Jasper County Board of Trustees

JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MINUTES – AUGUST 11, 2014

PRESENT:Berty Riley, Bennie Hazel, Debora Butler, Tedd Moyd, Priscilla

Fraser, Leroy Bentley and Alina Clark-Hamilton (arrived at meeting 6:31 p.m.)

ABSENT:Cathy Gardner and Randy Horton

1. CALL TO ORDER – Berty Riley, Board Chairperson, called this

regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. This meeting was held in the

Jasper County School District Boardroom located at 10942 North

Jacob Smart Boulevard in Ridgeland, South Carolina.

1. ROLL CALL & ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUORUM – 7P/2A

1. 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, Bluffton Today, Island

Packet, Savannah Morning News, The Gullah Sentinel, WSAV, WTOC

and WJCL/WTGS.

1. MOMENT OF SILENCE – A moment of silence was led by Tedd

Moyd.

1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE– The pledge to the flag was recited by the Board and others present.

1. SPECIAL RECOGNITION(S)

6.12013-2014 BOARDMANSHIP INSTITUTE RECOGNITIONS –

• LEVEL TWO – LEROY BENTLEY
• LEVEL TWO – DEBORA BUTLER
• LEVEL TWO – CATHY GARDNER
• LEVEL THREE – BENNIE HAZEL
• LEVEL THREE – TEDD MOYD

Ms. Riley, Board Chairperson,congratulated the board members listed above for completion of level two and level three ofthe 2013-2014 Boardmanship Institute and presented them with a Certificate of Achievement and pin from the South Carolina School Boards Association.

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6.2“BEHIND THE SCENE” HERO AWARDS – Dr. Vashti K.

Washington, Superintendent, presented the “Behind the Scene” Hero Awards to Nancy Warren, HumanResources Office Manager for saving the District more than ten thousand dollars and Gary West, Chief Officer ofFinance and Data Management for extended preparation for financial budget and public meetings.

1. *APPROVAL OF AMENDED AGENDA–Ms. Riley entertained a motion for approval of the Amended Agenda. A motion was made by Bennie Hazel and seconded by Leroy Bentley for approval.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

1. *ADOPTION OF MINUTES – JUNE 23, 2014 – Ms. Riley entertained a motion for adoption of the minutes. A motion was made by Alina Hamilton-Clarkand seconded by Bennie Hazelto adopt the minutes for June 23, 2014. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

1. SPECIAL HEARING(S)

9.1FINANCE & DATA UPDATE – GARY WEST, CHIEF OFFICER

OF FINANCE AND DATA MANAGEMENT – Mr. West stated there was a change in the 2014-15 financial budget due to County Council reducing the District budget from 166 mills to 164 mills which equates to a $153,000 cut. Mr. West suggested that the District transfer $153,000 from the Fund Balance to the District general budget for 2014-15 school year.

Ms. Riley entertained a motion to transfer $153,000 from the Fund Balance to the GOF account. A motion was made by Priscilla Fraser and seconded by Bennie Hazel to transfer the amount of $153,000 from Fund Balance to GOF.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

Mr. West explainedthe 2014 SCPASS Analysis and JCSD 2014 SCPASS Surpass Statewide Gains data. The SCDE released the 2014SCPASS results Friday, August 1, 2014. (See South Carolina Department of Education Website)

SCPASS (formerly PASS) is the State’s annual assessment of

student achievement in grades three through eight. The 2014

SCPASS results show significant declines, as predicted, in

percent of students passing and in the mean scale scores in

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all areas and at all grade levels.Jasper County School District has made gains in student achievements surpassing local charter school and state.

9.2TECHNOLOGY UPDATE – TRACYE STORMER, DIRECTOR

OF TECHNOLOGY – Ms. Stormer stated Technology is making

progress, but a few of the classrooms are not yet completed.

The process has been slowed by GCA cleaning of the floors due tosummer camp and heavy traffic in the schools.

Technology is experiencing issues with cooling temperatures

in some of the closets. The Hardeeville campus internet connection problems still exist, but it is a work in progress to

correct the difficulties. The phone systems installation date has been moved to September, right after Labor Day.

9.3GCA CONTRACT UPDATE – DARRYL OWENS, CHIEF OFOPERATIONS– Mr. Owens stated he met with GCA last week and also today, Monday, August 11, 2014, to do a walk-through of the buildings. GCA assured him the buildings will be ready for the first day of school. The summer camp and school traffic slowed the floor cleaning process for GCA staff.

9.4COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION PARTICIPATION – LYDIA BRELAND, FOOD SERVICE SUPERVISOR – EXH. I

Mrs. Breland gave an update on the Community Eligibility Program which is a program sponsored by USDA that allows all students in selected schools or school districts to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost to families.

All monies received for this program are from import taxes. Funding is received for all meals served each day – free, reduced and paid. The Food Service Program received federal revenue totaling over 1.2 million dollars for the 2013-2014 school year.

9.5SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT – DR. VASHTI K. WASHINGTON

Dr. Washington shared with the group Part 1 of thevideo“When the Bough Breaks,” a documentary that addresses the state of literacy in South Carolina, reporting on the continuum

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of literacy in the life of a child and the consequences of not placing focus on the language development and reading skills of children. Part 11 of the video “When the Bough Breaks” will be shared at the next Board Meeting.

1. *CONSENT AGENDA

10.1OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL REQUEST – EXH. II

10.2BOARD ATTENDANCE – JUNE 2014 – EXH. III

Ms. Riley asked if any items needed to be pulled for questions.

Dr. Butler requested Item 10.1 be pulled for discussion and questions.

After discussion and questions, Ms. Riley entertained a motion for the approval of the out of state travel request. A motion was made by Priscilla Fraser and seconded by Alina Hamilton-Clark to approve the out of state travel request.THE MOTION PASSED 6-1 (AYES-RILEY/HAZEL/MOYD/FRASER/BENTLEY/CLARK)

(NAY-BUTLER)

Ms. Riley entertained a motion for approval of the consent agenda items. A motion was made by Priscilla Fraser and seconded by Leroy Bentley to approve these items.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

1. INFORMATION ITEM(S)

11.1HARDEEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SELECTED FOR 2015 NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) – EXH. IV

11.2STATE BOARD APPROVES IMPROVED EDUCATOR SUPPORT AND EVALUATION SYSTEM – EXH. V

11.3AMENDED ACCREDITATION CLASSIFICATION FOR JASPER- BEAUFORT ACADEMY FOR CAREER EXCELLENCE FOR 2013-2014 – EXH. VI

11.42014-2015 SCHOOL DISTRICT MILLAGE RATE INCREASE LIMITATION – EXH. VII

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1. *ACTION ITEMS

12.1*JOINT MEETING WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING THE ACADEMY FOR CAREER EXCELLENCE & “DRAFT” POSITION STATEMENT – EXH. VIII

There was much discussion among board members regarding the future of the Academy for Career Excellence (ACE) and the “Draft” Position Statementexpressing concerns and questions about the joint meeting requested by Beaufort County School Board.

Ms. Riley entertained a motion to accept the “Draft” Position Statement Draft in regards to the Academy forCareer Excellence and have it forwarded to the Beaufort County School Board. A motion was made by Priscilla Fraser and seconded by Deborah Butler.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

1. *FUTURE AGENDA ITEM(S)

1)The Academy of Career Excellence (ACE)

1. PUBLIC COMMENT(S) – NONE

1. *EXECUTIVE SESSION

15.1STUDENT REINSTATEMENT(S)

15.2PERSONNEL REPORT– (NO REPORT WAS GIVEN)

15.3LEGAL MATTERS

Ms. Riley entertained a motion for Executive Session. A motion was made by Leroy Bentley and seconded by Priscilla Fraser to enter into Executive Session for Student Reinstatement(s), Legal and Contractual Matters.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

THE BOARD ENTERED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 8:30 P.M.

THE BOARD RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION AT 9:53 P.M.

The following motions were derived from Executive Session:

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A motion was made by Bennie Hazel and seconded by Debora Butler to accept the recommendation for Student Reinstatement(s).

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

Student A may be returned to JCAP with Behavioral Contract.

Student B may be returned to Regular School along with Behavioral Contract and IDEA Requirements Review.

Bennie Hazel motioned based upon Executive Session briefing that the Board of Trustees authorize an emergency procurement at the Ridgeland campus in order to open school safely and on time. It was seconded by Debora Butler to accept the briefing from Executive Session. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

1. ADJOURNMENT – A motion was made by Priscilla Fraser and seconded by Alina Hamilton-Clark to adjourn.

The meeting adjourned at 9:57 p.m.

Nancy Warren______

Recording Secretary

August 25, 2014_____Berty Riley______

Approval DateBoard Chairperson