A STUDENT HEARING WAS HELD PRIOR TO THIS MEETING
JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MINUTES – MARCH 12, 2012
PRESENT: Kathleen Snooks, Randy Horton, Barbara B. Clark, Cathy Gardner,
Berty Riley, Pamela Williams, Michael Hubbard , Priscilla Fraser (T)
and Alina Hamilton-Clark (T)
1. CALL TO ORDER – Kathleen Snooks, Board Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m. in the District Office Boardroom in Ridgeland, S.C. in order to conduct a student hearing prior to the regular meeting.
Dr. Arthur Lee Holmes, Chief of Academics & Human Resources, presided over the meeting in the absence of the Superintendent.
2. ROLL CALL & ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUORUM – 7P/2T
3. NOTIFICATION OF NEWS MEDIA – The following news media were notified of the date, time, place and agenda of this meeting: Jasper Sun, Hardeeville Today, Beaufort Gazette, Savannah Morning News, The Gullah Sentinel, WSAV, WTOC and WJCL.
4. MOMENT OF SILENCE – A moment of silence was observed by the Board and audience led by Kathleen Snooks in the absence of the Board Chaplain.
5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The pledge to the flag was recited by the Board and others present.
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STUDENT HEARING – Mrs. Snooks entertained a motion to enter into Executive Session to conduct a student hearing. A motion was made by Pamela Williams and seconded by Berty Riley to go into Executive Session.
THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.
THE BOARD ENTERED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:42 P.M.
(Priscilla Fraser & Alina Hamilton-Clark arrived during Executive Session.)
THE BOARD CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:15 P.M.
Mrs. Snooks entertained a motion from the Board. A motion was made by Barbara B. Clark that student A be accepted back into the regular home school in Ridgeland. Pamela Williams seconded the motion.
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Ms. Riley stated that they did not get any recommendations from the administration.
Dr. Holmes recommended that they find out the programs that DJJ has in place for her and utilize the youth counselors so the District provides the proper support for the student to be successful.
Barbara B. Clark withdrew her previous motion.
A second motion was made by Barbara B. Clark to accept student A back into the regular school setting with the recommendations from Dr. Holmes. Cathy Gardner seconded the motion.
THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 9-0.
The student hearing concluded at 6:19 p.m.
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THE BOARD RESUMED WITH THE REGULAR AGENDA AT 6:30 P.M.
6. SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS –
6.1 SECOND PLACE WINNERS AT THE CAROLINA C.A.G.E.R.S. AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY BOWL IN WALTERBORO –
v KAYLA HASTY - RIDGELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL
v CARMEN HAMILTON - RIDGELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL
v ESTIVEDA NORIEGA - RIDGELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL
v NICOLE WILSON - RIDGELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL
v BLAKE OSTING - RIDGELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL
v BENDREA WASHINGTON - RIDGELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dr. Holmes presented each student with a certificate and gift card on behalf of the Superintendent and Jasper County Board of Trustees. Dr. Holmes shared that the acronym C.A.G.E.R.S. stands for:
Character Education
Athletic Competition
Gang & Drug Awareness
Educational Services
Recruiting Support and
Service to the Community
Dr. Holmes also recognized the coaches who assisted these students in preparation for this competition.
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7. PUBLIC COMMENT(S) – NONE
8. *APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Mrs. Snooks entertained a motion for approval of the Agenda. A motion was made by Berty Riley and seconded by Priscilla Fraser. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 9-0.
9. *ADOPTION OF MINUTES – FEBRUARY 22, 2012 & FEBRUARY 27, 2012 – Mrs. Snooks entertained a motion for adoption of the minutes. A motion was made by Barbara B. Clark and seconded by Cathy Gardner to adopt these minutes.
Mrs. Williams noted a correction on the February 27, 2012 minutes on page eight under 11.1. She stated that she and not Mrs. Fraser requested that this be pulled for discussion.
Mr. Horton referenced the February 27, 2012 minutes on page eleven under 13.1 regarding the P-Card. He stated that Dr. Washington had stated the names of the persons who would be receiving the P-Card. He also thought she had said the purchasing officer at the elementary school. He asked that the five people who were named be noted in the minutes.
Mrs. Williams asked why Hardeeville bookkeepers were not included in this.
Dr. Holmes explained that this is a pilot program and only one school was chosen. Ridgeland Elementary School was chosen because the principal there has previous experience with the usage of the P-Card.
THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 9-0.
10. *SPECIAL HEARING(S) –
10.1 DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN & SCHOOL RENEWAL PLANS –
JOYCE GERALD, DIRECTOR OF TITLE I – Dr. Holmes stated that Joyce Gerald, Director of Title I, would be sharing a synopsis of these plans for the District.
Mrs. Gerald stated that they requested that the principals from all schools provide a draft of their plan. There is a meeting scheduled on Thursday evening to get public input and board members have been invited to attend. Stakeholders will be notified that their input is invited and appreciated. She shared the public offices who will receive copies of these plans. She stated that each plan has five performance goals. The 2011 Spring Assessment data is included in the plans. These are only draft documents at this time.
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The schools have not changed the action steps in the plans but if there are any changes she will highlight these for the Board. These need to be submitted to the State Department by April 30th. She will bring these back to the Board once they are finalized in April for Board approval. Mrs. Gerald shared her office number and email address with the board members in the event that they have any questions regarding these plans.
Mr. Horton asked if this is a one year plan or a five year plan.
Mrs. Gerald responded that this is a five year plan that is updated every year.
Mrs. Williams asked what time the meeting will be on Thursday.
Mrs. Gerald responded that this will be at the Hardeeville Campus Multi-Purpose Room at 6:30 p.m.
Dr. Holmes thanked Mrs. Gerald and the principals for their input and hard work.
11. *CONSENT AGENDA –
11.1 OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL REQUESTS (A-E)
11.2 SPECIAL REVENUE BUDGETS (A-C)
11.3 BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST
11.4 HOME SCHOOL APPLICATIONS (A-B)
11.5 STUDENT REQUEST TO ATTEND HAMPTON COUNTY
11.6 STUDENT REQUEST TO ATTEND JASPER COUNTY
11.7 BOARD ATTENDANCE – FEBRUARY 2012
11.8 PERSONNEL REPORT
§ VACANCIES
§ NEW HIRES (A-C)
Mrs. Snooks entertained a motion to accept the Consent Agenda. A motion was made by Barbara B. Clark and seconded by Cathy Gardner to accept the Consent Agenda. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 9-0.
Mrs. Snooks questioned if there were any items from the Consent Agenda that needed to be pulled for questions or discussion.
Randy Horton asked to pull (11.1) Out-of-State Travel Requests (A-E) and (11.4) Home School Applications (A-B).
Pamela Williams asked to pull (11.7) Board Attendance – February 2012.
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Mrs. Snooks entertained a motion for the approval of the remaining Consent Agenda items. A motion was made by Barbara B. Clark and seconded by Alina Hamilton-Clark to approve 11.2, 11.3, 11.5, 11.6 and 11.8. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 9-0.
(11.1) Out-of-State Travel Request – Mr. Horton stated that he thought there was a policy on out-of-state travel and when these requests must be submitted. He noted on (A-B) that they must pay the late registration. If they registered before 2/13/12 the fee was $215, before 2/24/12 it was $240 and after 2/24/12 the full rate was $260 for a member. If they are paying $75.00 for the membership fee, then the total should be $335.00 and not $425.00. He thought there was a policy where these had to come in six weeks before the date of travel.
Dr. Holmes stated that if the Board approves these tonight the Director of Finance will make the necessary changes before the expense disbursements are made.
Mrs. Snooks stated that employees requesting to travel should make sure to get their travel requests in on time.
Mr. Hubbard stated that he does not know if they have an actual policy but the Board had previously stated this as an active rule. They Board was receiving these requests let and the person would travel before the Board met again. If the Board had questions it was too late to ask them. They had asked that these be submitted at least six to eight weeks in advance.
Mrs. Snooks stated that they need to always put these things in writing so they can refer back to them at a later date.
Mr. Horton added that they also had stated that the person submitting late registration would have to pay the difference in the fee.
Ms. B. Clark noted the signatures on the forms and stated that she cannot even read some of the signatures to know who signed these.
Mrs. Williams stated that she knows something is in the past minutes because she remembers making the comment. She feels that it is in the 2009 minutes at the end of the year.
Ms. Riley asked that they pull the administrative rule to look at this.
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(11.4) Home School Application – Mr. Horton questioned the signatures on (B) where the parent’s High School Equivalency Diploma showed a date of November 13, 1999 and the diploma was signed by State Superintendent Mick Zais and Governor Nikki Haley.
Dr. Holmes explained that if you request a duplicate Diploma for a degree that you received ten years ago it is going to acknowledge the graduation date but it is going to be signed by the current State Superintendent and Governor.
(11.7) Board Attendance – February 2012 – Mrs. Williams questioned the meeting with State Department of Education personnel and Dr. Washington noted on February 14, 2012 and what this was for.
Dr. Holmes explained that this meeting was with the new Chairperson in the Office of Transition that was held here in the District and they had requested that the Board Chair and Vice Chair meet along with the principal and Superintendent.
Mrs. Snooks entertained a motion for approval of these Consent Agenda items. A motion was made by Barbara B. Clark to approve 11.1, 11.4 and 11.7. Cathy Gardner seconded the motion.
THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 9-0.
12. INFORMATION ITEM(S) –
12.1 SUMMARY OF REVIEW OF COASTAL UTILITIES CONSULTING AUDITING CONTRACT – Dr. Holmes stated that this was shared because of a question at the last board meeting.
12.2 SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE NEWSLETTER – This newsletter from the Superintendent introducing new employees to the District and other highlights was shared as information.
12.3 TITLE I NEWSLETTER – This Title I newsletter was shared as information only.
12.4 CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO THOMAS HEYWARD ACADEMY FOR WINNING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP – A letter was shared from the Superintendent to Headmaster John Rogers congratulating the Thomas Heyward Academy’s Girls Basketball Team for winning the SCISA Class AA State Championship.
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12.5 CANCELLATION OF MARCH 19TH BUDGET WORK SESSION –
(NEXT BUDGET WORK SESSION ON MARCH 28, 2012) – This information was shared to notify the Board of the change in the Budget Work Sessions scheduled in March.
Dr. Holmes stated that the March 19th meeting was cancelled because there was no new information to share at this time.
Mrs. Williams stated that she has a lot of questions regarding the Utilities Auditing Contract that was done on July 11, 2011. She does not remember this coming before the Board for approval. She referenced the third paragraph on page one regarding the standard contingency fees for these services ranging 35% to 50% and the District being in the upper limit of this range. It also mentioned the Better Business Bureau ratings.
Mr. Hubbard stated that he has some questions on this as well. He requested that this be brought back at the next meeting as a future agenda item.
Mr. Horton stated that he would like to see the RFP that was done.
Mr. Hubbard stated that he would rather address this all at one time and in the proper manner.
Mrs. Williams shared that this was fine with her as long as this issue comes back up.
Mrs. Snooks stated that this request will be noted in the minutes.
Mrs. Williams shared that there were items from the last board meeting that were supposed to be brought back before the Board that was not. She has also requested the monthly financial reconciliation and this is not in the packet. It is also in Board policy that they receive this information on a monthly basis.
Mrs. William stated that she also has several action agenda items from the minutes that have not been addressed. She has requested other items that have not been shared.
Mrs. A. Hamilton-Clark stated that when board members ask for meetings to be scheduled then they need to show up.
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Mrs. Williams stated that they all have other things outside of board business that they have to do. She knows that she requested the budget hearings but she has not been to all of them, but there are nine board members.