&S Adventure, Inc.

Change Order Number One:

Unused allowances for this project………………….<$62,409.00>

Credit in the amount of…………………. <$62,409.00>

Total Change Order Amount……………………………………<$62,409.00>

Construction Bids for the 2021 Scrubbing and Coating of Gymnasium Floors at 21 District Schools (Dr. Murphy)

Bids were received for the 2021 Scrubbing and Coating of Gymnasium Floors at 21 District Schools on May 5, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. and publicly opened.There was 1 bidder with The Flooring Connection, LLC submitting the lowest responsible and responsive bid in the amount of ($27,312.50) for Base Bid A; ($16,550.00) for Base Bid B for a subtotal of $43,862.50.The Five Year Facility Improvement Plan for 2021-2022 has the funds needed to complete these projects.

2021 Installation of Flooring at Byrd Elementary and Mossy Creek Elementary (Dr. Murphy)

Bids were received on May 5, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. and publicly opened for the 2021 Installation of Flooring at Byrd Elementary and Mossy Creek Elementary.There were 3 bidders for this project with the lowest responsible and responsive bidders being Carpet Creations of Aiken, SC with Base Bid A ($64,466.00) for Installation of carpet, VCT, cove base and accessories at Byrd Elementary; Gleaton Flooring, Inc. of Sumter, SC Base Bid B Installation of carpet, cove base and accessories ($28,636.00) and Base Bid B of VCT, cover base and accessories ($261,826.00) at Mossy Creek Elementary.The Five-Year Facility Improvement Plan for 2021-2022 has the funds needed to complete these projects.

Purchase of C-Cans for Aiken County Public Schools (Dr. Murphy)

Quotes were received on May 24, 2021 at 2:00 p.m., from 3 bidders and publicly opened.Carolina Mobile Storage, LLC was the low bidder at $34,959.60. Base Bid I is to purchase eight (8) storage containers with two (2) containers going to each of the following schools:Ridge Spring-Monetta High, Silver Bluff High, Wagener-Salley High and Midland Valley High.The containers will be charged to the Athletics Facilities account.

2021 Replacement of Exterior Signs at Chukker Creek Elementary, A.L. Corbett Middle, and North Augusta Middle (Dr. Murphy)

Bids were received for the 2021 Replacement of Exterior Signs at Chukker Creek Elementary, A.L. Corbett Middle and North Augusta Middle on May 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened.There were 2 bidders with the lowest bid being submitted by Signs Unlimited of South Carolina.Base Bid A ($31,685.00) for Chukker Creek Elementary:Base Bid B ($31,685.00) for A.L. Corbett Middle; Base Bid C ($31,685.00) for North Augusta Middle to replace exterior signs to LED.The Five-Year Facility Improvement Plan for 2021-2022 Code Upgrades has the adequate funding needed to complete these projects.

District-wide Formative Assessment Adoption (Ms. Olin)

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has three formative assessment included on their Adoption List of Formative Assessments.To be included on this state-approved list, an assessment must undergo a comprehensive two-stage approval process demonstrating that it satisfies professional measurement standards and aligns with the South Carolina College-and Career-Ready Standards.During the first stage, a panel of measurement experts specifically reviews assessments based on set evaluation criteria developed jointly by the Education Oversight Committee and the SCDE to determine if the products positively impact student achievement.During the second stage, two committees of curriculum specialists-one for English language arts and one for mathematics-evaluate assessment items as they relate to the state standards.One of the benefits of selecting assessments from this list is that the SCDE reimburses District’s for the costs of these assessments, which is a cost of approximately $243,000 annually for our district.The District is responsible for training and initial implementation costs.

C.INDIVIDUAL ITEMS

Personnel Appointments (Mrs. Hart)

The certified and classified personnel presented have been screened by the Human Resources Department and interviewed, and/or approved by the Principal or supervisor for each location.

Changes to the following policies, Second Reading (Dr. Minolfo)

Policy BB School Board Legal Status

Policy BBA Board Powers and Duties

Policy BBAA Board Member Authority and Responsibilities

Policy BC Board Member Conduct

Policy BCA Board Member Code of Ethics

Policy BDE Board Committees

Policy BHC Board Staff Communications

Policies are cyclically reviewed and, as needed, revised and/or updated.The listed policies with School Board Governance and Operations section of the Aiken County Board Policies were identified for revision.

Revisions to the Code of Student Conduct – Second Reading (Mr. Spears)

The Code of Student Conduct is reviewed and updated annually.As part of this process a discipline steering committee consisting of community members, parents, educational leaders, teachers, board members, and administrators from all three grade levels reviews the Code of Student Conduct, and considers recommended additions, deletions and revisions from school administration.Recommendations include the provision of clear guidance for school administrators in addressing student incidents with the intent of increasing consistency and appropriateness throughout the District.

Expansion of Community Eligibility Provision (Mr. Traxler)

The District currently has 21 community eligibility provisions (CEP) schools.All students at those schools are eligible for breakfast and lunch at no cost. After working with the SCDE, the District wishes to expand CEP by two schools during the 2021-2022 school year.Aiken Intermediate and Jackson Middle would be the new additions, if approved by the Board.The 2018-2019 school year was the District’s first year of CEP participation with 16 schools.CEP expanded by three schools in 2019-2020 and two more in 2020-2021.

2021-2022 Budget –Second Reading (Mr. Traxler)

In its 2021-2022 budget calendar, the Board scheduled presentation of the first reading of the budget for April 20, 2021, and the second & final reading for May 25, 2021.

Stakeholders had an opportunity to speak during the budget hearing segment of the May 11, 2021, Board meeting.