Aiken County Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at the District Office at 7:00 p.m.

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Dates: 
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 - 7:00pm
THE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY
BOARD OF EDUCATION
AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA
                                       
 
OFFICIAL AGENDA _ _____ REGULAR SESSION _7:00 P.M._________MAY 24, 2016             
 
Location:                                     District Office                                                     Aiken, SC
                                                   1000 Brookhaven Drive
 
 
REGULAR SESSION: 7:00 P.M.
 
 
DEVOTIONAL & PLEDGE:  Mrs. Joy Shealy
 
 
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
 
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
 
 
Regular Meeting – May 10, 2016
 
 
SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS:
 
  • SC Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
 
  • Aiken County School District Perfect Attendance
 
  • Spring Sports Champions
 
  •  South Carolina Best Practice Awards for SFAs
 
  • Public Participation
 
                                    No requests this meeting.
 
 
  • Office of Board Chairman
 
              

 

 
  1. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:  The following items are for information only and do not require Board action.
 
1.         Financial Report as of March 31, 2016 (Mr. Traxler)
 
            The financial report of March 31, 2016 is submitted in the approved format.
 
 
2.         Construction Status Reports for the Leavelle McCampbell Middle School Project (Dr. Foster)
 
            In an effort to keep the Board current on the status and budget of this school construction project, the Architects for this project, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture and the Administration prepare a monthly status report for the Board’s review.
 
 
3.         Legislative Update (Mr. Liner)
 
 
  1. 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. Alford)
 
            The School Board, according to the Code of Laws of South Carolina Sections 59-63-240, is authorizes to expel students from school.  Although the Board may receive recommendations for expulsion from others, it solely is empowered to take the final expulsion action.
 
 
2.         Out-of-District Transfer Requests (Dr. Stowe)
 
            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.”
 
 
3.         Request to Admit Foreign Exchange Student (Dr. Stowe)
 
            School Board Policy JFABB establishes guidelines for the admission exchange students to the high schools in the School District of Aiken County.
 
 
 
4.         Increase in Meal Prices for 2016-2017 School Year (Mr. Traxler)
 
            Section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 states that schools are required to charge students for paid meals at a price that is on average equal to the difference between free meal reimbursement and paid meal reimbursement.  Schools that currently charge less are required to gradually increase their prices until they meet the requirement.  The USDA created the paid lunch equity (PLE) tool (the “tool” hereafter) to determine whether pricing requirements are being met and, if not met, the increase required to meet pricing requirements.
 
            The last meal increase was $.05 cent for the 2014-2015 school year.
 
 
 
5.         Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant (Mr. Traxler)
 
            The School Food Service Department wishes to submit an application for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) grant through the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act for Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary and North Aiken Elementary.  If awarded, total funding would equal $24,419.52 and $25,270.20 respectively.
 
 
 
6.         Class of 1965 “Better Than Ever” Scholarship to Aiken High School – FY16 (Mr. Laurence)
 
            Aiken High School was given a $4,500 Class of 1965 “Better Than Ever” Scholarship.  These funds are to be used for scholarships for students who have been accepted to USC-Aiken and/or Aiken Technical College to be applied for their tuition or fees.
 
 
 
7.         Comprehensive Health Education Curriculum (Mr. Laurence)
 
            The Comprehensive Health Education Act of 1988 (CHEA) and Aiken County School Board Policy IHAM require that reproductive health, family life education, and pregnancy prevention be taught as part of a comprehensive health education program.  Clear requirements for these components exist based on grade level, make up of classes, length of instruction, and the approval of instructional materials.  CHEA requires that all such materials be approved by the thirteen member local CHEA advisory committee.  That committee consists of two parents, three clergy, two health professionals, two teachers, two students, one bring the president of the student body of a high school, and two other persons not employed by the local school district.
 
 
 
8.         Request to Implement a Pilot Program (Dr. Yarborough)
 
            The administration of South Aiken High School is requesting permission to implement an individual learning time/structured learning time program.
 
 
 
9.         2016 Sandblasting & Painting of Aiken High School Football Stadium Bleachers (Dr. Foster)
 
            Bids were received by May 19, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened for the 2016 Sandblasting & Painting of Aiken High School Football Stadium Bleachers.  There was 1 bidder for this project with the lowest responsible and responsive bidder being Associated Contractors White Roofing, Inc.: Base Bid A ($125,000.00) for Sandblasting & Painting of Aiken High School Football Stadium Bleachers.  The Five-Year Facility Improvement Plan for 2016-2017 Athletic Funds has the adequate funding needed to complete this project.
 
 
 
10.         2016 Replacement of Exterior Signs @ Aiken County Career & Technology Center, Millbrook Elementary, J.D. Lever Elementary and Kennedy Middle (Dr. Foster)
 
Bids were received for the 2016 Replacement of Exterior Signs @ Aiken County Career & Technology Center, Millbrook Elementary, J.D. Lever Elementary and Kennedy Middle on May 17, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. and publicly opened.  There were 3 bidders with the lowest bid being submitted by Finuf Sign Company, Inc. Base Bid ($22,728.00) for the Aiken County Career & Technology Center; Base Bid ($21,750.00) for Millbrook Elementary; Base Bid ($22,728.00) for J.D. Lever Elementary; Base Bid ($21,750.00) for Kennedy Middle to replace exterior signs to LED.  The Five-Year Facility Improvement Plan for 2016-2017 Code Upgrades has the adequate funding needed to complete these projects.
 
 
 
C.        INDIVIDUAL ITEMS:
 
1.         Personnel Appointments (Mrs. Dillon)
 
            The certified and classified personnel presented have been screened by the Personnel Services Department and interviewed and approved by the Principal and Academic Officers.
 
 
 
2.         Re-employment of Non-instructional Personnel for 2016-2017 School Year (Mrs. Dillon)
 
            In past years, only non-instructional personnel not being recommended for re-employment were presented to the Board; all other personnel under contract for the previous school year were recommended for re-employment.
 
            Policy GDC states that an employee on medical leave at the time service agreements are issued will not be issued a service agreement until a medical report from a licensed physician is submitted indicating that the employee is capable of resuming his/her duties.
 
 
 
 
3.         Comprehensive Revisions to the Code of Student Conduct – Final Reading (Mr. Burkhalter and Dr. Foster)
 
            The Code of Student Conduct has been subject to an annual review and update for many years.  However, as part of Dr. Alford’s twenty-eight recommendations for the path forward to establishing a premier school district, there was a goal for incorporating community members, parents, educational leaders, teachers and administrators from all three levels to form a committee charges with undertaking a comprehensive review of the Code of Student Conduct.  Recommendations include the provision of clear guidance for school administrators in addressing student incidents with the intent of increasing consistency throughout the District.  The anticipated needs included more clearly articulated availability of reasonable discretion for administrators and better emphasis on the rehabilitation side of discipline as part of the District’s disciplinary philosophy.
 
            After receiving approval by the Board, a committee was established and began its meetings on November 19th and has worked continuously and energetically since that time to meet its goal of establishing a revised Code of Student Conduct for Aiken County Public Schools, consistent with these goals and strategies.  The committee also focused on streamlining the appeals process, while adhering to due process requirements of the law.
 
            The committee sought input from district staff and area advisory councils, principals, assistant principals, transportation supervisors, parent advisory council, attendance workers, the teacher forum, Public Education Partners, the Tribunal, and the community in general.  There were direct presentations as well as posted surveys.  Feedback from these sources was included in their deliberations.  The committee is making the proposals outlined in this agenda item.
           
 
 
4.         Policy GCCA – Shared Leave (New Policy)  - Final Reading (Dr. Alford, Mr. Burkhalter and Mr. Traxler)
 
            The School District has had a Sick Leave Bank for a considerable period of time.  For those not familiar with the concept, the bank allows a pool of donated sick days (usually one or perhaps two) making the donor a “member” of the bank.  When a catastrophic illness or issue occurs, a person who is a member may apply to the Sick Leave Bank for the granting of additional days.  This is controlled by an independent committee which operates according to predetermined guidelines.  While this concept has aided many persons in need, it has very strictly controlled parameters as to the situations that constitute a catastrophic need.  Accordingly, applications that are otherwise worthy frequently cannot be granted.  The administration has seen the need for an additional opportunity for shared leave and has recommended the attached policy and administrative rule as a method to address that need.
 
 
 
D.        INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS
 
  1. AGENDA ITEMS SUBMITTED BY INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS:           
                                   
  1. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESSED TO BOARD MEMBERS:
 
  1. REPORTS FROM BOARD LIAISON TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES:
 
 
 
 
E.         OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT:
 
 
                                        Update
 
 
 
F.         EXECUTIVE SESSION:
 
 
            1.         CONTRACTUAL ISSUES:
 
                                   
                                      Consideration and Discussion Regarding Contractual Issue
 
 
 
           2.         LEGAL BRIEFINGS:
 
 
                                       Legal Briefing
 
 
 
            3.         PERSONNEL ISSUES:
 
 
                                      Administrative Appointment
 
 
 
              4.         OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT:
 
 
                                     No Items This Meeting
 
 
 
               5.         APPEALS:
                                   
 
                        a.         Student Appeal (Area 1) - Withdrew 5/24/16
 
                        b.         Transfer Appeal (Area 2)
 
 
 
 
RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
 
ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION:
 
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