Bamberg School District One
Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees
Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School
October 24, 2005
7:30 P. M.
Members present: Chairman Dale Padgett, Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg, Trustee Sheri Seigler, secretary, Trustee Donald Mallory, and Trustee Stacey H. Long.
Absent:
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 September 26, 2005, were approved as presented.
4. Student/Staff Recognition
Superintendent Schwarting reported the following:
· The Red Raider Regiment won first place in Lower State competition on October 22. The band will perform in the state championship on October 29, at 9:00 p.m.
· The Girls Varsity Volleyball Team is 5A champions with an 18-0 regular season record. The playoffs will start October 26, at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School starting at 6:00 p.m. The state finals for volleyball will begin on November 1. The coach is Ms. Anatole Gamble.
o Jennifer Forbes and Kim McMillan made the All-State Volleyball Team.
· The Girls Varsity Tennis Team is Region 5A Co-Champions with a 10-3 record. They seeded 4th out of 15 teams for state playoffs. The playoffs will begin October 27, at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School.
· Ricky Sapp has been selected to play in the U.S. Army High School All-Star game in San Antonio, Texas, on January 7, 2006. Ricky is only the 6th South Carolina football player to be selected to play in this game. He has also been selected to play in the 69th Shrine Bowl game and he is the 11th player from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School to play in the Shrine Bowl.
· Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated October 23-31. This year’s Red Ribbon Campaign marks 20 years of a nation committed to promoting health, drug-free lifestyles. Flyers will be distributed in the district.
· Mrs. Sharon Zion, science coordinator, was featured in the T&D Newspaper working with students in the science lab at Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School.
5. 2004-2005 Annual Audit Report – Elizabeth Inabinet, C.C. McGregor
Handout: 2004-2005 Audit Report
Mrs. Elizabeth Inabinet, auditor from C.C. McGregor, reported that the district’s 2004-2005 audit resulted in a clean opinion on the financial statement. Everything that was required for the audit was available and things that were needed along the way were provided. The Management Discretion and Analysis on pages 16-13 was reviewed. This is a good summary of the financial statements. Pages 14 and 15 under Governmental wide financial statements that are listed under GASB 34 were reviewed. Assets exceeded liability by $3,588,973.00. An increase of $32,546.00 was added to the assets. Page 18 is a summary of the district’s funds. The General Fund had a surplus of $51,941.00. Under Governmental Funds which includes the Debt Service and School Building, there was a deficit of $35,579.00. Page 21 revealed a deficit of $100,770.00 in Food Service. Under Compliance issues of federal programs there were no findings. A Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Testing Program has been implemented and everything is being done that should with the program.
Vice-chairman John Bamberg wanted to know why the deficit in Food Service was so high. Mrs. Inabinet responded by stating that after completing a summary there was a deficit of $16,573.00 last year. $50,094.00 of Grant money came in under RIT to purchase equipment at Ehrhardt Elementary School and that it was added to the bottom line which the district did not have this past year. Universal Breakfast Sales took in $16,000 from students but not in 2004-2005. Revenues were down approximately $17,000 net. Expenses went up approximately $21,500.00. The majority of that money was in salaries which was $11,773.00. Supplies and materials were up $15,689.00 and this includes Purchased Food.
Trustee Donald Mallory wanted to know if the district had gained any since last year and if the drug and alcohol testing was for food management or district wide. Mrs. Inabinet responded by stating that there was a gain in the General Fund and the drug and alcohol testing was for commercial driver license employees only. Trustee Mallory wanted to know if the district made money or lost money in Special Sales and if it was true that Special Sales for adults had increased. Mrs. Threatt, director of food service, responded by stating that the district made money on Special Sales but lost money on breakfast participation because the participation was too low. The price of Special Sales increased this year and the price for adult meals are set by the State Department.
Trustee Stacey Long expressed a concern about there not being enough food at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School when students returned from Cope Vocational School. Mrs. Threatt responded by stating that it may appear to the students that there isn’t enough food; however, if there is ever a problem, it should be addressed to the cafeteria manager.
6. Board Policy Manual Update Process – Pat Kinsey, SCSBA
Handout: Process - Major Revision of Policy Manual (Pat Kinsey)
Ms. Pat Kinsey stated that South Carolina School Boards Association has agreed to revise the district’s policy manual through a contract service. The content of each policy can vary – it may be an original policy, it may be a model policy or it may be a combination of both. Scott Price, SCSBA’s Attorney, will review all information. Every policy will be called a “draft”, reviewed appropriately, and approved by the board. Each existing policy will be accounted for and cross reference and legal references will be included. Selective administrative rules/procedures to accompany certain policies will be provided. The administration will review all policies before the board reviews them. It may take 18 months to 2 years to complete the entire project and the information will come in five sets. The board is encouraged to use a work session prior to a board meeting to review policies and should be opened to the public. The contract price is $6,000 and billing will be done periodically through the length of the project. At the completion of the project, the district will receive a hard copy of the policy manual as well as a CD.
Posting online is a separate contract with SCSBA. The service is housed on the Internet and school handbooks are a part of the service. There is a one-time fee of $4,175 and a yearly fee thereafter of $2,350.
7. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Schwarting stated the following:
· The District’s Strategic Plan has been approved.
· The 2005 No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly Progress results are as follows:
o Bamberg-Ehrhardt – 12 out of 17 Objectives Met – Not Met AYP
o Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle – 13 out of 21 Objectives Met – Not Met AYP
o Ehrhardt Elementary – 5 out of 5 Objectives Met – Met AYP
o Richard Carroll Elementary – 20 out of 21 Objectives Met – Not Met AYP (Results will be reviewed)
o District – 18 of 21 – Not Met
· The district’s “Character Education Newsletter” was reviewed (Board Packet Enclosure)
· The district received a three-year $50,000 Grant through Blue Cross Blue Shield to help fund the second nurse that was employed this year.
· Stevens and Wilkinson will conduct a facility study on all five facilities of the district.
· Handout: Safety Facility Study (SCSBIT). The district is working on this project.
· Flu shots are being offered to district personnel through the health department at a cost of $15 per shot.
· The State Ethnics Commission states that employees who place campaign signs on school grounds, in their car windows or on their cars parked on school grounds during school hours are using public property to influence the outcome of an election. One should not modify one’s vehicle, i.e. place signs on or around it, on public property
when the property is being used for the predominant government purpose. The predominant purpose of the public school property during the school day is for the
public education of children. The placement of campaign signs during a sporting event, such as a football game, to which the general public is invited is not using pubic property to influence the outcome of an election. The predominant purpose of the public property during that time is to provide entertainment, not the public education of children.
· The faculty and staff of Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School are very receptive to the English/Language Arts consultant who is working with ELA teachers in grades 6th through 8th as well as social studies teachers.
· Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School published a fall bulletin that includes information on careers for students.
8. Monthly Financial Report
Board Packet Enclosures: Financial Report – September 2005
Finance Director Devon Blume stated that everything in the finance department is okay presently.
9. Visitors’ Comments
Will Martin spoke on behalf of the Bamberg-Ehrhardt Raider Regiment Band Booster Club in reference to an article that was in the T&D Newspaper following the September 2005, board meeting. He stated that it was his opinion and the opinion of others that it was very unprofessional to discuss Mr. Miller and the band in an open board meeting. Such concerns should have been directed to Superintendent Schwarting in private. Factual information was also a concern of Mr. Martin’s. The band was not asked to take the field during homecoming festivities. Traditionally, the band has the third quarter to relax and refresh after playing the first half and performing at halftime. Unfortunately, that has been taken away. The Raider Regiment is one of the largest bands in Class A and Mr. Miller was an outstanding band director. If parents of children are not happy with Mr. Miller’s method of handling the band, the size of the band would reflect their unhappiness. He is in charge of approximately 80 band members by himself, while the football team has about the same number of players with more than 13 assistant coaches. Mr. Martin concluded by stating that attendance at band contests from members of the administration and board would go a long ways in showing support to Mr. Miller, the band and booster club.
Trustee Donald Mallory stated that he wasn’t one to look the other way when it comes to achievement of children in an educational facility. He did not vote in favor of amending the agenda to discuss the band and he did not make any comments about it. He has heard some good things about Mr. Miller and he was in support of the band going to a regional contest in Atlanta, Georgia.
Chairman Dale Padgett stated that the newspaper article’s title appeared that some members of the board were criticizing the children but that was not the intent of anyone on the board. It was a discussion and no one thought that a name was going to come out.
The intent of the amendment was to have a generic discussion about having more activities from the band at football games. As a former band student, he realized that band contests are important and the band has never been supported as it should. It is supported by band parents. There were probably some things addressed that needed to have been addressed but not with specific names. They would have been best reserved for executive session and he apologized for that having happened.
Trustee Sheri Seigler stated that she called Mrs. Lisa Stokes, reporter for the T&D, and discussed how her comments were misprinted. She was in support of the children and she offers the tape to the public. She further stated that she does have a problem with the band’s leadership and she isn’t the only person that feels this way. The board at times responds to public comments that are received. Some people have been concerned about why the band doesn’t play the third and fourth quarters of the games, why it doesn’t arrive to the football games on time and why the students don’t wear their uniforms. She attended the homecoming parade and never heard a song played all the way down Railroad Avenue. If there was a reason, she would be glad to talk to someone about it.
Mrs. Sherry Martin, band booster parent, wanted to know from Trustee Sheri Seigler if the complaints she had received came from band parents. Trustee Seigler responded by stating the concerns had not come from band parents.
Ricky Albertson, band booster parent, stated that the band cannot play on offense and football scores have been high this season.
Chairman Dale Padgett stated that suggestions and comments that were addressed by some of the board members have been taken care of through Superintendent Schwarting.
Mrs. Florence Lewis, booster club parent, stated that Mr. Miller is the best band director that the district has ever had. He has made a big difference in her son’s life. He helped him with responsibility and discipline. If a person is not at a game from start to finish, does not attend any of the band competitions, or is not in attendance at the long times they spend practicing, they don’t have a right to criticize anything. Mrs. Lewis thanked Superintendent Schwarting for the positive comments she made to the news reporter.
10. Executive Session
Chairman Dale Padgett called for a motion to enter Executive Session. Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded the motion to enter Executive Session. The motion carried (5-0). The purpose for entering executive session was to discuss:
a. Student Transfer Requests
b. Employment Recommendation
c. Student Expulsion Appeal
Open session: Chairman Dale Padgett declared the board out of Executive Session.
A. Student Transfer Requests
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Carson Zorn from Denmark-Olar School District Two to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Vice-chairman John Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Kaitlyn Crosby from Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Gabriel Bishop from Colleton County School District to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Dean P. Kohlhepp from Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4 to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Allisia Crosby (4th gd.) from Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus B to attend Ehrhardt Elementary School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
B. Employment Recommendation
No action taken.
C. Student Expulsion Appeal
Trustee Donald Mallory made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded not to hear an appeal on the expulsion of student 180000050143 from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. The motion passed 5-0.
With no other business before the board, the chairman adjourned the meeting.
Minutes approved:
_____________________________
Dale Padgett, Chairman
_____________________________
Sheri Seigler, Secretary