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

THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

 

 

Location:                   1000 Brookhaven Drive                    Aiken, SC

 

 

REGULAR SESSION: 6:00 P.M.
 

MOMENT OF SILENCE & PLEDGE: Mr. Cameron Nuessle

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

 

 

SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

 

 

 

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

 

 

 

SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS

 

 

 

 

 

A. INDIVIDUAL ITEMS: The following items will be voted on individually.

 

 

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.

 

 

District Strategic Plans are developed every five years using current research-based practices. The plans are approved by our School Board and must be submitted to the South Carolina Department of Education for final review and approval.

 

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

 

 

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.

 

 

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.”

 

 

         The Aiken County Public School District seeks approval to submit a $35,000 grant application through the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) John Deere Grant Program to strengthen fourth-grade science instruction across the district's 21 elementary schools.

The proposed initiative will focus on implementing PLTW Launch to provide fourth-grade students with engaging, hands-on science learning experiences aligned with the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Science Standards. Through inquiry-based investigations, engineering design challenges, and collaborative problem-solving activities, students will have opportunities to explore scientific concepts, apply their knowledge, and develop critical-thinking skills.

Grant funding will support professional development for fourth-grade teachers, along with the purchase of instructional equipment and materials necessary to implement PLTW Launch activities. Professional learning will prepare teachers to facilitate hands-on investigations, integrate engineering and scientific practices into daily instruction, and effectively use the instructional resources to support student learning.
 

Implementation across all 21 elementary schools will expand equitable access to high-quality science learning experiences, strengthen teachers' instructional capacity, and support student understanding of essential science concepts assessed through the fourth-grade SC READY Science assessment.

 

 

Bids were received for the Aiken Intermediate Bus Transportation Office on October 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., and publicly opened. Bids were received from 10 vendors with the lowest responsible and responsive bidder being J.D. Gaskins Construction.

 

Base bid is to build a new transportation office building at Aiken Intermediate School in the amount of $909,000. The base bid includes a $52,500 allowance for unforeseen circumstances. Other costs include design, engineering, printing, advertising, FFE, and inspections. The total budget needed for this project is $1,014,600 using 8% funds.

 

 

The administration has completed the scope of needs for the Paul Knox Middle School cafeteria renovation. The architectural firm Method Works Architecture has utilized this scope to produce schematic design plans and preliminary budget for the project. The estimated construction budget is $3,784,950. The overall budget includes FFE, design, testing, and inspection fees for a total of $4,457,195. The scope of this work includes renovations to the existing cafeteria, kitchen, and courtyard. This project will use 8% funds.

 

 

The administration has completed the scope of needs for the Aiken High School facility improvements, the architectural firm Method Works (MW), has utilized this scope to produce design development, construction documents, and the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the project. The current construction budget is $551,291. The overall budget includes design and inspection fees for a total of $592,391. The scope of work includes new baseball and softball batting cages, baseball bleachers, and baseball scorer's tower improvements. This project will use 2014 1% funds.

 

Change Order Number 1 reflects shared savings credit for the GMP #1 and unused allowances for the Byrd Elementary canopy addition project.

           

            Change Order Number 1:

           

            Unused Allowances: <$5,250.00>

 

      Shared Savings Credit Amount: <$16,769.17>

 

      Total Change Order Amount: <$22,019.17>

 

 

Change Order Number 1 reflects shared savings credit for the GMP #1 and unused allowances for the Aiken Elementary School HVAC renovations project.

           

            Change Order Number 1:

 

      Unused Allowances: <$174,631.00>

 

      Shared Savings Credit Amount: <$139,451.15>

 

      Total Change Order Amount: <$314,082.15>

 

 

Miscellaneous school furnishings and equipment have been screened and determined to be obsolete and no longer of use to the District. Board approval is requested for the disposal of these items (ACPSD Procurement Code Article 15 Supply Management Sections 3810 and 3820).

 

 

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

 

In an effort to keep the Board current on the status of school-based mental health opportunities for students and families.

 

 

Aiken County Public School District hosted community input meetings on September 10, 2026, at New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School and September 15, 2026, at Jackson STEM Magnet Middle School to share information and gather feedback regarding the proposed Area Five Master Facility Plan.

The district also invited stakeholders to participate in an online survey. A total of 108 responses were received from parents, students, employees, residents, graduates, and business and community partners.

The presentation will provide an overview of respondents’ familiarity with and support for the proposal, perceived benefits, concerns, priorities for planning and implementation, additional information requested, and themes reflected in written feedback.

           

D.INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS

 

 

 

 

E. OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT

 

 

 

F. EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

 

 

 

 

No Items This Meeting

 

 

No Items This Meeting

 

No Items This Meeting

 

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURN