Bamberg School District One
Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees
Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School
June 27, 2005
7:30 P. M.
Members present: Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg, Secretary Mrs. Sheri Seigler,
Trustee Donald Mallory, and Trustee Stacey H. Long.
Absent: Chairman Dale Padgett
1. Call meeting to order: Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg 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 May 23, 2005, were approved as presented.
Trustee Donald Mallory presented and reviewed the following articles/certificates that he received:
o District Scrambles to Meet New Federal Bus License Rules – Bus Drivers – “Greenville News”
o Keeping Your Visitors Safe: Preventing Crimes Against Tourists
o Highway Watch Program – Awareness
o National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services – Pupil Transportation System Security
o Certificate of Training – JROTC Marksmanship Instructor Course, April 26, 2005.
4. Student/Staff Recognition
Superintendent Schwarting stated the following:
· The Bamberg County delegates for the 2005 Palmetto Girls State and Palmetto Boys State are as follows: Girls State delegates are Bretta Cook, Kristen McMillan and Anna Wrightenberry. Alternates are Jennifer Rahn and Jhuquita Kinard. Boys State delegates are Freeman Cooler, J. J. Hutto, Jesse Miller, Garrett Smith and Trey Welch. These high school juniors took part in a hands-on citizenship training program June 5-11, in Columbia. They are sponsored by The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary Posts of Bamberg County. The students are chosen based on their interest in
government and current issues, high moral character, strong leadership abilities, above-average scholastic standing and a desire to learn.
· The Bamberg Chess Club held its 2005 Scholastic Championship at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School from April 26, through May 10, 2005. Jimmy Hill won the championship trophy by scoring 4½ points out of a possible 5. The high school division winners were: 1st place Jadeem Robinson, 2nd place Zachary Sheldon, 3rd place Javy Gwaltney, 4th place Kadeem Robinson and 5th place Michael Bennett. Winners in the other divisions were: middle school - Brandon Crosby, elementary school - Phillip Crosby, and primary school - Sloan Gwaltney. This was the chess club’s third annual scholastic championship. A special thanks is given to David Choi, Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School teacher, for his sponsorship and work with the club this year.
· The students and faculty members of Ehrhardt Elementary School celebrated Flag Day with a special presentation from the 5th grade on June 14th. Each student, with a miniature American flag, presented interesting facts about the flag while learning the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and various patriotic songs.
· Ricky Sapp, a junior at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, committed on June 21, 2005, to play football for the Clemson Tigers. Last season Sapp totaled 67 tackles with 27 tackles for lost and 11 sacks.
· Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School graduating class had 92 students to graduate. From this class, $885,197.00 was received in scholarships. There were 2 Palmetto Fellows, a number of Life Scholarships and some Hope Scholarships.
5. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Schwarting reported the following:
· Ms. Catherine Neff, Title III/ESOL Coordinator from the State Department, reported on May 26, 2005, that there were no discrepancies found in the district’s English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) audit of April 28, 2005. However, the district will receive technical assistance as the English for second language is becoming more prevalent. Mrs. Phyllis Overstreet, District ESOL Coordinator, worked with this program.
· Workers’ Compensation for Bus Drivers was previously paid for by the State; however, it will now have to be paid by the district. The premium for the route bus drivers for policy year 2005-2006 is $14,811.00. This money has been added to this year’s budget.
· The No Child Left Behind has extended the deadline for teacher aides to become highly qualified to the end of the 2005-2006 school year instead of January 2006.
· The district’s Title I allocation for 2005-2006 fiscal year is $546,996.00. The Title I schools will again be Richard Carroll Elementary School Campuses A and B and Ehrhardt Elementary School. Funds are being used for classroom teachers and appropriate classroom instructional supplies. The project will be submitted to the State Department by the deadline which is July 1, 2005.
6. Policy Manual Revision through SCSBA
Superintendent Schwarting reviewed with the board a proposal from South Carolina School Boards Association an offer to post the board policy manual on the district’s website and provide unlimited revisions, legal links and a search engine. It will cost $6,000 to revise the entire policy manual and $4,175.00 to put the policy manual on the website. SCSBA is willing to meet with the board and explain the process if necessary. It will take a year to complete an updated policy manual. The administration will receive a hard copy of the policy manual as well as a CD at the completion of the project. This proposal will be presented back to the board at the July 2005, board meeting for final disposition.
7. Approval of District’s Gifted and Talented Plan
Mrs. Karen Herndon, Gifted and Talented teacher, and a committee that consisted of Mrs.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the district’s Gifted and Talented Plan that was submitted by Mrs. Karen Herndon, Gifted and Talented teacher and her committee. The motion passed (4-0).
8. Final Reading: 2005-2006 Budget
Superintendent Schwarting stated that a third and final public hearing on the 2005-2006 Budget was held on June 27, 2005, at 6:30 p. m. at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. She reviewed and asked the board to approve the budget of $13,322,176.33.
The budget was previously compiled on the House Ways and Means projection; however, the district ended up using the Conference Committee projections. Minor changes made to the budget since the last review were: property tax change of 3%; $14,811.00 workers comp for bus drivers; 7% increase in workers comp; and 4.8% in insurance. Millage increased in value from approximately $16,157 last year to $16,413 this year. By law, the budget has increased 5 mills for the Local Maintenance of Effort and 3 additional mills which is at the board’s discretion.
In response to Trustee Vice-chairman John Bamberg’s question on how the School Resource Officers fit in the new budget, Superintendent Schwarting responded by stating that when the first RSO was employed, the district had a three-year Grant with the State that paid 75% of the salary, 75% of new police vehicle, and all training expenses. The state then gave the district $34,500.00 to pay for a full SRO. Half of the SROs salary was paid from this money. The state later gave the district $20,500.00 through a program called Excellence in Middle Schools. With this money, an additional SRO was employed
for the middle school. This year the Legislature cut out the $34,500.00. The district was left with paying the middle school SRO’s salary and half of the high school SRO’s salary. On June 13, 2005, City Council was asked to consider paying the middle school SRO’s salary since this employee works for the district 180 days a year and for the Police Department the remainder of the year. The district pays 100% of the SROs expenses. Mr. Buddy Sandifer, Chairman of City Council, responded by stating that the city would consider helping the district next year but not this year. The committee did not overrule the chairman’s decision; however, Chief George Morris spoke in the district’s defense. Both SROs are included in the district’s budget for this year. Half of the middle school SRO’s salary is being paid with state funding ($20,500) and the high school’s SRO’s salary is coming from the General Fund. The district’s attorney is looking into the liability of the middle school’s SRO. The city doesn’t pay this employee and sends her out on night duty and to places that are undesirable on week-ends.
Superintendent Schwarting was asked to give the board a follow-up on the SROs at the July 2005 board meeting.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to approve the 2005-2006 Budget of $13,322,176.33. The motion passed 3-1 (Trustee Donald Mallory voted no).
9. Monthly Financial Report
Board Packet Enclosures: Financial Report – May 2005
Ms. Devon Blume, Finance Director, reported that the financial report reflects all items that are overspent.
10. Visitors’ Comments
None
11. Executive Session
Vice-chairman John Bamberg called for a motion to enter Executive Session. Trustee Sheri Seigler moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded the motion to enter Executive Session. The motion carried (4-0). The purpose for entering executive session was to discuss:
a. Employment
b. Hardship Cases
c. Student Transfer Requests.
Open session: Vice-chairman John Bamberg declared the board out of Executive Session.
A. Employment Recommendations
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the employment of Becky R. Proctor as a media specialist teacher at Ehrhardt Elementary School and Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus A for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the employment of George McMillan as a custodian at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School effective May 25, 2005. The motion passed 4-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the employment of Lucki Victoria West as a physical education teacher at Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campuses A and B for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the employment of Sharon Greenwade, Purchased Service Contract for 20 hours per week for 36 weeks with Student Services for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the employment of Janice Marie McClary as math teacher at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School pending references for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 3-0 (Trustee Donald Mallory voted no).
B. Hardship Cases
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Michael Wyatt Kinard (4K) from Ehrhardt Elementary School to attend school at Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus A for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
C. Student Transfer Requests
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Elizabeth Varn from Bamberg School District One to attend school in Colleton School District for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Victoria Peek from Bamberg School District One to attend school in another school district for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Charles Peek from Bamberg School District One to attend school in another school district for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Raven Johnson from Bamberg School District One to attend school in Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Hayden Gant Brown from Denmark-Olar School District to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
With no other business before the board, the vice-chairman adjourned the meeting.
Minutes approved:
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Dale Padgett, Chairman
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Sheri Seigler, Secretary