Bamberg School District One

Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees

Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus B    

April 28, 2008

7:30 P. M.

Members present:  Chairman Dale Padgett, Vice-chairperson Rita M. Sease, Secretary Stacey   

                                 H. Long, Trustee Sheri Seigler and Trustee Tony E. Duncan.

Absent:  None

1.        Call meeting to order:  Chairman Dale Padgett called the meeting to order and asked the audience to repeat the Lord’s Prayer. 

2.              Notice to Media:  In accordance with the S. C. Code of Laws, Section 30-4-80

(e), as amended, the following have been notified of the time, date, place and agenda of this meeting:

                                The Times and Democrat

                                The Advertizer-Herald

3.              Approval of Minutes

The minutes of March 24, 2008, were approved as presented.

4.              Student/Staff Recognition

Superintendent Schwarting announced the following:

·      According to Officer Adrienne Blume, Bamberg County’s D.A.R.E. program has received all four D.A.R.E. awards -- 1997-1998 S. C. D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year; 2004 – Agency of the Year; 2005 – Educator of the Year; and this year Conner Caraman was recognized as the South Carolina D.A.R.E. Student of the Year.  Essay winners for Bamberg School District One are Anthony Chandler, Craig Walker, and Zaikaya Franklin.  Craig Walker, being present, read his essay and received praise from Board Chairman Dale Padgett.  Bamberg County has the longest continuous running D.A.R.E. program in the state of South Carolina.

·      B-E Band News:

o   On April 8^th, the Raider Regiment Concert Band performed in the South Carolina Band Director Association’s State Concert Festival.  The band received a rating of Superior in sight reading, an overall rating of Excellent and a plaque for Outstanding Performance.

o   The Raider Regiment Band has applied for the Outstanding Performance Award for the 2007-2008 school year. This is the highest award given to school bands in South Carolina from the South Carolina Band Director’s Association. This will be the second year in a row for the band to receive this award.

o   On May 4^th, twenty-eight students from Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, and Richard Carroll Elementary School will participate in the South Carolina Band Director Association's State Solo and Ensemble Festival.

Congratulations were extended to the band students for their continuous success in this prestigious program.

·      The Lieutenant Governor of the State of South Carolina presented a certificate to Angel Broxton of Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus B in recognition of being named district winner of Bamberg 1 for Excellence in writing skills.  Mrs. Amy Stembridge, teacher, introduced Angel for recognition.   

·      On April 22, Ehrhardt Elementary School’s 4^th grade class presented a program on Earth Day.  The students participated in a hands-on activity on making the earth an environmental/friendly place.

·      Caroline Long has been awarded an academic scholarship to USC-Salk.

·      Eric Buckner has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida.

·      Kody Breland has been selected to play in the North-South All-Star Baseball Game in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this summer.

·      Marion Kelly has been elected Vice-President of the Future Business Leaders of America for South Carolina.

·      Rachel Carroll represented Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School and Cope Area Career Center in the statewide cosmetology competition.

·      The varsity baseball and softball teams won the region championships and will play in the state playoffs.  The baseball team is ranked number one in the state for Class A.

·      The boys track team finished second at the region track meet and qualifiers will go on to compete in the state track meet.

·      The golf team will be competing in the Class A state tournament on May 5 and 6.

·      Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School is planning a school beautification day on Wednesday, April 30^th.  Teachers and students will be working to improve the appearance of different areas of the campus from 3:00 p. m. to 5:00 p. m. and will have a cook-out following the work.

·      Denny Ulmer and Lisa Parrish, self-contained special education teachers, received a Mini Grant to purchase Wii video gaming system and a flat screen television for their classrooms.

5.              Teacher Presentation:  Promethean Boards in the Classroom

Mrs. Lee Ashe, Nationally Board Certified teacher, and Mrs. Leigh Ann Hewitt, who is seeking Nationally Board Certification, under the guidance of Ms. Sandy Avinger, Math Coordinator, presented a hands-on presentation on the use of Promethean Boards.  Students participating in the presentation were Kahl Gagum and Kala Joye, from Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus B.  Also, board members and school administrators from the audience participated.  The teachers stated that Promethean Boards have been a wonderful addition to classrooms and proven to be a good learning tool for students.  They make learning fun.  Discipline issues are reduced because when students are busy and active they don’t misbehave.  Students are able to interact with the Promethean Board directly from their seats with an Activslate.  An Activotes device is used for teachers to get immediate feedback and for voting.  Reading skills are needed with this device. 

Ms. Avinger stated that the use the Promethean Boards are taught by Mrs. Ashe and Mrs. Hewitt at every staff development in the district.  According to Mrs. Sharon Zion, science coordinator, Ms. Ashe and Mrs. Hewitt’s science students scored higher than the state’s average last year.

6.              Assistant Superintendent’s Report

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rick Starr stated that the district has not spent all of its maintenance money so far.  The only major problem that exists in the district is the water quality at Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A and that’s because the pipes are metal and iron which makes it difficult for cleaning.  There is a some minor problem with some air conditioners. 

7.              Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Schwarting reported the following:

·      The use of Promethean Boards in this district is wonderful and there are teachers who are anxious to learn more about them.  The district purchased 9 Promethean Boards and is trying to get projectors to go with them.

·      The district now has science labs at all schools with the exception of Ehrhardt Elementary School and Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A.

8.              Budget Concerns: 2008-2009

Superintendent Schwarting stated that the state will be cut approximately $120 million in revenues this year. It appears that this cut will be a three-year cycle.  Education is going to be hit significantly and the EIA will be dropped 6% for the remainder of the year.  The district’s Average Daily Membership is down by 76 students which results in approximately a $200,000 lost.  Changes that will be made are mileage cost for employees/ board members that are from 34.5 cents to 44.5 cents per mile.  Gas for the yellow school buses will change from $1.13 per mile to $1.40 next year.  Utilities, Maintenance and Supplies will go up between 20 to 50% for a total of $155,450.  Staff Development will decrease next year.  Coordinators will attend meetings and bring back information to the teachers.   

Superintendent Schwarting stated that she, Dr. Starr and Devon needed some directions on how to proceed with the budget.  The information below could be a savings for the district. [Board Packet Enclosures/handouts]

Tentative Assignments

2008 - 2009

       *Ehrhardt Elementary School 2007-2008