The Aiken County Board of Education Meeting, July 13, 2021 at 6:00p.m. at the District Office 1000 Brookhaven Drive Aiken, SC 29803

Primary tabs

Submitted by Kim_Chriswell on Mon, 06/21/2021 - 4:45pm

Dates:

Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - 6:00pm

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

OFFICIAL AGENDA REGULAR SESSION 6:00 P.M. JULY 13, 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 – June 8, 2021

Special Called Meeting – Board Workshop – June 15, 2021

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

Public Participation

Mr. Dave Paullin - Local Board Approved Courses

Office of Board Chairman

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

Financial Report, as of April 30, 2021 (Mr. Traxler)

The financial report of April 30, 2021 is submitted in the approved format.

Financial Report, as of May 31, 2021 (Mr. Traxler)

The financial report of May 31, 2021 is submitted in the approved format.

Facilities Construction Department Quarterly Change Order Notification (Dr. Murphy)

Policy FGG sets the limit of approval for construction change orders by the Superintendent or designee up to $15,000.00. The policy requires a summary of such change orders to be presented to the Board at least once a quarter for notification.

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

South Carolina School Boards Association Dues (Mr. Laurence)

Over the past years, the Aiken County Board of Education has purchased membership in the South Carolina School Boards Association.In addition to membership benefits, the Association provides a policy update service and legal assistance fund.Also included is an annual policy maintenance and Internet subscription fee.

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”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

K-2 Early Reading Intervention Program Recommendation (Mrs. Glover)

On March 23, 2021, the school board approved administration’s request to use ESSER II funding to employ twenty-one, K-2 reading interventionist for students in grades K-2, beginning in the 2021-2022 school year.As part of this proposal, Instructional Services Division indicated a team was in the process of researching evidence-based intervention programs to target primary skill deficiencies for grades K-2.For students who are most at risk, these areas include explicit phonics instruction and phonemic awareness.In order to ensure systemic support and training, the need for one universal program was considered to be a strategic focus.

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

The school board must approve locally designed courses annually.Three courses submitted to the board for approval were pulled from the list to request additional information on May 25, 2021.Administration is resubmitting two of these courses for approval.The third is no longer available.

Aiken County Public School District (ACPSD) Head Start/Early Head Start Program Carryover Request: 07/01/2020-10/31/2020/Supplement – COVID-19 One-Time (Mrs. Glover)

The school district was approved for a five-year Head Start/Early Head Start grant in May of 2020, and the 5-year project period began on July 1, 2020 and extends through June 30, 2025. ACPSD was awarded one-time Supplemental - COVID-19 funding in the amount of $375,251.00 to support one-time actions or activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. The program has expended $237,314.20 and has a remaining balance of $137,936.80. Grantees may request a carryover of COVID funds that are within the 5-year project period.

Previously approved activities may include the following: Removal of carpet flooring and replacement with vinyl flooring, purchase partitions for staff offices, purchase and install internet booster packs at centers to support stronger internet connectivity, purchase hot spots for families with no internet access to support virtual learning, re-line parking lot areas at for pedestrian safety/child pick-up and drop off, installation of awning for child pick-up and drop off, purchase non-contact staff & child recruitment items and activities (radio/tv/newspaper ads, promotional items), personal protection equipment.

Aiken County Public School District (ACPSD) Head Start/Early Head Start Continuation Funding Application for FY22 (11/01/2021 – 10/31/2022) (Mrs. Glover)

The school district was approved for a five-year Head Start/Early Head Start grant in May of 2020, and the project period began on July 1, 2020 and extends through June 30, 2025. The annual funding month is November. The Office of Head Start requires that all Head Start and Early Head Start programs submit continuation funding applications no later than 90 days of the end of the program’s current fiscal budget year. There are no proposed changes in service delivery program options. ACPSD’s budget year ends on 10/31/2021.

Aiken County Public School District (ACPSD) proposes to continue to provide Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) comprehensive services for a total of (children & pregnant women through a combination of center-based and home-based visitation program options in Aiken and Barnwell Counties to address the needs of unserved and/or underserved communities with high rates of poverty and limited, affordable, and accessible high-quality childcare. The annual proposed federal cost for operating the HS/EHS program to eligible children and families will be $3,631,104.00. The total non-federal share (NFS) amount required is $907,776.00; however, a NFS waiver will be submitted in accordance with .

Fiscal Year: 11/01/2021 – 10/31/2022
Total Funding Application Amount: $3,631,104.00

Aiken County Public School District Head Start/Early Head Start Program Disabilities Waiver Request – FY21 (Mrs. Glover)

The Office of Head Start under the revisions to the Head Start Act (2007) requires that all Head Start and Ear1y Head Start programs fill 10% of its funded enrollment slots with children with diagnosed disabilities regardless of the severity of such disability. Head Start Performance Standards (HSPS) 1302.14 (b), states "a program must ensure at least 10 percent of its total funded enrollment is filled by children eligible for services under IDEA, unless the responsible HHS official grants a waiver."

Agencies that operate both Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) are expected to enroll at least 10% of children with disabilities in both HS and EHS; however, the requirement of a minimum of 10% enrollment of children with disabilities is applicable program-wide. Therefore, the number and percentage expected is based on the full enrollment of both programs.Waiver requests should be made after the halfway point in the program year and no later than one month after the close of the program year.Accordingly, the close of the program year for Head Start was June 14, 2021 and Early Head Start is August 3, 2021. The funded enrollment for HS/EHS is 384 (326 for Head Start and 58 for Early Head Start) which would require a total of 33 children with disabilities for Head Start and 6 children for Early Start.

Change Order #2 for the North Augusta High Phase 3 Additions-GMP #1 Phase 3 (Dr. Murphy)

Shared Savings Credit for this Phase 3 Additions project is . , . . . <$1,029,559.61>

Construction Bids for Area 1 Detention Pond Clearing Project (Dr. Murphy)

Bids were received for Area 1 Detention Pond Clearing Project on June 8, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened.Bids were received from 1 bidder with Sitec, LLC submitting the only bid of $105,000.00.Base bid includes general grinding and mulching of all trees and vegetation inside and on the dams of Area 1 detention ponds.The design, printing, advertising and 5% contingency amounts to $36,000.00.Total project cost for the Area 1 Detention Pond Project is $141,000.00.

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.

Budget Adjustment #1 2021-2022 for Funds 1, 3, and 9 and Finalization of the 2021-2022 Salary Schedule (Mr. Traxler)

The Division of Financial Services submits periodic adjustments to the approved budget as may be required in the conduct of operations.

The District’s 2021-2022 budget was approved upon second reading on May 25, 2021, prior to the State finalizing its budget.The State finalized its budget in late June 2021 and certain estimates changed as result.Furthermore, approval of the final 2021-2022 salary schedule was held, pending any revisions resulting from the State’s final budget.

Consideration of Proposed ESSER II Funding Revisions (Mr. Traxler)

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) resulted from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) that was signed into law on December 27, 2020. The SC Department of Education (SCDE) was allocated $940.4 million in ESSER II funds.From that, our District is projected to receive $28,203,447.00. Funds must be spent by September 30, 2023.

The Board approved the original plan at its March 23, 2021 meeting.

Revision of the Policy GBEB Staff Conduct, First Reading (Dr. Minolfo)

The prevalence of the use of social media by staff has led to a review of Policy GBEB Staff Conduct to include language that provides guidance to employees on the appropriate use of social media as employees of Aiken County Public School District.Administration also identified the need to provide greater clarification on staff relationships with students as well as address innovations in tobacco and nicotine products in this policy.

Revision of Policy GCC Professional Staff Leaves and Absences, First Reading and Policy GDC Support Staff Leaves and Absences, First Reading (Dr. Minolfo)

Aiken County Public School District offers the opportunity for existing employees to donate unused leave to the sick leave bank.The sick leave bank provides leave for employees who experience catastrophic illnesses or accidents that require absences which exceed their accrued leave.

Revision of Administrative Rule GCCAAB-R Shared Leave (Dr. Minolfo)

Aiken County Public School District offers the opportunity for existing employees to donate unused leave to the sick leave bank.The sick leave bank provides leave for employees who experience catastrophic illnesses or accidents requiring absences that exceed their accrued leave.Administrative Rule GCCAAB-R provides guidance to administration for the distribution of leave in the sick leave bank.