The Aiken County Board of Education Regular Meeting, September 9, 2025 6:00 p.m. at the District Office - 1000 Brookhaven Drive, Aiken, SC 29803

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Submitted by Kim_Waters on Tue, 08/19/2025 - 10:57am

Dates:

Tuesday, September 9, 2025 - 6:00pm

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

OFFICIAL AGENDA __REGULAR SESSION _6:00 P.M.__SEPTEMBER 9, 2025

Location: 1000 Brookhaven Drive Aiken, SC

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

REGULAR SESSION: 6:00 P.M.

MOMENT OF SILENCE & PLEDGE: Mr. Cameron Nuessle

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Regular Meeting – August 26, 2025

SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

*MVHS Nurse Recognition- Nurse Morris

*ASA Recognition – US News & World Report Best High Schools- ASA ranked #1 in the State and #10 Nationally

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS

*Public Participation

*Office of the Board Chairman

No Items this Week

A. INDIVIDUAL ITEMS

1. Personnel Appointments (Dr. Minolfo)

The administrative, 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.

2. Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025 (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 the issuance of $20,000,000 bonds in the District’s adopted 2025 – 2026 budget and as part of the District’s Five-Year Facilities Plan.

3. Policy GCLE Unencumbered Time, Second Reading (Dr. Minolfo)

In 2023, S.C. Code Section 59-5-63 was enacted, which stated the following: “the district will require the principal of each elementary school to provide at least 30 minutes of unencumbered time on each regular school day to all full-time teachers teaching in grades kindergarten through fifth grade; and require the principal of each elementary, middle, or high school, to provide at least 30 minutes of unencumbered time on each regular school day to any full-time teacher who is responsible for instructing a special education class for more than 20 percent of the school day with students who are removed from the general education setting.” In 2024, the policy was updated to include school nurses and 4k teachers, “where practical.”

The State Board of Education (SBE) updated the statewide policy regarding unencumbered time to include school nurses on August 5, 2025. This change was made due to the requirements of proviso 1.111(SDE: School Nurses Unencumbered Time) in this year’s General Appropriations Act, below.

1.105. (SDE: School Nurses Unencumbered Time) Of the funds appropriated through the Department of Education for school districts, the department shall work with school districts to incorporate, where practical, school nurses into the statewide policy outlining penalties and exceptions to the unencumbered time requirements pursuant to Section 59-5-63.

4. Request to Hire an Additional Nurse (Mr. Traxler)

Each elementary, middle, and high school in the District is staffed with one nurse.

Current staffing of one nurse per school, regardless of a school’s enrollment, limits options to cover absences or vacancies or provide additional assistance. Trained, unlicensed school staff can assist with medications, illnesses, first aid, and other care, when necessary and safe, as allowed by the Nurse Practice Act; however, the assistance they can provide is limited. The Administration believes that a “float” nurse would be beneficial. The float position would provide flexibility to cover a vacancy or an absence, support current nurses, train new hires, and assist the Nursing Services Coordinator.

B. 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. Murphy)

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 is solely empowered to take the final expulsion action.

2. Request for Approval for Home Instruction (Dr. Johnson)

The School Board, according to the Code of Laws for South Carolina, Section 59-65-40, is authorized to approve home schooling for parents not opting for approval by the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools. The program has to meet certain criteria standards as outlined in the bill, Policy IEK and IEK-R.

3. American Red Cross donation to the Midland Valley High School NJROTC Program – FY26 (Dr. Edwards)

The Midland Valley High School NJROTC Program has received a $1,350.00 donation from the American Red Cross. A portion of the funds ($1,000.00) will be donated to the school’s scholarship fund to be awarded to a student, chosen by the school’s administration, for use toward the cost of higher education. The remaining funds ($350.00) will be used to support the school’s NJROTC program activities.

4. Design Development Drawings and Budget for the North Augusta Middle School addition and renovation (Dr. Yarborough)

The administration, in conjunction with GMC architecture, has completed the Design Development Documents for the North Augusta Middle School. The current estimated construction budget is $39,205,342. The overall budget includes design, advertising, FFE, and Owner Contingency for a total of $50,663,090. The scope of work would be building of a new addition at North Augusta Middle School, select demolition and relocating the athletic fields. The project will be completed using 2024 1% funds.

5. Schematic and Design Development Drawings and Budget for the Ridge Spring-Monetta Auxiliary Gymnasium (Dr. Yarborough)

The administration, in conjunction with LS3P architecture, has completed the Schematic and Design Development Documents for the Ridge Spring-Monetta School. The current estimated construction budget with contingency is $10,102,274.00. The overall budget includes design, advertising, FFE, and owner contingency for a total of $11,537,517.00. The scope of work would be to build a new Auxiliary Gymnasium at Ridge Spring-Monetta School. The project will be funded using 2014 1% funds.

6. Schematic Drawings and Budget for the Silver Bluff High Renovation/Addition Project (Dr. Yarborough)

The administration, in conjunction with Jumper Carter Sease (JCS) architecture, has completed the Schematic Design Documents for the Silver Bluff High School. The current estimated construction budget is $41,250,000. The overall budget includes design, advertising, FFE, and Owner Contingency for a total of $55,000,000. The scope of work would be to build new additions at Silver Bluff High School and minimal renovations of existing classrooms. The project will be funded using 2024 1% funds.

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

1. Construction Status Reports for the New Aiken County Career and Technology Center Project (Dr. Yarborough)

In an effort to keep the Board current on the status and budget of this school construction project, the Architects for this project, Goodwyn Mills and Cawood (GMC), and the Administration prepare a monthly status report for the Board's review.