Bamberg School District One

Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees

Richard Carroll Elementary School    

August 25, 2008

7:30 P. M.

 

 

 

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

                                 H. Long and Trustee Tony E. Duncan.

                               

Absent:  Seat 2 – Vacant

 

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 July 28, 2008, were approved as presented.

 

4.                  Student/Staff Recognition

Superintendent Schwarting stated the following:

·         On July 21, 2008, Larry Long, Jr., school bus transportation director, completed Supervisory Training that meets the requirements of all applicable US Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations to include: 60 minutes of training on alcohol misuse and 60 minutes of training on controlled substance use.

·         Jacob Halmon, Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School student, successfully completed the Governor’s School of South Carolina at the College of Charleston this summer.  Students eligible for Governor’s School are rising seniors nominated by their high schools and are all ranked in the top ten percent of their classes in terms of academic achievement, potential and ambition.  The Governor’s School features rigorous college-level study in a variety of academic disciplines.

·         Anna Miller, a junior at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, has been accepted to the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics.   The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics is public, residential high school for academically talented and motivated juniors and seniors.  It offers college-level courses and hands-on curriculum with a special focus on science, math, technology and research.

·         The football team won their first game on August 29, 2008.  This was Coach Butch Crosby’s first game.

·         Athletic passes were given to all board members.

 

 

 

 

5.                  Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Schwarting stated the following:

·         Certificates of achievement and pins were presented to Vice-chairperson Rita Sease and Trustee Tony Duncan from South Carolina School Boards Association.  Trustee Sease reached Level III in the Boardmanship Institute Training Program.  She completed over 100 hours of training at SCSBA.  Trustee Tony Duncan reached Level II in the Boardmanship Institute Training Program and he received a minimum of 40 hours of school boards training.

·         Registration and hotel reservations for the Delegates Assembly Workshop will open on September 8, 2008.  [Board Packet Enclosure]

·         The State Department of Education has asked for help in naming the new state test.  Five “finalists” for the statewide vote are:

§  PAL – Palmetto Assessment of Learning

§  PASS – Palmetto Assessment of State Standards

§  SCYE – South Carolina Yearly Evaluation

§  STARS – State Test of Achievement and Readiness for Success

§  STEP – State Test of Educational Progress

·         All personnel received a letter stating that there would be a minimum of 3% cut in EFA Funding and possibly more.  The Student Base Cost would be adjusted which is currently $2,578 -- approximately $117,000.00 cut.  Anticipated EIA cuts of 5%-6% are expected.  Teachers have been asked to help cut down on the use of substitutes.  Last year $178,395.55 was spent on substitutes. [Board Packet Enclosure]

·         Student Transportation Guidelines for Activity Trips were reviewed.  The guidelines consist of the driver’s responsibility and authority.  Field trips will be cut back this year due to cost factors.  [Board Packet Enclosure]

·         Ms. Joye Holman has been employed to operate the five district area Adult Education program.  The board reviewed the staff schedules.  [Board Packet Enclosure]

 

6.                  Overview of School Opening

§  Richard Carroll Primary School – Ronald Bunch

In the absence of Principal Ronald Bunch, Superintendent Schwarting reported that Richard Carroll Primary School opened without any problems.  The current enrollment is 521.  For the first time, this school has an all male class (1st Grade) and it is doing well.  The school has undergone extensive painting and landscaping out front.  The transitioning from Ehrhardt Elementary School has gone extremely well – not many students were lost from the Ehrhardt community – school buses do not appear to be overcrowded nor are there any reports of confusion in the routes. 

§  Richard Carroll Elementary School – Skipper Smith

The academic school year began with a two-week math camp from July 28, through August 8.  Students who needed additional math instruction were targeted.  The building is clean – doors and hallways were painted – three new staff and faculty members were added -- the enrollment is 217 and the learning environment is excellent.

§  Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School – Troy Phillips

The school year began with a smooth opening.  The current enrollment is 307 and there are 8 new faculty and staff members.  

 

§  Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School – Randy Maxwell

The school year began with a smooth opening.  The enrollment is 498; the school has a staff of 54 with 8 new teachers; with the exception of the Freshmen Academy, the school continues to use 4x4 Modified Block courses by semester; freshmen students are taking English/Language Arts and math throughout the year; the school continues to use more Virtual School sites using the state network for courses; the Distance Learning Lab is being used by taking advantage of courses through Orangeburg Tech, Denmark Tech, and USC Salkehatchie; the School-to-Work Summer program is being used; and the sports currently in action includes football, girls volleyball, girls tennis, Cross Country, Band (State Championship Winner), and Cheerleaders.

 

7.                  Test Scores – ACT

Superintendent Schwarting reviewed the district’s ACT test scores.  In 2007, the composite overall score was 18.8 and in 2008 it was 16.9; however, 10 more students took the test in 2008.   The curriculum coordinators will focus on the decrease in test scores.  ACT and SAT preparation classes are being offered at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School this year which should be helpful. [Board Packet Enclosure]

 

8.                  Second Reading – Policy: Discipline of Students with Disabilities                                Superintendent Schwarting reviewed the Discipline of Students with Disabilities Policy for second reading and asked the board to approve it.  This policy is a Federal Law requirement.

 

Vie-chairperson Rita Sease moved and Trustee Tony Duncan seconded to accept “Discipline of Students with Disabilities Policy”.  The motion passed (4-0).

 

9.                  Monthly Financial Report

Finance Director Devon Furr presented the Finance Report for July 2008.  She stated that adjustments will be made to the budget once the cuts from the State Department are determined. [Board Packet Enclosure]

 

10.              Visitors’ Comments

Chairman Dale Padgett wanted to know the status of the Ehrhardt Elementary School’s property.  Superintendent Schwarting responded by stating that the administration is in a discussion process of deeding the school property to the town of Ehrhardt.  The matter is currently in the hands of the district and the town of Ehrhardt’s attorneys.  There are several legal issues which are being researched and must be resolved before the transfer of deed can take place.  The transfer could happen as soon as the two entities involved reach a clear agreement on the terms which are under discussion.  There is a concern that half of the gym is on the district’s property and half isn’t.  The district would also like to retain the use of the bus parking facility at the back of the school.

 

11.              Executive Session

Chairman Dale Padgett called for a motion to enter Executive Session.  Vice-chairperson Rita Sease moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to enter the

 

 

 

Executive Session.  The motion carried (4-0).  The purpose for entering executive session was to discuss:

a.       Student Transfer Requests

 

 

Open session: Chairperson Padgett declared the board out of Executive Session.

 

A.  Student Transfer Requests

Trustee Stacey Long moved and Trustee Tony Duncan seconded to accept the school transfer requests of Landon Parker and Hayden Gant Brown from Bamberg School District Two to attend school in Bamberg School District One; Taylor and Courtney Nobles from Bamberg School District Two to attend school in Bamberg School District One; Sade’ C. Ford from Bamberg School District Two to attend school in Bamberg School District One; Brian Cory Dantzler from Bamberg School District Two to attend school in Bamberg School District One – pending approval on September 8, 2008, from his school district; Triston Luginbill and Trenton Luginbill from Denmark School District Two to attend school in Bamberg School District One – pending approval on September 8, from their school district; Kayla Jarvis from Colleton County School District to attend school in Bamberg School District One; Dillon Linder from Bamberg School District One to attend school in Dorchester School District Four; Megan Hawthorne from Bamberg School District One to attend school in Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four; Minnie and Teaona Carista from Bamberg School District One to attend school in Colleton County School District; and Gabriel Bishop from Colleton County School District to attend school in Bamberg School District One.  The motion passed 4-0

 

 

With no other business before the board, Chairman Dale Padgett adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p. m.

 

Minutes approved:

 

 

_____________________________

R. Dale Padgett, M.D., Chairman

 

 

_____________________________

Stacey Long, Secretary