The Aiken County Board of Education Meeting, August 10, 2021 at 6:00p.m. at the District Office 1000 Brookhaven Drive Aiken, SC 29803

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Submitted by Kim_Chriswell on Mon, 08/02/2021 - 3:52pm

Dates:

Tuesday, August 10, 2021 - 6:00pm

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

OFFICIAL AGENDA REGULAR SESSION 6:00 P.M. AUGUST 10, 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 – July 13, 2021

Special Called Meeting – Board Workshop – July 27, 2021

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:

Public Participation

SPEAKER HAS REQUESTED REQUEST BE PULLED - Ms. Carlee Leopard – 1^st Day of School Visitation

Concession Stands – Mrs. Kim Martin & Ms. Shannon Medlock

SCSBA Boardmanship Institute Recognition

Office of Board Chairman

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

Construction Status Reports for the Belvedere Elementary School Addition and Renovations Project (Dr. Murphy)

Construction Status Reports for the Hammond Hill Elementary Additions and Renovations Project (Dr. Murphy)

Construction Status Reports for the Millbrook Elementary Additions and Renovation Project (Dr. Murphy)

Final Construction Status Reports for the Ridge Spring Elementary Phase 3 Addition Project (Dr. Murphy)

Report of Minority Purchases for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2021 (Mr. Traxler)

Report of Sole Source & Emergency Purchases for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2021 (Mr. Traxler)

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

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.”

John Brophy Donation to Midland Valley High School – FY22 (Mrs. Glover)

Midland Valley High School has been given a $5,000.00 donation from Mr. John Brophy for the Boys Basketball program.The funds will be used to purchase equipment and supplies such as balls, ball rack, shoes and warm-ups.

Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Grant Award to Mossy Creek Elementary School – FY22 (Mrs. Glover)

Mossy Creek Elementary School has been awarded a $5,000.00 donation from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries grant.The funds will be used to purchase library books, e-books, and magazines as outlined in the grant application.Funds are to be used by December 31, 2021.

Consideration of One-Time Athletics Funds (Dr. Murphy)

In an effort to offset losses incurred during the shutdown of athletics through the COVID-19 pandemic, this one-time allocation of funds is to be given to ACS Athletic Departments.

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.

Review of the following policies and administrative rules in the Instruction section of the Board Policies from Policy IA through Policy IJNDB (Dr. Minolfo)

Aiken County Public School District Board Policy BG School Board Policy Process states, “The board will continually study and evaluate the written policies and the reports concerning the execution of its written policies to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of those policies. “On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at a special called Board Meeting, the Board reviewed the policies and administrative rules in the Instruction section of the Board Policies from Policy IA through Policy IJNDB.

Update and Revise Policy AD School District Mission, Second Reading (Dr. Minolfo)

On May 11, 2021, the School Board approved the new Aiken County Public School District Beliefs and Mission Statements as a result of the ACPSD Strategic Planning Committee’s work on April 27 through April 29, 2021.

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

The prevalence of the use of social medial 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, Second Reading and Policy GDC Support Staff Leaves and Absences, Second 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.

Reinstate Policy IKAA Tests and Examinations (Dr. Minolfo)

Board policy IKAA establishes the administration of semester examination for all high school credit courses, with the exception of those students whose IEP excludes the administration of such exams or those seniors in second semester who have a grade of A in the course.Semester examinations, according to board policy, must count as one fifth of the semester grade. At the time the School Board approved the suspension of Policy IKAA, due to the COVID pandemic, the district operated two district instructional delivery models for high school students – hybrid, which included tow days of face-to-face instruction followed by three days of remote learning; and full-time virtual through AIKEN INNOVATE, where the majority of high school credit courses were designed and NCAA accredited by VirtualSC (VSC).VSC eliminated all semester exams for the 2020-2021 school year.To ensure equity for all ACPSD students enrolled in both the hybrid and virtual models, administration recommended and, the School Board approved, the suspension of semester exams for all high school courses for the 2020-2021 school year.

Rescind Temporary Policy ADD Face Covering (Dr. Minolfo)

On August 25, 2020, the School Board approved Temporary Policy ADD Face Covering.In alignment with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations, the State Department of Education released the South Carolina Department of Education Face Covering Guidelines for K12 Public Schools.This policy was intended to reduce the spread of the pandemic (COVID-19), recommending that a face covering be worn in public settings when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Consideration of Proposed ESSER III Spending Plan (Mr. Traxler)

The latest version of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER III) resulted from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) that was signed into law on March 11, 2021.The SC Department of Education (SCDE) was allocated approximately $2.1 billion in ESSER III funds.Our District is projected to receive $63,386,401.School districts are required to submit spending plans to the SCDE by Augusta 24, 2021.

Funds must be spent by September 30, 2024, within 15 allowable use categories.

Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2021 (Mr. Traxler)

Section 15 of Article X of the Constitution of the State of South Carolina provides that subsequent to November 30, 1982, school districts of the State may incur bonded indebtedness in an amount not exceeding eight percent (8%) of the assessed value of all taxable property therein.

The School Board approved issuance of $18,500,00 bonds in the District’s adopted 2021-2022 budget and as part of the District’s Five-Year Facilities Plan.