[00:00:09]
PRETTY WE'LL NOW CALL THE DIFFERENT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER IT IS, UM, LET'S SEE, TUESDAY, MARCH 29TH, 2020 TO 5:30 PM.
ALL OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
ANGELA MIDDLETON, PATRICIA FIDRYCH.
RACHEL IS NEVSKY AND MYSELF, CHRISTINA QUADS.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS JOINING US, DAVID STRIVEN, GER AND RICHARD GUYER.
WE ALSO HAVE ADMINISTER FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, ALICE WALTON, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE LIAISON, WENDY CARTLIDGE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE JOINED US YET.
AND I HAVE REACHED OUT TO HER BY TEXT HE'S.
SHE'S GOING TO GET ON IT SHORTLY.
SHE WAS HEADING BACK TO HER OFF.
SO WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE HAVE A APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA THAT WE APPROVE THE AGENDA.
ANY DISCUSSION THERE BEING NO, HANDS UP.
THE AGENDA IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, MS. CARTLIDGE HAS JOINED US AND BOARD MEMBER.
EARL CAMPBELL HAS JOINED US NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS OUR COMMITTEE SCOPES, SINCE THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING AND I, UH, HAVE DRAFTED, UM, A POTENTIAL COMMITTEE SCOPE AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE EASIER IF, IF, UH, WE HAD A DRAFT AND I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS OR WORDSMITHING, MAYBE ROBIN, YOU COULD MAKE IT A LITTLE LARGER.
AND I'LL JUST READ IT BECAUSE RACHEL'S, UH, UM, HAS JOINED US BY PHONE.
SO THE BEAVER CARDBOARD, I CAN SEE IT.
JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS FOR ME IS ONE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ADVISING, UH, THE FULL BOARD.
IT'S, WE'RE NOT A SEPARATE ENTITY WITH SEPARATE AUTHORITY WHERE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS AND ASSISTING WITH DEVELOPING THE BOARD'S ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND YEAR ROUND ADVOCACY PLAN.
IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD, UM, KATHY ROBOT AND HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT, UH, DRAFTING THE, UH, LEGISLATIVE, UH, UH, AGENDAS OR PLATFORMS, UH, AFTER BOARD INPUT.
AND THEN ALSO I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT WE, WE SPECIFICALLY HAVE A LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST.
THAT'S WE'RE NOT, WE WON'T BE LOBBYING SPECIFICALLY UP AT THE STATE HOUSE.
UM, AND IT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE OF, WE HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY THAT IS IN REGARD TO A TOWN OF HILTON HAD ORDINANCE AND THE SCOPE PRESENTLY SPEAKS TOWARDS JUST LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO, UM, INCLUDE ANY LOCAL, UM, YOU KNOW, LAWS OR REGULATIONS IN THERE AS WELL.
UM, BUT THEY DO HAVE IMPACT ON US IN OUR BUDGET AND OBVIOUSLY JUST BY THE, THE ONE THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
SO PERHAPS WE WANT TO AMEND IT SLIGHTLY TO INCLUDE, UM, LOCAL AND STATEWIDE, UM, LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY POSITIONS.
UM, YEAH, WHY DON'T WE LET THE OTHERS COMMENT
[00:05:01]
AND THEN WE CAN, UM, MOVE FORWARD.UM, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY SUGGESTION ALSO THAT WE, UH, MAYBE INCLUDE OUR LOCAL, UM, ENTITIES, YOU KNOW, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, MUNICIPALITIES STATES, UH, OR THE, UM, ANY IMPENDING RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT MIGHT BE MORE LOCAL AS WELL.
UM, SO A SIMPLE SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO JUST PUT BEFORE, BEFORE THE WORD GUIDANCE WE COULD SAY, EXCUSE ME, BEFORE THE WORD AFTER WORD, WHERE IT SAYS GUIDANCE ON IT'S THE SECOND SENTENCE WE COULD PUT LOCAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS, OR MAYBE WENDY HAS A, UM, WELL, WE HAVE ANGELA, LET ME CALL ON YOU FIRST.
YOU ALREADY ANSWERED MY QUESTION BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK HOW WOULD WE WORD THAT? OKAY.
HOW ABOUT WENDY? GOT A GOOD, GOOD, UH, SUGGESTION FOR WORDING.
I LIKE, I LIKE THE WORDING STATE AND LOCAL, LOCAL AND STATEWIDE INITIATIVES.
BECAUSE IT'S LOCAL LEGISLATION.
I'M GLAD RACHEL BROUGHT IT UP IN PRINT.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT THERE'S OTHER THERE'S OTHER MATTERS THAT ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON US LOCALLY.
I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST LOCAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF ANS IN THERE, BUT THAT'S GOOD THOUGH.
SO, UM, WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR, I'D LOVE TO HEAR WENDY'S COMMENT OF, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DRIVING YET.
UM, RACHEL JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT SHOULD SAY LOCAL REGULATORY AND STATE LEGISLATIVE BECAUSE THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS ARE THE ONES THAT CREATE LEGISLATION, NOT THE TOWN SHIPS.
UM, AND HOW DID THE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS FEEL ABOUT THAT? YEAH, I LIKE THE WAY IT'S WORDED.
UM, ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS FROM THE, THE, UM, COMMITTEE MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT.
WOULD ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE JOINED US THAT ARE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE? WOULD THEY LIKE TO MAKE IT ANY INPUT? ALL RIGHT.
UM, WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SCOPE AND BRING IT FORWARD TO THE BOARD AT THE NEXT MEETING.
WE APPROVE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE SCOPE AS WRITTEN IN A SECOND.
ALL RIGHT, MS. THANK YOU, ANGELA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION THERE BEING NONE.
THE SCOPE IS APPROVED AS WRITTEN, UH, UNANIMOUSLY.
I THINK IT WAS REALLY GOOD INPUT.
UM, SO I HAVE IT CORRECT, UM, ADDED ON LOCAL REGULATORY AND STATE LEGISLATIVE.
SO THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WE CHANGED.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT IT CORRECT.
WHERE, WELL, THIS WAS ONE OF, UM, DR.
RODRIGUEZ SUGGESTIONS, UH, FOR TODAY'S AGENDA, UM, AND ALTERNATIVES TO TEACHER CERTIFICATIONS, AS WE ALL KNOW OUR DISTRICT AND ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME, UH, RECRUITING AND RETAINING QUALIFIED TEACHERS.
SO ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT DO WE HAVE IN PLACE IN OUR STATE TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS IN A SUBJECT
[00:10:01]
AREA THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE, UH, A CURRENT TEACHING CERTIFICATE.AND WE HAVE ALICE WALTON WITH US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THAT, SO ALICE I'LL LET YOU GO AHEAD.
SO THE STATE HAS SEVERAL ROUTES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN A REGULAR TEACHING PROGRAM TO ENTER INTO THE CLASSROOM.
AND THE ONE THAT'S MOST FAMILIAR IS THE PACE PROGRAM.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE CATE PROGRAM AND THAT IS FOR CTE TEACHERS.
AND THEN WE HAVE TEACH FOR AMERICA AND THEY, WE HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE ENDORSES TO BRING TEACHERS OUT OF A REGULAR WORKFORCE INTO THE CLASSROOM.
THOSE PROGRAMS ARE GREAT, BUT THEN THEY'RE A LITTLE CATCHES AND ALL OF THEM THAT KEEPS US FROM BRINGING TEACHERS DIRECTLY INTO THE FIELD.
IF I AM A, UM, TO I'M A MATHEMATICIAN AND I WORK FOR, UM, SAY WALMART AND I'VE DONE ACCOUNTING AND I WANTED TO CHANGE CAREERS AND I WANT TO GO INTO THE CLASSROOM.
WHAT THE PACE PROGRAM WILL DO FOR ME IS I CAN BE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM AND I CAN GET A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE IN THE AREA THAT I AM DEGREED IN.
SO WHATEVER MY DEGREE IS IN, THAT'S WHAT THEY WILL GIVE ME A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE IN.
IT IS A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM AND IT SERVES TO BRING OUTSIDE PEOPLE INTO EDUCATION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, GIVE THEM THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM, AS WELL AS TEACH THEM THE PEDAGOGY THAT THEY DID NOT GET FROM A TRADITIONAL TRADITIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
THE KICKER WITH THAT IS I MIGHT HAVE WORKED FOR WALMART AS AN ACCOUNTANT, AND I MIGHT NOT HAVE A DEGREE IN MATH.
SO I HAVE A DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING.
WELL, THE STATE WILL GIVE ME A CERTIFICATE THAT WILL LET ME TEACH ACCOUNTING, BUT OUR NEED IS IN MATH.
SO WE COULDN'T USE THAT TEACHER TO TEACH A HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSE.
SO THAT'S WHAT HYMNS US UP WITH THE ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.
YOU MUST HAVE A DEGREE IN THE CERTIFICATE THAT THEY WILL GIVE YOU.
YES, YOU CAN TEACH WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM, IT IS RIGOROUS AT BEST.
YOU GO INTO THE CLASSROOM WITH NO EXPERIENCE, THEN YOU HAVE TO ATTEND CLASSES TO PICK UP THE PEDAGOGY PIECE.
SO IT IS, IT IS A TOUGH PROGRAM.
YOU CAN ONLY TEACH THE CLASS THAT THEY HAVE CERTIFIED YOU IN.
SO IF I COME IN AS A HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER, I CAN'T MOVE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I HAVE TO DO MY THREE YEARS IN THAT CLASS SETTING OR THAT LEVEL.
AND AFTER I'M COMPLETELY CERTIFIED, IF I WANT TO MOVE DOWN TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEN I HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH ANOTHER PROGRAM TO GIVE ME MIDDLE SCHOOL CERTIFICATION.
SO IT REALLY PUTS A LOT OF HOOPS IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE PROFESSION.
IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE STATE WOULD RELIEVE SOME OF THOSE STIPULATIONS AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STATE, SEEING THE SAME SONG EVERY YEAR AT OUR YEARLY, UM, MEETINGS WITH HR PROFESSIONALS, WE NEED SOME RELIEF ON CERTIFICATION.
WE NEED YOU TO TAKE SOME OF THE STIPULATIONS AWAY FROM US SO THAT WE CAN BRING TEACHERS IN EASIER, BUT THEY TEND NOT TO WANT TO GET.
SO IF THEY WOULD JUST LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE AS DISTRICTS AND GIVE US IF THEY THREW THROUGH THROWAWAY BUTTON THAT SAYS YOU CAN HIRE QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE CLASSROOM THAT ARE NOT CERTIFIED AND GIVE US THE SAME RELIEF THAT THEY GIVE CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHERE THEY CAN HIRE UP TO 25% OF THEIR STAFF THAT ARE NOT CERTIFIED.
WE CAN'T, WE CAN ONLY HIRE CERTIFIED TEACHERS, BUT A CHARTER SCHOOL CAN HAVE HIRE SOMEONE.
THAT'S AN ENGINEER TO COME IN AND TEACH MATH AND NOT HAVE A CERTIFICATE.
WE CANNOT AS DISTRICTS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BULGED ON THAT ONE BIT.
SO THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR ARGUMENT.
WE'D NEED SOME RELIEF WITH THAT, FOR SURE.
[00:15:01]
DOCTOR WAS NASTY.CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT SOME OF THE, THE ARGUMENTS HAVE BEEN AGAINST RON MOVING? UM, THESE BARRIERS, I'M JUST, UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK, YOU KNOW, IT, IT WOULD, IT MAKES ABSOLUTE SENSE THAT IF THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE ABLE TO DO THIS, UM, I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE WHY THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO THIS.
SO CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME, AN IDEA OF WHAT SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST? I THINK THEY, THAT ARGUMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN, UH, FULLY CONVINCIBLE BECAUSE WE ARGUE ABOUT THE SAME THINGS EVERY YEAR.
IT'S IT'S WE NEED TO HAVE CONTROL.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVEN'T.
WE PUT QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM.
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR 84 DISTRICTS AND ALL OF THEM MUST BE EQUAL ACROSS THE BOARD.
THEIR RELIEF FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOLS IS JUST THAT, THAT IS A SEPARATE ENTITY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ITSELF, THEY FEEL THAT THERE'S MORE CONTROL WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAN THERE ARE WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NOW THAT'S THEIR LOGIC AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE, AND NONE OF US HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RATIONALIZE THAT.
UM, IS THERE ANY, ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD PERHAPS PROVIDE, UM, THE COMMITTEE WITH, UM, MAYBE A LISTING OF THE DIFFERENT, THE HOOPS THAT YOU GUYS ARE HAVING TO JUMP THROUGH A LIST OF THE BARRIERS THAT YOU SEE AS BEING THE MOST DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME, JUST LIST THEM OUT AS, AS YOU SEE THEM FOR THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS SO THAT, UM, THIS IS KIND OF NEW FOR ME, AT LEAST TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND.
AND OF COURSE, I THINK IT'S A IMPORTANT TOPIC.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I LOOK AT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING WE REMOVE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE A, A GOOD SUGGESTION TO THE FULL BOARD.
I CAN PROVIDE THAT IF WE LOOK AT THE CAPE CERTIFICATION AND THAT'S WHERE WE BRING IN CTE TEACHERS, THERE'S THAT, THAT IS A LITTLE BIT EASIER ROUTE TO GET INTO EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY USE WORK EXPERIENCE AND THEY DON'T LOOK AT DEGREES, BUT THEY STILL OVERLAY, UM, THE PRAXIS EXAM THAT ONE MUST TAKE.
THEN THEY WILL GIVE YOU EXPERIENCE FOR THE YEARS THAT YOU'VE WORKED IN A FIELD.
IF YOU WERE A CHEF THAT GIVE YOU X AMOUNT OF YEARS, BUT THEY DON'T GO UP BUT SO MANY YEARS.
SO IF I BROUGHT IN A CHEF WITH 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, THEY WILL GIVE THEM ONLY SIX YEARS AND A MASTER'S DEGREE, WHICH THEM VERY LOW ON THE SALARY SCHEDULE.
SO COMING FROM, UM, PRIVATE INDUSTRY, INTO A CLASSROOM WITH ALL OF THAT EXPERIENCE, THE STATE STILL KNOTS THEM DOWN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET CREDIT FOR THE WORK EXPERIENCE FULLY.
SO I CAN PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF THE HOOPS THAT WE HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH TO GET TEACHERS CERTIFIED THAT ARE NOT GOING THROUGH A TRADITIONAL PROGRAM.
AND THAT EXAMPLE IS REALLY HELPFUL TOO.
UM, LAST QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR, MY APOLOGIES.
UM, DO YOU KNOW OF ANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ADVOCATED AGAINST THESE ALTERNATIVE, UM, TEACHERS CERTIFICATION ROUTES OR AGAINST MAKING CHANGES TO THEM? NO, I DO NOT.
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
WE NEED SOME RELIEF WITH CERTIFICATION AND THEN SOUTH CAROLINA REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A TRUE, UM, RECIPROCITY PROGRAM EITHER BECAUSE WE WILL GET TEACHERS FROM OUT OF STATE THAT CERTIFIED IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND THEY COME TO US, SOUTH CAROLINA, WE'LL LOOK AT THEIR CREDENTIALS AND SAY, WE WILL CERTIFY YOU IN ELEMENTARY, BUT NOT MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF KINKS OUT THERE.
I'VE ANECDOTALLY, I'VE LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATIONS, THE STATE WEBSITE, AND TRIED TO MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OVER THE DIFFERENT, UM, AVENUES.
SO I, I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEONE ELSE WHO'S COMING FROM ANOTHER INDUSTRY OR COMING FROM ANOTHER STATE TRYING TO MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OUT OF, CAN I BE A TEACHER IN SOUTH CAROLINA? SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK.
UM, PATRICIA FIDRYCH THANK YOU.
SO WHEN YOU REFER TO THEY, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THEY, AS IN OUR LEGISLATORS HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS THESE, UM, ROUTES TO CERTIFICATION, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND STATE LAWS AND THIS AND THE STATE LAWS
[00:20:01]
HAS FILED LEGISLATORS.UM, AND ALSO, UM, IS IT, ISN'T IT TRUE THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE TEACHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE S CEA AND, UM, PALMETTO STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION ARE AGAINST THE IDEA OF ALLOWING TEACHERS NON-CERTIFIED TEACHERS INTO THE CLASSROOM? HAS, HAVE THEY NOT HAD A BIG PUSHBACK ON THIS? THEY HAD A BIG PUSHBACK ON THE LAST INITIATIVE AND THAT INITIATIVE WAS LET CLASSIFIED INDIVIDUALS GO INTO THE CLASSROOM THAT HAVE NO DEGREES, NO EDUCATION, NO ANYTHING.
UM, THERE WAS A PUSHBACK ON THE ABC TEACH.
UH, IN FACT, AT ONE POINT THEY WERE SAYING THEY CALLED IT.
ANYBODY CAN TEACH THE ABC, UM, UM, PROGRAM, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE A DEGREE WITH THAT PROGRAM.
YOU STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH TESTING WITH THAT PROGRAM, BUT THE LAST INITIATIVE WAS IF YOU'RE CLASSIFIED, IF YOU'RE ANYONE THAT YOU THINK YOU WANT TO TEACH, THEN WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GO INTO THE CLASSROOM WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT OR ANY, UM, GUIDELINES OR TEACHING TO GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER.
THAT WAS THE BIGGEST PUSHBACK.
UM, ANGELA, I THANK YOU, MS. WALTON FOR THE INFORMATION I CAME IN THROUGH THE ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM MANY MOONS AGO.
SO MY QUESTION IS, UM, DID TEACHERS THAT THOSE TEACHERS THAT ARE IN THE PACE PROGRAM AND THE CATE PROGRAM, DO THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MASTERS LEVEL COURSES THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE? BECAUSE I KNOW I HAD TO TAKE, NOT ONLY DID I HAVE TO BE A PART OF A COHORT AND I TOOK CLASSES ON THE WEEKENDS AND IN THE SUMMERS, BUT I ALSO HAD TO GET THOSE MASTER'S COURSES.
SO ARE THEY STILL REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THOSE COURSES OR DOES THE DISTRICT HELP IN THOSE OR THE STATE HELPS THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THOSE COURSES? UM, AT SOME POINT WHEN WE GOT THE LOAN FROM, OR THE GRANT FROM THE SERA, UM, ORGANIZATION, WE HELPED FACILITATE OR PAY FOR THE CATE TEACHERS, UH, LOANS THAT THEY HAD TO TAKE IN ORDER TO BECOME CERTIFIED, BUT THAT WILL DRY IT UP.
AND WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT SINCE HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT? ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
UM, A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD ARGUMENT.
IT SEEMS TO ME IS THAT WE WANT TO BE ON EQUAL FOOTING WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS.
I THINK THAT'S AN EASILY DIGESTIBLE, UM, THING TO PUT OUT THERE THAT HOPEFULLY WE IRRITATE EVERYBODY.
UM, IT SEEMS SO SIMPLE AND IT, FROM WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, ALICE, I THINK THAT WOULD TAKE US A HUGE STEP TOWARD WHERE WE WANT TO GET.
UM, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW WE WOULD PUSH THAT, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF WE FOCUS JUST ON THAT, A VERY SIMPLE MESSAGE, WE JUST WANT TO BE EQUAL TO CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT WOULD HELP US QUITE A BIT.
THERE'S ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT IT WOULD HELP WITH.
I THINK WHEN PEOPLE START TALKING ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND VOUCHERS AND, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT ON EQUAL FOOTING.
SO I THINK IT HAS SOME SPLASH OVER, UH, EFFECT FOR US ALSO.
I KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BILLS UP THERE NOW THAT THE ASSOCIATION IS PUSHING ON ABOUT VOUCHERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE TIMING MIGHT BE GOOD TO, TO TRY TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT.
I'M NOT SURE HOW THE COMMITTEE WOULD FORMULATE THE MESSAGE AND GET IT OUT, BUT I'D SUGGEST THAT WOULD BE A GOOD, A GOOD INITIAL STEP.
YEAH, I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING IS, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T WE ON EQUAL FOOTING WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE? UM, SO WHAT WOULD THE, HOW WOULD THE COMMITTEE, UM, LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS? ANY SUGGESTIONS MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY.
I THINK THAT THE FIRST QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, IS, IS THERE ANY LEGISLATIVE, ANY LEGISLATION THAT IS PENDING RIGHT NOW, UM, THAT PERHAPS IS LOOKING TO ADDRESS THIS AND IF SO, WHAT STAGE IS IT THEN? YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE CAN LOOK TOWARDS THAT LEGISLATION FIRST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY AMENDMENTS THAT WE COULD SUGGEST THERE,
[00:25:01]
SINCE IT'S ALREADY MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS, IF NOT, WE HAVE TO START COMPLETELY FROM SCRATCH THEN.UM, I THINK LOOKING TOWARDS THE ACTUAL STATUTES THAT ARE PROHIBITIVE, UM, THAT, UH, MS. WALTON SUGGESTED OR TALK TO, UM, WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST WAY TO START LOOKING AT IT.
JUST, JUST LOOK AT THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE THAT IS PROHIBITED RIGHT NOW, AND ALSO SEE IF THERE'S ANY LANGUAGE THAT'S MOVING THROUGH THE SYSTEM, UM, THAT COULD PERHAPS BE MODIFIED.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA, RACHEL AND I WAS THINKING THAT PERHAPS OUR CURRENT LOBBYISTS COULD FIND THAT INFORMATION FOR US.
THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT IT'S TRICIA.
SO, UM, WOULD YOU HA I'M HAPPY TO, OR TO, UM, YES, GO AHEAD, ROBIN.
UM, I GOT AN EMAIL FROM LYNN STOKES, OUR LOBBYISTS, AND THEY, SHE IS AVAILABLE, UM, BY, UM, ZOOM TO BE AT OUR BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY.
SO IF THE COMMITTEE IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS, I COULD SEND AN EMAIL, UM, TO, TO HER, UH, ASKING HER TO PLEASE ADDRESS THIS, UH, YOUR QUESTION.
UM, RACHEL IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS CURRENTLY, UH, BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE, UH, GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR REGARDING, UM, THIS TOPIC? DOES THAT SOUND REASONABLE? I THINK SO.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE, I MEAN, I, I CAN'T RECALL WHAT OUR CONTRACT CURRENTLY PROVIDES FOR, IN TERMS OF HER, UM, COMING TO MEETINGS OR JUST PROVIDING GUIDANCE VIA EMAIL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF THE MOST, UH, COST BENEFICIAL WAY TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT.
I MEAN, IT'S, UH, IT'S NOT ON AN HOURLY BASIS OR THE CONTRACT IT'S, YOU KNOW, ON A, UH, IT'S A MONTHLY BANK.
WELL, IT'S REALLY AN ANNUAL BASIS.
IT'S DIVIDED INTO MONTHLY PAYMENTS.
SO, UM, AND IT'S EXPECTED THAT SHE WILL, YOU KNOW, COME AND REPORT TO THE BOARD.
AND THIS COULD BE, THIS IS ONE OF THE, THE QUESTIONS THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THINKS WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO THE BOARD.
AND SINCE SHE'S GOING TO COME TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, I DON'T THINK WE JUST THINK WE CAN ASK HER, CAN SHE ADDRESS THIS? OH, OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK ALICE, UM, IF WE WERE ALLOWED TO, UM, BE ON EQUAL FOOTING WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND HAVE THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF UNCERTIFIED TEACHERS AS TEACHERS, WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE DOES SHE THINK THAT WOULD MAKE? AS FAR AS OUR VACANCIES? THAT'S A, THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION, BUT IF, IF WE LOOK AT, UM, SAY RIGHT NOW, RIGHT THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE 314 VACANCIES FOR NEXT YEAR.
IF WE LOOK AT JUST SAY 20% OF THOSE, THAT WOULD BE A BIG BOOST IN LOOKING FOR CERTIFIED TEACHERS, WE'D TAKE 60 TEACHERS RIGHT OFF THE TOP THAT WE COULD PUT IN THE CLASSROOM.
SO, ALICE, DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN CHOIR ABOUT BEING ABLE TO TEACH, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT CERTIFIED? DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE REACHING OUT FOR THAT? YES.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER PARTS OF LIFE THAT WOULD LOVE TO COME IN AND TEACH THAT HAVE NO DEGREES, NOT DEGREES, BUT NO CERTIFICATION AND COULD NOT GET A CERTIFICATION THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN GOING INTO THE CLASSROOM.
NOW, OF COURSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM THE SUPPORT, RIGHT.
BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T WALK IN AND START TEACHING AND WITH NO HELP BECAUSE EVERYBODY CAN'T TEACH.
SO THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO PUT ANOTHER LAYER OF SUPPORT IN PLACE FOR THOSE, UM, ALTERNATIVE OR NON CERTIFIED NON-EDUCATORS TO SUPPORT THAT GROUP TEACHERS.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE A STRONG LAYER OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE CLASSROOM PROCEDURES AND MANAGERIAL AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
UM, INGRID, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
UM, I KNOW THAT GREENVILLE UNDER NEW SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION, A LAW THAT PASSED APPLIED FOR, UM, AS MADE ALL THEIR SCHOOLS, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW IT HA IF IT'S HOW IT'S PLAYED OUT, BUT THEY HAD BASICALLY SAID THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE ALL OF THEIR SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION.
AND THEN WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO WAS TO MAKE TWO REQUESTS, UH, BASICALLY
[00:30:01]
BYPASSING SOME OF THESE HOOPS.ONE WAS TO CHANGE THE START DATE.
AND THE OTHER ONE WAS TO ALLOW SIMILAR TO CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT THEY ALLOW ARE ALLOWED TO HIRE 25% OF THEIR TEACHING STAFF BEING, UH, ABLE TO BE NON-CERTIFIED UP TO 25%.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHO MIGHT KNOW THAT.
OR IF LYNN STOKES IS KIND OF AWARE HOW THE SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION, UH, LAW IS BEING IMPLEMENTED, BUT THAT MIGHT BE A STRATEGY IF IT, IF IT WAS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
ALL RIGHT, MS. WALTON, I AM WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF TRISHA'S QUESTION AND COMMENTS, HAVE YOU ALL ALREADY CONSIDERED WHAT THE LAYER OF SUPPORT WILL LOOK LIKE IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HIRE NON-CERTIFIED TEACHERS? UH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT IN FACT, UM, CHARLESTON AND GREENVILLE AS WELL, HAVE THEIR OWN, UM, COPYCAT VERSION OF THE PACE PROGRAM IN PLACE.
NOW, I THINK IS TEACH CHARLESTON AND I'M NOT TOO SURE WHAT THE GREENVILLE, UM, MODEL IS NAME, BUT IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT IN GREENVILLE.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING RESEARCH NOW TO SEE, WE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THAT HERE IN BUFORD, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A TEACH BUFORD OR COME WORK FOR BUFORD AND PUT THOSE PROGRAMS IN PLACE.
AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS OR THE SAME KIND OF SUPPORT THAT THE STATE HAS IN PLACE TO SURROUND THOSE NON-CERTIFIED TEACHERS.
UM, SOME, UM, BALANCE AND BACKUP SUPPORT WHILE THEY'RE IN THE CLASSROOM, EVEN TO HAVE TRAINING SEPARATE AND APART FOR THEIR NORMAL CLASSROOM DUTIES.
SO WE ARE, WE ARE RESEARCHING THAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, JILL AND HER ACQUISITION TEAM IS, HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE STATE.
WE'VE ALREADY DONE OUR APPLICATION.
SO WE ARE WELL ON THE WAY OF TRYING TO CREATE OUR OWN HERE IN BUFORD.
FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, IT WOULD BE GOOD SINCE WE'RE NOW IN THE PLANNING STAGES TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR NUMBERS.
AND I KNOW COLONEL GEIER WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS.
YOUR HAND IS STILL UP OR, AND YOU'RE MUTED.
SO YEAH, THAT WAS A TOTAL TECHNOLOGY FAIL.
NO, MY HAND NEEDS TO BE DOWN AND I COULD NOT UNMUTE BECAUSE THE CHAT KEPT POPPING UP.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE OUR NEXT STEPS IS FOR, I WILL CONTACT, UM, LYNN STOKES, MARIE, UH, TOMORROW, UM, AND, UH, ASK HER THE QUESTION WE WERE DISCUSSING AND, AND HAVE HER GIVE US INFORMATION AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE, WHETHER WE WANT TO BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE OR HOW WE WANT TO PROCEED.
AND DO YOU SEE IN CHAT, DID YOU SEE, I'M NOT LOOKING AT CHAT AT ALL? UM, CORONAVIRUSES WE COULD HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH USC B SCHOOL OF EDUCATION TO HELP NON-CERTIFIED TEACHERS GET THAT EDUCATIONAL ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL SKILLS.
UM, COLONEL GUY, ALL RIGHT, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS, UM, MEETING WITH THE BUFORD DELEGATION AND THIS I KNOW, UM, EARL CAMPBELL HAS BROUGHT UP ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND, UM, ROBIN'S GOING TO GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
UM, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THEIR LIAISON CINDY MAXI TODAY, AND SHE IS FIRST.
SHE WANTED TO KNOW, UM, SHE SAID RIGHT NOW THEIR SCHEDULE IS REALLY BUSY AND I TOLD HER, AND SHE, HER QUESTION WAS, DID WE HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS GOING TO COLUMBIA? AND I SAID, THE MEETING, WHAT WE WANT IS WITH THE FULL DELEGATION, AS WELL AS WITH OUR FULL BOARD.
AND WE HAVE HAD THOSE MEETINGS IN THE PAST.
SO SHE IS ASKING FOR SPECIFICS, WHAT DO WE WANT TO MEET ABOUT WHAT IS THE TOPICS SO THAT SHE CAN HELP FACILITATE THAT? UM, IN WEST NEWTON IS THE CHAIR OF THE DELEGATION.
AND CAN I ASK YOU, UM, SO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION DOES HAVE THE PROGRAM
[00:35:01]
WHERE, UM, BOARD MEMBERS CAN GO, UH, VISIT THEIR RESPECTIVE, UM, LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AT THE CAPITOL.AND THIS YEAR IT'S, I BELIEVE IT'S APRIL 27TH.
AND, UH, HOW MANY BOARD MEMBERS ARE SIGNED UP FOR THAT? RIGHT NOW? I HAVE THREE.
UM, DOCTOR WAS ASKING, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
UM, I WAS JUST GOING TO SUGGEST, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE IN SESSION AND THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TIME TO GET THEM NAILED DOWN.
UM, I WONDER IF THEY WOULD BE AGREEABLE TO DOING A ZOOM MEETING.
I, THAT THAT MIGHT BE, UM, MORE EASILY SCHEDULED THAN AN IN PERSON MEETING.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT SUGGESTION.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SUGGESTION.
RACHEL, THE OTHER THING, UM, IN TERMS OF, OH, I'M SORRY.
ONE THING I THINK WE NEED TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT, I KNOW THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT, UM, FUNDING FORMULA AGAIN.
NOW THEY DO THIS EVERY SEVERAL YEARS, AT LEAST.
SO THAT THE SAME, UH, AREA WE WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
AND MY, MY CONCERN IS WHY CAN'T THEY PASS A, IT HAD FOUND FROM A FUNDING FORMULA THAT THEY CAN STICK WITH AND STOP TRYING TO CHANGE IT EVERY YEAR.
MY, MY OTHER THING IS THAT THE STATE OF GEORGIA THIS WEEK JUST PASS IT, INTRODUCE A BILL TO BRING BACK RETIRED TEACHERS, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DRAW A FULL SALARY PLUS THE PENSION.
AND THOSE ARE THE THING THAT I THINK THEY NEED TO LOOK AT.
SO THOSE ARE THOSE TWO ARE TWO THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED.
SO THE, UM, I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD SUGGESTIONS FOR AGENDA ITEMS. WE COULD ALSO HAVE THE, UM, ONCE THE MEETING WAS CONFIRMED BY ZOOM, WE COULD HAVE THE CHAIR OF THE DELEGATION WEST NEWTON, UH, CONVERSE WITH OUR CHAIR, DAVID STRIVEN, GER TO FINALIZE AGENDA TOPICS.
AND REALLY THE, WHEN WE'VE DONE IT DONE THAT THEN I, UM, BOARD MEETING WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR COUNTY COUNCIL, ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT BEEN THE FULL BOARD AND THE FULL COUNCIL HAS BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, RESPECTIVE MEMBERS FROM EACH WHOEVER'S REQUESTING THE MEETING HAS BEEN THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO, UM, UH, FINALIZE THE AGENDA.
SO SINCE WE'RE REQUESTING IT, UH, WE COULD BE THE ONES TO FINALIZE IT.
UH, I ALSO THINK THE FISCAL AUTONOMY SHOULD BE ON THERE.
I KNOW WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF, OF, UH, WORKING ON THAT, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT SHOULD BE, UH, ONE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS. SO WHAT W WHAT IS THE WILL OF THE COMMITTEE? I DISCUSS THOSE TWO TOPICS AND I THINK THOSE ARE PERFECT.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO MOST PRESSING THAT WE HAVE, UM, ESPECIALLY THE, THE FUNDING ONE, UM, SINCE I'M GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, PATRICIA, IS THERE ANY INTEREST IN, ONCE AGAIN, BRINGING UP DISTRICTS BEING ALLOWED TO SET THEIR OWN START DATE, SCHOOL, START DATE? I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY HARM IN THAT.
I THINK THE MORE, WE JUST KEEP POUNDING THAT HOME ABOUT, UM, LOCAL RULE, IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT, SO WE CAN, UM, WE COULD HAVE ROBIN, UM, RE CONTACT CINDY MAXI, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE DELEGATION AND SAY THAT THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT LEGISLATIVE
[00:40:01]
COMMITTEE AND THAT, UH, AT THE CURRENT TIME WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASIEST FOR ALL INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE WELL INTO THEIR LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO DO A ZOOM MEETING WITH THE TWO, UH, RESPECTIVE BODIES AND SUGGESTED TOPICS INCLUDE.AND DO YOU WANT TO JUST LIST THOSE FOUR, WHICH ARE FUNDING FORMULA, UM, WERE EARL SUGGESTION OF, UH, BRINGING RETIRED TEACHERS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM, FISCAL AUTONOMY AND THE SCHOOL START DATE TRICIA.
UM, ARE WE CERTAIN THAT RETIRED TEACHERS CAN'T COME BACK? I THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD, UM, EASED UP ON SOME OF THOSE ROLES.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO FIND OUT THAT FIRST IS ALICE STILL ON HERE.
RETIRED TEACHERS CAN COME BACK.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF RULES THAT THEY MUST FOLLOW.
UM, THERE IS THE $10,000 SALARY CAP THAT APPLIED TO ANY RETIRED TEACHER.
WHO'S NOT GOING TO BE TEACHING IN A HIGH NEED SCHOOL.
SO WHEN WE BRING RETIRED TEACHERS BACK, IT'S A PROCESS THAT WE MUST GO THROUGH AND IT'S KIND OF HASSLING FOR THE RETIRED TEACHERS THEMSELVES.
SO FOR INSTANCE, WE ARE GOING TO OFFER CONTRACTS TO ALL RETURNING EMPLOYEES IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE CANNOT OFFER A RETIRED TEACHER, A CONTRACT UNTIL AFTER JUNE 1ST.
SO THE POSITIONS THAT RETIRED TEACHERS ARE IN CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TO POST THOSE POSITIONS AND ACTIVELY SEEK TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.
SO YOU HAVE RETIRED TEACHERS IN LIMBO.
THEY'RE WAITING TO SEE IF WE DON'T, IF WE CAN'T FIND SOMEONE TO FILL THEIR SPOT, IF THERE CAN COME BACK ENOUGH, OF COURSE, PRINCIPALS WANT THEM BACK.
SO THEY DON'T TRY TO ACTIVELY FILL THOSE POSITIONS, BUT WE STILL MUST POST THEM.
AND I THINK THE TRAUMA OF SEEING YOUR POSITION POST, IT REALLY TAKES A LOT OUT OF RETIRED TEACHERS.
SO AFTER JUNE 1ST, WE CAN OFFER THEM A CONTRACT.
THEY MUST BE GOING, GOING TO A HIGH NEEDS SCHOOL IN A HIGH NEEDS SUBJECT AREA.
THE STATE HAS SINCE RELAXED THAT A LITTLE BIT.
SO ALMOST EVERYTHING IS HIGH NEEDS NOW.
SO THEN WE MUST COMPLETE OUR WAIVER REQUEST FORM FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS SEND TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT, HAVE THEM APPROVE IT SO THAT THEY CAN BE EXEMPT FROM THAT WAIVER REQUIREMENT.
SO IT'S A PROCESS, A LOT OF HOOPS VERSUS JUST SAYING, IF YOU'RE RETIRED TEACHER, YOU CAN COME BACK WITHOUT ALL THOSE HASSLES.
SO THEY ARE ABLE TO COME BACK ONLY A FEW TEACHERS LIKE PE TEACHERS.
WE CAN'T BRING BACK IF THEY'RE RETIRED, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT CONSIDERED A HIGH NEED AREA, ELEMENTARY TEACHERS NOT CONSIDERED A HIGH NEEDS AREA BASED ON THE STATE'S DEFINITION OF HIGH NEEDS.
SO THERE'S SOME, UM, KINKS IN THAT SYSTEM THAT WILL KEEP SOME RETIRED TEACHERS OUT, BUT BASICALLY RETIRED TEACHERS CAN COME BACK.
AND ALISON, I UNDERSTAND YOU THAT THEY CAN COME BACK AND GET THEIR FULL SALARY IF THEY'RE IN A HIGH NEEDS OR, OR NOT.
DID I MISUNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS CORRECT? THEY CAN COME BACK.
THE STATE MUST APPROVE THAT THEY'RE IN A HIGH NEED SCHOOL.
SO WHEN WE APPLY FOR THE WAIVER, WE SAY, UM, ALICE WALTON IS COMING BACK AND SHE'S GOING TO BE AT, UM, AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS A HIGH POVERTY SCHOOL.
AND THEN THE STATE WILL AGREE TO GIVE RELIEF FOR, FROM THAT $10,000 SALARY CAP.
AND THEN WE CAN BRING THEM BACK AT THEIR FULL SELF.
SO, UM, SO MADAM CHAIR, I THINK THAT THAT'S, UM, SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT TOPIC.
I ALSO THINK THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE, UM, GROUP ABOUT THE, WHAT WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING THE EQUAL FOOTING WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS, BEING ABLE TO HIRE 25% OF OUR WORKFORCE BEING WITHOUT TEACHER CERTIFICATIONS.
I THINK WE SHOULD ADD THAT ALSO.
SO REALLY IT'S A MORE GENERAL TOPIC WOULD BE, UH, UH, RECRUITING, I GUESS, UM, YOU KNOW, NON
[00:45:01]
TRADITIONAL, UH, CERTIFIED TEACHERS FOR THE CLASSROOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.I E RETIREES AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, NON-CERTIFIED STAFF.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE DAVID.
UM, JUST, I'LL BE REALLY QUICK.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP SAYING FISCAL AUTONOMY AND SAY FISCAL AUTHORITY.
JUST CHANGE THAT WORDING WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM.
CAN YOU PLEASE START AGAIN? YES, MA'AM.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? I'M WAY BETTER.
YOU JUST DID AGAIN, MADE YOU INAUDIBLE.
THE FIRST FEW WORDS WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, SIR.
WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING THERE IS FINE.
I WAS GONNA SAY THAT I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE, UH, THE, THE, THE MOTION TO, UH, TALK ABOUT BRINGING THE RETIRED TEACHERS BACK BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE DEFINITELY NEEDED RIGHT NOW THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
SO I WOULD DEFINITELY HOPE THAT WE COULD DEFINITELY PUT THAT IN THERE, AND I'LL STILL DUE TO DUE TO SOME OF THE REASONS THAT MRS. WALTON JUST STATED THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
THANK YOU, MR. CAMPBELL, EARL, THE PROGRAM THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE BILL FOR GEORGIA, THEN THOSE TEACHERS CAN COME BACK WITH NO PENALTIES AND GET THEIR FULL SALARY AND KEEP DRAWING RETIREMENT PERIOD.
SO AT THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON.
AND THIS MAY NOT BE SOMETHING TO ADD THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, BUT AT AN OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING THE CLOCK EXPRESSED A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH, UM, OSF AND THEY WANTED, THERE'S LIKE, WE NEED TO TALK TO THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION ABOUT THE PROCESSES, ET CETERA, UM, BECAUSE IT'S CAUSING DELAYS AND EXTRA EXPENSES FOR OUR REFERENDUM PROJECT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO BRING UP WITH THE LEGISLATION SLATE OF DELEGATION, BUT THE CLOCK HAD MENTIONED THAT.
AND WE COULD ADD THAT AS OUR FIFTH.
SO, UM, ROBIN, YOU'RE GOOD TO, UM, REACH BACK OUT TO CINDY MAXI AND SUGGEST ZOOM AND SUGGEST THESE FIVE TOPICS.
UM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THE TOPICS, UH, FUNDING FORMULA, UH, BRINGING BACK RETIRED TEACHERS, UM, UM, OR ARE WE GOING TO LIST IT UNDER RECRUITMENT RECRUITING NON-TRADITIONAL, WHICH WOULD UNDER, THAT WOULD BE A CHARTER EQUAL FOOTING WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEN RETIREES WITH FULL PENSION AND FULL SALARY.
THEN WE HAVE FISCAL AUTHORITY, SCHOOL START DATE AND OSF ISSUES.
I THINK YOU GOT THEM ALL RIGHT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? THE MEETING THAT WE WERE BEFORE, DELEGATION, INGRID, SORRY, SORRY.
NEXT STEP IS THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS ENTERTAINING A ORDINANCE FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AND THIS WAS A REQUEST BY, UM, RACHEL FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
SO I'LL LET HER, UM, DISCUSS THIS OR START THE CONVERSATION.
UM, SO I HAVE A VERY CURSORY UNDERSTANDING PRESENTLY OF WHAT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD IS LOOKING TO DO, BUT BASED ON WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING
[00:50:01]
TO IMPLEMENT SOME SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCES IN A TIERED FASHION.SO THE FIRST TIER IS DEALING WITH, UM, GARBAGE COLLECTION AND NOISE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NEXT TIERS WILL BE FOCUSED ON PERHAPS RESTRICTING THE AMOUNT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE ALLOWED ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLY, STILL, UH, I BELIEVE THEY HAD A MEETING LAST TUESDAY ON THE FIRST TIER, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO OUR ATTENTION NOW, UM, IN ANTICIPATION OF IT POTENTIALLY BEING ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE IT ON OUR RADAR AND, AND KIND OF DISCUSS HOW THAT MAY IMPACT US, UM, BEING THAT A LOT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE SECOND HOMEOWNERS AND THAT IS THE BULK OF OUR OPERATING REVENUE.
SO, UM, IT OBVIOUSLY IMPACTS US IF THERE'S A RESTRICTION PLACED THERE ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE RESTRICTION COULD, UM, YOU KNOW, DETER PEOPLE FROM PURCHASING A SECOND HOME ON HILTON HEAD.
SO REALLY I WAS JUST BRINGING IT PREMATURELY, KIND OF PUTTING IT ON EVERYBODY'S RADAR AND, UM, WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A POSITION DEPENDING ON HOW THE TOWN, UM, MOVES.
I MEAN, I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S A VERY, UM, BIG TOPIC RIGHT NOW, BUT I WANT TO, AS WE'RE PUTTING IT ON PEOPLE'S RADAR, WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT OUR LOW INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ARE BEING CONVERTED INTO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, UM, BY OUT OF STATE, UH, INVESTORS.
SO THE OAKS, WHICH HA IT ACTUALLY HAS OUR LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS AT, OF ALL THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
UM, AT 81 OF OUR, UH, STUDENTS CURRENTLY RESIDE AT THE OAKS THEY'RE BEING, THEY'RE BEING SOLD AND NOW PUT ON AIRBNB FOR $140 A NIGHT.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT HELTON HAD IS LOOKING TO CONTROL BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE BRAND FOR HILTON HEAD TO HAVE PEOPLE COME DOWN HERE AT $140 A NIGHT AND ENDED UP STAYING IN LOW-INCOME HOUSING.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO I DON'T THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO RESTRICT TRADE OR, UH, MAKE IT PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE OR DIFFICULT, BUT THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO CONTROL THE HILTON HEAD BRAND, UM, CONTROL THE LIVABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF HILTON HEAD.
AND TO BE HONEST, MAKE SURE WE DON'T END UP WHEN IT BECOMING ONE OF THOSE COASTAL COMMUNITIES WITH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF LOW RENT, UH, HOUSING FOR, FOR TOURISTS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT DEBATE.
I'M GOING TO PUT MY HAND DOWN.
SO IT, IT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL IN THE, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY THE DISCUSSION, UM, POINT WITH HILTON HEAD, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE THESE.
I THINK I READ THAT THEY'RE THERE.
THEY WANT TO HAVE SHORT-TERM RENTAL QUOTE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, UNQUOTE, I'M LOOKING AT ALL THESE, ALL THESE THINGS IN TERMS OF PERMITTING AND ET CETERA.
AND YES, THE WAY I SEE THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT US IS WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, RACHEL, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE, THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS WOULD BE A TAX THAT AT 6% THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES AND THOSE ARE, ARE, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTING TO OUR OPERATING EXPENSES AND TO OUR DEBT SERVICE.
SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S REALLY ANYTHING FOR US TO DO AT THIS POINT, DAVID, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING FOR THE BOARD TO DO AT THIS POINT OR ANY OTHER POINT.
UM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE BOARD COULD DO TO, TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ON, ON HOW THEY'RE HANDLING SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I'M NOT STANDING, I UNDERSTAND THE REVENUE SIDE, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WE COULD ACTUALLY DO.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S WAY BEYOND OUR PURVIEW TO START GETTING INVOLVED IN THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, LESS THEY ASK FOR A TIF, THEN IT'S ONE DIFFERENT FIELD, BUT I MEAN, CERTAINLY I THINK YOU'RE POSITIONED TO LET IT PLAY OUT AND SEE WHEN IT GETS MORE SUBSTANCE IS PROBABLY THE RIGHT WAY TO GO BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I JUST, I JUST THINK THAT'S A HUGE STRETCH.
IT'S A LOCAL LOCAL ISSUE, NOT A SUPPORT BOARD ISSUES.
I SIMPLY THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP AN EYE
[00:55:01]
ON IT BECAUSE IF THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTRICTING QUANTITY OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS.I DON'T KNOW IF TANYA HAS THOSE OR IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET THOSE FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE OR ELSEWHERE OF, I, I DO KNOW THAT THE TREASURER'S OFFICE HAS INSIGHT INTO, YOU KNOW, 6%, UM, ON HILTON HEAD SPECIFIC.
THEY CAN LOOK AT THE TAGS AND SEE THAT.
UM, NOW THE NUMBER OF THOSE THAT ARE ACTUALLY SHORT-TERM RENTALS, I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE INSIGHT INTO THOSE NUMBERS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, IF WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO HAVE ANY INFLUENCE, I THINK IT'S SHOULD BE BACKED UP BY, BY DATA AND SAY, THIS IS HOW THIS MIGHT AFFECT US.
UM, OTHERWISE I AGREE WITH YOU, DAVID.
WE DON'T HAVE REALLY ANY INFLUENCE, BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO AT LEAST MAKE AN ARGUMENT OR A CASE, UM, I THINK THAT'S OUR, OUR DUTY THERE.
ANY OTHER, UM, NUMBERS LIKE TO COMMENT? ALL RIGHT.
SO I GUESS CAN'T KEEP OUR ANTENNA UP AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON REGARDING THIS.
SO BEFORE WE ADJOURN, WE NEED TO DECIDE ON THE NEXT, UH, UM, MEETING TIME.
AND I SAID, CAN SUGGEST APRIL THE 26TH, THAT WOULD BE THE FOURTH TUESDAY.
UM, LIKE THIS ONE THAT WAS GOING TO BE BY SUGGESTION AS WELL.
DOES THAT WORK FOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND FOR OUR LIAISON, WENDY? SO THURSDAY THAT WORKS FOR ME TUESDAY.
I JUST MISSPOKE TUESDAY, APRIL 26TH.
AND, UM, WILL WE BE ABLE TO START SOONER? YEAH, FOR ME, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FIVE 30.
I CAN REALLY START FOUR OR LATER, BUT I KNOW RACHEL YOU'RE UNDER MORE OF A CONSTRAINT I THINK, THAN I AM.
AND ANGELA AND ANGELA, BOTH OF YOU? YES.
WHAT WORKS FOR YOU LADIES YEARLY IS THAT I CAN MEET AS FIVE.
AND, AND RACHEL, UM, FIVE OR FIVE 30, PREFERABLY FIVE 30, BUT ALL RIGHT.
AND PATRICIA, DO YOU HAVE ANY, UM, REQUESTS OR? NOPE, I'M AVAILABLE, WHATEVER WORKS FOR, UH, ANYBODY ELSE.
UM, DAVID, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT, THAT IS THE DAY BEFORE, THE DAY AT THE CAPITOL THAT STARTS EARLY.
SO, SO CAN WE MEET, SO CAN WE MEET AFTER THAT BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE INFORMATION TO BRING BACK? YEAH.
SO IT WOULD, WOULD YOU WANT TO DO, UM, WHAT ABOUT FIRST DAY THAT I JUST ACCIDENTALLY MENTIONED? UM, THAT WOULD BE THE DAY FOR THE AD HOC NORTH OF, I MEAN, SOUTH OF THE, THAT WOULD BE THE DAY FOR THE AD HOC BLUFFTON.
IF THE AD HOC BLUFFTON GROUP IS GOING TO BE MEETING.
AND ANOTHER THING TOO IS HELPING HEAD ISLAND HILTON HEAD ISLAND ACADEMY HAS A PROGRAM THAT EVENING AT 6:00 PM GOING IN A MATTER OF FACT, I ALREADY RSVPS.
WELL, WELL WE CAN DO THE 25TH AT FIVE 30.
THAT SEEMS SO THAT WOULD BE MONDAY.
SO IT WOULDN'T BE THE NIGHT BEFORE, UM, COLUMBIA FOR SOME OF US.
UM, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD JUST SHARE AN AGENDA SETTING OR, UM, ON THAT DAY ON THE 25TH, AT TWO 30, WE HAVE AD HOC NORTH OF THE BROAD.
THEN ON THE 25TH, WE HAVE AGENDA SETTING AT FIVE NINE ON.
NOT UNLESS WE MOVE AGENDA SETTING.
WELL, MOVE INTO THE FIRST ONE.
MAYBE THAT CAUSE FRIDAY THE 22ND IS OUR WORK SESSION.
RIGHT? TRICIA, I THINK ANGELA HAD A GREAT IDEA THAT, UH, TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION MEETING IN COLUMBIA, UM, AND WE CAN GLEAN SOME INFORMATION FROM THAT THAT MIGHT MAKE OUR MEETING MORE EFFECTIVE.
[01:00:01]
INTO THE BEGINNING OF MAY IF WE HAVE TO.UM, SO WE PROBABLY OUR FIRST BOARD MEETING IN MAY, IS IT THE THIRD? CORRECT? THAT'S THE FIRST BOARD MEETING IN MAY IS MAY 3RD.
SO WE COULD DO IT ON MONDAY THE SECOND, OR WE COULD GO, UM, LATER IN THE WEEK, THE SECOND WORKS FOR ME, ME TO ANGELA AND TRICIA LOOKING AT THE CALENDARS.
I MIGHT BE IN TEXAS, BUT I CAN ALWAYS DO THEM IN.
WHAT TIME? FIVE 30 IS BEST FOR YOU GUYS.
WELL RACHEL WILL BE IN ANOTHER TIME.
WHAT WOULD YOU SHOW IS? SO COULD YOU DO FIVE OR NO? RACHEL? YES.
I CAN, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT COMPARABLE FOR ME.
AND HOW ABOUT YOU THOUGH? ANGELA? I CAN DO FINE.
SO WE'LL SET IT FOR MAY 2ND AT FIVE O'CLOCK AND AT 5:00 PM.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO, UM, IN PERSON HYBRID OR ZOOM HYBRID? OKAY.
HE SAYS SOME PEOPLE ARE COMING IN HERE, SO, WELL, IT'D BE EASY FOR ME BECAUSE I'M ALREADY OVER ON THAT SIDE OF THE RIVER.
JUST CHECK IF YOU WANT TO, OR WE CAN DO ZOOM IF IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER FOR EVERYBODY.
I'LL HAVE TO DO ZOOM, BUT YOU ALL DO WHATEVER I CAN PROBABLY DO EITHER.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE WE, UH, HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? ALL RIGHT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.