The Aiken County Board of Education Regular Meeting, January 27, 2026 6:00 p.m. at the District Office - 1000 Brookhaven Drive, Aiken, SC 29803

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS 

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.  

The District has encountered difficulties staffing special education bus monitors. Currently, the District has five vacancies among its 20 positions. 

The District has encountered difficulties employing athletic trainers at its seven traditional high schools.     

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 resume no responsibility for tuition to the receiving district.” 

Proposals for the 2026 Annual Contract for Afterschool Care Program were received on December 16, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. This program benefits students and families throughout the District and is coordinated through the District’s Instructional Services Division.  

The North Augusta Chamber Foundation (501c3) in Partnership with Savannah River Mission Completion has offered to launch a tutoring/mentoring program in January 2026 to support students at North Augusta High School with the assistance of young professionals of SRMC READY (Reaching Engineers at the Development Years). The primary area of need for the initial cohort is mathematics. Start date is TBD, but sessions will be on Wednesdays from 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at North Augusta High School.   

The potential cost of the program provided by the partners is roughly $12,000.00 - $15,000.00 and covers the cost of an after-school administrator, which is required to be on site, meals for students and mentors/tutors, and cost of transportation (school bus services) as needed.   

The Division of Instruction is requesting approval to submit a grant application to the S.C. Department of Education for the Summer Reading Camp (SRC) Community Partnership Grant (CPG) in the amount of $60,000.00 to expand and enhance summer reading camp experiences for current first- and third-grade students at risk of retention through intentional, literacy-focused enrichment partnerships. Activities supported by the SRC-CPG funds would promote sustained engagement, consistent attendance, hands-on learning, and strong community partnerships while directly supporting literacy growth and skill retention for struggling readers.  

The Central Carolina Community Foundation has awarded a grant in the amount of $6,000.00 to be distributed equally to the six Midland Valley Area elementary schools and are to be used to purchase books for the schools’ libraries. The funds may also be used to purchase unfunded software and teaching materials or books for kindergarten classrooms. The following schools will each receive $1,000.00 to purchase books for their libraries: Byrd Elementary School, Clearwater Elementary School, Gloverville Elementary School, Graniteville Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, and Warrenville Elementary School. 

Aiken County Association for Special Citizens Inc. has donated $1,754.50 to Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School for the purchase of Star Autism Curriculum plus Media Support Combo to support student learning. The curriculum is designed to build skills that help students to become more independent within the general education classroom. 

Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School has received a First Book Marketplace gift certificate in the amount of $5,000.00. These funds will be used to purchase books for students.  

North Augusta High School has received a donation from SRP Federal Credit Union in the amount of $3,000.00. This was given in appreciation for producing a video to share how funding from Affinity cards positively impacts various departments within the school.  These funds may be used for any activity at the discretion of the school administration to support school goals. 

Byrd Elementary School has received a donation from the Public Education Partners (PEP) of Aiken in the amount of $4,352.91. The funds will be used to purchase intervention math software site licenses for student use. 

On December 18, 2025, the selection committee reviewed and ranked the qualifications of tree services contractors interested in performing district-wide tree services.  These contractors will perform tree related services on an as needed basis.  The committee was composed of the following: 

Change Order Number 1 for the 2025 scrubbing and coating of gymnasium floors from The Flooring connection, LLC. 

Change Order Number 1: 

Unused allowances for this project <$16,066.69> 

Credit in the amount of <16,066.69> 

Total Change Order Amount <$16,066.69> 

The administration has completed the scope for the North Augusta High School Auditorium Renovation and Addition project. The architectural firm McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) has utilized this scope to produce construction documents and the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the project. The construction budget is $10,243,907. The overall budget includes design, advertising, FFE, and owner contingency for a total budget of $11,591,540. The scope of this work includes a new addition and renovation of the existing auditorium. The project will be funded using 2014 1% funds. 

The administration has completed the scope for the Midland Valley High School renovation and additions. The architectural firm McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) has utilized this scope to produce schematic design plans and preliminary budget for the renovation and additions. The estimated construction budget is $50,465,000. The overall budget includes design, advertising, FFE, and owner contingency for a total of $65,000,000. The scope of this work includes new additions and minimal renovation of the existing campus and use of 2024 1% funds. 

The administration has completed the scope for the Area One Transportation Office at Aiken Intermediate School. The architectural firm Method Works (MW) has utilized this scope to produce the schematic design plans and directly bid the project. The estimated construction budget is $701,250. The overall budget includes design, advertising, FFE, and owner contingency for a total of $877,350. The scope of this work includes new additions and minimal renovation of the campus and will use 8% funds. 

The administration has completed the scope for the Aiken Intermediate Area One Bus Parking facility. The engineering firm Hass and Hilderbrand have utilized this scope to produce construction documents and the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the project. The construction budget is $2,762,318. The overall budget includes design, advertising, and owner contingency for a total budget of $3,045,717. The scope of this work includes a new bus parking lot, detention pond, and practice athletic field. The project will be funded using 8% funds. 

The District Procurement Code requires semi-annual and annual reporting of the purchases made under the sole source and emergency provisions of the Code. 

The District’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Utilization Plan, adopted in accordance with the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code, requires semi-annual reporting in January and July.  The plan must be updated annually for any changes no later than July 30. 

D.  INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS 

E. OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT 

F. EXECUTIVE SESSION 

No Items this Meeting 

No Items this Meeting 

No Items This Meeting 

No Items This Meeting 

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION 

ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION 

ADJOURN