MINUTES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
ANDERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE
Anderson, South Carolina
January 21, 2014
6:30 P.M.
The Board of Trustees of Anderson County School District Number Five met in the Offices of the Board this date with the following members present: Mr. Jay Blankenship, Mr. Rick Bradshaw, Mr. John P. Griffith, Mrs. Ann W. Huitt, Mrs. Margaret Mack, Mr. Al Norris, Mr. Tommy Price, and Mr. Dick Smith. Absent was Mr. Paul Zugg.
NOTICE TO MEDIA
In accordance with the S. C. Code of Laws, 1976, Section 30-4-80(d), as amended, the following have been notified of the time, date, place and agenda of this meeting: The Anderson Independent-Mail, Greenville News, The Anderson Journal, WYFF, WSPA, Paul Brown, and FOX 21.
CALL TO ORDER & INVOCATION
Mr. Wilson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., and he led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Mr. Price gave the invocation.
BOARD ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The election of board officers was carried out according to Board Policy BD—Organization of the School Board. Mr. Bradshaw was re-elected as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Smith was re-elected as Vice Chairman of the Board, and Mrs. Huitt was re-elected as Secretary of the Board.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mr. Price made a motion the Board approve the agenda as presented. Mrs. Mack seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE
Mr. Wilson recognized Southwood Principal Gary Bruhjell to recognize Southwood Academy of the Arts students Destiny Donald, Amber Gilliam, Madison Hudgens, and their teacher Jennifer Nelson who took top honors in the South Carolina Stock Market Game™. The Stock Market Game is a 10-week competition in which students in grades 4-12 are given a hypothetical $100,000 to invest in stocks and mutual funds on the U.S. stock exchange. At the fall competition, Southwood placed first place in the Middle School Division with a portfolio totaling $123,791.70. The South Carolina Stock Market Game™ is sponsored by South Carolina Economics.
Mr. Wilson recognized our Board of Trustees as January is Board Appreciation Month. On behalf of the SCSBA, Mr. Wilson presented Mr. Norris with a certificate and lapel pin for 20 years of service, and he recognized Mrs. Huitt for 35 years of service. Mr. Wilson also recognized Mrs. Mack who received the Trail Blazer Award at the Mayor’s Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast.
Mr. Wilson then recognized David Brooks who will be retiring from the district at the end of January as Assistant Superintendent for Financial Services and Operations. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the District Office staff, Mr. Wilson presented Mr. Brooks with a plaque for 15 years of dedicated service to Anderson School District Five.
OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
No one signed up to address the Board.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mr. Wilson and the Administration recommended Board approval of the following Consent Agenda items:
· Minutes of the December 17, 2013 Regular Board Meeting
· Committee of the Whole and Regular Board Meeting Calendars
Mr. Bradshaw made a motion the Board approve the Consent Agenda items as presented. Mrs. Huitt seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
ACTION ITEMS
Approval of Out-of-District Tuition – At the beginning of each school year, the District establishes a preliminary out-of-district tuition based on unaudited financial data. Out-of-district tuition must be finalized when the annual audit is completed. Only a slight adjustment from the preliminary out-of-district tuition rates is required. The final out-of-district tuition for out-of-county students and in-county students is decreased by $21 compared to the preliminary calculation. Refunds in these amounts will be issued to those who have paid tuition, where applicable. The Administration recommended final approval of the 2013-2014 Out-of-District Tuition as presented.
Mr. Norris made a motion the Board approve the 2013-2014 Out-of-District Tuition as presented. Mrs. Mack seconded motion, which carried unanimously.
Approval of the 2014-2015 School Calendar – Mr. Wilson presented for Board approval the 2014-2015 School Calendar. The following notes from the County Calendar Committee meeting.
· One PD day was taken from the beginning of the school year and moved to
January 16 to facilitate the change in semesters due to the 4x4 schedule.
· Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, is a required school holiday in
even-numbered years, so fall break was added back.
· Spring break is March 30 through April 3 because of an early Easter (April 5).
The Administration recommended Board approval of the 2014-2015 School Calendar as presented.
Mr. Smith made a motion the Board approve the 2014-2015 School Calendar as presented. Mr. Griffith seconded motion, which carried unanimously.
Personnel Recommendations – Mr. Wilson recommended Board approval of the following changes in positions and/or job titles as a result of the retirement of Mr. David Brooks and Mr. Jacky Stamps. He introduced the following persons to the group.
Leigh Burton Principal, McCants Middle School
Wess Grant Executive Director for Operations
Amy Heard Executive Director for Financial Services
Mr. Wilson also recommended Board approve of the following personnel for employment with Anderson School District Five. He introduced the following persons to the group.
Shawn Tobin Associate Principal, Westside High School
Bobby McGowens Associate Principal, T. L. Hanna High School
Bruce Ollis Head Football Coach, T. L. Hanna High School
Scott Early Head Football Coach, Westside High School
Mr. Smith made a motion the Board approve the Superintendent’s personnel recommendations as presented. Mr. Norris seconded the motion, which carried with seven in favor and one abstention (Blankenship).
Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Resolution – Mr. Wilson stated that a copy of the proposed resolution was distributed to the Board at the Committee of the Whole meeting for consideration. He stated that all five Anderson County Superintendents are requesting Board approval of the proposed resolution asking the Anderson County Legislative Delegation to move forward with local legislation to allow the residents of Anderson County to vote on a 1% special local option sales tax for education. The monies will be used primarily for capital outlay. He also stated that Anderson Five would like to partner with Anderson Three and Anderson Four to build a new college and career center on property adjacent to Tri-County Technical College Anderson Campus. Mr. Wilson stated that all five districts have agreed to use 20% of the money collected to pay bond indebtedness. This would mean property tax relief for businesses, property owners, and home owners. He further stated that the money collected cannot be used for personnel; it will be used to retire debt, capital outlay, infrastructure improvements, technology, etc. The Administration recommended Board approval of the proposed resolution as presented.
Mr. Smith made a motion the Board approve the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Resolution as presented. Mr. Price seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Student Discipline Matter – Mr. Wilson stated that at the Committee of the Whole meeting in Executive Session the Board discussed four expulsion appeal requests. He stated that the Board needs to decide if they want to hear the appeals.
Mr. Griffith made a motion the Board approve to hear all four expulsion appeals. Mr. Norris seconded the motion. The motion carried with three in favor (Griffith, Norris, Mack), four opposed (Bradshaw, Huitt, Price, Smith) and one abstention (Blankenship).
Mr. Smith made a motion the Board approve to hear the group of three expulsion appeals. Mr. Griffith seconded the motion.
Mr. Bradshaw then suggested that the Board vote on each request individually and not carry this item through another motion. The Board agreed to table the second motion.
By a vote of four in favor, three opposed, and one abstention the Board agreed to hear the appeal for student #1.
By a vote of four in favor, three opposed, and one abstention the Board agreed to hear the appeal for student #2.
By a vote of four in favor, three opposed, and one abstention the Board agreed to hear the appeal for student #3.
By a vote of three in favor, four opposed, and one abstention the Board did not agree to hear the appeal for student #4.
Mr. Wilson then requested a Special Board Meeting to hear the three expulsion appeals. By Board consensus, the Special Board Meeting was scheduled for January 27, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Financial Reports – Mr. Wilson reported that the monthly Financial Statements and Pupil Activity Report for the month of November 2013 were included as information in the Board Packet.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. Price made a motion the Board adjourn. Mr. Norris seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
(7:30 P.M.)
CHAIRMAN SECRETARY
DATE DATE
Recording Secretary
As Approved By Superintendent
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