JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MINUTES – DECEMBER 10, 2014

PRESENT:Berty Riley, Leroy Bentley, Tedd Moyd, Priscilla Fraser, Debora Butler, Bennie Hazel, andRandy Horton(T)

ABSENT:(District 1 & 5 seats are Vacant)

  1. CALL TO ORDER– Berty Riley, Board Chairperson, called this special board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. This meeting was held in the Jasper County School District Boardroom located at 10942 North Jacob Smart Boulevard in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
  1. ROLL CALL & ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUORUM – 6P/1T
  2. NOTIFICATION OF NEWS MEDIA – The following news media were notified of the date, time, place and agenda of this meeting: Jasper Sun, Hardeeville Today, Beaufort Gazette, Bluffton Today, Island Packet, Savannah Morning News, The Gullah Sentinel, WSAV and WJCL/WTGS.
  1. MOMENT OF SILENCE– A moment of silence was led by Tedd Moyd.
  1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The pledge to the flag was recited.
  1. *APPROVAL OF AGENDA–Ms. Riley entertained a motion for approval of the December 10, 2014 Special Board Meeting Agenda as outlined. A motion was made by Bennie Hazel and seconded by Priscilla Fraser to approve the December 10, 2014 Special Board Meeting as outlined.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 6-0.

  1. *EXECUTIVE SESSION – SUPERINTENDENT’S EVALUATION, CONTRACTUAL DISCUSSION & RELATED EMPLOYMENT ISSUES

Ms. Riley entertained a motion to enter into Executive Session for the Superintendent’s Evaluation, Contractual Discussion and Related Employment Issues. A motion was made by Tedd Moyd and seconded by Bennie Hazel to enter into Executive Session for the Superintendent’s Evaluation, Contractual Discussion and Related Employment Issues.

Mr. Moyd requested that the public be informed of the process that the Board will be using to evaluate the Superintendent. He questioned who and how this will be presented to the public after all of the documents are formulated and completed.

MINUTES – DECEMBER 10, 2014

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Ms. Riley asked the Board Attorney, Ken Childs, to explain this.

Mr. Childs stated the contract that the District has with the Superintendent has a long provision, meaningthere is a several paragraph provision about the evaluation that is very important, and under the terms of the contract the Superintendent gets to make a proposal to the Board as to how the evaluation should be governed. The first step in the process involves the Superintendent presenting her Annual Report to the Board (December 2, 2014) and giving her perception as to how the District is performing on the goals and objectives that the Board adopted last school year (2013-2014). The second step in the process involves the Board Chairperson sending a memo to all board members which outlines the process for the evaluation in preparation for this meeting on December 10, 2014. The board members were asked to come to this meeting prepared to address their perceptions of the Superintendent’s report and to identify the goals and objectives for 2014-2015. At this point, the discussion is allowed by law to be conducted in Executive Session. Following the board meeting, the Chairperson will issue a public statement about the process notifying the news media, people who work in the District and others. A summary letter of the discussion will be prepared and will be sent to all board members.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY6-0.

THE BOARD ENTERED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:04 P.M.

Randy Horton arrived during Executive Session and left before it was concluded.

THE BOARD RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION AT 9:41 P.M.

  1. *NECESSARY BOARD ACTION RESULTING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSION– Ms. Riley entertained any motions coming from Executive Session. A motion was made by Bennie Hazel and seconded by Priscilla Fraser to authorize Berty Riley, Board Chairperson, to issue the attached public statement on behalf of the Jasper County Board of Trustees and execute an amendment to the Superintendent’s contract consistent with this statement.THE MOTION PASSED 5-1.

(AYES- RILEY/BENTLEY/FRASER/HAZEL/MOYD)

(NAY – BUTLER)

MINUTES – DECEMBER 10, 2014

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PUBLIC STATEMENT: In Executive Session tonight, the Board discussed the Superintendent’s annual evaluation, a process required by Board policy and the Board’s contract with the Superintendent. A majority of the Board concluded that the Superintendent’s performance has been above average in very difficult circumstances. While a minority of the Board members disagreed with this conclusion, under the terms of the Superintendent’s contact (a public document), Dr. Washington’s contract will be extended for one year or until June 30, 2018 and she will receive a 12% contribution to her annuity account. The Board Chair will issue a more detailed statement concerning the evaluation process and results tomorrow. The Board and Superintendent will publically discuss the previously agreed upon District goals for the balance of this school year

in January or early February 2015.

  1. *ADJOURNMENT – A motion was made by Priscilla Fraser and seconded by Bennie Hazel to adjourn. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 6-0.

The meeting adjourned at 9:43 p.m.

Nancy Warren______

Recording Secretary

January 12, 2015______Berty Riley______

Approval DateBoard Chairperson