[00:00:01]
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY.[Call to Order]
THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING OF DECEMBER 13TH, 2022.THIS IS BEING CONDUCTED VIA A HYBRID VIDEO CONFERENCING AND ALSO IS BEING LIVE STREAMED BY THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
PARTICIPATION WILL BE ACCEPTED BETWEEN FIVE AND FIVE 30 THIS EVENING BY SENDING AN EMAIL WITH YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER, AND TOPIC TO ROBIN.
THAT'S ROBIN WITH A Y DOT CUSHING, BARRY BEAUFORT DOT K12.
DO SC.US, YOU'LL RECEIVE A PHONE CALL DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS WHERE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES.
ON ISSUES WITHIN THE BOARD'S DOMAIN, THE FORUM WILL BE LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES.
IF YOU ARE IN PERSON, YOU MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR A MAXIMUM THREE MINUTES.
ON ISSUES WITHIN THE BOARD'S DOMAIN, EACH SPEAKER MUST FILL OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD.
PLEASE SEE THE BOARD CLERK FOR A CARD REQUEST FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC.
COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BETWEEN SEVEN AND SEVEN 30 THIS EVENING IN THE SAME MANNER.
SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT AND NO LATER AS THE 9:00 PM THE SECOND FORM IS LIMITED TO 15 MINUTES.
IN THE EVENT THE BOARD IS NOT FINISHED ADDRESSING ALL ITEMS LISTED ON THE DECEMBER 13TH, 2022 AGENDA, THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE TOMORROW EVENING AT 6:00 PM TO FINISH THE AGENDA ITEMS, WE NOW
[Executive Session]
NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE FOLLOWING REASONS LISTED.I MOVE THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING FIVE PENDING MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 30 DASH 40 DASH 70 A TWO PERSONNEL MATTER.
PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT, DISCUSSION OF EMPLOYMENT APPOINTMENT PROMOTION COMPENSATION PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A ONE ADULT ED HOMESCHOOL REPORT PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 40 A FOUR.
AND DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED SELECTION FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CONTRACT RFQ NUMBER 23 DASH 0 0 6.
PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES REBUILD OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A TWO.
SECOND MOTION BY MR. EARL CAMPBELL.
ANY DISCUSSION MR. SMITH? UH, YES MA'AM.
MA'AM, CHAIR, CAN YOU TELL US, UM, WHO WOULD BE GIVING US LEGAL ADVICE IN, IN, IN TERMS OF THE, UH, LEGAL, COULD YOU TELL ME WHO, WHO CAN YOU TELL ME WHO WILL BE ADVISING THE BOARD ON THE LEGAL, ON THE LEGAL DEVICES WITH REGARDS TO FIVE PENDING, UH, MATTERS AND TO SECTION, UH, 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70? IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE IS.
HELLO, MR. SMITH, CAN YOU HEAR US OKAY? WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.
MR. SMITH, CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING? COME THING? YEAH.
SO MR. SMITH, WHY DON'T YOU TYPE YOUR QUESTION IN THE CHAT AND WE'LL ANSWER IT.
WHO IS GIVING LEGAL ADVICE TO ANSWER WHO GIVING LEGAL ADVICE? UM, OKAY.
YEAH, WE FINALLY HEARD YOU BOTH MR. MATTHEWS AND MS. CARTILAGE AND, AND THANK YOU.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
ANYBODY OPPOSED? I ANY EXTENSION? OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[00:05:07]
EXPLORING CAREERS IN THE MILITARY.REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES ARE AT BUFORT HIGH SCHOOL, TALKING TO STUDENTS ABOUT DIFFERENT CAREER PATHWAYS THE MILITARY OFFERS.
THE STUDENTS WENT TABLE TO TABLE ASKING LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARMY AIR FORCE AND MORE.
I'M THINKING ABOUT GOING IN THE AIR FORCE, AND I ALSO WANNA GO IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.
AND THE REASON WHY I WANNA GO IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY DREAM TO LIKE HELP PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LIKE TAKE CARE OF THEM, LIKE WHEN THEY'RE SICK AND STUFF.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO THE AIR FORCE AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE MEDICAL FIELD.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A NURSE OR A DOCTOR, SO I JUST LOVE THE AIR FORCE.
SO WHY NOT COMBINE BOTH THE SCHOOL HOSTED THE MILITARY STYLE CAREER FAIR AS A WAY TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO DIFFERENT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND INTRODUCE THEM TO DIFFERENT CAREER OPTIONS AS THEY START TO THINK ABOUT THEIR FUTURES? IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREERS THAT THEY HAVE, SO THAT WHEN THEY GO INTO THE WORLD OF WORK, THEY KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE AMPLY EMPLOYED AND BECOME VIABLE CITIZENS OF OUR WORLD.
THE EVENT WAS HELD IN THE CAFETERIA DURING ALL LUNCH PERIODS SO STUDENTS COULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THE MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES IF THEY CHOSE TO.
AT BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL, RON LOES, BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
[ Action as Necessary or Appropriate Regarding Matters Discussed in Executive Session]
WELCOME TO COUNTY OF DECEMBER 13TH, 2022.THE MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED VIA HYBRID VIDEO CONFERENCING AND IT IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED BY THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS, UM, EARLY IN THE MEETING, AND THOSE WERE ACCEPTED ALREADY BETWEEN FIVE AND FIVE 30.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION LATER IN THE MEETING.
AND THOSE WILL BE ACCEPTED BETWEEN SEVEN AND 7:30 PM BY EMAILING YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER, AND TOPIC TO ROBIN WITH A Y DOT CUSHING BUFORT.K12.SC.US.
AND YOU'LL RECEIVE A PHONE CALL DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WHERE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR A MAXIMUM THREE MINUTES ON ISSUES IN THE BOARD'S DOMAIN.
THE SECOND FORM IS LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES AND IT WILL TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT NO LATER THAN 9:00 PM IF YOU'RE IN PERSON, YOU MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR A MAXIMUM THREE MINUTES ON ISSUES WITHIN THE BOARD'S DOMAIN, AND YOU MUST FILL OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD AND PLEASE SEE THE BOARD CLERK FOR A CARD IN THE EVENT THE BOARD IS NOT FINISHED ADDRESSING ALL ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE AT 6:00 PM TOMORROW NIGHT TO FINISH THE AGENDA ITEMS. THE BOARD WAS JUST IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND IS NOW BACK IN PUBLIC SESSION.
AND DO WE HAVE ANY ACTION AS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE REGARDING MATTERS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? YES, MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE THREE MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE FIRST IS I MOVE, WE APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT LISTED ON THE NOVEMBER 1ST THROUGH NOVEMBER 31ST, 2022.
PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT.
MOTION WAS MADE BY ANGELA MIDDLETON AND SECOND BY TRICIA FRIEDRICH.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE SAY AYE.
SO THE MOTION CARRIES 9 1 0 MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE.
WE ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MONTHLY ADULT EDUCATION HOMESCHOOL REPORT FOR DECEMBER, 2022.
OKAY, MS. ANGELA MIDDLETON MADE THE MOTION AND MR. EARL CAMPBELL SECONDED THE MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION THERE BEING NO HANDS UP? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE SAY AYE.
SO THE SECOND MOTION, UH, WAS UNANIMOUS.
MS. MIDDLETON, MADAM CHAIR, I MOVED THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ISSUE AN AWARD
[00:10:01]
TO LITTLE DIVERSIFIED ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTING FOR PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE REBUILD OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL.THE BOARD AUTHORIZES THE SUPERINTENDENT TO NEGOTIATE AN ARCHITECTURAL CONTRACT AND UPON SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS, EXEC EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE FIRM.
MS. UH, MIDDLETON MADE THE MOTION, MS. UH, PRICK.
UM, SINCE THIS IS AFFECTING MY CONSTITUENT SCHOOLS, I'M GONNA BE ABSTAINING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THIS INFORMATION TILL ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO, AND I HAVEN'T, IS MY MICROPHONE, IT'S ON, RIGHT? YEAH.
IT DOESN'T SOUND VERY LOUD THOUGH.
WELL, I'M, I'M BEING, I'M BEING, UM, SO I JUST WANNA LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT'S WHY I'M ABSTAIN.
I JUST HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO REVIEW THAT.
THE, UH, MOTION IS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN THERE BEING NO FURTHER HANDS UP.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY AYE.
OKAY, AND ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY, SO THE MOTION CARRIES, UH, 6 1 3.
IT WAS, BUT THAT'S ONLY NINE AND THERE'S KIND A, I THINK I WAS RIGHT.
UM, AND THE ABSTENTIONS BOATRIGHT WAS KY AND SMITH.
BUT THE MOTION DOES, DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER ACTION? NO, MA'AM.
MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE NOW NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE
[Approval of Agenda]
THE AGENDA.MR. EARL CAMPBELL APPROVES AGENDA.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT.
MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO TAKE, UM, ITEMS, I THINK IT'S G IN REGARD TO OE TWO AND K IN REGARD TO OE 15.
OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE.
YOU SAID OE TWO AND 15 UNDER CONSENT AGENDA, OE ONE AND OE 15.
SO THOSE WILL GO UP UNDER, UH, NO.
AND UM, SO THOSE CAN GO UNDER OPERATIONS OR, OR UNDER BOARD BUSINESS ACTION.
SO LET'S PUT THOSE UNDER, UM, THE COMMITTEE REPORTS SINCE THEY WERE DISCUSSED IN THE COMMITTEES AND, AND 11 TOO AS WELL.
SO THE OE THAT ARE BEING MOVED, MOVED OFF, CONSENT TO THE COMMITTEE REPORT ARE 2, 3, 10, 11, AND 15.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HAVE THE SEPTEMBER 9TH, UH, BOARD WORK SESSION MINUTES, MOVE TO BOARD BUSINESS ACTION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THE AGENDA? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA WITH THE, UM, MODIFICATIONS JUST DISCUSSED, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY, UH, A ANY ABSTENTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
THE MOTION PASSES, UH, UNANIMOUSLY.
RODRIGUEZ, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING WAS, UH, OE THREE PART OF THAT AS WELL, OR NO? YES.
[Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence, Statement of Media Notification]
UP IS OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.SO PLEASE STAND, WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[00:15:15]
THE MEDIA HAS BEEN PROPERLY NOTIFIED.[Student Performance – Coosa Chorus will be performing “Snowflake Carol” arr. Steve Kupferschmid Under the direction of music teacher Rachel Kirk.]
HAVE OUR STUDENT PERFORMANCE.THE KUSA CHORUS WILL BE PERFORMING SNOWFLAKE CAROL ARRANGED BY STEVE COPPER SCHMID.
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MUSIC TEACHER RACHEL KIRK.
[00:22:05]
THANK YOU TO THE CHORUS.[Points of Celebration]
ON OUR, UM, AGENDA, THE POINTS OF CELEBRATION, DR.GUS AND BOARD MEMBERS, UH, THE ITEMS ON POINTS OF CELEBRATION.
TODAY WE BEGIN WITH THE CHARACTER ED, UH, STUDENT FOR NORTHERN BUFORD COUNTY, OUR CHARACTER EDUCATION STUDENT FOR OCTOBER, UH, FOR NORTHERN BEAUFORD COUNTY.
THE CHARACTER ED PROGRAM WAS FORMED TO SUPPORT PARENTS' EFFORTS TO DEVELOP GOOD CHARACTER IN THEIR CHILDREN.
AND TONIGHT WE'RE CELEBRATING THE CHARACTER ED STUDENT OF THE MONTH EXHIBITING THE CHARACTER TRAITS OF COURAGE AND TOLERANCE.
COURAGE IS DEFINED AS DOING THE RIGHT THING IN THE FACE OF DIFFICULTY AND FOLLOWING YOUR CONSCIENCE INSTEAD OF A CROWD.
TOLERANCE IS DEFINED AS REALIZING THAT EVERYONE IS AT VARYING LEVELS OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR CHARACTER EDUCATION STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR NORTHERN BUFORD COUNTY FOR OCTOBER IS CAITLIN FIELDS, A FOURTH GRADE STUDENT AT ROBERT SMALLS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY.
AND HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT CAITLIN IS ROBERT SMALL'S PRINCIPAL.
THIS IS YOUR, UH, LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH? YES, THAT WORKS.
NEXT IS THE CHARACTER ED STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR NORTHERN BEAUFORD COUNTY FOR NOVEMBER, AND OUR CHARACTER ED, UH, STUDENT, UH, FOR NORTHERN BUFORD COUNTY.
TONIGHT WE'RE CELEBRATING THE CHARACTER ED, UH, TRAITS OF RESPECT AND GRATITUDE AND RESPECT IS DEFINED AS SHOWING HIGH REGARD FOR AN AUTHORITY OR AN AUTHORITY, UH, FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
GRATITUDE IS DEFINED AS TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE FOR YOU.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR CHARACTER EDUCATION STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR NORTHERN BEAUFORD COUNTY FOR NOVEMBER IS CAMILLA SMITH, A PRE-K STUDENT AT JOSEPH S SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND HERE TO TELL US IS MS. RIVERA OVER HERE.
THANK YOU, MS. RIVERA FROM, UH, SHANKLIN OUR PRINCIPAL.
IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THIS EVENING THAT I PRESENTED TO YOU.
[00:25:01]
SHE IS A PRE-K STUDENT AT JOSEPH SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.SHE EXHIBITS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPECT AND GRATITUDE, AND ALWAYS THINKS WIN-WIN.
SHE CONSISTENTLY SHOWS RESPECT AND GRATITUDE AROUND THE SCHOOL TO EVERYONE, HER PEERS AND STAFF.
SHE SHOWS THAT BY HOLDING OPEN DOORS, ACTIVELY LISTENING IN HER CLASSES, FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS AND EXCELLENT MANNERS.
YOU WILL NEVER CATCH CAMIL WITHOUT A PLEASE OR A THANK YOU.
NEXT IS, UH, THE CHARACTER ED STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR SOUTHERN BEAUFORD COUNTY.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THAT STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER IS JAYDEN PRESS, A FRESHMAN AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE JAYDEN UP WHILE I TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM.
JAYDEN IS A FRESHMAN FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRIVING AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL WITH FIVE CREDITS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL.
HE CURRENTLY HOLDS A 4.8 GPA AFTER HIS FIRST SEMESTER AFTER EACH PRACTICE AND GAME.
HE ALWAYS MAKES SURE TO THANK HIS COACHES AND THE OPERATION STAFF.
ADDITIONALLY, JAYDEN HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND BY VOLUNTEERING AT EVERY EVENT HELD AS HE WANTS TO GIVE BACK TO THE PROGRAM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IS HELP AT EVERY HOME GAME, WHETHER WITH EQUIPMENT IN THE PRESS BOX OR TO STAY AFTER THE GAME AND HELP WITH THE FIELD.
JANE REALIZES THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST SAY THANK YOU, BUT TO ALSO EX HE EXPRESSES IT WITH HIS ACTIONS, AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE HIM AS A SEAHAWK IN OUR CLASSROOM AND ON OUR FIELDS.
YOU WANT US TO PICK FOR YOU? THANK SO MUCH.
NEXT ITEM, UH, TO CELEBRATE THIS EVENING IS NATIONAL HONORS CHORUS.
LAST MONTH, TWO BEAUFORT HIGH STUDENTS WERE SURPRISED WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY MADE THE AMERICAN CORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL HONORS CHORUS.
AND HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS HONOR AND INTRODUCE THE STUDENT IS CHORUS TEACHER FOR A STAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US, UM, TO COME AND SHARE THESE POINTS OF CELEBRATION.
UM, I HAVE TWO STUDENTS HERE, UH, MARION ANNA, LISA CALKIN STAND, PLEASE.
UM, WHO I TOOK A SHOT IN THE DARK.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I THINK IT'S EVER HAPPENED IN BEFORD COUNTY.
UM, BUT WE, UH, IN ABOUT SEPTEMBER, I GOT THE APPLICATIONS READY FOR, FOR THESE TWO STUDENTS.
THEY, UH, HAD TO SING SOME PRETTY DIFFICULT MUSIC TO GET INTO THIS, UM, BUT, UH, WITH, WITH A LOT OF SCRUTINY TO THEIR AUDITION TAPES, THEY HAD TO RECORD, UH, AND AGAINST ABOUT 5,000 OTHER STUDENTS, THEY WERE SELECTED TO BE TWO OF THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE PERFORMING AND ACQUIRING CINCINNATI COMING IN FEBRUARY.
UM, SURE APPRECIATE NOW, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, UM, GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE, UM, FOR ALL OF THE GREAT NEWS THAT WE'VE BEEN SHARING TODAY WITH ALL OF THE, AND THIS EVENING, UM, WE ALSO HAVE ONE MORE PIECE OF, OF, UH, NEWS TO GIVE YOU.
IT'S, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, BUT, UM, THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT OUR, UH, BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL, UH, FOOTBALL TEAM HAS WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
[00:30:41]
SO THIS WAS, UH, QUITE AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT.FIRST OF ALL, UH, MY THERE LAST YEAR TO COMPETE IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND GETTING BACK THERE TWO YEARS WAS NO EASY FEAT, RIGHT? AND SO THEY NOT ONLY ACCOMPLISHED GETTING BACK THERE A SECOND TIME, UH, BUT THUS TIME THEY CAME HOME VICTORIOUS WITH THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND SO, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE I WAS SITTING ON THE FIELD, UH, WHEN SOMEBODY SAID TO ME THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1945, SINCE 19 THAT, AND I, AND MY FIRST REACTION WAS, THAT'S WORLD WAR II, RIGHT? BUT YES, THIS IS AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT.
WE'RE SO PROUD OF THESE YOUNG MEN, YOU KNOW, ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT, WHICH AFTER THEY RETURNED HOME, I'M SURE, UH, FROM EACH YEAR'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND GETTING READY FOR COACH AND COACH'S TRAINING.
SO COACH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, TO YOUR TEAM.
WE'RE PROUD OF YOU AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE GET A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE YOU IN THE FUTURE.
UH, JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY.
UM, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO IT.
UM, IT'S A VERY COOL THING WHEN YOU GET TO, TO MAKE HISTORY.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS, IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, AND SO JUST REALLY PROUD OF THESE GUYS AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE.
THEY'VE, UH, WORKED EXTREMELY HARD.
THEY'VE, THEY'VE BOUGHT INTO, UH, THE SYSTEM AND THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE IN, UM, DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY AND LEAVING THINGS BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT.
AND, UM, AND, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE.
WE HAD 22 GREAT SENIORS, UH, SEVEN ALL REGION PLAYERS, TWO ALL STATE PLAYERS, UM, JUST A, JUST A REALLY, REALLY GREAT GROUP.
UM, SO JUST EXTREMELY PROUD OF THEM AND, AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT Y'ALL DONE FOR US.
YEAH, IF YOU'RE A SENIOR, SENIOR, STEP FORWARD.
YES, WE STARTED THREE FRESHMEN IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, SO WE GOT SOME COMING BACK.
GUAC CONCLUDES OUR POINTS OF CELEBRATION THIS EVENING.
MANY GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT.
[First Public Comments]
AGENDA, UH, IS THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.UM, I WILL READ THE RULES FOR SPEAKING.
THE SPEAKERS ADDRESSING THE BOARD MUST CONFINE THE COMMENTS TO ISSUES WITHIN THE DOMAIN OF THE BOARD.
REFRAIN FROM RACIAL COMMENTS, OBSCENITIES AND VULGARITIES SHALL NOT REFERENCE OR MAKE DEROGATORY COMMENTS ABOUT SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS BY NAME AND SHALL COMMIT OTHER BREACHES OF RESPECT.
SPEAKERS MAY REFERENCE THE NAME OF SPECIFIC BOARD MEMBERS, BUT SUCH COMMUNICATIONS WILL NOT INCLUDE GOSSIP, DEFAMATORY WORDS, OR ABUSIVE AND VULGAR LANGUAGE.
YOU MAY NOT EXCEED THREE MINUTES.
THERE'LL BE VISIBLE AND AUDIBLE TIMING DEVICE USED AND THE PER ONE PERSON MAY NOT YIELD THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER.
IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND ALL SPEAKERS THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE A PRIVILEGE AND NOT A RIGHT.
UM, WE HAVE I THINK, MAYBE ABOUT 15, UH, SUBMISSIONS APPROXIMATELY AND WE'RE JUST GOING IN THE ORDER OF, OF THE HOW WE RECEIVED THEM.
SO FIRST UP IS ROBIN BUCHANAN AND SHE WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT PROBLEMS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
[00:35:07]
HELLO, GOOD EVENING.OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING ATTACKED BY ALL, ALL THESE COMMUNIST INFILTRATED INSTITUTIONS, MAINLY SCHOOLS, HOLLYWOOD, FASHION MEDIA, DISNEY AND OBSCENE DEMORALIZING BOOKS IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS A NORMALIZED GROOMING, WHICH IS SEXUAL ABUSE, ADULTS HAVING SEX WITH CHILD AND CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.
YO WOLF, FORMER HEAD OF TWITTER TRUST AND SAFETY TRAFFICKING, I'M SORRY, SAFETY SUPPORTS ONLINE CHILD SEXUALIZATION THROUGH A SITE CALLED GRINDR.
OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS FAILED OUR CHILDREN MISERABLY DURING THE CHINESE VIRUS, THEY LOCKED DOWN OUR SCHOOLS.
THEIR CURRICULUM SCORES HAVE PLUMMETED AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE DESTROYING OUR DE IN DEVASTATING OUR YOUTH, ESPECIALLY AFTER WEARING MASKS THAT DON'T WORK.
NOW WE HAVE CHRISTMAS DRAG QUEEN SHOWS IN CHARLESTON DRAG QUEEN SHOWS IN BLUFFTON AND COLUMBIA AND MORE ACROSS THE STATE.
THANK FOR GOOD PATRIOT FAMILIES AND GOOD COURAGEOUS PARENTS FOR STANDING UP TO THIS SATANIC BEHAVIOR.
WE MUST BRING CHRIST BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH OUR JUDEO-CHRISTIAN VALUES THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON.
WE NEED TO TEACH THE 10 COMMANDMENTS AND NOT EQUITY DURING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
PLEASE REFLECT ON YOUR DECISIONS THAT AFFECT GOD'S BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS OUR CHILDREN.
NEXT UP IS AMY TRASK WHO WILL SPEAK ON BOOK CHALLENGES PARENT OPTOUT POLICY.
HI, MY NAME IS AMY TRASK AND I AM THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AT BEAUFORT MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS.
INDIVIDUAL PARENTS DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT THEIR CHILDREN READ, AND I SUPPORT THAT AS LONG AS THEY ARE ONLY CHOOSING FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
SCHOOL LIBRARIANS HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH PARENTS AND WELCOME PARENTS IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES I'VE WORKED WITH AND STUDENTS IN ROOM FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I'VE HAD PARENT VOLUNTEERS READ ALOUD, ASSIST WITH BOOK FAIRS, READ ACROSS AMERICA, YOU NAME IT, EVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE STILL LOVE FOR PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED.
JUST RECENTLY I HAD A PARENT VOLUNTEER HELP ME WITH THE LIBRARY DISPLAY.
I ALSO WELCOME BOOK CHALLENGES.
PART OF THE PROCEDURES FOR HANDS QUESTIONS OR CHALLENGE SCHOOL I'VE BEEN MATERIALS ALLOWS OUR PARENT TO COMPLETE THE REQUEST TO OPT OUT OF SCHOOL LIBRARY MATERIALS FORM.
IT IS VERY EASY FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS TO HEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE, TWO YEARS AGO, NOT WANT THEIR SON TO READ NOVELS.
IT WAS VERY EASY FOR ME TO PUT A NOTE ON HIS DESTINY WAS INJURED, A MESSAGE POPPED UP CERTAIN HE'S NOT PERMITTED TO CHECK OUT GRAPHIC NUMBERS.
THIS CAN BE DONE FOR ANY TYPE OF BOOK, A SINGLE TITLE LIST OF BOOKS.
I COULD CREATE A LIST WITH THE 97 CHALLENGE TITLES AND ANY OTHER BOOKS APPEARANCE HIS OBJECTIONABLE.
ACTUALLY, IF A PARENT IS REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE BOOKS AND SCHOOL LIBRARY, THEIR CHILD DOESN'T HAVE TO CHECK OUT NEW BOOKS AT ALL.
CHECKING OUT BOOKS FROM LIBRARIES ARE OPTIONAL.
MANY OTHER STUDENTS DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY OR THE RESOURCES TO BOOKS GIVE EVERYONE EQUAL ACCESS TO LITERATURE.
CHILDREN WITH POVERTY OF THE STUDENTS THAT NEED BOOKS THE MOST FOR STUDENTS LIVING IN A HOSTILE ENVIRON, THE SCHOOL LIBRARY SAFE PLACE TO EXPLORE CERTAIN TOPICS.
WE ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO BE INQUISITIVE.
LIFE SCHOOL LIBRARIANS WORK HOME SO EVERY STUDENT CAN CONFIRM WHAT THEY WANT READ IN THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARY.
AND I WANTED TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN'S INNOCENCE AS AS I COULD.
I WASN'T REALLY READY FOR MY KIDS TO GROW UP EITHER.
IN HIGH SCHOOL, I DID LET MY CHILDREN READ WHATEVER THEY WANTED CUZ THEY WERE READING.
AND I LOVED THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD AFTER THEY READ DOC PROVOKING BOOKS.
THIS MAY NOT ALIGN WITH SOME FAMOUS BREAKS.
NOT EVERYONE HAS THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CHILDREN OR IS COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT ISSUES.
THIS IS WHY PARENTS MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, BUT ONLY THEIR CHILDREN.
NO ONE ELSE'S AS A PROFESSIONAL, PLEASE DON'T TELL RIGHTS TO DO HIS BEST FOR THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT WE HA WE HAVE JEFF BAKERS.
HIS TOPIC IS OPPOSED THE BOOK BANDS.
[00:40:01]
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME ADDRESS THE BOARD.I WAS AN EDUCATOR FOR OVER THREE DECADES AS WELL AS A DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER TO ADDRESS THE MATTER REGARDING BOOK IN BEAUFORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THAT'S A, IF YOU PREFER A CHILD READ A SPECIFIC BOOK IN SCHOOL THAT IS CERTAINLY A MATTER BETWEEN AND CHILD SPECIFIC CLASS ASSIGNMENT.
YOUR TEACHER CAN GUIDE A TURN OF ASSIGNMENT.
TEACHERS DO THAT ALL THE TIME.
IF THERE'S A CASE OF A CERTAIN BOOK IN THE LIBRARY ON THE SHELVES, INFORM THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN THAT YOUR CHILD DOES NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO SIGN OUT THAT SPECIFIC BOOK.
OF COURSE, A BOOK FOR BEING READ ONLY INCREASES INTEREST IN THE BOOK AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN BOOK SALES.
WHAT YOU SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO DO IS TO PREVENT OTHER PARENTS FROM MAKING THAT DECISION FOR THEIR CHILDREN WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO TAKE AWAY OTHER PARENTS' FREEDOM TO DECIDE WHAT IS UNDER THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST BOOKS IS PAGE RIGHT OUTTA GERMANY'S PLAYBOOK IN THE MID THIRTIES.
SADLY KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT.
ON THIS MARGARET ATWOOD 1985, THIS PROPHETIC NOVEL FOCUSES ON EXTREME RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES, PREGNANCIES.
SOUND FAMILIAR? SO NEXT UP WE HAVE DR.
HER TOPIC IS APPRECIATION FOR KATHY ROBEN AS CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT EIGHT AT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY AND SINCERELY EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO KATHY RABIN FOR THE HER PAST FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
SHE'S BEEN A TRULY AMAZING BOARD MEMBER, HELPING THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THRIVE AND FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL THROUGH THE WORK OF THE BOARD.
SHE'S PREPARED GRADUATES TO COMPETE AND SUCCEED IN AN EVER-CHANGING GLOBAL SOCIETY AND CAREER MARKETPLACE DURING SOME OF THE MOST COMPLICATED SCHOOL YEARS.
IN RECENT HISTORY, KATHY, YOU HAVE MADE A POWERFUL DIFFERENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND FOR OUR STUDENTS.
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTISE HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE AND HAS SHOWN EXCEPTIONAL DISCIPLINE AND DEDICATION.
AND YOUR'RE GONNA MAKE ME CRY.
WE TRULY VALUE THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK IN OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT INVOLVEMENT AND CONNECTION TO THE FAMILY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS IN BUFORD COUNTY.
AND FOR BEING A PROFESSIONAL AND POSITIVE EXAMPLE.
YOU HAVE TRULY BEEN A CARETAKER OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
NEXT UP WE HAVE KAREN AND I MAY MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME AND I APOLOGIZE.
GARRIS GARRIS, YOUR TOPIC IS BOOK CHALLENGES IN THE B C S D LIBRARIES.
I AM KAREN GARRIS, THE LIBRARIAN AT BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU REGARDING CENSORSHIP IN BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
MY GOAL TONIGHT IS TO SHARE MY PURPOSE AND TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE IMPACT THAT THE BOOKS HAVE ON OUR STUDENTS.
AND TO PUT IT PLAINLY, BOOKS SAVE LIVES.
THE PURPOSE OF A SCHOOL LIBRARY COLLECTION IS TO SUPPORT BOTH THE CURRICULUM AND THE PERSONAL AND RECREATIONAL READING INTERESTS OF OUR STUDENTS.
A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF MY ROLE IS CALLED READER'S ADVISORY.
FINDING THE RIGHT BOOK FOR EVERY STUDENT, WHETHER IT IS TO EDUCATE AND FORM OR TO ENTERTAIN.
A STUDENT RECENTLY CAME TO ME ASKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT A BOOK THAT DEALT WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
THEY WERE REPORTEDLY NOT A READER SELF ADMISSION, BUT HAD FINALLY READ SOMETHING THAT CLICKED AND WANTED MORE BOOKS LIKE IT.
ANYTIME A STUDENT EXPRESSES INTEREST IN A TOPIC, IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIALLY DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR, WE HAVE A CONVERSATION.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PASSING JUDGMENT.
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH MAKING SURE MY STUDENTS ARE NOT IN HARM'S WAY AND ADVOCATING FOR THEM
[00:45:01]
IF OTHER AVENUES HAVE BEEN CLOSED OFF.AS IT TURNS OUT, THE THEME OF THAT BOOK HIT REALLY CLOSE TO HOME.
IT WAS A FAMILY MEMBER SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION AND THEY WANTED TO SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
EXAMPLES OF WHAT THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS LOOKED LIKE, THEY WANTED TO KNOW IT MIGHT BE OKAY IN THE END.
I SHOULD PROBABLY MENTION THAT THE BOOK THEY READ AND WANTED MORE LIKE WAS A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST, UH, THAT HAD SIX PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS AND AWARDS AND WAS RECOMMENDED FOR YOUNG ADULTS.
A GRADES NINE THROUGH 12 AND AGES 14 AND UP.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BOOK THAT BRINGS THAT STUDENT HOPE, THAT GIVES THEM THE CONFIDENCE TO HELP THEIR STRUGGLING FAMILY MEMBER AND THE RESOURCES TO LEARN ABOUT ADDICTION AND TRAUMA THAT FAMILIES ENDURE THAT BOOK THAT SHOWS THEM THERE IS A SOLUTION AND HEALING IS REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY.
IT IS CENSORED DUE TO OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT, ADULT THEMES, THE PRESENCE OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY OR DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE.
THE ANSWER IS YOU HAVE CUT OFF A LIFELINE.
THAT IS THE REALITY FOR THAT STUDENT.
AND IT IS THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MANY OTHER STUDENTS JUST LIKE THEM.
AND TO SAY THAT THESE BOOKS AREN'T BEING BANNED IS A TECHNICALITY AND MANIPULATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT ACCESS.
AS MY ESTEEM COLLEAGUE MENTIONED BEFORE ME, MANY STUDENTS CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SPEND MONEY ON BOOKS.
AND THEIR ONLY OPTION IS THE SCHOOL LIBRARY.
WHERE THANKFULLY A PROFESSIONALLY CURATED COLLECTION OF AGE APPROPRIATE MATERIAL TO SERVE A DIVERSE POPULATION OF STUDENTS IS STANDING BY TO SEE THEM THROUGH BOOKS SAVE LIVES.
HER TOPIC IS REQUEST TO REVIEW POLICY.
OUR S CURRENT DISCIPLINARY POLICY IS INEFFECTIVE AND THE RESTRIC BOARD SHOULD ENACT STRICT MEASURES THAT BENEFIT EVERY AND NOT JUST STATE OFFENDER.
OUR TEACHERS ARE NO LONGER IN CHARGE OF EDUCATION.
THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF DISCIPLINE, WHICH LEADS TO DISTRACTIONS, FILLINGS OF DEFEAT, AND IN SOME CASES VICTIMS OF ABUSE.
I IMPRE YOU TO EXAMINE THE DATA SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND CITY OF BEAVER POLICE DAILY MEDIA REPORTS THAT THEY'RE POSTING ON FACEBOOK AND SPEAK WITH US ON THE GROUND TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT HELPING OR SAFE STUDENTS ARE ENTIRELY OUT OF UNIFORM VAPING IN SCHOOL, HALLWAYS AND BATHROOMS, LEAVING CLASSES WITHOUT PERMISSION, SLAMMING DOORS, RUNNING HALLWAYS, OBJECTS, CURING AND ASSAULTING TEACHERS AND CLASSMATES AND BRINGING WEAPONS TO SCHOOL.
STUDENTS ARE DISRUPTED AND DEF AND THEY'RE VERBAL AND PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE, WHICH HAS MEANT JUSTIFICATION.
SUCH THIS IS A PROBLEM AND ITS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.
THE TEACHERS LACK OF CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT ARE, ARE NOT SOLUTIONS, BUT WHETHER PLAYED OUT EXCUSES THAT HARM THE VICTIMS AND BYSTANDERS FOR OUR STATE TEACHERS.
I RESPECT REQUEST THAT TO START THE NEW YEAR BY TO A DISCIPLINE POLICY CAUSE THE CURRENT IS DISTRICTWIDE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, DANGEROUS.
FURTHER MORE DEMAND THAT THINGS IN CHARGE.
STOP CHERRY AND LET ALL SCHOOLS ABIDE BY ALL DISTRICT POLICIES HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE.
DO WHAT YOU HIRE TO WHICH HERE THIS EVENING IS SPEAKING ON PUBLIC RECORD.
NEXT WE HAVE BARB NASH SPEAKING ON BOOKS.
GOOD EVENING, I'M BARB AND MASTER'S PREPARED REGISTERED NURSE.
I MEANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR FORMING THE BOOK REVIEW COMMITTEES AND BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF MOVING THROUGH THE LIST OF CHALLENGE BOOKS EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT EXACTLY FOLLOW THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE THAT REQUIRES A CHALLENGE BOOK BEFORE ITS S MY CAREER HAS BEEN IN BOTH THE CLINICAL AA EDUCATIONAL ARENAS AND I CURRENTLY TEACH AT A NURSING PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION TO TEACHING SPECIALIZED CONTENT, I'M HIRED TO TUTOR SOPHOMORE NURSING STUDENTS.
IT'S HOW UNPREPARED STUDENTS ARE TO TACKLE COLLEGE LEVEL NURSING COURSES.
I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR LACK OF CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
[00:50:01]
AND WORRY ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO PERFORM IN THE FAST PACED AND HIGHLY STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT THAT IS TODAY'S HEALTHCARE SETTING.EDUCATION HAS LONG BEEN CALLED THE GREAT EQUALIZER.
PEOPLE EDUCATED AND EVEN THE BASICS HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE TO RISE UP FROM POVERTY AND WITH A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE ONLY HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT THE ANTI LITERACY LENS OF THE 19TH CENTURY IN THIS COUNTRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS ILLEGAL TO TEACH SLAVES TO READ AND WRITE TO SLAVEHOLDERS.
AND EDUCATED SLAVE WAS CONSIDERED A DANGEROUS SLAVE.
TODAY, PUBLIC EDUCATION IS MANDATORY IN THE UNITED STATES.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION LAWS REQUIRED CHILDREN TO ATTEND PUBLIC OR STATE ACCREDITED PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
SO IT'S NO LONGER ILLEGAL TO TEACH ILLITERATE PERSONS TO READ AND WRITE.
BUT YOU CAN ACHIEVE A SIMILAR BARRIER INEQUALITY BY THE ATTEMPTS AROUND OUR STATE AND COUNTRY TO REMOVE BOOKS FROM SCHOOL.
LIBRARY SHELLS IS NOT A GENUINE CONCERN ABOUT WHAT CHILDREN MIGHT READ, BUT A DELIBERATE, COORDINATED AND ALL FUNDED ATTEMPT TO RETIRE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO SO DISTRUST IN OUR TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS AND TO CHIP AWAY AT OUR LARGEST PUBLIC INSTITUTION AND THE SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN THE CENTER OF OUR DEMOCRACY SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THIS COUNTRY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE A WELL EDUCATED ELECTORATE IS A DANGEROUS ELECTORATE.
EDUCATED PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO INFORM THEIR, UNDERSTAND THEIR WELL AND RESPONSIBILITY CITIZENS STUDY ISSUES AND CANDIDATES AND TAKE INITIATIVE TO WRITE ON THEIR OWN IN WRONG INTERESTS.
SOME MIGHT EVEN BE ELECTED TO OFFICE.
AND THE POLICY CHANGES TO ENSURE THAT TEACHERS ARE WELL PLAYED IN SCHOOLS SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL PREPARED TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES.
I TRUST OUR TEACHERS AND RELI TO SELECT BOOKS THAT CRITICAL THINKING FOR PLACEMENT.
WE'RE TAKING A MINUTE HERE TO ADJUST THE MIC MICROPHONE FOR COUNTY CHANNEL, BUT THE NEXT SPEAKER IS IVY ZAI.
AND HER TOPIC IS EXPLICIT BOOKS TEST.
IS IT? IS IT WORKING? I CAN PEST.
AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S DISCIPLINE, PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE PLAN, STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND HOW IT COMPARES WITH SO-CALLED BOOK BANDING EXCERPTS FROM THE POLICY.
ON PAGE 37, WE FIND THE TOBACCO-FREE ENVIRONMENT POLICY REGULATION SS 24.
SHOULD WE CHANGE THAT TO TOBACCO BANNING? ON PAGE 40, WE FIND THE DRUG-FREE ENVIRONMENT POLICY SS 25 TITLED DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE BY STUDENTS.
SHOULD WE CHANGE THAT TO DRUG AND ALCOHOL BANNING OR SHOULD WE JUST INSTALL MARGARITA MACHINE IN THE CAFETERIA? NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO PAGE 42.
THE ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY FOR TECHNOLOGY ADMIN REG OS 39 ON PAGE 30 43, ROMAN NUMERAL FOUR, TECHNOLOGY NETWORK LETTER G.
THE USE OF THE B C S D NETWORK TO OBTAIN, DISTRIBUTE OR DIS STORE, EXCUSE ME, STORE INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL IS PROHIBITED.
SO I ASK IF THE COMPUTER NETWORK CANNOT BE USED FOR INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL, WHY SHOULD INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL BE ALLOWED IN THE LIBRARIES IN THE FORM OF A BOOK? STARTING ON PAGE 74 AS THE CONSISTENT PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE MATRIX STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT ADMIN REG SS 18 WHERE YOU HAVE DEFINITIONS A THROUGH Y.
NONE OF THEM INCLUDE DEFINITIONS FOR THINGS LIKE INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE, INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS, OR ITEMS THAT ARE UNSUITABLE FOR SCHOOL.
HOWEVER, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE DISCIPLINE PLAN WHICH USES THOSE LIKE TERMS LEVEL ONE BEHAVIORAL MISCONDUCT CODE ZERO 16, INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE, INAPPROPRIATE OR IRREVERENT LANGUAGE THAT IS NOT DEMEANING OR NOT DIRECTED TO ANOTHER STUDENT OR ADULT.
CODE 0 1 8 INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS RELATED TO THE POSSESSION OR VIEWING OF ITEMS CONSIDERED TO BE UNSUITABLE FOR SCHOOL OR SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES.
LEVEL TWO, DISRUPTED CONTENT CODE 0 0 4 CONTRABAND RELATED TO THE POSSESSION OF VIEWING
[00:55:01]
OF ITEMS CONSIDERED TO BE UNSUITABLE FOR SCHOOL OR SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MAGAZINES, CODE ZERO 16, INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE TO STAFF, DEMEANING ABUSIVE SPEECH THAT SHOWS DISHONOR OR DISRESPECT TOWARDS STAFF AND PERSONNEL.CODE TWO 90 OBSCENE GESTURE COMMENT, WRITING AN OFFENSIVE EXPRESSION OF AN IDEA, OPINION OR MOTION THROUGH GESTURE COMMENT OR WRITING CODE TWO 10 PROFANITY TOWARDS STUDENT OR PEER ABUSIVE, VULGAR OR IRREVERENT LANGUAGE SWEARING, CURSING FOUL SPEECH OR SPEECH THAT SHOWS DISRESPECT OR DISHONOR TOWARDS A STUDENT STAFF MEMBER.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE CODE SEVEN 10 PORNOGRAPHY, POSSESSION, MANUFACTURING OR DISTRIBUTION OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT OBSCENE MATERIAL.
NOW I ASK AFTER QUOTING ALL OF THIS, WHY WOULD IT BE OKAY FOR BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY TO CONTAIN ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED OFFENSES YET YOU HOLD STUDENTS IN VIOLATION IF THEY USE ANY VERBAL, WRITTEN OR VISUAL FORM.
NEXT WE HAVE JUDY EK SPEAKING ON LIBRARY MATERIAL REVIEW.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN PERSON.
UM, I AM A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE ROD SERLING SCHOOL FOR FINE ARTS, WHICH IS A VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE MOVIE FAME.
UM, WE PROBABLY WERE NOT THAT COOL, BUT THAT IS HOW WE REMEMBER IT.
SO ROD SERLING, FOR ANY OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, HE IS THE CREATOR OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
ROD SERLING WAS NOT SIMPLY A WRITER AND A DIRECTOR.
HE WAS A VISIONARY WHOSE WORK WAS FAR AHEAD OF ITS TIME.
ALTHOUGH THE SHOW WAS PACKAGED AS SCIENCE FICTION.
THE TWILIGHT ZONE INCLUDED POINTED SOCIAL COMMENTARY DESIGNED TO REFLECT BACK TO VIEWERS SOME OF THE WORST HUMAN INSTINCTS, SPECIFICALLY BIGOTRY AND PREJUDICE.
TO QUOTE ROD SERLING, IT HAS FOREVER BEEN THS SO LONG AS MEN WRITE WHAT THEY THINK, THEN ALL OF THE OTHER FREEDOMS, ALL OF THEM MAY REMAIN INTACT.
AND IT IS THEN THAT WRITING BECOMES A WEAPON OF TRUTH.
AN ARTICLE OF FAITH AND ACT OF COURAGE.
SO I AM HERE TODAY WITH THE ARTISTS AND THE WRITERS AND THE VISIONARIES AND THE MISFITS AND THE OUTCASTS, THE FREAKS AND GEEKS.
WE ARE BY NATURE COUNTERCULTURE, AND IN THAT WAY WE SHAPE THE CULTURE.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE NEED THE ROD STIRLINGS OF THE WORLD TO SHOW THEM A FICTIONAL REPRESENTATION OF SOCIETY SO THAT THEY CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND IT.
THE FREEDOM TO WRITE ISN'T ENOUGH.
WE MUST ALSO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO READ WHAT IS WRITTEN.
AND THAT IS MY FEAR WITH RESTRICTING ACCESS TO BOOKS BECAUSE THEY MAKE SOME PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE VERY OFTEN.
THAT DISCOMFORT IS THE LESSON.
MORE THAN THAT, WE CAN NEVER KNOW THE IMPACT ON AN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT BECAUSE TODAY'S LEARNERS ARE TOMORROW'S LEADERS.
NOW WE HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS BY, UM, PHONE.
I'M CALLING YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
YOU YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON SPEAKER.
IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME.
MY NAME IS EMILY MAYER, M A Y E R AND BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS IS NOW THE THIRD TIME I RISE TO ADDRESS YOU WITH CONCERNS OVER THE PROCESSES TAKING PLACE AROUND THE REMOVAL OF 97 BOOKS FROM OUR SCHOOL SHELVE.
AS TIME PASSES, I MORE AND MORE CONCERNED WITH THE IMPACT THIS IS HAVING ON OUR CHILDREN.
I'M NO LONGER ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
I'M CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SERIES OF EVENTS TOOK PLACE LEADING TO THIS BOOK REMOVAL.
IF THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC IS UNTRUE, NOW IS THE TIME TO CORRECT IT.
THE MORE DISTRUST IF MOMS THROUGH LIBERTY GROUPS TRIES TO BETWEEN PARENTS AND EDUCATORS, THE MORE DISTRUST IS BEINGN BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THEY NOW CALL INTO QUESTION, YOUR ABILITY TO LEAD OUR SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS IN THE WAY WE HAVE ENTRUSTED YOU TO DO WHEN WE ELECTED YOU.
NOW IS THE TIME TO REVERSE THAT COURSE AND CORRECT THE NARRATIVE.
WHILE YOUR COMMITTEES HAVE CORRECTLY BEEN TOLD TO EVALUATE BOOKS AS A WHOLE RATHER THAN THE CHERRY PICK PASSAGES LINKED ON BOOK.
[01:00:01]
IT WAS ONLY BOOKBOOK RATINGS AND PASSAGES THAT LED TO THEIR INITIAL REMOVAL BOOK LOOKS IN AND OF ITSELF ARE ALIGNED WITH THIS POLITICAL GROUP.AND THUS REMOVING THE BOOK DUE TO THAT WEBSITE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF THE PROCESS THAT WE EXPECT OF OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE DOING THEIR RESEARCH AND WORK.
OUR DISTRICT HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB CREATING POLICIES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE HIGH LEVEL OF DIVERSITY AND CRITICAL THINKING THAT WE EXPECT OF OUR STUDENTS.
THE LONGER THAT THIS POLITICAL THEATER CARRIES OUT, THE MORE YOU TRAMPLE ON THAT GREAT WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
BY CHOOSING TO DRAW OUT THIS REVIEW PROCESS, YOU ARE EFFECTIVELY SHADOW BANNING THESE BOOKS INDEFINITELY.
THE ONLY RIGHT THING TO DO IS PUT THE BOOKS BACK WHILE THEY AWAIT REVIEW.
OUR STUDENTS ARE WATCHING, LET'S NOT CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS POLITICAL FATHER AS OTHER NEARBY DISTRICTS HAVE.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR FIRST, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
[Chair’s Report]
AGENDA IS THE, UH, CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.EARL CAMPBELL AND I ATTENDED THE ANNUAL SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS MONTH.
AND WE SERVED AS THE DELEGATES FOR BEAUFORT TO THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY.
THE DELEGATES VOTE ON THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION DURING THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I THINK OTHER BOARD MEMBERS IN THE PUBLIC WILL BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE 78 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THAT IS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ALL OF THEM BELONG, UH, TO THIS ORGANIZATION.
THE STATE ORGANIZATION THIS YEAR, LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS FROM THE FLOOR OF THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY, UH, WERE NOT ENTERTAINED BY THE ASSEMBLY.
THE THE ASSEMBLY VOTED NOT TO, UH, DISCUSS ONES FROM THE FLOOR.
AND ACTUALLY THERE WERE ONLY TWO FROM THE FLOOR, BUT WE WERE ONE OF THE TWO BEAUFORT AND MCCORMICK.
SO OUR PROPOSAL ABOUT, UH, UM, TRYING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, PUT, UH, MORE TEACHERS IN OUR CLASSROOMS, UH, WITH THE SHORTAGE AND USING NON-CERTIFIED TEACHERS WASN'T EVEN DISCUSSED.
EARL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? YES.
UM, THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT FULL, FULL FUNDING FOR EDUCATION, UM, AND TEACHERS RECRUITMENT.
UM, OTHER THING I FOUND OUT WAS, UH, WERE BROUGHT UP, THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AS A BOARD MEMBER, UM, ABOUT THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION AND THAT NO PUBLIC MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT TO THE RELIGIOUS OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT'S IN THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION, BUT YET THE LEGISLATORS ARE STILL TRYING TO DO THIS.
SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL PERSONALLY ADDRESS THIS WITH OUR, UH, LEGISLATORS AND ALSO TALKS AMONG THE FOLKS.
THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THREE OF OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE COMPLETING THEIR FOUR YEAR TERMS THIS MONTH.
AND TONIGHT IS THEIR LAST BUSINESS MEETING.
WOULD MEL CAMPBELL, TRISHA, TRICIA FRIEDRICH, AND KATHY ROB, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.
YOUR TO CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN MANY AND HAVE BEEN SINCERELY APPRECIATED.
WE WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS AND PLEASE ENJOY
[01:05:01]
RESTFUL AND PEACEFUL HOLIDAYS.[Committee Reports]
THE COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ACADEMIC COMMITTEE IS FIRST.WELL, THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE HAS MET TWICE, UH, SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
UH, AT OUR FIRST MEETING ON NOVEMBER 30TH, WE HAD PRESENTATIONS ON OE 13 DISCIPLINE AND OE 14, THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
UM, BOTH OF THESE WERE LOADED INTO BOARD DOCS AND I HOPE THAT YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEM.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OE 13, UH, ON DISCIPLINE.
UM, I HAD A QUESTION ON OE THIRTEEN'S MONITORING REPORT.
UM, I WENT BACK AND WATCHED CAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE, UM, ACADEMICS COMMITTEE MEETING.
AND IT WA I BELIEVE IT'S 13.3 ABOUT ENFORCING A CONSISTENT, UH, DISCIPLINE PROCESS.
AND WHAT MS. WHITE SAID WAS THAT THEY MONITOR THE DATA, BUT NONE OF THAT DATA THAT I CAN FIND IS ACTUALLY PRESENTED.
AM I CORRECT IN THAT? UH, YES.
DID I MISS IT? NO, THE DENT, THE DATA WAS NOT PRESENTED BECAUSE TO ME, I THINK WE NEED TO SEE THAT DATA BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE MONITORING IS.
WE DON'T NEED TO SEE SPECIFICS.
BUT I LOOKED AT OTHER DISTRICTS TO SEE, UM, THAT HAVE COHERENT GOVERNANCE AND THEY GENERALLY PROVIDE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE REFERRED FOR SUSPENSION, HOW MANY DISCIPLINE ISSUES THERE ARE, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPELLED ANNUALLY, ET CETERA, AND BREAK IT DOWN IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
I THINK THAT, TO ME IS PART OF THE MONITORING PROCESS, IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I, I'M NOT GONNA OPPOSE THE APPROVING NOTE, BUT I THINK GOING FORWARD I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DATA.
AND, AND I THINK THAT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG FOLKS, BUT I THINK WE, WE, LIKE, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE WERE USING THIS FORMAT AND THAT IT WAS KIND OF INSINUATED THAT THIS WAS THE STARTING POINT.
UM, AND THAT THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WOULD GO NEXT.
IS MS. WHITE WITH US? OKAY, DR.
WHITE IS AVAILABLE WITH US ONLINE.
SHE IS AVAILABLE ON ZOOM, MA'AM, DR.
WHITE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT? SO YES.
SO GOING FORWARD, WE, WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT, THAT WE WILL PRESENT THAT DATA SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING AT THAT DATA AND IT IS GIVEN TO THEM IN THAT FORMAT ON OUR VARIOUS PLATFORMS THAT WE LOOK AT.
SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE THAT WITH THE BOARD MOVING FORWARD.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT I WOULD APPROVE OE 13, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE CAVEAT THAT WE GET THAT BEFORE THE NEXT TIME WE APPROVE OE 13 IN DECEMBER OF 2023.
ESKI, I WAS JUST GONNA ECHO, UM, WHAT WAS SAID BY MS. BOAT WRIGHT.
I ALSO RECENTLY HAD TALKED TO DR.
I BELIEVE THERE IS A REPORT THAT GOES UP TO THE STATE D OE THAT THAT REFLECTS THESE INCIDENTS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW CURRENT THE ONE IS ON THE D O E WEBSITE.
SO THAT MIGHT BE A STARTING POINT FROM WHERE WE COULD PULL DATA FROM.
UM, I RECALL SEEING IT IN THE PAST, I JUST DON'T RECALL SEEING A RECENT ONE.
I BELIEVE THE, UM, THE REPORT THAT GOES UP IS ON, UH, UH, SPECIFIC LEVELS.
I BELIEVE IT IS, AND I THINK IT GENERALLY IT'S A ONCE A YEAR REPORT THAT GOES IN THE SPRING, I BELIEVE, RIGHT? YEAH.
MR. SMITH? UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I DEFINITELY DO AGREE WITH MR. BOATWRIGHT AND, UH, DR.
HOWEVER, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM.
UH, SOMETIMES IN COMMITTEE WE HA WE ACTUAL CERTAIN THINGS TO BE GIVEN TO US AND THERE AND THERE ARE TIMES ALSO WHERE THE STAFF FOLLOWS BACK UP AND THEY EMAIL US, E EMAIL US THAT.
SO I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THEM, UH, POSSIBLY EMAILING US THAT INFORMATION.
UM, E EVEN EVEN IF WE APPROVE IT TONIGHT, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY AND TO DIGEST AND PRO AND PROCESS WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
UH, EVEN TONIGHT, YOUR COMMENTS TALKED ABOUT BEHAVIOR, UH, THE BEHAVIORS IN THE SCHOOL AND WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE DO UNDERSTAND AND DO.
UM, WE ARE KIND OF MON MONITORING THAT AND THAT IS A PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
SO TO SOME DEGREE I THINK THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO HAVE A, HAVE THAT EMAIL TO US, UM, SOMETIME AFTER, AFTER TONIGHT OR, AND THEN AS
[01:10:01]
SOON, UH, WELL WHEN, WHEN THEY CAN, WHEN THE STAFF CAN SEE, UH, WHEN THE STAFF CAN GET TO THAT TO, UH, GIVE US THOSE INDICATORS SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE THAT WE ARE, UH, WE ARE OBSERVING AND LOOKING AT THAT INFORMATION.THERE BEING NO, UM, FURTHER HANDS UP.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO ACCEPT E THREE.
UH, ACTUALLY, UH, QUICK QUESTION.
UM, WELL ACTUALLY, AND THEN ASKING FOR THAT, UM, MY, MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WOULD, WOULD, UH, TO THE, TO THE ACADEMIC, UH, TO THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT, WOULD THERE BE ANY, UM, UH, WOULD THERE BEING, WOULD THAT, WOULD THAT BE AN ISSUE TO, TO SEND THAT TO THE BOARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? MR. SMITH, WE COULD WORK WITH DR.
WHITE IN ORDER TO PUT SOME INFORMATION TOGETHER OR IF THIS EVEN COMES UP AS A FURTHER ITEM FOR REVIEW IN ORDER THAT WE COULD GIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
SO YES, WE WE'LL WORK WITH THE BOARD OFFICER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO ACCEPT OE 13 DISCIPLINE? OH, I HAD A QUESTION.
IN THE PAST WE USED TO GET A REPORT.
SO WHY, WHY CAN'T WE JUST GET A REPORT THAT BY OUR NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THIS, BECAUSE, UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE 'EM A WHILE IF THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION RIGHT NOW, IT'S GONNA TAKE THEM A WHILE TO GET IT.
SO I I WOULD REQUEST THAT THEY HAVE IT REPORT TO US BY OUR WORK SESSION IN JANUARY.
WE CAN, UM, HAVE THAT UNDER FUTURE ADD AGENDA TOPICS.
HOW'S THAT? THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN INTRODUCE IT.
ALL THOSE IN OR, OR, OR HE COULD POSSIBLY MAKE A MOTION ON THAT AND WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.
NEED A MOTION? I DON'T, I THINK EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT THAT WE'D LIKE THE DETAILS.
WELL, I MEAN IF YOU'RE SAYING HAVE IT UNDER FUTURE TOPIC, THEN IF, IF, IF WE ARE KIND OF RECOMMITTED TO, OR WE SAID THAT IT'S GONNA BE AT THE WORK SESSION, THEN THAT WOULD NEED TO BE A FUTURE TOPIC.
CUZ THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE A TOPIC.
BUT
SO I'M, I'M JUST, I'M JUST TRYING FOR CLARITY AND, AND, AND CLEAR UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT'S THE PROCESS AND, AND WHERE WE'RE WHERE WE'RE GONNA GET IT AT.
THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I MADE THE SUGGESTION OF HE HE VOTE BECAUSE I MEAN, AFTER HE SAID TO MOVE IT TO THE WORK SESSION, YOU SAID IT COULD BE A FUTURE TOPIC.
SO I'M SO THERE, SO THEN MY GUESS MY QUESTION WILL BE THE PROCESS.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE THAT WE NEED TO DISPOSE OF AND THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT.
AND THEN I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR EVERYBODY AND ASKED MR. CAMPBELL TO, ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, WHEN WE GET TO FUTURE TOPICS, HE CAN SAY EXACTLY WHAT HE JUST SAID.
HE'D LIKE TO SEE THE SPECIFICS AT THE WORK SESSION.
AND THEN THAT WILL GO ON TO THE, THE MATRIX WE KEEP FOR AGENDA SETTING.
YEAH, BUT THOSE ARE JUST THOSE, SOMETIMES THOSE ARE TALKED ABOUT IN THERE.
THEY ARE AT THE, UM, AGENDA SETTING.
THEN THEY'RE, THEY'RE CATEGORIZED AND HE SAID THAT SPECIFICALLY THAT THE NEXT AGENDA SETTING, THAT'S ALL.
SO I'M, I'M JUST SAYING THAT IF WE, IF WE MAKE A MOTION ON IT TONIGHT, THEN THEY WILL DEFINITELY GO TO THE NEXT WORK SESSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO ACCEPT OE 13 DISCIPLINE PLEASE SAY AYE.
OKAY, TWO OPPOSED SMITH AND FREDRICH.
UH, TWO NOS AND ONE ABSTENTIONS.
ALSO, AT THE NOVEMBER 30TH MEETING, UH, OE 14, THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TREATMENT OF STUDENTS WAS PRESENTED.
UM, AGAIN, THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WAS PROVIDED BY DR.
UM, IT FOCUSED MUCH ON, UH, TRAINING THAT THE, UH, THE DISTRICT IS PROVIDING, UM, TO STAFF TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH, WITH, UH, THE REQUIREMENTS OR THE, THE INTERPRETATION OF THE POLICY.
AND, UM, UH, SO ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? UH, LET ME GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND, UH, I MAKE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND, UH,
[01:15:01]
TO ACCEPT O E 14 LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TREATMENT OF STUDENTS.UM, DOES MS. RODINE MADE THE MOTION AND, AND, UH, COLONEL GEIER SECOND THE MOTION.
WISNESKI, THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR.
UM, AT THIS POINT WITH THE EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT THAT'S PROVIDED IN THE DOCUMENTS, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS CUZ IT'S, IT'S MISSING A LOT OF CONTEXT.
THERE'S, IT LOOKS LIKE, AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT LOOKS LIKE THESE ARE JUST LIKE SCREEN GRABS WITH CHECK MARKS NEXT TO THEM AND SOME OF THEM ARE KIND OF SAYING WE HAVE SOMETHING, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE HERE.
THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH TO THIS DOCUMENT.
AND I HATE TO BE SO BLUNT ABOUT IT.
BUT, UM, IF THERE IS MORE BESIDES THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND, AND THIS EVIDENTIARY, UM, PAGE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
DO YOU WANNA ADDRESS THAT, KATHY? WELL, I, I JUST FEEL LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S INTERPRETATION, IT SAYS WE INTERPRET THIS POLICY TO MEAN THAT SHE'LL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS ALIGNED, PROVIDE TRAINING FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL, UM, ET CETERA.
AND THAT THE TRAINING IS, UM, LISTED OUT THERE.
YOU WANT SPECIFIC DATE? ARE YOU THINKING YOU WANT SPECIFIC DATES OF THE TRAINING? SORRY, THERE'S JUST NOT MUCH HERE.
IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, FOR ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY IT SAYS CUSTOM.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? UH, I DON'T, UH, I DON'T HAVE, GO AHEAD.
SO THESE ARE, THESE ARE, UH, TRAININGS THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE, UH, AND THE SYSTEM GOES THROUGH, THROUGH FRONTLINE.
UH, AND THESE ARE PART OF, UH, EITHER VIDEOS THAT THEY NEED TO WATCH, UH, IN RESPECT TO THE TRAINING.
SO WHAT THEY'VE PROVIDED FOR YOU HERE IS, AND WE DID, EXCUSE ME, WE DID HAVE A LIST OF THAT.
WE HAD A POWERPOINT THAT HAD ALL THAT ON IT.
SORRY, I'M JUST NOT SEEING IT HERE.
AND SO I GUESS IT'S IN THE COMMITTEE.
YEAH, THIS, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I JUST DON'T FIND THIS TO BE ACCEPTABLE.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, IT WAS INTERESTING CAUSE I KINDA HAD THOUGHT THE SAME THING, BUT THE TRUTH IS A LOT OF OE 14 IS COVERED IN OTHER OES LIKE GAG.
SO WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT, I WAS LIKE, WELL, WE DIDN'T GET A GAG REPORT, BUT WE GOT A FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE GAG REPORT IN SAFETY AND SECURITY AND THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAPPING HERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE I'VE SENT EVERY OE TO THE POLICY, BUT I'M JUST SAYING LIKE, THAT'S WHY I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
IT, IT, WE COVER IT PRETTY WELL BETWEEN, UM, WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? OH, IN TECHNOLOGY WE WENT OVER IN DEPTH, UM, SOME OF THAT.
AND I ALSO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY OVERARCHING PROBLEMS WITH THIS MEETING IS WE HAVE ON OUR DECEMBER AGENDA, OH WE WON 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, AND 17.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.
SO I DO THINK GOING FORWARD WE NEED TO KIND OF GET BACK TO THE COHERENCE GOVERNANCE MODEL AND GET MORE DATA AND GET MORE EVIDENCE.
BUT THEN WHEN I SAW THIS, I'M LIKE, WELL, I GOT THAT EVIDENCE FROM DAVE GRISSOM
SO I'LL SUPPORT, UM, ACCEPTING THIS OE.
I I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT, UM, OE UH, THE 13 AND 14 WERE TO BE DONE EARLIER IN NOVEMBER.
SO THEY WOULD'VE BEEN PRESENTED AT OUR NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING, BUT WE HAD TO CANCEL THAT MEETING OF OUR ACADEMIC COMMITTEE FOR ANOTHER, UM, SPECIAL, SOME OTHER MEETING.
AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS.
I DON'T KNOW ANGELA IF YOU REMEMBER, BUT WE HAD TO CANCEL THAT MEETING.
SO THAT'S HOW THEN IT CAME NOVEMBER 30.
I THINK WE'RE READY TO, UM, VOTE ON THE MOTION OE TO ACCEPT OE 14 LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TREATMENT OF STUDENTS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED MR. SMITH AND ENR AND DR.
OKAY, SO THE MOTION CARRIES 8 2 0 CONTINUE MS. REINE, UH, NOW WE MOVE ON TO OUR LOCAL BOARD APPROVED COURSES.
THESE WERE, UH, PRESENTED AT OUR DECEMBER 6TH MEETING.
STRATOS DID YOU WANNA GO OVER IS 49 THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS AT DEALS WITH THE P YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES FOR THE LOCAL BOARD, UH, LOCAL BOARD APPROVED COURSES.
JUST TO GIVE THAT BACKGROUND, THAT MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT WITH, WITH QUESTIONS.
MRS. CARY, DO YOU HAVE THE POWERPOINT FROM ACADEMIC COMMITTEE? IT WAS LOADED IN BOARD GUIDE.
[01:20:01]
IS.CAN I PULL THAT UP TO UM, SLIDE TWO IF POSSIBLE? I ALSO, MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE MRS. MCKENZIE HERE THIS EVENING AS WELL.
SHE DID CONDUCTED A PRESENTATION AT OUR DECEMBER 6TH MEETING.
AND AS THAT'S BEING LOADED, I'LL ASK MRS. MCKENZIE TO COME FORWARD SO WE CAN GO OVER A FEW POINTS, BUT I JUST, I'LL WAIT FOR, IT'S ON THE SCREEN SO YOU HAVE A POINT OF REFERENCE AS WELL.
THE PRESENTATION THAT MRS. BERRY WILL BRING FORWARD TO YOU IS GOING TO GIVE YOU A BACKGROUND ON IS 49 REGULATION AT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE REG AND A REFERENCE CREDIT FOR LOCAL NEW DESIGNED COURSES AT OUR ACADEMIC COMMITTEE.
MRS. MACKENZIE WENT INTO GREAT DETAIL WITH REGARD TO COURSES THAT WE CURRENTLY ARE UTILIZING, HAS ALSO UPDATED THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE REGARDING COURSES ACTIVITY CODES THAT WE ARE NOW GONNA BE UTILIZING FROM THE STATE VERSUS USING THE LOCAL BOARD APPROVED COURSES.
I DO WANT THIS TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN BOTH RE AREAS TEACHERS MUST BE CERTIFIED WITHIN THAT AREA.
YOU'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT WITH REGARD TO TWO ELECTIVE COURSES WHAT THAT WILL ALLOW FOR OPEN CERTIFICATION.
WITH THAT MRS. MCKENZIE, WE'D LIKE TO COMPOSE AND SHARE SOME MORE DETAIL.
STRATAS AND BOARD MEMBERS YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT IS 49.
AND THE COMPONENT OF THAT REGULATION THAT WE DEAL WITH, WE'RE DEALING WITH TONIGHT IS SECTION TWO, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ELECTIVE COURSES.
THE STATE REQUIRES THAT ELECTIVE COURSES, UM, BE APPROVED BY OUR LOCAL BOARD AND THAT WE NOT AWARD MORE THAN TWO UNITS IN A TIME RELEASE RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.
NONE OF THE COURSES THAT WE'RE BRINGING BEFORE YOU TONIGHT ARE CORE SUBJECT OTHER.
OKAY, LET ME, I JUST WANNA REITERATE, THESE ARE ELECTIVE COURSES.
YES, THEY ARE, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE BOARD APPROVED.
UM, AND THE BOARD CAN APPROVE THEM.
I DON'T BELIEVE THESE GO TO THE STATE FOR APPROVAL.
IF, IF THEY WERE NON-ELECTIVE COURSES, THEN THEY WOULD REQUIRE BOTH BOARD APPROVAL AND STATE APPROVAL.
BUT THESE ARE IS CORRECT ELECTIVE COURSES.
I HAD, I WAS LOOKING AT THIS, UM, AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SOME REALLY GREAT CLASSES IN HERE AND IT'S SO SAD THAT THEY'RE ONLY AVAILABLE IN ONE HIGH SCHOOL AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THE CONSTRAINTS IT REQUIRES A CERTIFIED TEACHER, RIGHT? AND THE CERTIFIED TEACHER HAS TO PUT IN.
UM, BUT I JUST WAS THINKING GIVEN ZOOM, GIVEN ALL THIS, SOMETIMES HAVING A PARENT IN HIGH SCHOOL OR A PARENT IN HIGH SCHOOL, HAVING A STUDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL, UM, YOU LOOK AT THESE, THESE CLASSES AND THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, SECOND PERIOD YOU MAY TAKE, YOU KNOW, UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVING OR WEIGHTLIFTING, YOU KNOW, PICK FROM THIS BEVY OF CHOICES.
UM, AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU KNOW YOUR KID'S INTERESTED IN MYTHOLOGY OR DEBATE OR PERCUSSION.
COULD WE NOT DO SOMETHING REMOTE WHERE WE HAVE LIKE A CLASSROOM AND YOU HAVE FIVE KIDS AT HILTON HEAD HIGH THAT ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN THE MYTHOLOGY CLASS, AND THEY ZOOM IN JUST BECAUSE I HATE LOOKING AT THIS AND THINKING, OH, MY KID WOULD LOVE THAT.
MY KID WOULD LOVE THAT, AND WE DON'T HAVE IT.
SO YOU ACTUALLY BRING A VERY GOOD POINT FORWARD.
MRS. BOATRIGHT, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION.
IT ALSO TEES IN PRIOR, UM, GUIDELINES FROM UNDERST STUDENT AND DUAL MODALITY.
SO WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF MY SCHOOL, YOUR SCHOOL BEING IN THE SAME PLACE THAT WE CAN HAVE STUDENTS SIT IN THE SAME COURSE.
WE ARE WORKING ON THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY IN THE AREA OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, BUT IF WE BROUGHT IN THAT SCOPE TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, OUR ALIGNING BELLS AND LET'S SAY MIDDLE SCHOOLERS DOING IT AS WELL, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO WE, WE DO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN PLACE.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET AS A SYSTEM, BUT AT THIS POINT VERY WELL, BECAUSE THE STATE IS RESTRICTING DUAL MODALITY EDUCATION.
WELL, IT COMES, THIS IS ON THE STATE TO ANOTHER POINT OF IT.
THERE'S A FISCAL COMPONENT TIED TO THAT, MA'AM.
AND ALSO, LET'S ALSO RECOGNIZE THERE'S ALSO A CLASS SIZE TIED BY THE STATE.
SO THERE'S TWO ITEMS. THAT'S TWO MORE H HURDLES TO GO THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
WE WERE JUST TRYING TO LOOK AT OUR COURSES WITH REGARD TO, I HAVE TO SHARE THAT WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATION WITH TECHNOLOGY ABOUT HOW TO DEVELOP MORE OF A CONFERENCING MODEL IN SOME OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE CAMERAS THAT ACTUALLY TO VOICE, VOICE ACTIVATED.
THOSE ARE OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THAT WITHIN OUR VIRTUAL BODY CLASSROOMS WITH ADDITIONAL SCREENS.
AND THE GOAL EVENTUALLY IS THAT THESE VOICE ACTIVATED CA UM, CAMERAS SIMILAR TO
[01:25:01]
WHAT YOU MAY KNOW FROM POLYCOM, BUT NOT TO THAT SAME EXPENSE.AND THAT'S A CONFERENCING MODEL THAT WAS UTILIZED.
UM, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS, I THINK.
SO ON THE LISTING, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THE ITEMS, YOU KNOW, THEY GO THROUGH 1, 2, 3, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, YEARBOOK PRODUCTION.
IS THERE A YEARBOOK PRODUCTION ONE THAT WE'RE MISSING? AND THEN THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE OTHERS.
THERE'S WEIGHTLIFTING ROMAN NUMERAL ONE, BUT THEN THERE'S WEIGHT LIFTING NUMBER ONE.
SOME OF THE INITIAL COURSES ARE STATE APPROVED COURSES.
SO THE HEADS, THEY HAVE A STATE CODE IF THEY DON'T NEED A LOCALLY ORDER APPROVED CODE ON THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER, UM, COMMENT IS MORE IN REGARD TO SOME OF THESE OTHER SOMEWHAT IN ADVANCED COURSES LIKE INTRO TO AVIATION AND ENTERPRISE DESIGN OR BUSINESS EDUCATION.
AND I WAS JUST GONNA MAKE THE COMMENT MOSTLY FOR MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, UM, THE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR SOME OF THESE COURSES SUCH AS THESE, UH, TO HAVE NON-CERTIFIED EDUCATORS WHO ARE SKILLED IN THIS AREA.
SO I WOULD LIKE US TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT BECAUSE THOSE ARE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO OUR STUDENTS.
AND THAT'S SOME RED TAPE THAT WE NEED TO GET RID OF.
THE FIRST MOTION THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE.
ESKI, UM, I, I WON'T HIT THAT, BUT I DO AGREE WITH YOU, UH, WHAT YOU JUST SAID, UH, IN, IN, IN TERMS OF THAT.
JUST, UM, DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE MENU THAT WE HAVE.
BUT, UH, WHILE BACK, I REMEMBER, UM, ME AND A COUPLE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WERE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF ADDING TO THE MENU, IN TERMS OF THE COM, UH, TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY IS VERY, IT'S REALLY LEADING THE WAY.
AND THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ON THIS MENU WHEN I LOOK AT IT THAT KIND OF JUMPS OUT ENOUGH IN, IN TERMS OF THE JOBS.
WHEN YOU HAVE, NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU CAN, AND YOU CAN ENTER EVEN IN GAMING, IN THE GAMING WORLD, I'M TALKING ABOUT SIX FIGURES.
LIKE WE HAVE GOT TO TAP INTO THAT.
WE, WE, WE JUST TOOK OUR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB FROM OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS NOW A SECURITY, UH, CENTER, UH, DOWNTOWN BEEF OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO US REALLY, UH, AGGRESSIVELY MOVING TOWARDS THAT WAY BECAUSE YOUR TECHNO TECHNOLOGY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, THAT IS LEADING THE WAY.
AND IF OUR KIDS HERE IN BEFORD COUNTY ARE NOT, ARE NOT DOING THAT, THEN WE'RE NOT, WE WISH REFER THEM TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE GLOBALLY AND NATIONALLY.
NA CHAIR, MAY I, MR. SMITH, YOU, YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, ACTUALLY HAD A WORK SESSION AS WELL, TERMS OF A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WHERE IS BEING UTILIZED WITHIN CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
SO I DO WANNA SHARE THAT WHAT YOU HAVE WITH THE LBAS IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW, THE TECHNOLOGY COURSES ARE WITHIN THE COURSE, WHAT I WOULD SAY THE COURSE CODE DIRECTORY.
SOUTH CAROLINA REFERS TO IT AS THE ACTIVITY CODING SYSTEM.
SO MRS. UM, GILBERT IS ONLINE, BUT YOU'LL, YOU'LL HEAR HER LATER IN THE LITTLE DISCUSSION ON SOME CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSE FOR HONORS
IT IS A STANDARDIZED CODE NUMBER WITHIN THIS STATE ITSELF, PROPER, SO THAT EACH DISTRICT WILL BE UTILIZED IN THAT COURT AS CODE AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MS. TO, TO REITERATE, THE MOTION THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE IS, UH, REGARDING THIS HANDOUT IN YOUR PACKET THAT IS RELATED TO, UM, DISTRICT, LOCAL BOARD APPROVED COURSES, WHICH ARE ELECTIVE COURSES, AND THEY ARE ACTIVE AND INACTIVE.
UH, THE STAFF MADE A DECISION TO KEEP SOME OF THE INACTIVE COURSES ON.
THE INACTIVE ONES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE COLOR CODED, AND THEY MADE THE DECISION TO KEEP THOSE ON RATHER THAN TAKING THEM OFF THE LIST IN ANTICIPATION THAT THEY MIGHT COME BACK.
SO AT THIS TIME, I, UH, RECOMMEND, UM, THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE LOCAL BOARD APPROVED COURSES, ACTIVE AND INACTIVE FOR THE TW UH, 20 22, 23 SCHOOL YEAR AS PRESENTED.
THANK YOU, MS. ROB MADE THE MOTION AND COLONEL GEIER SECOND IN THE MOTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
ALL OPPOSED? AND ANY ABSTENTIONS.
SO THE MOTION CARRIES 9 0 1 SMITH ABSTAIN.
LOOKING DOWN THE LIST, WE NOW COME TO, UH, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LOCAL BOARD APPROVED APPLICATIONS.
[01:30:01]
AND THESE ARE FOR NEW COURSES THAT ARE BEING, UH, APPLICATIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED AT THE DECEMBER 6TH ACADEMIC COMMITTEE.WOULD YOU JUST REVIEW THE NEW COURSES, PLEASE? YES, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
WE ARE ACTUALLY BRINGING FORWARD EIGHT NEW COURSES THIS EVENING.
UM, FOUR OF THOSE ARE YEARBOOK.
AS YOU KNOW, BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BY OUR YEARBOOK.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO WANNA BE INVOLVED IN THAT THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.
THE OTHER FORCE OF THAT WOULD BE YEARBOOK 6, 7, 8, UM, 5, 6, 7, AND EIGHT.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT LEADERSHIP COURSES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE PROGRAM OF CAREER READINESS AND COLLEGE READINESS.
THOSE ALIGNED TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS, WHICH IS REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO BE ALIGNED TO STATE STANDARDS.
SO THIS MOTION THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE DEALS WITH THE APPLICATIONS, WHICH ARE THESE FORMS. SO WE FIRST HAVE TO MOVE TO, UM, APPROVE THE APPLICATIONS BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
SO AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE, UM, THAT WE APPROVE THE LOCAL BOARD APPROVED APPLICATIONS.
UM, OF COURSE IS PRESENTED AT THE DECEMBER 6TH, 2022 AC TO THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE AND INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET SECOND MOTION.
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY MS. RUBIN AND SECOND BY COLONEL GEIER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY.
THAT MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
FROM THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE TONIGHT IS TO RECOMMEND WE'VE APPROVED THE APPLICATIONS.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE HONOR LEVEL COURSES THAT WERE PRESENTED.
AND THEY WERE, ARE THESE EIGHT HONOR LEVEL COURSES? OH, NO.
THE HONOR LEVEL COURSES INCLUDE THE R O T C.
UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US THE HONOR LEVEL COURSES? SORRY, WITH THAT THIS EVENING, UH, MRS. ROBEN AS WELL AS MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE KAREN GILBERT ON WHO'S AVAILABLE FOR US THROUGH ZOOM.
IF I CAN HAVE MRS. GILBERT GO FORWARD PLEASE AT THIS TIME REGARDING THE JUNIOR R O T C HONORS COURSES, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS AND MRS. ROB FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UH, WE HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT, UH, FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
UH, THE REMAINDER OF THE OUR J R O T C PROGRAMS IS A TOTAL OF 23 COURSES, SO THAT THERE'LL BE AN HONORS OPTION FOR STUDENTS STARTING IN THE LEVEL THREE COURSE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE EIGHTH LEVEL.
AS WELL AS WE HAVE SIX CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSES THAT WILL, UH, WE PUT FORWARD FOR HONORS OPTIONS OF THE ONE FOR CAREER AND TECH ED ENTREPRENEURSHIP WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL SIX HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS THE COMPUTER SCIENCE ESSENTIALS.
AGAIN, SPEAKING, UH, BACK TO THE, UH, TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, CYBERSECURITY THAT IS CURRENTLY OFFERED AT WELL BRANCH EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, AND HILTON HEAD HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THOSE TEACHERS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN BRINGING FORTH THAT APPLICATION.
AND THEN WE HAVE THREE COURSES PRESENTED THROUGH, UH, BEAUFORT JASPER ACADEMY FOR CAREER EXCELLENCE.
UH, THE TEACHER THERE FOR THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IS PRESENTING HER OPTIONS, UH, OR HER HONORS OPTIONS AS WELL.
UM, IN THIS PACKET ARE THE EX EXPLICIT, UM, INFORMATION REGARDING THOSE HONORS CLASSES.
MY QUESTION WAS JUST PROCEDURAL IN REGARD TO THE, UM, HONORS COURSES AT, UH, VJ ACE IS THE JASPER, UH, SCHOOL BOARD ALSO GONNA HAVE TO APPROVE THOSE FOR IT TO GO THROUGH TO THE STATE SINCE WE'RE COLLABORATIVE WITH THEM.
NE WENSKI, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
UH, WE WERE STARTING WITH, UH, THE BURE BOARD FIRST, AND I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UH, AN, AN EXCELLENT, UH, UM, RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE TO BRING FORWARD TO HIM.
ALL THOSE ARE YOU TO, JUST TO BUILD IT.
WE CAN'T GO FORWARD WITHOUT JASPER'S HAVING THAT AS WELL AS SIGNING OFF.
[01:35:01]
TO APPROVE THE HONORS LEVEL COURSES AS PRESENTED AT THE DECEMBER 6TH, UH, 2022 ACADEMIC COMMITTEE MEETING.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED AND ABSTENTIONS.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE COURT.
NEXT IS FINANCE, UH, COLONEL GEIER.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MET ON DECEMBER 5TH, AND THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA WAS THE HOPE PENDERGRASS OF MADELIN AND JENKINS, L L C, PRESENTED THE RESULTS OF OUR ANNUAL AUDIT.
UH, WE HAVE A, A THREE MINUTE VIDEO CLIP, UM, THIS EVENING.
MS. UH, HOPE PENDERGRASS, OUR ENGAGEMENT PARTNER, WAS UNABLE TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING, BUT SHE DID DO IT, PROVIDE A PRESENTATION.
AND I HAVE CLIPPED IT DOWN TO ABOUT THREE TO SHOW THE, UM, BASIC, UM, PERTINENT INFORMATION YOU'LL NEED THIS EVENING.
UM, BUT I DO WANNA JUST START BY SAYING WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL AUDIT.
IT WAS A CLEAN AUDIT OPINION, ALSO CALLED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
NO FINDINGS FOR 21 YEARS IN A ROW NOW.
UH, AND SO, UH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING COMPLETED THAT
AND, UH, AGAIN, UH, WE HAD THE CLIP FOR YOU THIS EVENING.
AND I'M GONNA RUN THAT REAL QUICKLY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, ROBIN, WHEN YOU GET A MOMENT.
AND, UM, ALL RESULTS OF THE AUDIT WERE EXCELLENT.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE WANT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
I WILL BE BRIEF, BUT I WILL BE HAPPY TO DIVE DEEPER ON ANY COM.
I'M JUST GONNA KIND OF GO OVER BRIEFLY, UM, OUR ENGAGEMENT TEAM, THE OVERALL RESULTS OF THE AUDIT, SOME FINANCIAL TRENDS, UM, UPCOMING GABY PRONOUNCEMENTS, AND THEN I'LL BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY ARE.
UM, JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF MON AND JENKINS.
THIS, I BELIEVE IS OUR THIRD YEAR SERVING YOU ALL.
AND WE SERVE ABOUT 75 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE SOUTHEAST ACROSS FIVE STATES AND 13 OFFICES.
AS MS. K CROSBY SAID, I'M THE ENGAGEMENT PARTNER, AND, UM, I WAS THE LEAD ON PERFORMING THE AUDIT THIS YEAR.
IF YOU'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THE OVERALL RESULTS OF THE AUDIT WERE EXCELLENT.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE WANNA POINT OUT IS THE FACT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT, AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS THE AUDITOR TO, UM, PROVIDE AN OPINION ON THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT WE HAD AN UNMODIFIED OR A CLEAN OPINION ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, MEANING THAT THEY ARE PRESENTED FAIRLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTING COUNSELING PRINCIPLES.
UM, THE OTHER THING TO POINT OUT IS THAT THERE WERE NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR JUST SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES OR INSTANCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE NOTED.
SO KUDOS TO MANAGEMENT AND THE BOARD AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR PROVIDING YOUR LEADERSHIP IN RESPONSE TO THAT AS SOMETHING TO BE COMMENDED.
WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY AUDITS WHERE WE HAVE NO COMMENTS, NO FINDINGS, NO ANYTHING.
NOT ONLY DO WE OPINE ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WE ALSO ARE REQUIRED TO DO A SINGLE AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE FOR ANY ENTITY THAT RECEIVES AND SPENDS OVER $750,000, WHICH, OF COURSE, Y'ALL SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL AWARDS LAST YEAR.
WE LOOK, WE DON'T LOOK AT EVERY PROGRAM.
WE LOOKED AT FOUR PROGRAMS THIS YEAR, THE MED TECH SEVEN PROGRAM, SR I D E A, OR SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND THE NEW PROGRAM THAT IS KIND OF SIMILAR TO ERATE, THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND.
AND AGAIN, WE, UM, HAD A CLEAN OPINION ON ALL THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL.
SO IT IS VERY HARD SOMETIMES WITH ALL THE REGULATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN WRITING THE REGULATIONS AND KIND OF BUILDING THE AIRPLANE WHILE WE'VE BEEN FLYING IT.
BUT AGAIN, KUDOS TO MANAGEMENT AND THE BOARD FOR ITS LEADERSHIP AND, AND BEING ABLE TO, UM, PASS THROUGH ALL OF THOSE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS.
MOVING ON, UM, JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNMENTS.
UM, AS FAR AS YOUR SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES THIS YEAR, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ONE, WE IMPLEMENTED A NEW GABY STANDARD RELATED TO LEASES.
UM, PREVIOUSLY IF YOU HAD A LEASE WHERE YOU WERE JUST ESSENTIALLY RENTING OR SOMEONE WAS RENTING FROM YOU, YOU JUST KIND OF RECORDED THAT AS A PAGE, YOU GO BASIS.
BUT WITH THIS NEW STANDARD, YOU HAD TO, UM, ACTUALLY SHOW THAT AS A LONG-TERM LIABILITY OR RECEIVABLE.
AND THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN YOUR 2022 AC R.
UM, IF YOU'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM, THIS IS JUST A 10, UH, CONTINUING REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS, THINGS THAT WERE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO THE BOARD.
YOU ALL CAN, UM, READ THAT LATER ON IF YOU HAVE ANY
[01:40:01]
QUESTIONS.UM, ANOTHER THING I DO WANNA, UM, POINT OUT IS THAT WE HAD NO SIGNIFICANT AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS OR PAST ADJUSTMENTS.
ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE HAD WERE THOSE THAT WERE PROVIDED TO US FROM MANAGEMENT OR RECLASSIFICATION ENTRIES THAT WERE JUST FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION.
THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF THE PLACES THAT WE GO.
SO, AGAIN, JUST WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO YOUR FINANCE TEAM.
SO I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL AUDIT, UH, UH, EDITOR OF, UH, VIDEO CLIPS.
SO I DID CUT IT OFF RIGHT THERE AT THE END AND COULDN'T QUITE FIGURE OUT HOW TO EXTEND IT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
BUT ANYWAY, FOR THE MOST PART, YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE PRESENT POWERPOINT IS IN BOARD DOCS FOR YOU.
UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT I GOT THAT IN THERE, BUT THE FULL, FULL PRESENTATION WILL BE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE LEFT.
BUT, UH, ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A GREAT, UM, GREAT RESULT.
UH, I WANT THIS BOARD TO NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF 21 STRAIGHT YEARS OF A NO FINDINGS AUDIT.
AUDIT FIRMS LOVE TO FIND PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE SAME AUDIT FIRM FOR 21 YEARS.
WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE AUDIT FIRMS, AND ESPECIALLY THREE YEARS AGO WHEN WE BROUGHT IN ANOTHER AUDIT FIRM, AUDIT FIRMS THAT YOU HIRE TO REPLACE ANOTHER AUDIT FIRM WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CLIENTS GET BANG FOR THE BUCK AND THEY TRY REAL HARD TO FIND SOMETHING THAT THE OTHER GUY MISSED AND THEY FOUND NO FINDINGS.
AGAIN, WE ARE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TIGHT, TIGHT PROCEDURES, AND THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.
AND A VERY, VERY COMPLEX OPERATION THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH MULTIPLE AUDIT CHANGES AND REQUIREMENTS BY FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
AND WE, WE'VE GOT MORE TO COME.
THEY'VE TOLD US THAT WE'VE GOT SOME BIG CHANGES COMING UP, BUT BECAUSE WE KNOW AND BECAUSE THEY OFFER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR OUR FOLKS AS WELL AS AUDITING, WHICH WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, WE HAVE THIS HAPPEN.
THIS IS BECAUSE OF THAT WONDERFUL C F O AND HER EXCELLENT STAFF
AND THIS, THIS APPLIES TO R OE 6.1 TO 6.8 MONITORING THE REPORT OF FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION.
THEREFORE, I MOVE THE, THIS BOARD EXCEPT, OH, THE CHANGE AND THE REPORT IN OE 6.1 TO 6.8 SECOND.
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COLONEL GEIER AND SECOND BY KATHY REINE.
BRIEF COMMENT JUST FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN AT THE MEETING.
UM, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED, UH, THAT'S COMING IN THE FUTURE, WHICH IS IN REGARD TO OUR SUBSCRIPTION BASED SERVICES.
SO I JUST WANTED EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
UM, THAT MIGHT BE A CHANGE THAT WE SEE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS OR A REPORT THAT WE SEE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP OUR EYES ON THAT, CUZ THOSE ARE, I THINK TANYA SAID WE MIGHT BE MOVING TO YEARLY AS OPPOSED TO MULTIPLE YEAR TYPE CONTRACTS.
RIGHT? WE DID FIND THAT MANY OF OUR, UH, SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE ONE YEAR WITH EXTENSIONS, UH, RENEWABLE EXTENSIONS.
SO THE MAJORITY OF OUR SUBSCRIPTIONS SO FAR AS OUR, UM, WE HAD A FIRM LOOK AT THEM AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM SO FAR, UH, WOULD NOT APPLY TO THAT, UH, REQUIREMENT.
SO THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE CLOSER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD APPLY.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE ARE, UM, GOING ON A, UH, BUDGETING ON AN ANNUAL AND CONTRACTING WITH THE VENDORS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WITH RENEWABLE YEARS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING OE 6.1 TO 6.8 MONITORING REPORT FOR FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, AND ANY ABSTENTIONS.
ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, MS. UH, CROSBY, UH, INTRODUCED, UH, MR. GUYS, WHITE GUYS, WHITE
AND SO WE'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MS. CROSBY.
UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY BRIEFLY BEFORE
[01:45:01]
I TURN IT OVER TO MR. GEK, THAT, THAT AFTER 22 YEARS WITH THE SAME FOOD SERVICE VENDOR, IT WAS QUITE A CONCERNING TASK TO, TO SWITCH OVER TO A NEW VENDOR.UM, WE WERE MANDATED BY THE STATE EVERY FIVE YEARS, UH, TO GO OUT FOR BID.
AND OUR COMMITTEE, OUR R F P COMMITTEE THIS YEAR, S SELECTED THE NUTRITION GROUP.
UM, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE TRANSITION.
WE'RE ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS THROUGH, AND IT'S GOING VERY SMOOTHLY.
AND I, UH, DEFINITELY, UH, I'M SEEING WE ARE SEEING IMPROVED QUALITY OF FOOD, UM, FOR STUDENTS, UH, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RESPONSIVENESS OF OUR MANAGEMENT STAFF.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY FIRST THAT I APPRECIATE THEM.
THE, AND THE, I AM VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW COMPANY.
AND SO, UH, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER.
THIS IS J JOE GUYS WHITE WITH THE NUTRITION GROUP, AND HE AND CAITLIN WHITE HAVE PROBABLY BEEN HERE SINCE THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING AND PROVIDED A WONDERFUL MEAL FOR OUR DISTRICT STAFF TODAY AT THE HOLIDAY LUNCHEON.
AND EVERYONE WAS VERY COMPLIMENTARY ABOUT IT.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, I JUST WANNA TURN IT OVER TO JOE.
THANK, BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, UH, DR.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES THAT THERE IS, THERE IS TYPICALLY ONE VOICE THAT IS, UH, UH, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ABOVE ALL, YOU KNOW, AND THOSE ARE THE STUDENTS THAT, UH, THAT EAT THE SCHOOL FOOD LUNCHES, RIGHT? AND AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I DO TWICE A YEAR IS I VISIT, UM, THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS, OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, AND I HAVE STUDENT ADVISORY MEETINGS WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
AND, UH, EVERY ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS, UH, EVERY ONE OF THOSE GROUPS AS A WHOLE, WERE VERY COMPLIMENTARY ABOUT SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE AND THE, THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD, THE PRESENTATION OF THE FOOD, THE TASTE OF THE FOOD, UH, SO KUDOS, UH, TO YOUR TEAM ON THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
UH, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT UP.
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE CUZ THAT SAME ONE VOICE IS GONNA TELL US WHEN IT'S NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING.
I'LL JUST GO THROUGH SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
UH, WE HAVE SINCE ADDED THREE MORE, UH, PEOPLE TO OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM.
SO WE HAVE, UH, NOW A TOTAL OF NINE MANAGERS TO SUPERVISE THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
SO, UH, IT'S REALLY GONNA WORK OUT WELL WITH, WITH MINIMIZING THE AMOUNT OF BUILDINGS THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE MOMENT JUST TO MENTION WORKING WITH THE STAFF, UM, HERE AT BEAUFORD COUNTY HAS BEEN AMAZING.
THEY'VE BEEN MORE THAN WELCOMING FROM, UH, THE CAFETERIA TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO IT HAS JUST BEEN AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND, AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE PART OF PART OF THE TEAM.
RODRIGUEZ SAID, WITH MEETING WITH THE, THE STUDENTS WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF OPTIONS AND DIFFERENT CHOICES FOR, FOR THE, THE STUDENTS FROM THE ELEMENTARY GRADES TO THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS.
IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPACTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, TO MAKE WAS THE FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE BARS.
NOW WE'RE STILL IN THAT PROCESS.
LIKE, UH, MR. CROSBY SAID WE'RE FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS IN, SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO, TO KNOCK OUT ALL THE SCHOOLS AND GET THEM WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE, UH, BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THAT'S OUR GOAL, BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADD TO THAT AS WE MOVE ALONG.
SO, UM, WE'VE DONE SEVERAL DIFFERENT EVENTS.
UH, WE JUST HAVE SOME PICTURES, UH, OF THE STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
WE'VE HAD A BIG FOCUS ON, UH, HOURLY STAFF TRAINING.
WE'VE HELD, UH, TWO DIFFERENT IN-PERSON TRAININGS, AND WE'VE HELD OTHER TRAININGS VIA, UH, TEAMS OR ZOOM WITH THE HOURLY STAFF, WHICH IS A LITTLE CHALLENGING, BUT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TO BUYING CAMERAS, UH, FOR ALL THE STAFF SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THEM AND THEY CAN COMMUNI COMMUNICATE WITH US, THE HOURLY MANAGERS.
UH, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FROM WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO, UH, DOING THE SPAGHETTI BOLOGNE FOR ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
UM, SO WE, HERE IN THE, PROBABLY FEBRUARY, WE'RE LOOKING TO DO SOME OTHER, UH, ACTION STATIONS WHERE WE'LL BE COOKING RIGHT OUT IN THE CAFETERIA WITH THE STUDENTS.
REALLY HELPS THAT ENGAGEMENT, UH, PIECE.
AND THE STUDENTS COME UP CURIOUS, WHAT, WHAT ARE
[01:50:01]
YOU DOING, THE SMELL.SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY A LOT OF FUN.
SO, JUST TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE FOLLOWING OUR TRANSITION PLAN, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
UH, STAFFING IS A CHALLENGE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE EVERYWHERE.
UM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR IS REINS INSTITUTING THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST GUIDELINES, UH, WHICH HAS TAKEN ALL THE, THE STUDENTS BACK TO THE PAID FREE AND REDUCED CATEGORIES.
UH, BUT WE'RE WORKING, UM, WITH THAT AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE SLOWLY STARTING TO SEE THE LUNCH PARTICIPATION CLIMB IN THOSE CATEGORIES.
UM, THE SUPPLY CHAIN, I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU THAT THE, IT'S FIXED, BUT, UH, IT IS, IT IS NOT
IT'S STILL BROKEN, BUT IT'S, WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING IT WORK.
WE DO HAVE TO MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE MENU MENUS, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH THAT.
AND THAT'S, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU THIS EVENING? COLONEL GEIER.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, UH, ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK AT IS INCREASE CO COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OUR CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM AT HILTON HEAD HIGH SCHOOL AND BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME CROSS-TRAINING AND, AND SOME CROSS-LEARNING AT THOSE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS.
MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OE 18 MONITORING REPORT, SCHOOL, FOOD SERVICE, AND NUTRITION SERVICES, DR.
SECOND, HAVE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT OE 18.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION, MR. SMITH? I WOULD DEFINITELY JUST LIKE TO SAY, I, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, THANK YOU.
I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL CALLS AND, UH, PRIOR TO YOU GUYS, I, MY CALLS HAS DEFINITELY, UH, LESSENED.
AND I, I DO, I DO APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE IT.
I KNOW WE HAD SOME RESERVE WHEN WE FIRST WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING IT IN THE TIME MANNER.
YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M THE REAL, I'M GONNA KEEP IT REAL.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO I, I DEFINITELY WILL SAY HAT HATS OFF TO YOU BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS IN THE TRANSITION IN THE PERIOD OF THE TIME THAT YOU DID.
AND, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, I SALUTE YOU IN YOUR, IN YOUR STAFF.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, LIKE DR.
RODRIGUEZ SAID, HEARING, HEARING, CONTINUE TO HEAR GOOD THINGS FROM YOU GUYS.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, AND I, I HAVE MYSELF, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I DO SURVEY WHEN I ASK KIDS, HOW ABOUT SCHOOL? HOW'S THE FOOD EVERY NOW AND THEN? THEY SAY, EVERY NOW AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE DISHY THAT WE WONDER WHAT THAT IS.
I SAID, YOU DO, YOU PROBABLY NOT ROLE PLAY WITH.
I SAID, YOU PROBABLY SAID THAT TOO, WHEN YOUR PARENTS, THEY SAID, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YOU RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT.
SO, UH, ULTIMATELY IT'S BEEN GOOD.
AND I DEFINITELY WANNA LET YOU KNOW AS, UH, AS A BOARD MEMBER, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS, THAT, THAT WAS A BIG, UH, CONCERN AMONGST, UH, ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT.
THERE ARE BEING NO FURTHER HANDS UP.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THIS MONITORING REPORT, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
ANY NAYS? AND ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY.
ACCEPTED, UH, UNANIMOUSLY, UH, DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR NO, I, UH, MADAM CHAIR, THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO REPORT ON IS, UH, FUTURE TOPICS THAT WILL BE, UH, TALKED ABOUT ON OUR NEXT MEETING ON THE SECOND THURSDAY IN FEBRUARY, IS THE TRANSPARENCY REPORT, THE MONTHLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS REPORT PROCESS FOR PURCHASING BOOKS AND FURNISHINGS FROM AMAZON TOTAL TEACHERS SALARIES, AND THE IMPACT OF ESSER POSITIONS.
THAT CONCLUDES, UH, MY REPORT HERE.
NEXT WE HAVE, UM, OPERATIONS INGRID BOATRIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY PUBLICLY THOUGH, THAT WE'VE A ADJUSTED THE AGENDA SOMEWHAT.
SO UNDER THE OPERATION COMMITTEE REPORT TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE, THEN OE 2, 3, 10, 11, AND 15.
I KNOW MY, MY EVENING JUST GOT A LOT LONGER.
UM, SO I'M GONNA GET PROCEED IN THE ORDER.
WE HAD TWO OPERATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
WE HAD A FACILITIES FOCUSED ONE, AND THEN WE HAD A COMMUNICATIONS FOCUSED ONE.
SO I AM, WE ARE GOING TO GET, THE CLOCK IS GETTING NEW CONSTRUCTION UPDATE MATERIALS TOMORROW.
SO I'M JUST GONNA HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY, THERE ARE STILL SOME SHIPPING DELAYS, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH BATTERY CREEK AND ROBERT SMALLS, BUT THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THEM.
UM, THERE ARE STILL SOME, UH, PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE FINISHING UP.
MOST OF THE BIG PROJECTS HAVE BEEN QUOTED OUT.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF HAVING THOSE KIND OF, I THINK THE LAST ONE NOW IS MAY RIVER, UM, CAPE PROJECT.
AND THAT THERE WAS ON DECEMBER 7TH, I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND, BUT THERE WAS A LOVELY TOPPING OUT CEREMONY AT ROBERT SMALLS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY.
SO, UM, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE THIS, THIS IS GONNA BE ALL NEW TOMORROW.
UM, SO THEN WE ARE GONNA JUMP RIGHT INTO OE 15, SAFETY AND SECURITY.
AND ROBIN, CAN YOU PULL UP ON, UH, BOARD DOCS ATTACHMENTS,
[01:55:01]
TWO AND THREE? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT SLIDE TO GO TO HERE.SO THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK THIS IS A MODEL FOR HOW YOU REPORT NOE, LET ME TELL YOU.
THEY HAVE THE, THERE'S THREE, UH, STAFF MEMBERS THERE, DAVE GRISSOM, UH, GERALDINE HENDERSON, ANNA VILLA GRAHAM.
AND THEY BASICALLY PRESENTED THE WHOLE OE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
THEY GAVE A COMPREHENSIVE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, WHICH IS ALSO IN YOUR DOCUMENTS.
AND THEY PROVIDED A, A LOT OF DATA.
UM, SO THEY, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE NEW CONTRACT WE HAVE WITH, UH, COASTAL SECURITY.
AND THAT IS, UH, IN DEPTH, UH, THIS IS, UH, REF REFERENCING THE CLIMATE.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING EXCUSE THAT OE 14 HAD A BIG THING ON CLIMATE AND HOW THEY ASSESS CLIMATE OE.
UH, 15 TWO, ENSURE THE DISTRICT WILL COMPLETE SURVEYS, COLLECT DATA, AND ANALYZE RESULTS FROM EACH SCHOOL INTENDED TO IMPROVE OR ENHANCE THE DISTRICT'S CLIMATE.
SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR DATA, UH, ATTACHMENTS, TWO, THREE, STARTING AT SLIDE 14.
IT WAS REALLY AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW, UM, WE USE GAGGLE TO BASICALLY CONTENT FILTER, UH, COMMUNICATIONS ON STUDENT DEVICES AND THAT WE NOW HAVE 24 HOURS, SEVEN DAY A WEEK GAGGLE CONTENT FILTERING.
UM, AND I ASKED IF MY KID SENDS A BAD JOKE, WILL I HAVE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT MY DOOR AT 2:00 AM AND THEY SAID, NO, NO, THERE'S QUESTIONABLE CONTACT.
AND THEN THERE'S P S S, WHICH I FORGET WHAT IT STANDS FOR, BUT BASICALLY THAT'S WHERE IF THERE'S A CHILD THAT'S EITHER THREATENING OR HAS SELF-HARM ISSUES, THAT'S SORT OF AN IMMEDIATE ACTION.
UH, THE INFORMATION'S BROKEN DOWN BY SCHOOL.
UH, A LOT OF GOOD INSIGHT IN THERE.
UM, SO WITH THAT, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE, UH, I THINK SEVEN ATTACHMENTS, UH, AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S INTERPRETATION.
THE OTHER BIG PIECE OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY, WHICH DAVE GRISHAM AND HIS TEAM ARE ALL OVER, IS THAT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN.
UM, AND WE KNOW IT AT THE WORK SESSION, WE HAD AN UPDATE ON SOME OF OUR RESPONSE STUFF.
SO I MEAN, THEY'VE JUST GOT ALL KINDS OF DATA, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPLYING WITH, UM, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN.
SO WITH THAT, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, DR.
UM, SO MY QUESTIONS, I DO NOT HAVE THE PAGE NUMBERS, UM, BUT AS I WAS GOING THROUGH AND REVIEWING THE BOARD DOCS, AND THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT IN HERE FOR THIS OE, SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, IT SHOWS THAT THE, I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED CRASS TRAINING DIDN'T OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS AT SOME OF OUR SCHOOL SITES.
AND I WANTED TO KNOW, UM, WHAT WAS THE REASONING FOR THAT? DO WE HAVE DAVE GRISHAM HERE ONLINE? I MEAN, I CAN, I JUST, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
HE TALKED, HE DID EXPLAIN THAT.
I'M TRYING TO, THERE'S JUST A, A HAND, THIS IS THE OE 15, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY ONE.
AND, AND CERTAINLY HE CAN, YOU KNOW, SHOOT AN EMAIL TO US OR WHATNOT AND ANSWER THESE.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW BECAUSE IT WAS THE THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME.
AND I DO THINK HE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE BEGINNING PORTION OF THE MEET OF THAT, OF HIS PRESENTATION TO THE MEETING.
SO IF I MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND IT ON COUNTY CHANNEL.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ASK MY OTHER ONE? I'LL MOVE ON.
UM, SO ALSO THERE WAS CANINE SEARCHES THAT WERE CONDUCTED OR ARE CONDUCTED AT OUR SCHOOLS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT THREE OR MORE HAVE NOT HAD THAT OCCUR YET.
THEY ARE IN A, THEY'RE ON A ROTATION BASIS THAT THEY GO THROUGH.
SO, SO THEY'RE JUST, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HIT YET COMING SOON.
UM, AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO DRAW EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.
LIKE INGRID ALREADY, UM, TOUCHED ON TO THE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING IN THE GAGGLE REPORTS, CUZ THOSE WERE VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND I THINK THAT GIVES US A LOT OF INSIGHT INTO THE CLIMATE IN OUR, OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES.
UM, I WAS VERY CONCERNED AT THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS THAT WERE, UM, LISTED ON THE C SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING FOR ROBERT SMALLS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD HAVE A FUTURE AGENDA TOPIC ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO, WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, IF THERE'S ANY PLANS OR THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK ON THERE.
THAT EXACT CONVERSATION CAME UP.
AND I WILL SAY, I KNOW THAT, UM, DAVE GRISSOM DID MENTION WITH THE CRASS AND OTHER, THERE'S LIKE A SCHEDULE AND ROTATION, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC DETAILS, BUT HE DID GO INTO IT IN THE MEETING.
BUT I, I'M SURE HE'LL FOLLOW UP IF THERE'S OTHER QUESTIONS.
AND ACTUALLY, UM, AND, AND, AND, AND INTERNAL OF THAT, YEAH, I DID, I DID, UM, MAKE, MAY ACTUALLY MAKE MENTION THAT, THAT I'M THE ONE WHO, UH, BOUGHT THAT OUT BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN A LARGE AMOUNT OF CALLS AND PARENTS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT ROBERT SMALLS.
AND SO I, TO ME, THE NUMBER WAS VERY RELEVANT AND THAT, THAT IS CONCERNING.
AND I DO THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND OR WRONG,
[02:00:01]
UH, AROUND WHAT, WHAT COULD WE DO TO HAVE RESOURCES AT THAT SCHOOL AND WHAT RESOURCES WE DO HAVE AND WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO, UH, GET THOSE NUMBERS LOWER AND TO CHANGE THAT CLIMATE TO SOME DEGREE, UM, BECAUSE THAT, THAT IS, UH, WAS VERY ALARM WAS VERY ALARMING AND, AND CONCERNING.UM, BUT MOST, UH, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TOO AS WELL IS MY, MY QUESTION WAS WHAT DO WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE GETTING BULLIED AND INTERNED? UM, HOW, HOW, HOW ARE WE, HOW ARE WE, WELL, MY QUESTION WAS HOW ARE WE DEALING WITH THAT, UH, IN, IN, IN, IN INTERNAL AT THIS POINT? SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, I ADDED TO OUR, UH, STUDENT SERVICES DIVISION THIS YEAR IS, UH, UH, COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT DO FOCUS ON AND WORK ON, UH, BULLYING WITH, UH, WITH OUR SCHOOLS.
AND SO IT IS PROBABLY A GREAT AGENDA TOPIC FOR US TO GET INTO AT A, UH, AT A WORK SESSION WHERE WE CAN UNPACK THAT A LITTLE MORE FOR YOU.
AND, AND THEN ALSO, UM, I ALSO, UH, BROUGHT TO THE DIMENSION OF, I, UH, MY, MY QUESTION WAS IN TERM OF, OF A SCHOOL SITUATION LIKE THAT WE HAVE, UH, BMSS AND THEY, THEY STRICTLY KIND OF WORK WITH THOSE TYPES OF STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE, UH, MAYBE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING OR MAYBE BUILDING IN MY QUESTION WAS HOW ARE WE UTILIZING THEM TO DEAL WITH THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY GET A LOT OF TRAINING.
SO THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, EVEN AS WE UNPACK IT, I'M JUST BRINGING THESE THINGS SO THAT, UH, IF I, IF I FORGET IN THE INFERENCE OF, I FORGET THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL REMEMBER TO, UH, BRING IT UP WHEN WE DO UNPACK THAT CONVERSATION.
AND WE DO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
AND JUST AS A FOLLOW UP, BECAUSE THE ROBERT SMALLS DID COME UP AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WANTED TO POINT OUT, AND I'D LOVE TO TELL THE STORY, MY SON WAS JOKING AND HE, WITH HIS FRIEND, THEY WERE EMAILING A COMPUTER PROJECT AND HE SAID, PLEASE STOP BULLYING ME AND LEMME TELL YOU WE HAVE A BULLY PRO BULLYING PREVENTION AND ADDRESSING STATEMENT IN PLACE.
I MEAN, IT WAS, IT WAS FAST AND FURIOUS AND IT WAS HANDLED IMMEDIATELY AND THEY, YOU KNOW, WERE ABLE TO ASSESS THAT IT WAS ALL IN JEST.
BUT ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, UM, THEY DID GIVE THE EXAMPLE OF A, UH, MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GOT ALL THESE PICKUPS ON GAGGLE.
AND IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS AN HONORS ENGLISH CLASS ESSAY, PROBABLY ON SOMETHING THAT INVOLVED THE WORD KILL OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT, WHERE THAT WAS COMING UP.
AND SO THAT WAS JUST A, UM, STAFF EDUCATION POINT BECAUSE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT IN, IF IT'S AN ESSAY, SO IT'S A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT.
AND IF YOU FAIL TO DO THAT AND IT'S ON, YOU KNOW, THE DORIAN GRAY OR SOMETHING, YOU'RE GONNA ALL OF A SUDDEN GET ALL OF THESE GAGGLE RESPONSES.
SO SOME, THAT'S WHY WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT ROBERT SMALLS, BUT JUST IT'S PROB THERE, THERE ARE WA REASONS, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THERE'S MORE ACTIVITY THERE.
IT COULD JUST BE A STAFF TRAINING, IT COULD BE DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO WE DO HAVE THAT ON AS A FUTURE TOPIC.
SO TRISHA, EXCUSE ME JUST A MINUTE.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ADD A LITTLE BIT AB ABOUT ROBERT SMALLS CUZ WE DID HAVE AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT IT BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, YOU'LL SEE, UH, TREMENDOUS, UH, DISPARITY BETWEEN THE NUMBERS, UH, WITH SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS.
AND, AND WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT ROBERT SMALLS IS A K EIGHT SCHOOL, HOWEVER, IT'S NOT A TRUE K EIGHT SCHOOL IN THAT THEY HAVE AN INFLUX OF STUDENTS AT THE SIXTH GRADE LEVEL.
SO YOU HAVE ALL THIS CULTURE, UM, THAT IS DEVELOPED, YOU KNOW, FROM KINDERGARTEN ON, UH, THROUGH FIFTH GRADE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND, AND MS. BOATRIGHT, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT HE, HE GAVE, UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, X NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND, AND THE LOWER GRADES, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THAT NUMBER IS QUITE A BIT HIGHER.
AND THESE ARE STUDENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT UP IN THE CULTURE THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE EXPECTATIONS.
SO WE DID ASK MR. GRISSOM IF HE WOULD NEXT TIME BREAK OUT THE GRADE LEVELS AT ROBERT SMALLS SO WE CAN SEE WHAT IS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL AND WHAT'S AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
AND THEN IT'S A BE IT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER COMPARISON.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT, UH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT THAT, THAT YOU BRING OUT.
I MEAN, UH, TRADITIONALLY IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHEN A NEW SCHOOL, AS AN EXAMPLE IS OPENED UP, RIGHT? UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS, YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE CHANGING FEEDER PATTERNS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE BRINGING KIDS TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT, UH, COMMUNITIES OR DIFFERENT PLACES, RIGHT? AND, AND GENERALLY THERE ARE, UH, SOME BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT OCCUR DURING THAT TRANSITION YEAR IN AND, AND COUPLE OF YEARS INTO THAT.
WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR AT A SCHOOL LIKE ROBERT SMALLS.
IT'S NOT A TRUE FEEDER K FEEDER, RIGHT? YOU'RE INTRODUCING EVERY YEAR AT THE SIXTH GRADE, UH, STUDENTS FROM TWO OR THREE OTHER, UH, LOCATIONS AND SITES.
AND SO IT, UM, BUT WITH SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT WHEN WE, WHEN WE COME BACK ON THE CONVERSATION.
[02:05:02]
SO WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK ON OE 15 THAT HAS NOT SPOKEN, RIGHT, MR. SMITH? AND I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT, UH, MRS. WHAT MRS. FIGES IS SAYING THAT WITH DR.RIO RODRIGUEZ IS, IS SAYING, BUT I AM JUST, THAT'S, THAT'S STILL A LARGE
EVEN WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, YOU, I LOOKED AT, I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN YOU COMPARE SOME OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU, YOU COMBINE 'EM TOGETHER, IT'S STILL NOT, THAT'S, SO I AM STILL CONCERNED WITH THAT BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO, TO REMEDY, BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A K SCHOOL PRIOR TO THIS, THIS YEAR.
AND I'M SURE WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT, THAT THAT TREND AND THAT TREND, AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
IT JUST, IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.
UH, YOU KNOW, HADN'T BEEN THAT, THAT HADN'T BEEN GOING ON THAT LONG.
I MEAN, SO I MEAN THAT, SO IT IS, IT, IT IT IS VERY, IT IS VERY CONCERNING.
LIKE I SAID, I, I'VE, I'VE DEFINITELY HAVE CAUSE AND DEFINITELY SEE PEOPLE COME UP TO ME ABOUT THAT, SO THAT IT IS VERY ALARMING.
NOW I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT, UH, KNOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COME UP WITH COMING UP TO ME ABOUT THAT.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT IT STILL IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
ALL RIGHT, COLONEL GARRE, I HAVE TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE, UH, TODAY, ISAIAH WALKER, WHO'S BEEN WORKING WITH THIS DISTRICT NOW FOR, UH, A NUMBER OF YEARS AS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, UH, PERSON FOR OUR PRINCIPALS AND OUR VICE PRINCIPALS.
AND I SPENT A COUPLE HOURS AT ROBERT SMALLS TODAY, AND ONE OF THE THINGS ISAIAH TOLD ME, HE SAID, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DISCIPLINED SCHOOLS I HAVE EVER SEEN.
PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF THE, THERE, NOBODY'S RUNNING AROUND THE HALLWAYS.
ALL THE CLASSES WERE PROPERLY SUPERVISED AND HE HAD NOTHING BUT HIGH COMPLIMENTS FOR ROBERT SMALLS TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, MS. UH, BOATRIGHT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? YES.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT OE 15 MONITORING REPORT, OE 15, SAFETY AND SECURITY MONITORING REPORT.
SO JUST WHATEVER WE HAD MINUS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND MS. VIRI, UH, SECOND YOUR MOTION.
MS. VIRI
SO THEN WE HAVE OE 16 FOIA, AND, UH, IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.
THERE IS A, UH, LOG OF ALL THE FOIA REQUESTS AND SORRY, THIS BOAT RIGHT? YEAH, YOU, YEAH, THAT WAS NOT PULLED OUT SEPARATELY FOR YOUR OH, PLEASANT OKAY.
SO LET ME DO, YOU STARTED WITH 15, SO IF YOU'RE GONNA GO BACKWARDS, THAT'S FINE.
I WAS, I LOST TRACK OF THE WHOLE THING.
WHICH YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, SO TA-DA.
BUT I WILL SAY THE FINAL THING ON A, AS A REPORT STANDPOINT WAS WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA SET UP 8% FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR AND INTEGRATE THE FACILITIES ASSESSMENT WITH, UH, DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AND WHATNOT.
SO THAT WAS ANOTHER DISCUSSION WE HAD.
AND THEN WE CONCLUDED THAT MEETING AND WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE, WHICH WAS, UH, A COMMUNICATIONS FOCUSED ONE.
UM, SO LET ME PULL UP MY AGENDA FROM THAT ONE JUST TO MAKE SURE I DON'T MISS ANYTHING.
SO ONE WAS NOT PULLED OUT, CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO STRAIGHT TO TWO.
UM, AND THE TWO IS THE SUCCESSION PLANNING.
AND THE SUCCESSION PLAN WAS, UH, PROVIDED.
WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HAVING POLICY LOOK AT, UH, THIS IN TERMS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND JUST KIND OF CLARIFYING CUZ THEY'RE SORT OF IN THE SUCCESSION PLAN KIND OF OUT ON THEIR OWN AND HOW THEY MIGHT FIT INTO THE SUCCESSION PLAN.
UM, SO WE ARE ASKING POLICY, WE DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION, WE'RE JUST ASKING POLICY TO ADD THAT TO ITS GROWING LIST OF THINGS TO REFINE.
I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT THIS AND IT WAS, UM, WELL, YOU CAN'T SEE IT ON THE PRINTOUT VERSION, BUT ON THE ONLINE VERSION AND BOARD DOCS UNDERNEATH, UM, EXCUSE ME, LET ME PULL IT UP SO I DON'T PUT IT WRONG.
UNDERNEATH THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, WE HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THAT.
UM, WE CAN REMOVE IT IF YOU LIKE.
THE REASON IT WAS THERE IS JUST REALLY TO LET YOU KNOW, THIS IS ASKING FOR A SUCCESSION PLAN, RIGHT? WE HAVE ONE, UH, GENERAL COUNSEL.
SO IF, UH, WENDY DECIDED THAT WENDY WAS GOING TO TAKE A, UH, RETIREMENT VACATION OR WHATEVER SHE WAS CHOOSING TO DO AND WAS NO LONGER HERE, THAT WHILE WE SEARCHED FOR A NEW GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT I WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SEEK, UH, EXTERNAL LEGAL COUNSEL IN ORDER
[02:10:01]
TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT I JUST, THAT'S REALLY THE PURPOSE OF IT.IF WE DON'T THINK IT'S IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE ON THERE, I WOULD TAKE IT OFF.
BUT IT WAS ASKING FOR A SUCCESSION PLAN YEP.
FOR EACH OF THESE ITEMS AS IT'S SPELLED OUT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE, AND THAT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE.
UM, I JUST, ALL THE OTHER ONES ARE THERE IS SOMEONE TO GO TO.
AND SO, UM, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, IF WE'RE OUTSOURCING THAT, THEN I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT UNTIL WE GET ANOTHER LEGAL CASE UNTIL WE GET IF THAT WAS THE CASE.
UH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE SAME MOTION MINUS THE CONSENT AGENDA PORTION.
SO YOU'D LIKE TO, UM, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT OE TWO, UM, SUPERINTENDENT'S SUCCESSION PLAN.
MR. SMITH, UM, IN TERM OF THE SUCCESSION, I DO HAVE A QUESTION IN THE, IN THE, UM, ABSENCE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, UH, ON THIS HONESTLY DOESN'T SHOW YOU, YOU HAVE THE DEPUTY, BUT WE, WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE THAT POSITION.
SO WHO WOULD DE WHO WOULD BE NEXT IN LINE TO, UH, BE IN CHARGE IF GOD FORBID SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU TONIGHT? WHO WOULD BE NEXT? UH, WHO WOULD BE NEXT TO OH, CHUCKS Y.
YEAH, BUT WHEN I, WHEN I, WHEN I, WHEN I LOOK, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS CHART, E EVERYTHING'S ABOUT INTERPRETATION AND HOW IT LOOKS.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS CHART, I SEE UP ON THEM, I SEE THE DEPUTY CHIEF, AND THEN I, I ALSO SEE THE CHART THAT'S GOING ON, ON A STRAIGHT DOWN, A STRAIGHT LINE.
SO I MEAN, THAT, THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S HOW I, HOW I READ IT VERSUS COMING.
IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S TWO THREE.
SO, UM, SO THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, BUT BECAUSE THAT POSITION SITS VACANT, THEN IT IS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATION, UH, STATION AND HR OFFICER, WHICH IS MS. WALT.
YEAH, I MEAN IF, UH, I, I MEAN, AND THANK YOU FOR CHAIN THAT, I MEAN, I, I, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR IN, IN TERMS OF RANK STRUCTURE, NOT A LINE, JUST FOR, FOR CLARIFICATION, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT.
AND JUST TO, UH, EXPOUND A LITTLE BIT ON THE REASON ABOUT SETTING O E TWO TO POLICY, UM, JUST, JUST TO HAVE A LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT O E 2.2, IT TALKS ABOUT NON-EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PER BOARD ACTION ON DECEMBER 2ND.
UM, IT SAYS THAT A, UH, A SUCCESSION PLAN FOR KEY POSITIONS TO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ELEMENTARY, EXECUTIVE, DIRECTOR OF SECONDARY.
AND, UM, SO IF, UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT, UM, THAT THAT IS EVEN SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE STATED AS, CUZ WE ASKED THAT QUESTION.
MS. WALTON SAID THAT THE SUCCESSION PLAN FOR THEM, WELL, BASICALLY IS IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY WORK WITH PRINCIPALS AND SO IT WOULD BE THE PRINCIPAL LEVEL.
SO THEY REALLY, THERE IS NO NEED FOR AN, A SUCCESSION PLAN FOR SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.
THAT'S THE REASON WE THOUGHT POLICY SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
SO, UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, MR. SMITH ON THE, UH, ON THE BACK OF THE OE UH, DOCUMENT, UM, IF YOU, THE OTHER DOCUMENT YES.
ON THE OE TWO DOCUMENT, THERE'S AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON THE BACK OF IT WITH A CHART, UH, THAT ADDRESSES, UH, UH, AN INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THAT, UM, DESIGNATION TAKES PLACE.
SO, BUT IT'S BASICALLY, IT'S, IT'S WHAT I TOLD YOU NOW, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, MS. FRIEDRICH BRINGS UP, YOU KNOW, A GREAT POINT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S, THAT'S ON THOSE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITIONS, RIGHT? IF, IF AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, WAS, WOULD NO LONGER BE THERE, UH, EITHER TO LEAVING THE SYSTEM OR RETIRING OR WHAT HAVE YOU, UH, THERE WOULD BE, UM, A, UH, AN INTERVIEW PROCESS TO SELECT ANOTHER, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RIGHT? AND, AND IN THAT, IN THAT TIME SPAN, UH, THEN I WOULD ESSENTIALLY SHIFT ONE OR TWO THINGS AROUND IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PORTFOLIOS WERE COVERED, RIGHT? UH, FOR THAT PORTFOLIO WAS COVERED.
BUT THAT POSITION IS ONE THAT THOSE ARE POSITIONS THAT I WOULD GO BACK OUT AND, AND HAVE AN INTERVIEW PROCESS FOR, RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S PROBABLY THE NEED TO HAVE LISTED, RIGHT? AND SO IN THE OE, CUZ I NOTICED THAT AS WE WERE RIGHT.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER FOR YOU, THAT, THAT, RIGHT.
AND SO THEN TO COMPLY WITH THE ENTIRE OE IT, IT WAS KIND OF PUTTING IT IN A, A BAD POSITION.
SO ANYWAY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IT GOES POLICY FOR REVIEW ABOUT OB 2.2.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
S I, YEAH, I DO SEE NOW WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT IN, IN TERMS OF IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS IN WRITING AND YOU DON'T HAVE THIS INFORMATION AND YOU, AND YOU LOOK, YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART RIGHT HERE, MY POINT, MY MY POINT IS THAT
[02:15:01]
YOU HAVE A CHART COMING DOWNWARD AND EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME LINE.SO IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, THEN THAT QUESTION WAS STILL, WAS, WAS, WAS STILL SCREAMING AT YOU.
AND, AND THE REASON THAT THEY'RE ALL ON THE SAME LINE IS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL AT THE SAME LEVEL.
AND SO WHEN THEY'RE ALL AT THE SAME LEVEL, THAT'S HOW YOU PUT IT INTO AN ORG CHART, YOU KNOW? BUT I GET, I GET IT.
I THINK WE'RE READY TO, UH, VOTE ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE, UM, OE TWO SUPERINTENDENT SUCCESSION PLANNING, PLANNING, EXCEPT, EXCUSE ME, I USE THE WRONG, WRONG WORD, EXCEPT YES.
ALL RIGHT, MS. UH, BOATWRIGHT, YOU HAVE LEFT? UH, 3, 3, 10 AND 11? THREE.
UM, THREE, THE TREATMENT OF, UH, WHAT IS IT, TREATMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS, UH, AGAIN, COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENTATION AND A MONITORING REPORT.
UM, SO I THINK EVERYTHING'S IN THERE THAT I COULD BRING OUT.
SO I GUESS WHOEVER TOOK IT OFF, IF THEY HAVE A QUESTION, I THINK IT WAS MR. SMITH HAD A QUESTION ON OE THREE, BUT I WILL SAY, I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A REAL STRONG SUIT FOR THE DISTRICT.
WE KIND OF BUZZED THROUGH THIS QUICKLY AT, UM, DURING OUR MEETING BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE IS QUITE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE.
AND, AND THE REASON WHY I PUT IT OFF IS BECAUSE, UM, IN, IN, IN TERMS OF THE O IN TERMS OF THE OE TREATMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS, UH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THAT THAT SHOULD BE, THAT SHOULD BE SPELLED OUT INTO WHAT, WHAT WE ARE TONIGHT.
AND I, I THOUGHT THIS WAS, WAS A, WAS IT IMPROVING? LIKE YOU SAID, THIS HAD A, A PLETHORA OF INFORMATION, AND I THINK THAT THIS, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT JUST BE SKIPPED OVER.
SO I THINK THAT WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN, IN, IN, IN TERMS OF THE TITLE? UM, IF WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE GIVE US AN INFORMATION ON THAT.
WELL, SO I THINK, ACTUALLY THIS IS, I THINK A GREAT EXAMPLE.
AGAIN, I, I JUST, I FEEL LIKE OPERATION COMMITTEES JUST REALLY KILLS IT ON THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES.
I JUST HAVE TO THROW THAT OUT THERE AGAIN.
SO, OE ONE, MANAGE INFORMATION IN WAYS THAT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION PRODE PRO IS PROTECTED.
AND THEN SHE LISTS FIVE SPECIFIC, UH, BULLET POINTS FOR EVIDENCE OF THAT MAINTAIN PROCESSES FOR THE EFFECTIVE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS 3.2.
AND SHE'S COMPLAINTS, HER CONCERNS RECEIVED VIA EMAIL, TELEPHONE, SOCIAL MEDIA, OR THE REPORT, A CONCERN FORM ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.
AND I BELIEVE SHE INCLUDES COPIES OF THAT INFORMATION IN THE ATTACHMENTS WERE ROUTED TO THE DISTRICT STAFF MEMBER OR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL BEST SUITED TO RESPOND.
IF A COMPLAINT WAS NOT RESOLVED AT THIS LEVEL, IT WAS DIRECTED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE.
UH, THEN O E 3.3 MAINTAIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE THAT VALUES INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, REASONABLY INCLUDES PEOPLE AND DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEM, PROVIDES OPEN AND HONEST COMMUNICATION IN ALL WRITTEN, INTERPERSONAL AND INTER AND INTERPERSONAL INTERACTION, FOCUSES ON COMMON ACHIEVEMENT OF THE BOARD'S, RESULTS, POLICIES, MAINTAINS AN OPEN, RESPONSIVE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.
UM, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEW, UH, B S D ENGAGE PLATFORM, UH, THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO MORE EASILY PARTICIPATE, UH, IN SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE COMMUNICATION THAT GOES OUT FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT THEY ARE WELL IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE.
UM, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE, THIS IS A, A, A TOUGH TIME RIGHT NOW IN THIS BOARD'S HISTORY OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS VALUED AND, AND, UH, RESPECTS THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, CANDACE AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
UM, AND I HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME, UH, FOR, ON BOTH DR.
RODRIGUEZ AND THE KIND OF COMMUNICATION THAT COMES OUT FROM THE DISTRICT.
AND SO I, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE SHE GAVE SUPPORT, SHE GAVE BULLET POINTS, UM, AND SHE BROKE EACH OE OUT INDIVIDUALLY.
SO WHILE I DON'T THINK THAT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT, I THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY LOOKED AT EVERYTHING AND I THINK WE ALL, WE CAME TO THE, UH, DECISION THAT IT WAS WELL, UM, MONITORED.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? MM-HMM.
AND, AND, AND, AND IN TERMS OF STAKEHOLDERS, WAS THAT PROCESS PROCESS, YEAH.
IN, IN TERMS OF WHEN, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THERE, WHEN THERE IS A COMPLAINT, WHAT IS THAT PROCESS? IT IS, IT WAS ROUTED, UH, WHEN THE COMPLAINT COMES IN, NO MATTER HOW IT COMES IN, IT IS ROUTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT MEMBER.
AND IF THAT'S NOT RESOLVED, THEN IT'S SENT DIRECTED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OR THEIR DESIGNEE AND MS. STITCH.
AND, AND WE DISCUSSED THIS AGAIN AT LENGTH DURING THE OPERATIONS, UH, COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE DID ASK THAT EXACT QUESTION, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE, THE CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS ARE FOLLOWED UP? AND, UM, THE
[02:20:01]
RESPONSE FROM DR.BRUTER, SHE INFORMED US THAT THE EDS ALSO RECEIVE THE CONCERNS OR THE COMPLAINTS, AND SO THEY HAVE AN ADDITIONAL, SO THERE'S ANOTHER LEVEL THAT, UM, WE CAN BE ENSURED THAT THE CONCERNS, COMPLAINTS ARE FOLLOWED UP, RIGHT.
AND THAT STAKEHOLDERS, UH, GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED.
AND, AND ALONG WITH THAT, I, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD AS, UM, MRS. BOATWRIGHT ASKED EARLIER IN TERM, IN TERMS OF ANOTHER OE IN TERMS OF HAVING DATA TO WHAT TYPE OF EXACTLY COMPLAINTS AND WHAT THINGS ARE, ARE BEING, UH, BROUGHT TO, UH, THAT ARE, ARE BEING REPORTED.
I THINK THAT AS A BOARD, I THINK THAT IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO, TO UNDERSTAND AND PROCESS AND JUST TO KNOW THAT, THAT THEY'RE BEING HA THAT THEY'RE BEING HANDLED.
UM, I DON'T SHARE A PROBLEM WITH, I THINK, UH, THERE SHOULD BE A RUNNING TAB WITH THAT INFORMATION ON IT.
AND I, I DON'T SEE A, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH US, UH, GETTING, GETTING THAT INFORMATION TO, UH, TO, TO DO UNDERSTAND THAT, BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT WE ALL GET SOME CALL, GET CALLS AT TIMES, AND WE ALL DO DIRECT THEM.
UM, WE ALL DO DIRECT CONSTITUENTS TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S JUST GOOD TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE HANDLING, THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING IT IN, IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOES ON.
SO I, TO ME, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, AND I, I DO APPRECIATE MRS. BRU AND HER STAFF OF TAKING THAT INFORMATION, AND I'M SURE THAT SHE GETS A TON OF CALLS.
UM, AS WAS STATED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT IT'S JUST THE, THE, THE POINT OF UNDERSTANDING IT AND DIGESTING IT, AND TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE THEY CALL THE DISTRICT, UH, PROBABLY A COUPLE TIMES, OR THEY, THEY GET FRUSTRATED.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WE DO WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT, THAT THEY ARE BEING HEARD AND THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TOO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY ARE BEING SERVED.
SO I JUST WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I WOULD JUST RESPOND TO THAT, THAT, UM, IN THAT, YOU KNOW, AS OUR CO OUR POLL, OR EXCUSE ME, OUR GOVERNANCE MODEL OF COHERENT GOVERNANCE IS THAT, UH, DR.
RODRIGUEZ AND HIS STAFF HANDLE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND LET ME FINISH.
UM, SO THAT, UH, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT'S PRACTICAL, PRACTICABLE OR REASONABLE FOR THE BOARD TO HAVE A RUNNING LIST OF EVERYTHING HE P HE HANDLES THAT WOULD BE SO, UM, BURDENSOME TO HIM AND HIS STAFF TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT.
AS BOARD MEMBERS, WE DO HEAR FROM STAKEHOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME, UM, WHO, WHO FEEL THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HEARD, UH, UH, OR HAD THE RESPONSE OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
AND THEN THEY REACH OUT TO US.
THEY OFTEN REACH OUT TO THE ENTIRE BOARD WHEN IT WOULD BE BEST IF THEY ACTUALLY RE REACHED OUT TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, WHO COULD THEN, UH, CONTACT DR.
RODRIGUEZ, WHO IN TURN WILL, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, ADDRESS WHATEVER THE CONCERN IS.
AND THEN HE, HE GETS BACK TO, TO YOU AS A, AS A, UH, REPRESENTATIVE.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS, UH, WOULDN'T BE, UH, FOR, UH, PUBLIC DISCUSSION OR WHATEVER, UH, REGARDING, UH, WHAT THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE SAID.
MAYBE IT'S CUZ IT'S SPECIFICALLY, FOR EXAMPLE, ABOUT A, A CHILD, ET CETERA.
SO I DON'T SEE THAT I, I WOULD NOT WANT THAT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S, I, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT COHERENT GOVERNANCE.
THE OTHER THING I THINK THAT'S WORRISOME AND I UNDERSTAND, CAUSE I'M A DATA PERSON, I LIKE DATA KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE PROBLEM WITH COMPLAINTS IS, A, I THINK PEOPLE CAN REACH OUT TO US PERSONALLY AND DO
AND I CONCUR THAT IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS SO THAT I TRY TO FOLLOW UP IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT I THINK IT HAS A CHILLING EFFECT ON PEOPLE COMPLAINING IF THEY FEEL LIKE THE BOARD'S REVIEWING THEIR COMPLAINTS.
I THINK THAT THAT'S SORT OF, IT GOES INTO LIKE A PRIVACY ISSUE AS WELL.
UM, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE BOTH CUMBERSOME AND I WOULD WORRY HOW WE WOULD PRESENT THAT, UM, DATA.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE, IF THEY HAVE A COMPLAINT THAT IS BEING HANDLED IN A CONFIDENTIAL MANNER BY THE APPROPRIATE PERSON.
SO WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC? OKAY, DR.
WISNESKI, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT ON THE, ON THE OE IT HAS DIFFERENT SUBPARTS OF WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE, FOR OE THREE.
AND I THINK THAT ANY CHANGES THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE THAT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL REPORTING MECHANISMS, UM, WE, WE MAY WANNA CONSIDER A POLICY CHANGE IF THAT'S GONNA BE THE CASE.
AND THAT REQUIRES A POLICY COMMITTEE OR A MOTION SMITH AND, AND JU AND JUST TO CLARIFY, I DO HEAR, HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
LET ME, LET ME MAKE, LET ME MAKE A, LET ME MAKE IT MORE PERSONAL.
UM, AND, AND IN TERMS OF, OF WHAT I, WHAT IN TERMS OF WHAT I'M ASKING FOR, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN SPECIFICALLY THE WHOLE SITUATION, UH, IN, IN TERMS OF SCHOOLS HAVING DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
UH, AND THIS WAS, UH, WE HAVE MAYBE THIS AMOUNT OF MUCH REPORTED THIS MUCH BECAUSE WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT ALSO GIVES US AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE VOLUME OF, OF, OF SITUATIONS THAT ARE ALSO, THAT ARE, THAT ARE OCCURRING.
AND I THINK A A ANY WAY TO KIND OF INPUT TO, TO REITERATE THAT AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT,
[02:25:01]
WHAT STAFF IS, WHAT STAFF IS, UH, IS, IS TA IS TAKING UPON.BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES TOO WHERE PEOPLE DO SAY THAT THE DISTRICT IS, IS, IS HEAVY HANDED IN TERMS OF, IN TERMS OF OUR OTHER AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN, IN THIS OFFICE THAT IS WORKING.
SO, SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU SEE THE AMOUNT OF THE VOLUME OF WORK, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO SAY, OH, STUDENT PARENT UPSET BECAUSE STUDENTS FALL, FALL AT
YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS JUST THE, THE, THE POINT, THE THE POINT OF A CONCERN OF FIGHTING OR A CONCERN OF, UM, EDUCATION CONCERN.
SO IT, IT, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S IS, IT IS RAW DATA AND, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME PEOPLE GOT PERSONAL AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND I GUESS I WASN'T, I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT I SAY BECAUSE I, I MEAN, I KNOW, OH, YOU KNOW, YOU WILL KNOW.
NO, I, NO, MY, MY THING IS WE, WE HAVE TO MOVE TOWARDS BEING MORE DATA DRIVEN.
AND IN TERMS OF PEOPLE SAYING WE, WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE WORKING IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE, WHEN YOU HAVE THE DATA, AND YOU CAN BE TRANSPARENT WITH IT THAN THE, THAN TAXPAYERS ARE MORE WILLINGLY TO SUPPORT AND MORE WILLING TO GIVE MONEY TO SUPPORT WHAT THEY HAVE GOING ON.
BECAUSE AT THE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY, AND, AND WE MUST INVEST IN THAT POINT, BLANK PERIOD.
LET'S KEEP OUR COMMENTS RELATED TO TREATMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS.
GETTING A LITTLE BIT OFF OF THAT WITH, UH, TALKING ABOUT STAFFING ISSUES.
MR. UH, CAMPBELL, WHEN I GET ANY COMPLAINT FROM A PARENT, THE FIRST THING I ASKED HIM, HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO THE PRINCIPAL AT THE SCHOOL? AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY SAID, NO, WE HAVEN'T.
SO I SUGGEST YOU TALK TO THE PRINCIPAL.
THEN I EXPLAINED TO THEM, IF YOU DON'T GET ANY SATISFACTION, THEN YOU LET ME KNOW AND I WILL TALK WITH DR.
WE DON'T NEED TO GET OUR LOT OFF THIS STUFF, BRING ALL THIS STUFF TO THE DISTRICT.
I MEAN, WE JUST PUT MORE WORK ON THEM.
AND SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD, THAT'S TO WHERE I'VE BEEN DOING IT, AND I, AND IT'S, I DON'T SEE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING OE THREE.
TREATMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE SAY NAY.
I, I MEAN, I, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF OE HERE.
UH, ONE THING THAT DID COME UP, ANOTHER, UH, PUNT TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE IS THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS IN THE OE 10 THAT, IN MY OPINION, THAT I'D LIKE THE POLICY TO REVIEW ARE, ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD FALL UNDER, UH, DR.
BRUNER'S DOMAIN OR IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, UM, BUDGET TRANSFER IS GREATER THAN 50,000 WITH CROSS STATE FUNCTION.
BIRDER PRESENTED WAS A LOT OF ARTIFACTS REGARDING HOW MUCH COMMUNICATION IS DONE WITH THE BOARD, HOW SHE EMAILS, WHENEVER THERE'S ANY KIND OF A MEDIA NOTIFICATION, WHEN THERE'S EVER KIND OF AN EVENT THAT THE, SHE FEELS THE BOARD NEEDS TO, UM, KNOW ABOUT IN ADVANCE.
AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT ARTIFACTS.
UM, AND SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO, UM, MS. FRICKS, MR. CAMPBELL AND MYSELF ON THIS COMMITTEE, IS WE DECIDED THAT EVEN THOUGH NOT EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM ON THIS, OE HAD BEEN, UM, PULLED OUT THAT THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD WAS DEMONSTRABLY SHOWN AND WELL EXECUTED.
SO WE KIND OF WENT AHEAD AND WE'RE, WE HAVE MADE A UNANIMOUS MOTION TO ACCEPT FOR THE BOARD TO ACCEPT OE 10 WITH THE CAVEAT THAT, PLEASE, POLICY, WOULD YOU TAKE A LOOK AT LIKE, ATTENDANT ZONES AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MONEY TRANSFERS AND MAYBE PUT THOSE IN A DIFFERENT AREA OR AWARD THEM DIFFERENTLY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? YES, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION EXCEPT OE 10 COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD.
ALL RIGHT, MS. VIRI, UH, SECOND YOUR MOTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
YOUR, THAT, UH, MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NOW, I BELIEVE YOU'RE ONTO OE 11.
OE 11, UH, COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC, AND AGAIN, UH, LOTS AND LOTS OF EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT, WE UNANIMOUSLY FELT THAT THEY HAD, UM, MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS OPERATIONAL EXPECTATION.
SO I THINK I'D RATHER TAKE QUESTIONS RATHER THAN GO THROUGH IT AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT, MR. UH, ROBEN, THAT WAS JUST GONNA BE MY COMMENT.
THE PEOPLE THAT PULLED THESE OFF OF, I THINK THEY SHOULD START THE CONVERSATION AND WITH A SPECIFIC QUESTION, WHY'D YOU PULL IT OFF? WHAT, WHAT DO YOU WANNA KNOW? BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THIS INFORMATION TO LOOK AT, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GENERATED QUESTIONS, THAT'S WHY YOU PULLED IT OFF.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD START.
[02:30:04]
AND LET'S, LET'S JUST, ACTUALLY, LET'S, UH, LET'S START WITH WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WELL, I MEAN, I MEAN, I'M, I'M, I'M JUST, WE'RE APPROVING THESE AND WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT, OUT HERE.THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE APPROVING.
I MEAN, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.
SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WELL, THAT CONSIST OF, I'M NOT, I'M NOT REALLY ASKING FROM YOU.
I'M ASKING THE PERSON WHO, WHO'S PRESENTING THE OE, WHAT IS THE, IN TERMS OF GETTING THIS OE APPROVED, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THIS OE CAN YOU PULL UP THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY? OE 11? YES, JUDGE PROBLEM.
THE POINT OF LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
ROSKI, RESPECTFULLY AND POLITELY, MR. SMITH.
UM, THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN ALL THESE DOCUMENTS ARE IN, ARE IN BOARD DOCS FOR THE PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.
SO I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE GETTING AT HERE.
I JUST, I JUST TOLD YOU, UH, I JUST TOLD YOU THAT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, THEY MAY NOT HAVE BOARD DOCS, AND SO THEREFORE, IT, IT DOESN'T TAKE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES TO TELL THEM WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND THEN WHAT THIS O E REPRESENTS, I USED TO COME TO BOARD ME BOARD MEETINGS BEFORE I WAS A BOARD ME, UH, BOARD MEMBER.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW, AND I WASN'T EDUCATED TO GO TO BOARD DOCS.
SO THEREFORE, YOU HAVE NEW PEOPLE AND YOU CAN WELCOME THEM TO, TO THAT INFORMATION.
I SAID RESPECTFULLY, POLITELY.
I JUST, I WAS JUST LETTING YOU KNOW WITH ME, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, OFFENSE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION.
IT IS ON BOARD DOCS, AND WE DO HAVE PRINTED COPIES OF IT AS WELL.
BUT I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, TOO, FROM A, FROM ANOTHER, FROM ANOTHER, ANOTHER ANGLE.
WELL, UM, I THINK WE HAVE THE, UH, EXECUTIVE SIDE.
IT'S GOT TWO ITEMS. ENSURE THE TIMELY FLOW OF INFORMATION, APPROPRIATE INPUT AND STRATEGIC TWO-WAY DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE CITIZENS THAT BUILDS UNDERSTANDING SUPPORTS FOR DISTRICT EFFORTS.
AND THEN PREPARE AND PUBLISH ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT TO THE PUBLIC.
THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. UM, AND YOU CAN SEE DATA, INFORMATION ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICT STRATEGIES, REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND COSTS.
SO THAT IS THE CORE OF OUR, UM, COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC.
AND AGAIN, I THINK THAT THAT IS AN AREA WHERE THIS DISTRICT HAS REALLY EXCELLED DURING MY TENURE HERE.
OF THIS, UH,
THAT MOTION, UH, CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AYE, YOU THINK I'M DONE? BUT I'M NOT, I'M STILL HERE BECAUSE WE GOT TECHNOLOGY.
UM, WE HAD A TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, YOU CAN'T GET RID OF, YOU GOTTA GET THE HOOK.
UH, MR. SMITH, UH, COLONEL GEIER AND I MET WITH MARK SHOHAN, AND BASICALLY WE DID A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, WE, UM, WE WERE GONNA HEAR ABOUT THE DISASTER RECOVERY ASSESSMENT, AND WE HEARD SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY WORK THEY'RE DOING, BUT THE FULL DISASTER, UH, RECOVERY, UH, ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS SORT OF HOW WE HAVE ALL THIS DATA, WHAT HAPPENS IN A HURRICANE, WHAT HAPPENS IF OUR, WE HAVE A POWER ISSUE, WHAT IF ONE OF OUR SERVERS GO DOWN? UH, IT'S A KEY PART OF A TECHNOLOGY SAFETY PLAN.
SO, UH, WE'LL BE HEARING, UH, WE'LL GET THE FULL REPORT THEY SAID IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
SO I WOULD SAY THREE, YEAH, JUST HOW IT WORKS.
UM, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS ALSO AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT THE E-LEARNING DAYS.
WE'VE HAD TWO E-LEARNING DAYS.
UM, IT'S KIND OF A NEW MODEL THAT THE DISTRICT'S ROLLING OUT WHEN WE'VE HAD, UH, THE SCHOOL CLOSURES FOR HURRICANES.
AND THERE WAS SOME GREAT DATA THAT CAME OUT.
UM, THEY COMPARED THURSDAYS TO THURSDAYS, UH, IN NOVEMBER TO SEE HOW MANY KIDS WERE LOGGING IN.
AND ONE OF THEM, UH, WAS DURING COVID AND THEY HAD, I THINK, 32,000, UH, PLUS LOGINS.
UM, EVEN THOUGH WE ONLY HAVE 21 OR 20,000 TO 21,000 STUDENTS, IF YOU LOG OUT AND LOG BACK IN, EACH INDIVIDUAL TIME COUNTS AS A LOGIN.
UM, SO THEY HAD 32,000 LOGINS DURING THE DISASTER.
UH, THE THURSDAY E-LEARNING DAY, WE HAD 27,000.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT GOT USED, IT SEEMED TO, UH, FILL THE VOID, UM, OF NOT BEING IN CLASS.
AND THE KIDS WERE MAKING GOOD USE OF THEIR DEVICES.
AND THEN ALSO THEY LOOKED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS AND TICKETS THEY HAD TO HANDLE, AND IT WAS PRETTY LOW.
UM, AS A TECH PERSON MYSELF, I HANDLED MORE THAN THAT ON AN AVERAGE DAY.
SO, UH, I THOUGHT THAT THE TAKEAWAY FROM OUR LE LEARNING, UH, DAY WAS THAT, UM, IT PROVIDED GOOD VALUE TO THE STUDENTS AND IT WAS EXECUTED WELL.
UM, SO I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A MODEL THAT WILL CONTINUE TO USE.
AND THEN WE HAD, UH, THE REVIEW OF OUR TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONAL EXPECTATIONS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A FORMAL MONITORING BECAUSE THEY JUST BECAME THE NEW TECHNOLOGY OE THIS YEAR, BUT WE KIND OF WENT OVER WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR NEXT YEAR, AND KIND OF BASICALLY TO, SINCE THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR, THE TECHNOLOGY TO COMMITTEE, TO KIND OF LEAVE IT IN A GOOD PLACE FOR 2023.
UM, AND WE CAME UP WITH A LIST OF REALLY KIND OF GREAT, INTERESTING, MEATY FUTURE TOPICS
[02:35:01]
FOR, UH, UH, FOR THE SPRING.SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA START HAVING MEETINGS AGAIN IN JANUARY, UM, WHEN THE NEW BOARD'S SEATED.
UM, WE HAVE LOTS OF TOPICS THAT WE WANNA COVER.
AND THAT WAS BASICALLY THE POINT OF THAT MEETING.
SO THERE'S NO MOTIONS COMING OUTTA TECHNOLOGY.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU GOT A BUNCH OF HATS, HUH? THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU GOT A BUNCH OF HATS.
YOU GOTTA STAY UP ALONG A LITTLE LONGER.
NO, BECAUSE I, I HAD, WE HAD, I HAD A LOT OF, WE HAD A LOT OF MEETINGS FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND, AND A LOT OF REPORTS AND A LOT OF OE Y'ALL.
I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS.
AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEES FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
[Superintendent’s Report]
THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT? DR.THE NEXT ITEM ON THE, UH, UH, FOR THE FIRST ITEM, I SHOULD SAY ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT WILL BE UNDER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
WE WILL HAVE TWO ITEMS UNDER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT TONIGHT.
ONE IS THE TSI, UH, PRIORITY SCHOOL'S QUARTERLY UPDATE, AND THEN THERE'S A KINDERGARTEN UPDATE.
SO WE'LL START WITH THE TSI PRIORITY SCHOOL UPDATE.
AND, UM, MR. SMITH, I TAKE IT WE WEAR A LOT OF HATS.
HENCE WE WILL START TO SEE FROM DR.
GOZ AND BOARD MEMBERS, I DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING HIM FORWARD.
UM, MR. BRETT FRITZ, WHO IS OUR ACTING DIRECTOR FOR DATA SERVICES, WE'LL BE PROVIDING YOU A QUICK GLIMPSE OF THE STATUS OF A T S I AND PRIORITY SCHOOLS HERE IN THE DISTRICT.
I WANT YOU TO TAKE NOTE AT THIS POINT, IT IS OUR FALL MAPPED DATA THAT WE ARE SHARING WITH YOU.
I KNOW YOU, WE'VE HAD PRIOR DISCUSSION WITH THE STATE ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT CARD DATA POINTS.
SO, MR. FRITZ, I'D LIKE YOU TO COME FORWARD.
HOW ARE YOU? VERY GOOD, THANK YOU MUCH.
UH, FIRST THING I WANNA DO IS KIND OF GO THROUGH AND TALK ABOUT THE SETUP OF THE SLIDE AND THE DATA THAT'S INCLUDED.
UH, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE DATA, BUT WANTED TO KIND OF PROVIDE A LITTLE INSIGHT ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
SO THIS IS ON THE EIGHT TSI SCHOOLS, WHICH STANDS FOR TARGETED SUPPORT AND IMPROVEMENT SCHOOLS.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, IF WE'RE, THE VERY FIRST SLIDE YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS GOING TO BE READING, IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE TOP, IT'S ACTUALLY DIVIDED INTO THREE DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS.
THE FIRST SAYING MEAN SCORE, WHICH, UH, REFERS TO THE WRIT OF MAP, AND THAT'S THE, UH, MEAN WRIT SCORE, UM, WHICH IS THE ROSH UNIT.
UM, I HAD TO LOOK THAT UP TO FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANT.
UM, THE SECOND COLUMN IS THE STUDENTS ARE, UH, IT'S THE PERCENT OF THE, THAT ARE AT OR ABOVE THE 50TH PERCENTILE.
AND THEN TO THE RIGHT OF THAT IS YOUR PROJECTED PROFICIENCY.
ALL OF THESE START AND STEM FROM THE WRI SCORE AND, AND JUST DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOOK AT IT.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE, UM, MOON SCORE, THAT IS THE AVERAGE SCORE OF PER SCHOOL PER GRADE.
THE AT OR ABOVE 50TH PERCENTILE QUITE THOROUGHLY CAPTURES THAT IF THE STUDENT SCORED IN THE 50TH PERCENTILE OR ABOVE.
AND THEN THE REASON THAT THE PROJECTED PROFICIENCIES TO THE RIGHT, THIS U UTILIZES THE SAME, UH, WRI RANGES THAT, UH, N W E A HAS.
SO THEY COULD FALL INTO FOUR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
THE DOES NOT MEET APPROACHES, MEETS AND EXCEEDS THE LAST TWO COLUMNS.
THE ONE LABELED A M E STANDS, UH, INCLUDES APPROACHES, MEETS, AND EXCEEDS.
AND THE LAST ONE IS THE MEETS AND EXCEEDS.
SO THE VERY FIRST, UM, SLIDE THAT YOU'LL SEE ACTUALLY BREAKS DOWN ALL OF THE, UH, SCHOOLS, THE, UH, TSI SCHOOLS FOR GRADES THREE THROUGH FIVE.
THE SECOND SLIDE WILL GIVE YOU THE SIX THROUGH EIGHT FOR THE SAME READING.
AND THEN THAT'S REPEATED WITH THE MATH AND THE FOLLOWING TWO SLIDES.
SO YOU'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE THREE THROUGH EIGHT AS WELL AS, UH, SIX THROUGH EIGHT AT THE END, THREE THROUGH FIVE, THEN SIX THROUGH EIGHT.
WELL, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GIVE YOU ALL THESE DIFFERENT MEASURES THAT WE SHARE WITH SCHOOLS ALL IN ONE SLIDE, SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE AND COMPARE THEM.
AND IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM.
FIRST, I, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE PRIORITY SCHOOLS A BIT AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE DATA.
ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PRIORITY SCHOOLS WAS THAT THEY HAVE A COMMITTEE, AND THE BOARD WAS TO, UH, BE, IT WAS A, THE BOARD HAD TO, IT WAS A
[02:40:01]
COMMUNITY COMMITTEE, AND THE BOARD ACTUALLY HAD TO SIGN, I THINK, OR INDICATE THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE SAID THE BOARD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSIGNING COMMUNITY COMMITTEES, THESE TWO PRIORITY SCHOOLS, OR FOR ENSURING THAT THE SCHOOLS HAD COMMUNITY COMMITTEES.AND I KNOW THAT, UM, WE HAD THEM AND THEN COVID HIT.
SO I'M WONDERING, MY QUESTION IS, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, HAVE THEY BEEN REINSTATED? SO, MRS. REVEREND, AT THIS TIME, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN REINSTATED OUTSIDE OF THE S I C, WHERE THEY HAVE SHARED THE STATUS AND INITIATIVES BEING UTILIZED AT BOTH PRIORITY SCHOOLS, WHICH IS HILTON HEAD MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND WORLD RANCH MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THOSE DATA POINTS HAVE BEEN SHARED AS WELL AS INTERVENTIONS AT BOTH THOSE MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE MONTHLY MEETINGS THAT ARE PROVIDED.
SO THE, THE, UM, THE T S I SCHOOLS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, ALL OF THE T S I SCHOOLS WERE PLACED IN THAT CATEGORY BECAUSE OF THEIR, UM, SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.
RIGHT? SO THIS DATA DOESN'T DISAGGREGATE THAT.
UM, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE SCHOOLS TO HAVE THAT DATA.
AND I'M SURE MAYBE YOU'VE ALREADY GIVEN IT TO ME, JUST DIDN'T REPORT IT TO US, BUT, OKAY.
THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE THAT DATA BECAUSE THAT'S THE POPULATION THAT GOT THEM ON THAT LIST.
SO, ONE OF THE PRACTICES WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE MOST RECENTLY IS BREAKING DOWN OUR DATA TO THE SCHOOLS WITH REGARD TO SPECIAL EDUCATION AS WELL AS OUR MULTILINGUAL AND BACKING OUT, EVEN FROM LAST YEAR, LAST SPRINGS ADMINISTRATION OF THE SE READY IN READING AND MATH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH TEAM MEMBERS ON THE D R C, WHICH IS THE CREATOR OF THE SE READY TEST, AND BEING ABLE TO BREAK DOWN DATA POINTS WITHIN SUBGROUPS NOW, AS WELL AS IT COMES TO THE WRITING COMPONENT, TO BACK THAT OUT OF THE SC READY.
SO WE KNOW THAT 16% OF THE READING TESTS IS BASED ON WRITING.
SO THE OPPORTUNITY OF GIVING OUR DATA MUCH MORE DEEPER, AND THEN REPORTING EVEN THAT INTO THE SUBGROUPS.
SO, MRS. ROBIN, WE'VE GOTTEN DEEPER IN THAT AREA.
WE DID IT IN THIS AREA, PRESENT PRESENTATION, BUT THE SCHOOLS ARE RECEIVING IT.
STRATOS, WOULD YOU REMIND US ALL AGAIN ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THESE ARE, ARE THESE, IS THIS THE INFORMATION THAT'S GONNA BE USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY STAY TSI? HAS THAT BEEN DETERMINED YET BY THE STATE? I REMEMBER LAST TIME WE ASKED THIS, THEY STILL HAVE NOT.
UM, THEY, THEY CAN DO IT, UH, AT ANY TIME, UH, IN DECEMBER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE IT.
AND IT WAS GOING TO BE BASED ON THE SPRING MAP? NO, NO.
S SE SEE, READY? S SEE, READY.
SO THEY STILL HAVEN'T LET YOU KNOW WHICH OF THESE SCHOOLS, CUZ THERE'S, IT COULD BE VERY LIKELY THAT SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE OFF THE LIST.
IN 2019, WHEN WE WERE GIVEN THE IDENTIFIERS ABOUT 2020, IN THAT ACADEMIC, THAT SPRING, WE WOULD'VE PROBABLY HAD TWO OF THE SCHOOLS ALREADY OFF THE LIST PER MORE RESULTED TESTING.
RODRIGUEZ HAS SHARED, IT COULD BE THE END OF THE WEEK, IT COULD BE NEXT WEEK.
BUT WE, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE LIST YET.
AND, AND I JUST, UM, HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT.
RODRIGUEZ, YOU LOOK AT THIS DATA AND YOU, YOU HAVE TO JUST BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS.
UM, SO I'D JUST LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOME OF WHAT THIS DATA'S TELLING US FOR THOSE COUPLE OF SCHOOLS, AS INDICATED ON THE GREAT DISPARITY IN THIS, IN THE, UH, PERCENTAGES OF, UM, MEET EXPECTATIONS.
THIS, THIS IS, OF COURSE, THE DATA AT A COUPLE OF, OF THESE SCHOOLS IS, UH, EXTREMELY CONCERNING, RIGHT? AND, AND IT IS, UH, CERTAINLY AN IMPACT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND, AND, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND AN IMPACT OF, UH, UH, CHOICES ABOUT, UH, VIRTUAL AND, AND, AND STAYING VIRTUAL FOR A YEAR OR, OR, OR LONGER, RIGHT? UH, THAT, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES WE'RE MAKING, I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, UH, UH, QUITE A BIT.
UH, AND THE ADDITIONAL PIECE IS ALSO, UH, DECISIONS ABOUT, UH, ABOUT, UH, PRE-K SENDING PRE-K STUDENTS THE DECISIONS ABOUT HOLDING KIDS BACK FROM KINDERGARTEN, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT, IT'S NOT COMPULSORY HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
[02:45:01]
YOU KNOW, WHILE ON MANY ASPECTS OF EVERYBODY'S LIFE, UH, THINGS ARE BACK TO NORMAL, RIGHT? THE EFFECTS OF IT ARE NOT BACK TO NORMAL, RIGHT? AND WE WILL SEE THOSE EFFECTS MOVING THROUGH THE PIPELINE.THERE'S SOME OF THEM THAT WE HAVEN'T, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE NEXT YEAR WHEN THOSE STUDENTS ENTER INTO, UH, IN, INTO ONE OF THESE GRADES WHERE YOU SEE AN ASSESSMENT, RIGHT? THIRD GRADE, BECAUSE IT, IT HASN'T MOVED THROUGH THE SYSTEM YET, AND IT IS IMPACTFUL.
UM, SO, SO IT IS TELLING US A LOT ABOUT THAT.
UH, IT'S TELLING US ABOUT A LOT ABOUT THAT IMPACT.
IT'S ALSO TELLING US, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS IN THINGS LIKE EXTENDED LEARNING SITES WHERE WE SEE SOME PROGRESS, UH, THAT'S HAPPENING WITH STUDENTS THAT ARE TAKING PART OF THOSE EXTENDED IN THOSE EXTENDED LEARNING SITES.
UM, THIS IS A FALL DATA AFTER, UM, YOU KNOW, THREE, UH, TWO MONTHS OR WHATEVER OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT YOU HAVE AN IMPACT IN AS WELL.
UH, MATH IS, IS TELLING US, UH, WHICH WE'VE KNOWN AND TALKED ABOUT THAT, THAT IT HAS BEEN HIT THE HARDEST.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF THAT, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO JUST WORK THROUGH.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO ONE ITEM THAT SAYS IF WE JUST DO THAT, THEN UH, THEN WE'RE GONNA SEE, UH, 60 POINT GROWTH, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A CONTINUOUS EFFORT OF, UH, DELIVERING, YOU KNOW, HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION, FOCUSING ON THAT INSTRUCTION, FOCUSING ON THE THINGS LIKE, UH, UH, UH, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT, UH, AT THE INSTRUCTION THAT WE DELIVER, THAT OUR TEACHERS GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT, UH, GET A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT, GET A CHANCE TO PLAN TOGETHER, UH, AND, AND GET A CHANCE TO, TO UTILIZE AND DEVELOP HIGHER QUALITY LESSONS.
UH, BECAUSE AS WE DO THAT, THAT'S THE RESULT OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES.
AND THEN CONTINUING TO MEASURE, AND THE ASSESSMENTS.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, ASSESSMENTS, BUT ASSESSMENTS GUIDE YOU, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY THAT JUST TOOK PLACE, RIGHT? UM, AND, AND SO, SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS, THOSE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE, I BELIEVE ARE IMPORTANT.
THOSE SYSTEMS AROUND FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, THOSE ARE RELEVANT.
YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN I GO TO THE DOCTOR, RIGHT, FIRST THING THEY DO IS TAKE BLOOD OUTTA MY ARM, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA SEND THAT OFF TO A LAB IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHAT MY CHOLESTEROL IS, FIND OUT WHAT, RIGHT? I MEAN, THOSE ARE ALL THE, AND THEN THEY GIVE ME FEEDBACK ON THAT IN ORDER TO HELP ME IMPROVE, UH, AND, AND, AND GUIDE ME IN DOING THE THINGS THAT I NEED TO DO.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT DATA FROM THOSE ASSESSMENTS DO, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT'S THE STORY IT'S TELLING US.
UM, AND, AND THE WORK THAT LIES AHEAD, AS I'VE SAID, IS A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS.
AND IT IS MONUMENTAL, AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE SOLVED JUST BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ALONE.
ROSKI, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND, UM, THERE'S A, A REPORT OR A, A PLAN THAT THE BOARD HAS TO APPROVE WHENEVER THESE ARE POTENTIALLY RENEWED OR WHATNOT, CORRECT? YEAH.
I THINK THE, THE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT RENEWAL PLANS? NO.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY HAVE THOSE CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED, IF THEY DO CONTINUE ON THE TSI LIST.
UM, THERE'S A PLAN THAT COMES FORWARD OF HOW THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO UTILIZE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT COME DOWN FROM THE STATE.
AND I JUST THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MIND WHEN WE DO GET THOSE PLANS, THAT WE LOOK AT THE PRIOR PLANS.
AND WE COMPARE WHAT, WHERE OUR SUCCESSES WERE AND, AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER.
AND, AND WE'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT ONCE THEY FINALLY HAVE SORTED OUT, UH, EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.
I CAN, UM, RESPOND TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.
I REMEMBER SIGNING, UM, THESE, UH, DID YOU SAY, UM, ANNUALLY YOU TESTED NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REGARDING THESE SCHOOLS? AND I BELIEVE IT WAS IN EARLY OF, UH, EARLY 2019.
AND AS I RECALL, UM, FROM THE DOCUMENT I SIGNED, WHICH WAS PROBABLY LIKE THREE OR FOUR PAGES, IT INCLUDED CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, UH, THAT THE BOARD WAS DIRECTED TO OVERSEE, SUCH AS A QUARTERLY, UH, REPORT ON THE SCHOOLS LIKE WE'RE DOING TONIGHT.
UM, HAVING A COMMUNITY COMMITTEE, AS KATHY MENTIONED, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS, BUT I DO HAVE
[02:50:01]
THE DOCUMENTS IN A FOLDER, AND I CAN PULL THOSE BACK OUT AND JUST BE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE COVERING ALL THAT INITIALLY.UM, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS, WE WERE, THESE SCHOOLS WERE ASSIGNED TO THAT THO THOSE CATEGORIES JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THEN THE PANDEMICS, UH, HIT.
SO THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ASSESSMENTS FOR THEM TO GET OUT OF THESE CATEGORIES.
CAUSE I THINK IT WAS SUPPOSED TO JUST BE A TWO YEAR, UM, ASSIGNMENT.
MAYBE IT WAS THREE YEARS, BUT I THINK IT WAS TWO.
AND, UM, SO THERE HAVE BEEN IN THESE, IN THIS CATEGORY FOR FOUR YEARS.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE DATA, IT SEEMS LIKE SOME DON'T BELONG IN THERE ANYMORE.
AND THERE'S PROBABLY OTHER SCHOOLS, I HOPE NOT, BUT THERE PROBABLY ARE IN OUR DISTRICT THAT MAYBE DO BELONG IN THAT CATEGORY.
SO IT MAY BE THAT WE'RE KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, STILL SORT OF FOCUSING, UM, NOT, NOT ON MAYBE ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON.
UM, SO I THINK I WAS, I THINK, UH, THERE'VE BEEN SOME REAL GOOD COMMENTS BY THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
AND I WAS GONNA SAY EXACTLY WHAT TRICIA, OKAY, DR.
RODRIGUEZ
KATHY, DO WE THINK, UM, THAT THE STATE'S GONNA CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM ARE, DO WE ANTICIPATE, LIKE TWO OF OUR SCHOOLS HAD REALLY POOR, UM, REPORT CARD RATINGS? SO BASED ON THOSE THREE, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE, UH, AS A PRIORITY SCHOOL, I WOULD THINK BASED ON THE PAST THEY WERE HEADED THAT WAY.
SO I ANTICIPATE THAT, THAT THEY WILL, UH, CONTINUE ALONG THAT PATH, THE STATE.
BUT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'RE ALSO IN THE, IN, IN THE PROCESS OF, IT'S NOT JUST, UH, UH, A YEAR, YOU KNOW, AFTER DEALING WITH A LOT OF THE COVID MATTERS THAT WERE IN THE WAY.
IT'S ALSO A TRANSITION HERE IN LEADERSHIP TOO.
SO, YOU KNOW, SO I, I DON'T KNOW.
ALL RIGHT, MEL, YOU SEEM LIKE YOU WANTED TO SPEAK AND YOU'VE BEEN QUIET.
I DIDN'T WANNA TALK AT ALL TONIGHT,
ONE IS, WHO ARE THESE STUDENTS? THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEY GOT NAMES AND THEY GOT FACES.
THOSE OF
WE NEED TO KNOW HOW WE SERVICING THEM.
WE DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT NUMBERS EVERY TIME THIS REPORT COMES UP.
AND THESE ARE NUMBERS OF FACELESS INDIVIDUALS THAT'S COMING TO OUR SYSTEM, THAT APPROACH THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T, UH, SOON IN FOR VIRTUAL EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WHY DIDN'T THEY, WHO ARE THEY? ARE THEY COMING FROM SINGLES, FAMILY PARENTING? ARE THEY COMING FROM HOMES NOW? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? I MEAN, IT IS NOT LIKE WE'RE TALKING 20,000 PEOPLE THERE.
HOW BIG IS JOSEPH LESS THAN 303RD GRADE? HOW BIG IS THE THIRD GRADE? SO WE HAVE TO REALLY NARROW DOWN TO RUDY'S CHILDREN ARE, YOU KNOW, AND IF WE DON'T FIND THEM, WE CAN'T HELP THEM.
WE ARE NOT GONNA HELP THEM WITH THE PLCS.
CAUSE THE PLCS ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FUNCTION WITH THEM.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE THE PLC WORK.
THIS IS HOW WE GONNA DO IT, AND THIS IS WHAT WE GOING, HOW WE GONNA OPERATE IN IT'S TEMPLATING.
AND PLCS ARE NEW, NEW EVERYBODY.
AND WE WANT THEIR EVOLVING THOUGH TO HAPPEN IN THE SCHOOL.
THEN IT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE SCHOOL.
AND WE GONNA EVOLVE RIGHT AROUND THESE SAME CHILDREN.
THE EIGHTH GRADE NOW BEING UP THERE, ANY STANDARDS, WE GOTTA FIND THESE CHILDREN AND WE GOT THE HELP THEM INDIVIDUALLY, AND WHICH MADE ME GROUP WORK GROUP SUPPORT, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND THEM.
[02:55:02]
THAT'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER IN MY MIND, BUT IT'S IMPACTING THAT ENTIRE SCHOOL.SO THAT'S MY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING.
I, I WASN'T GONNA SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT'S NOT ME VERSUS APPROACHES.
WHAT THE HECK IS THAT? I DON'T KNOW.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT IN MY MIND, THEY BOTH BELONG TOGETHER.
APPROACHES HAVEN'T MET EITHER
SO THOSE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO GO BEYOND WHAT THE STATE OFFERS.
WE'VE GOT A DIFFERENT PROGRAM HERE.
WE GOT A DIFFERENT SYSTEM OF EDUCATORS HERE.
WE ARE THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE STATE.
OUR RESULTS GOTTA REFLECT THAT.
AND I'M ONLY GONNA BUY IT WHEN I SEE THOSE SCHOOLS IMPROVE, THOSE NUMBERS IMPROVE.
THAT'S WHEN I KNOW OUR DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT.
CAUSE I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE HONORS CLASSES, I DON'T CARE HOW MANY MORE WE DEVELOP, WE GONNA HAVE HONOR STUDENTS.
GIVE THEM SOME MORE OPTIONS IF YOU LIKE.
THAT'S A DISTRICT PREROGATIVE.
GIVE HONOR STUDENTS MORE OPTIONS.
CREATE ANOTHER LEVEL OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS HERE.
BUT UNLESS YOU GET TO THESE CHILDREN, YOUR RESUME IS NOT GONNA BE APPROVED BY MEL KIM.
THAT'S THE LAST THING I'M GONNA SAY.
I SOLELY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING MR. CAMPBELL SAID.
YOU KNOW, I WAS KIND OF DISHEARTENING WHEN I HEARD, UH, ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WHEN THEIR FIRST QUESTION WAS TO, UH, DOC, TO DR.
SCRS ABOUT, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT WERE, WHAT WERE THE, THE, THE REQUIREMENTS.
AND BASICALLY WE DIDN'T WANNA GO OVER NUMBERS.
NUMBERS AND DATAS IS WHAT DRIVES EVERYTHING.
AND TO, YOU KNOW, ALMOST BASICALLY SAY, WELL, WE KNOW IT'S THE, IT MAY BE THE KIDS WHO HAVE, UH, IEPS OR KIDS MAY WHO MAY HAVE, WHO MAY, MAY BE THE SPREAD THAT ARE, THAT ARE, THAT ARE DRIVING THESE NUMBERS UP IS KIND OF AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE COMING FROM THAT BACKGROUND, I TOOK OFFENSE TO THAT.
I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE MAY HAVE THEIR, THEIR LINE OF, OF, UH, OF, UM, EXPERIENCE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I WILL GIVE A, GIVE A HAT TALK TO DR.
RODRIGUEZ IN TERMS OF WHEN MRS. FRI ASKED, ASKED HIM THAT QUESTION TONIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I DO APPRECIATE YOU, DR.
RODRIGUEZ, FOR OWNING, FOR OWNING THE NUMBERS AND OWNING, UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE AT, BECAUSE THAT IS HOW YOU, THANK YOU.
BECAUSE FIRST YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE.
AND ONCE YOU ADMIT THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE, THE NEXT STEP IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT RESOURCES AND HOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD AND WHAT SERVICES WE ARE GONNA OFFER, AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO FIND THOSE STUDENTS.
EXACTLY LIKE MR. CAMPBELL SPOKE ABOUT, UM, UM, ABOUT TONIGHT, ABOUT FINDING THOSE STUDENTS INDIVIDUALLY IN COMING UP WITH AS, EVEN AS AN IEP SAID, AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN TO HELP THAT KID, UM, GET, GET IN A BETTER STATE THAN WHAT WE FOUND THEM IN.
YOU KNOW? AND TH THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT I THINK THAT, AND WHEN, IN TERMS OF DATA THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT OUR DATA AND THESE SCHOOLS ARE MOVING AND THESE, AND THESE NUMBERS ARE, ARE CONCERNING.
AND THEY, AND THEY ARE ALARMING.
YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION IS, WOULD BE IN, IN TERMS OF ESSA FUNDS, HOW MANY ESSA FUNDS HAVE WE PUT IN TERMS OF RESOURCES TO THESE SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIDS ARE, ARE, THAT THESE KIDS ARE, ARE MOVING, THAT THESE SCHOOLS ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE, UH, MY CONCERN AND MY, AND MY QUESTION, YOU KNOW, TO SAY, CAUSE WE, WE ARE SPENDING ESSER FOR A, A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT IN TERMS OF JUST TO BE QUITE INDIRECT, AND I KNOW WE DO HAVE CERTAIN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT WE DO HAVE SOME PROGRAMS FOR CERTAIN SCHOOLS, FOR SOME SCHOOLS.
BUT IN TERMS OF THESE SCHOOLS, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE DOING EXACTLY? AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS POWERPOINT TOGETHER BECAUSE I'M SURE IT DID TAKE TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY LOOKING AT THE CRUNCHING THESE NUMBERS YOURSELF AND LOOKING AT 'EM AND PRESENTING THEM.
CUZ SOMEONE, SOME PEOPLE AREN'T ALWAYS HONEST WITH THE NUMBERS.
YEAH, I THINK I, THE ONLY THING I WANT TO JUST ADD IS, UM, WHEN YOU SAY THAT WE'RE SPENDING ESER DOLLARS IN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT, UH, THERE WAS AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA BY THE POST AND COURIER.
[03:00:01]
AND IN THAT INDEPENDENT REVIEW, THEY SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT BEAUFORD COUNTY FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH WE ARE SPENDING OUR ESSER DOLLARS FOR THE FOCUS THAT WE HAVE ON ACADEMIC ACCELERATION WITHIN THE SPENDING OF THOSE DOLLARS AS THEY, AS THEY RELATE TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, UH, THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN THE PACE THAT WE'RE MAKING IN TERMS OF, OF USE OF ESSER DOLLARS, WHERE OTHERS ARE, ARE, ARE, AREN'T ANYWHERE NEAR.
RIGHT? SO THEY SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY AS AN OUTLIER, UH, UH, IN THE STATE.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, FOLKS, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
WE HAD A LONG WAY TO GO WITH THESE SCHOOLS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
NOBODY'S SAYING THAT WE LOVE IT AND IT'S LOOKING GREAT, RIGHT? AND LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WHEN THEY GET ALL OFF THE LIST, I'M STILL NOT GONNA BE SATISFIED.
YES MA'AM, MS. I'D JUST LIKE TO CLARIFY, UH, AND RESPOND TO MR. SMITH.
UM, I'M AN EX SPECIAL ED TEACHER, MR. SMITH.
AND THE REASON THAT I BROUGHT THAT UP WAS BECAUSE MY FOCUS IS I KNOW THOSE STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE AND THAT WE CAN MOVE THEM.
THAT'S WHY MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT ARE WE GIVING THE SPECIFIC DATA? AND I CAN ALSO SAY THAT AS AN EX ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, I BET YOU IF YOU ASK THOSE PRINCIPALS, WHO THOSE STUDENTS ARE, MR. CAMPBELL, THEY COULD TELL YOU IN A MINUTE, THEY COULD LIST EVERY SINGLE NAME AND THEY COULD PROBABLY SAY WHAT I'M DOING, WHAT OUR TEAM IS DOING TO TRY AND MOVE THE NEEDLE.
AND MAYBE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AT A WORK SESSION.
BUT I KNOW THAT'S HOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OPERATE.
AND I KNOW WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT DATA, YOU, IT'S A FACE AND YOU'RE MEETING WITH THE TEACHERS AND YOU'RE SAYING, OKAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC NEEDS? AND YOU'RE MEETING WITH THE PARENTS.
SO I, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT, UM, DR.
I JUST WANNA BACK UP THE CONVERSATION TO WHAT DR.
SO THERE IS A PROCESS WITH REGARD TO THE PHYSICAL COMPONENT TIED TO THE FUNDING AND HOW IT'S REVIEWED.
IT GOES THROUGH OUR FEDERAL PROGRAMS. OUR SCHOOLS WRITE A PROPOSAL.
THAT PROPOSAL WAS REVIEWED, IT HAS TO BE BASED ON EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION.
UM, AND THEN IT IS REVIEWED BY MYSELF AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S RESPECTIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
SO THAT PROCESS, THERE IS A PROCESS THAT HAS TO BE IN PLACE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR STUDENTS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO PART B OF THE CONVERSATION AT MRS. FRIGER BROUGHT POET AT SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS.
WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO MEET IN DETAIL.
ONE IN DE ONE SPECIFICALLY IS A PRINCIPAL FROM JOSEPH SHANKLIN.
WOULD YOU HAVE TO MEET, BRING I TO BRING YOUR 90 DAY PLAN AND HAS TO GO DEEPER IN CONVERSATION? AND THEN THIS IS ABSOLUTE DESCRIPTIVE FEEDBACK FROM MYSELF TO THAT PRINCIPAL.
AND AS WE RECOGNIZE THE DATA FOR SOME THESE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED HERE, YOUR VERY FIRST LISTED SCHOOL IS A SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE.
NOW AS MEASURED FROM SE READY FROM THIS SPRING, TWO OF THESE SCHOOLS ON THIS LIST, UM, ONE OF WHICH IS A PRIORITY SCHOOL, ARE NOW IDENTIFIED OF AN AVERAGE SCHOOLS.
SO I'M HAVING TO PUT FORWARD THE HARD WORK THAT OUR EDUCATORS ARE DOING.
YES, I RECOGNIZE WE HAVE SUBGROUPS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD AND WORKING.
UH, BUT I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT ON THE REPORT CARD PROCESS FROM THE STATE ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT THESE THREE OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE DONE SIGNIFICANT QUANTUM STEPS FORWARD.
SO NOT THAT THEY ALL HAVE, BECAUSE I HAVE TWO OTHER SCHOOLS ON THIS FLOOR ARE ABOVE AVERAGE.
SO I, I HOPE TO PUT THAT OUT AS WELL.
YOU WANNA SPEAK AGAIN? GETTING UP ON THE EDUCATORS AT ALL.
I'M JUST SAYING IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM TO IMPROVE STUDENTS AND, AND EDUCATORS GET BOGGED DOWN WITH THAT ONE YEAR EFFORT THE NEXT YEAR THAT CHILD'S GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND, AND THOSE EFFORTS BEGIN IN THE KINDERGARTEN OR PRE-KINDERGARTEN STAGE.
SO WHEN THAT CHILD GETS TO THE THIRD GRADE, MANY TIMES THAT EDUCATOR IS HELPLESS AND YET THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
BUT HOW DO YOU MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR THAT CHILD GOING THROUGH THE SAME ROUTINE THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH ON ALL THE OCCASIONS IN THE PAST? UNLESS YOU CUT SOME MORE CREATIVITY AND SOME MORE SUPPORT, THAT CHILD'S NOT GONNA BE MOVED.
AND OUR SYSTEM ISN'T NEW TO THAT KIND OF CYCLE.
AND IF WE GONNA DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY HERE, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.
[03:05:02]
ALL RIGHT, MR. CAMPBELL, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? AND THIS, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TO GO TO THE, UM, FOR THE BOARD.WE'RE GONNA THEN HAVE SPLIT COMMENTS.
I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, A OF TIMES PEOPLE GET ANGRY AT ME FOR SAYING IT.
THINK I TALKED ABOUT EDUCATION AS AND OTHER STUFF ASIDE.
YOU NOT GONNA SEE ANYTHING CHANGE THE SCHOOLS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I'VE SEEN STUDENTS COME OUT OF THE SCHOOLS AND WENT TO THOSE SCHOOL AND THEN IN FACT, THAT CAME FROM SOME OF THOSE SCHOOLS BACK IN THE EARLY 2000 WAS, WAS ACHIEVING VERY HIGH.
AND IT CAN BE DONE, BUT IT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE HOW MANY PROGRAMS THE DISTRICT PUT IN, HOW MANY TEACHERS THEY HAVE THERE.
UNLESS THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED AND CARE ABOUT EDUCATION, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE ANY CHANGE AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, EVEN THE FIFTH GRADE, BUT THEY WERE CONCERN ABOUT MY EDUCATION, MY PARENTS WERE, MY GRANDPARENTS WERE.
AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, YOU'RE GONNA BE GOING OVER AND OVER THE SAME THING.
WE NEED TO MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS BECAUSE OUR, OUR AGENDA AND POLICY SAYS NO LATER THAN NINE.
SO NEXT UP IS, UH, JODI SRU SRU TECH, UH, SPEAKING ABOUT LIBRARY MATERIAL REVIEW.
SO, UM, THIS EVENING WHILE I WAS HERE, UH, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ALSO HAD A MEETING.
UM, AND AT THAT MEETING, THEY PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT THEY WANTED ME TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, BUT I DID NOT VOTE ON THIS BECAUSE I WAS HERE AT THIS MEETING AND NOT AT THEIR MEETING.
UM, BUT I WILL READ THIS TO YOU NOW.
UH, THE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT, THE BELOW RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY ON THE 13TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2022, BY THE BEAVER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WHEREAS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY IS THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, WHICH INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO READ, SEEK, AND RECEIVE IDEAS, AND IS PROTECTED SPEECH UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
WHEREAS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY REJECTS ATTEMPTS BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS, ENTITIES, AND ANY OTHERS TO LIMIT THESE FREEDOMS BY RESTRICTING ACCESS TO BOOKS AND INFORMATION WITHOUT APPROPRIATE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE THAT THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, INCLUDING INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, IS NOT PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED.
WHEREAS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY BELIEVES IN THE VALUE OF CRITICAL THINKING AND HOW THAT HELPS SHAPE WELL-ROUNDED MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.
AND THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO STORIES, IDEAS, AND INFORMATION THAT AC ACCURATELY REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR WORLD.
WHEREAS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CALLS ON THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ACT IN THEIR AUTHORITY AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND DIRECT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED POLICIES REGARDING THE HANDLING OF LIBRARY MATERIALS AND TO PREVENT THE INFRINGEMENT OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF STUDENTS, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUPPORTS A FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AS GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE THE RIGHTS OF ALL STUDENTS TO ACCESS A VARIETY OF BOOKS IN SCHOOLS, IN LIBRARIES AND ELSEWHERE, AND OPPOSES ATTEMPTS BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS, ENTITIES, AND ANY OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY WORKING TO LIMIT ACCESS OF STUDENTS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF LITERATURE AND LEARNING RESOURCES.
UM, SO WE WILL SEND YOU ALL A COPY OF THAT TOMORROW.
SO WE HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S GONNA COMMENT BY PHONE.
[03:10:04]
HI, UM, THIS IS ROBIN.I'M CALLING YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ARE YOU READY? GO AHEAD, MR. THANK YOU.
VERY GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD RODRIGUEZ AND, UM, AT A FAMILY GATHERING.
BUT ALL I REALLY WANTED TO SAY TONIGHT WAS A, A, A HUGE THANK YOU AND, AND MUCH LOVE FROM MY FAMILY TO KATHY FOR ALL OF HER HARD WORK FOR US AND FOR OUR KIDS AND FOR ALL THE FAMILIES FROM DISTRICT EIGHT.
UH, I DON'T THINK WORDS CAN EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE AND, UM, AND WE ALL WISH YOU ALL WELL.
AND, UH, AND MS. RUBIN, WE WISH YOU A, A VERY, VERY, UH, HAPPY AND HEALTHY RETIREMENT FROM, UH, FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER, UM, COMMENTER WHO'S IN PERSON, AND THAT'S, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S ISABELLA OR ISABELLA TROY SPEAKING ABOUT BOOK BANNING.
UM, SO I, I DIDN'T EVEN PLAN ON BEING HERE TODAY.
SO
SO, UM, I'LL READ WHAT I HAVE.
UM, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE, UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS PLANNING ON PUTTING ONE IN PLACE, AND THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT I NOTICED WAS DRUG ABUSE.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT BANNING BOOKS WILL NOT PROTECT US.
UM, YOU TELL US, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET OUR DRIVER'S LICENSE AT TEXTING AND DRIVING, IT'S BAD.
BUT UN UNLESS WE SEE THE EFFECTS, THERE'S, I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING US FROM DOING IT.
UM, BOOKS CONTAINING DRUG ABUSE, UM, ARE BANNED AT MY BROTHER'S SCHOOL IN HAMPTON COUNTY.
BUT, UH, HE OVERDOSED THIS WEEKEND, SO, UM, SORRY.
AND, UH, THE DRUGS WERE GIVEN TO HIM AT SCHOOL.
SO BANNING THE BOOKS, IT'S, IT'S, IT'LL UNEQUIVOCALLY HAVE NO EFFECT ON YOUR STUDENTS, US FROM USING OR BEING EXPOSED TO DRUGS.
UM, INSTEAD OF, UH, WORKING ON BANNING BOOKS, WHY DON'T WE, UH, WORK ON BANNING, YOU KNOW, THE DRUGS? I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE BATHROOM AT SCHOOL WITHOUT STUDENTS USING CBD, B D PENS OR VAPE PENS.
UM, AND I'M A, I'M A VICTIM OF CHILD ABUSE BY SOMEONE THAT USED DRUGS AND WAS ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL FOR YEARS.
AND THIS LED TO ME HAVING DEPRESSION.
AND TO THIS DAY, YOU KNOW, THIS VERY, VERY SECOND, I STRUGGLE WITH IT.
SO IF YOU HAD DEPRESSION, YOU KNOW THAT IT IS VERY, VERY HARD TO FIND THINGS THAT YOU LIKED AND ENJOY TO DO.
AND READING JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE ONE OF THEM FOR ME.
AND I MEAN, I FALL ASLEEP READING BOOKS AND MOST OF THEM, MOST OF THEM ARE ABOUT HARD TOPICS, UM, SUCH AS ADDICTION.
I MEAN, BANNING BOOKS IS NOT GOING TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THAT ISSUE FOR US.
UM, AND I MEAN, IF YOU'RE, IF YOUR KID OR YOUR STUDENT IS AT HOME READING BOOKS ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT DRUGS CAN HAVE ON YOU AND YOUR LIFE, INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY EL STREET DOING THEM, THEN YOU DID YOUR JOB AS EDUCATORS.
SO FILTERING US IS NOT, IT'S NOT GOING TO TEACH US.
AND I'VE, I'VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE THAT, THAT DO DRUGS IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT GET PREGNANT.
AND THE ONE THING THAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE TO READ
SO I, AND HONESTLY, I WISH THAT MORE STUDENTS GOT OUT HERE.
AND LIKE I SAID, I DIDN'T PLAN ON BEING HERE TONIGHT, BUT BANNING BOOKS IS, IT'S NOT GONNA HELP US.
WISNESKI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR? I MOVE THAT WE EXTEND THE MEETING PAST 9:00 PM SECOND.
SO I GUESS THE, UM, YOU WANNA SAY EXTEND THE MEETING TILL WE FINISH? OR HOW, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY,
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE GOOD WITH THAT? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ANY ABSTENTIONS? YOUR ABSTAINING.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE MOTION CARRIES
[03:15:01]
9 0 1 WITH, OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, COME ON BACK.DREZ THE, I THINK WE'RE ONTO THE KINDERGARTEN UPDATE.
WELL ACTUALLY, UH, WHAT WANTED TO COMMENT ON, AND BEN, IN TERMS OF THAT, IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE YOU TALKING TO IN TERMS TO THE, WHAT SHE WAS STILL, SHE HAD TO STOP BECAUSE WE OH, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THE TSI PRIORITY SCHOOLS QUARTERLY UPDATE? YES.
UM, UM, IN, IN, IN TERMS, IN TERMS OF THE, MY MIND IS GONE FROM THE LAST COMMENT.
STRATAS, I THINK WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO KINDERGARTEN UPDATES.
SO SOME OF YOU ARE TEETERING ON THE CONVERSATION, WHICH, WHICH IS OUR NEXT PRESENTATION ON KINDERGARTEN UPDATE THIS EVENING.
I, ASHLEY HUTCHINSON, OUR DIRECTOR OF CHILD READINESS, AS WELL AS TRACY STOCKY, SHE'S A NATIONAL TEACHER COACH.
I ALSO HAVE JOINING AS LINDSEY, I, I WAS GONNA TRY TO PUT LITTLE ACCENT ON HER.
LA UM, SHE'S ONE OF OUR COACHES OF EARLY CHILDHOOD AS WELL AS TERRY CHILDHOOD.
THEY'RE WORKING AS A TEAM ON UPDATING SOME OF OUR PRACTICES IN KINDERGARTEN, UM, YOUR DISCUSSION OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND INQUIRY PROCESS AND HAVE STUDENTS ENGAGE AT THEIR LEARNING.
SO WITH THAT, ASHLEY AND YOUR TEAM, I JUST WANNA APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR STAMINA AND YOUR WISDOM.
I WORK ACROSS THE NATION WITH TEACHERS WITH NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION AND MY ROLE HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, I'M 31 YEARS IN ALL KINDERGARTEN, AND I WAS HERE WHEN WE HAD HALF DAY KINDERGARTEN.
SO I LED THE CHARGE TO GET US FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN.
I WAS THE FIRST DC GEN BELOW COLUMBIA AS A NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER, AND WORKED TO GET OUR NETWORK BOARD OF TEACHERS HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA FORMED AND ICONTINUE TO ADVOCACY WORK FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, EARLY CHILDHOOD MATTERS.
IT MATTERS FOR THESE TF SIZE SCHOOLS.
AND SO WHAT WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS I HEARD ABOUT AN INITIATIVE TO REALLY BRING DISCOVERY AND INQUIRY BACK INTO YOUR KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS. THIS PENDULUM HAS SWUNG A LITTLE.
SOME OF US EXPERIENCED IT BECAUSE OF MIDDLE CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
UH, IT BECAME A MUCH MORE KIND OF SIT AND GET KIND OF CLASSROOM.
CHILDREN BEGAN OVER TIME UTILIZING WORKSHEETS FOR LEARNING, EVEN THOUGH YOUNG CHILDREN NEED TO BE EXPERIENCING THINGS WITH THEIR HANDS AND WITH DOING SO.
SO MY THING HERE FOR YOU IS I WENT IN TOWARDS SEVEN OF YOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND FOUR OF THEM ARE, I'M ACTUALLY WORKING WITH NOW WITH THEIR ADMINISTRATORS, UH, ASSISTANT TEACHERS, PRESCHOOL TEACHERS, A KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS THROUGH A ONLINE MODULE PROGRAM THAT I'VE CREATED.
AND I CAN PUT ALL OF YOU IN THAT PROGRAM TOO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
I SEND A MONTHLY MODULE OUT TO THEM WITH SIX LESSONS.
WE STARTED WITH GETTING TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS AT A REALLY DEEP LEVEL AND GETTING TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS AND THEIR KEY SKILLS.
UM, THIS WORK CAME FROM, SO IF YOU HAVE ABOUT 13 MINUTES TO LISTEN TO HER TED TALK, SHE IS A PEDIATRICIAN THAT HAS DEVELOPED QUOTIENT INTELLIGENCE SKILLS, UM, AND THE TED TALK IS CALLED SKILLS.
EVERY CHILD WILL NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
SO ESSENTIALLY I'M HELPING THE TEACHERS TO LOOK AT THE KEY SKILLS THEM BE, THE WAY, THE, UH, RIGOR, THE, WHICH WOULD BE FAILING, FAILING FAST, AND GETTING BACK UP.
UM, WHAT IF, IF THEY'RE QUESTIONING THINGS, THEN THEIR GRAND GROWS TO BIG AND LEARNERS.
THE WINE SKILLS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TOO.
I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO LISTEN TO THAT.
I'VE ALSO HELPED THROUGH THESE MODULES, THE TEACHERS TO UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENT IS THE THIRD TEACHER.
AND THE ENVIRONMENT HAS FOUR QUADRANTS TO IT.
IT ISN'T JUST PHYSICAL AND THE WAY IT LOOKS, IT'S TEMPORAL, THE WAY IT MOVES.
IT'S ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL REALM AND THE COGNITIVE PIECE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR
[03:20:01]
THOSE TSI SCHOOLS.UM, OK IS ON THE LIST I'M WORKING WITH NOW THAT WAS THERE ON THAT TSI, BUT THE, THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU JUST, YOU, YOU NEED TO UTILIZE IT.
AND THE TEACHERS ARE LEARNING TO DO THAT.
AND THEY'RE ALSO LEARNING TO USE WHAT DR.
RODRIGUEZ WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT.
THEY'RE DOING THIS WORK IN THE PEOPLE SCENES AND THEY HAVE TO GET TO KNOW THEIR KIDS INDIVIDUALLY.
THEY'RE GOING TO START PERSONALIZING THE, FOR THEIR KIDS.
AND THE PERSONALIZED PLANS THEN ARE GONNA, UM, GET THIS PLAYING FIELD REVED.
CAUSE THE THING IS, THE EXPERIENCES THESE KIDS HAVE HAD, WHILE'S GOING TO PUT THEM IN ORDER HERE IN, IN OUR EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE.
SO ALSO ANYTHING TRACY, ESP ROSA, THAT'S MOUTH, SHE'S OUTTA HARVARD.
SHE'S TEACHING TEACHERS TO BE SCIENTISTS AND NOT JUST TEACHERS.
AND WE'VE GOT UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE OF THE BULLYING.
WHEN WE TEACH CHILDREN, WE'VE, AND I'M HELPING THROUGH THESE MODULES BECOME A DIAGNOSTIC IN PRACTICE AND HAVE ASSESSMENT DRIVE INSTRUCTION AND CONSTANTLY BE REFLECTIVE.
SO I BELIEVE TO, UH, MR. CAMPBELL'S POINT, UM, EVERY LING SCHOOL NEEDS NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS.
THEM, THOSE TEACHERS, THEY'RE AT THE PINNACLE.
THEY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE ISSUES AND WE SHOULD BE PAID RIGHTLY FOR IT.
SO THAT WAS JUST A PUBLIC NATIONAL BOARD.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? THIS JUST IS A SUSTAINED PROGRAM.
I ONLY BELIEVE IN SUSTAINED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
BUT I, I GUESS I WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT, UM, ASHLEY, SO, SO YOU ARE HERE WORKING WITH SEVERAL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
YOU'RE NOT ONE OF OUR DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.
SO I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED.
COULD YOU JUST GIVE A LITTLE INTRO MORE TO THAT? THANK YOU.
SO, UM, TRACY BRYANT STUCKEY HAS BEEN WORKING, UM, WITH US FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, UM, STARTING IN JULY OR AUGUST, UM, WITH THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT INITIATIVE OF THAT PURPOSEFUL, UM, KINDERGARTEN EXPLORATION, INQUIRY-BASED KINDERGARTEN.
AND WE BROUGHT HER ON BOARD, UM, TO HELP OUR TEACHERS WITH THAT ONGOING SUSTAINED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
SO EVERY MONTH THEY HAVE MODULES THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH.
SHE HAS COME INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND WORKED INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, BUT EACH MONTH THEY HAVE SUSTAINED THAT MOD THOSE MODULES TO KEEP THEM, I GUESS ON THE HOOK IS WHAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WOULD SAY SO KEEP THEM INTERESTED, KEEP THEM, UM, CONTINUOUSLY LEARNING AND MAKING GAINS, UM, WITH THOSE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS.
AND THEN ALSO IMPLEMENTING OUR INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
SO THE FOUR SCHOOLS THAT WE'RE IDENTIFIED FOR THIS INITIATIVE, UM, CUSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MOSSY OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PORT ROYAL, AND OKEE.
OUR GOAL WITH THOSE SCHOOLS IS TO GET, THIS IS YEAR ONE.
IT'S REALLY STILL A PLANNING YEAR.
SO WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO GET, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, GETTING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT SET UP, BUILDING TEACHER CAPACITY.
AND THEN OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE SPREADING THIS INITIATIVE THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, NORTH AND SOUTH OF LEBRON COLONEL GEIER.
I VISITED PORT ROYAL, UH, TODAY AND WENT INTO KINDERGARTEN CLASSES, NUMBER OF KINDERGARTEN CLASSES, UH, TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
IF YOU EVER NEED A, A LIFT IN YOUR MORALE, UH, GO SPEND SOME TIME IN A KINDERGARTEN CLASS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT I, I SEE, I SEE UNIVERSAL JOY IN LEARNING IN THOSE KINDERGARTEN CLASSES.
BUT AS I GO AND VISIT HIGHER GRADE CLASSES, I START TO SEE WHERE WE'VE LOST KIDS.
AND WE WENT INTO A FOURTH GRADE CLASS AND I, AND I, AND THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO JUST SAID, I'M SICK TODAY.
WELL, WE GOT THE NURSE COME DOWN AND TAKE A LOOK AT HIM.
BUT YOU CAN GO IN THE CLASS AND YOU CAN SEE HOW WE LOSE THEM.
AND WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO SUSTAIN THAT KIND OF JOY, JOY IN LEARNING THAT YOU SEE IN KINDERGARTEN.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH DR.
STRATAS EARLIER TODAY AT LENGTH.
UM, I BROUGHT FORWARD THE SAME QUESTION AND CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE.
SO IN PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN, IT'S OUR TIME TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO FOSTER THE LOVE OF LEARNING, TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY ENGAGE THEM.
WE AS EDUCATORS HAVE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT LEARNING
[03:25:01]
IS AND WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU.AND WE DO THAT IN PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN.
IF WE DON'T DO IT IN PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN, WE MISS THE BOAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE CHILDREN THAT ARE BURNED OUT AND THE ONES THAT DON'T ARE SICK TODAY.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE KNOW AS A DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A TRANSITION PLAN FOR THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL.
SO IF WE CAN, IF WE DO NOT MOVE THIS INITIATIVE INTO FIRST, SECOND, THIRD GRADE, WE'RE GONNA HIT EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE WE'RE SEEING IN KINDERGARTEN NOW IN SOME OF OUR PLACE OF, OF SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE.
SO PROJECT-BASED LEARNING WILL COME INTO PLAY AND FIRST AND SECOND, UM, HANDS-ON LEARNING HAS TO CONTINUE TO OCCUR.
STRENGTHENING THOSE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS STILL HAS TO HAPPEN.
SO WE UNDERSTAND AND WE AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
UM, AND WE DO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE WITH THE HELP OF TRACY, UM, TO CONTINUE THAT FOLLOW QUESTION.
WELL, I'VE SEEN SOME RESEARCH THAT TALKS ABOUT YOUNG BOYS AND THE RESEARCH SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT IT'S SOMETIMES BETTER TO KEEP YOUNG BOYS BACK A YEAR, MAYBE IN KINDERGARTEN FOR AN EXTRA YEAR OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERING MATURITY RATES BETWEEN YOUNG BOYS AND YOUNG GIRLS.
AND THEY SAY THAT, AND, AND I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I HAVE A, MY YOUNGEST GRANDSON MM-HMM.
HE'S A SENIOR GOING TO CLEMSON.
BUT THINK ABOUT, THINK ABOUT THAT A AS AS WE GO FORWARD.
SO ONE THING THAT I, I ALWAYS HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF AND I REMIND OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND WHEN I TALK WITH OUR UM, TEACHERS, IS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A THREE-YEAR-OLD, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CHILD WHO'S ONLY BEEN ON THIS EARTH FOR 36 MONTHS.
WE TEND TO FORGET THAT OUR FIVE AND SIX YEAR OLDS HAVE ONLY BEEN ON THIS EARTH FOR SO MANY MONTHS.
AND SO, AS THE DEVELOPMENT, AS WE TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENTAL CONTINUUMS AND WHAT'S APPROPRIATE, WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND AS EDUCATORS IS OUR CUTOFF FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS FOUR, FIVE OR SIX ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, WE HAVE CHILDREN IN THAT GRADE LEVEL WHO TURN SEVEN OR WHO TURNED SIX IN THAT GRADE LEVEL.
SO IF YOU BACK THAT UP FIVE OR SIX YEARS, THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TURNED FIVE IN SEPTEMBER AND YOU DIDN'T TURN FIVE UNTIL, OR SIX UNTIL CLOSER TO THE END OF THAT SCHOOL YEAR, YOU WERE BORN ALMOST 12 MONTHS AHEAD OF THE SAME PEER IN YOUR CLASSROOM.
AND SO THERE IS RESEARCH BEHIND THE PIECE OF BOYS DEVELOP DIFFERENTLY THAN GIRLS.
WE ARE SEEING AS A, AS BEAUFORT COUNTY AND AS A NATION, UH, PARENTS DELAYING THE START OF KINDERGARTEN FOR THIS, NOT WAIVING THEIR RIGHT CUZ THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, BUT DELAYING THE START.
AND, AND THAT'S UP TO EACH INDIVIDUAL PARENT.
WHAT I DO, WHAT WE DO AS A DISTRICT IS I OFFER A DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING FOR EVERY PARENT WHO IS IN NEED OF THAT.
BUT BEFORE A PARENT MAKES THE DECISION ABOUT DELAYING THE START, I SAY, COME IN, LET'S DO A DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING.
LET'S SEE WHERE YOUR CHILD IS DEVELOPMENTALLY.
AND THEN YOU AND I CAN WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THAT CHILD.
WHETHER THEY'RE NOT GONNA TURN SIX UNTIL JULY OR THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, IT WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR GRADE.
UM, I THINK MS. BOAT WAS NEXT.
UM, ONE THING IS I WASN'T VERY PREPARED FOR THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MATERIALS AND IT JUST SAID KINDERGARTEN UPDATE.
UM, SO JUST KIND OF ON THE FLY, ONE THING IS, UH, APPARENTLY THIS WOMAN, TRACY CHOKUMA ESPINOZA MM-HMM.
SH MOST OF THE WEBSITES AND I SEE ARE IN SPANISH.
CLEARLY THAT IS EITHER AN EMPHASIS OR SOMETHING, BUT YET WE'RE NOT, NONE OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE MAKING IT TO 2 78.
AND I DON'T HAVE A C I P IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT IS WHERE THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF KINDERGARTNERS ARE.
SO I DON'T, I, I KEEP HAR HARPING ON THIS, BUT ONE DAY Y'ALL ARE GONNA BRING A PROGRAM AND IT'S GONNA PILOT AND YOU'RE GONNA PILOT IT ON 2 78 SOMEWHERE AND YOU'RE GONNA REACH THOSE KIDS.
CUZ I SEE THOSE KIDS AND I, THEY NEED THE SAME LEVEL OF HELP.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION IN, IN OUR OFFICE, BUT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, I BELIEVE WE'RE LOOKING AT 15 CLASSROOMS AT ONE SITE VERSUS A SCHOOL WITH THREE, A SCHOOL WITH FOUR.
SO IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO GO INTO A SCHOOL AND SAY, THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS IN A SCHOOL THAT HAS 15 KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS. SO THAT WAS PART OF THAT AS WELL IN THE DECISION.
MRS. THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT.
BUT I ALSO WONDER IF WE'RE IN A SCHOOL WITH MANY, MANY KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS,
[03:30:01]
COULDN'T WE IDENTIFY THOSE KIDS WHO ARE MOST NEED OF EXTRA SERVICES? IT'S HARD TO SAY WHO GETS THE CUP OF SOUP AND WHO DOESN'T WITHIN HIS SCHOOL ITSELF.I KNOW WE, WE'VE HAD A VERY DEEP CONVERSATION EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND IT'S HARD TO SAY WHO RECEIVES AND WHO DOESN'T WITHIN THAT SCHOOL SITE.
AND WE WANTED TO START SMALL AND, AND GROW SUBJECT TO SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH AND A TRANSITIONAL PLAN BECAUSE IT CANNOT JUST BE WITHIN THE KINDERGARTEN.
WELL, THE OTHER THING IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS, UH, SOUTH ABROAD, AND I I CAN SPEAK MOST, UH, CLEARLY ON HILTON HEAD, A LOT OF THEM HAVE LANGUAGE BARRIERS.
A LOT OF THEM HAVE CULTURAL BARRIERS.
AND WE NEED TO FI FIND WAYS TO HELP THOSE KIDS TOO.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT OUR T S I NUMBERS, YOU LOOK AT OUR REPORT CARD AND HILTON HAD STRUGGLED.
IT STRUGGLED IN THE, UH, SPANISH LANGUAGE LEARNING, UH, THE, I FORGET THE TERM ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER, MULTILINGUAL.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S JUST A GROUP THAT DOES NEED.
AND AT KINDERGARTEN YOU SEE THESE KIDS AT KINDERGARTEN AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PICK UP A NEW LANGUAGE AND THEY'RE IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
SO I JUST, I'M NOT, I I KNOW I, IT'S MY CONSTANT COMPLAINT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME EFFORTS CUZ THOSE KIDS NEED THAT.
SO JUST ON THE CONVERSATION OF ML STUDENTS, WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE LOWER GRADES AND THE ACQUISITION OF LANGUAGE AND THE TARGETED SECOND LANGUAGE, IT IS ACTUALLY EASY TO ACQUIRE OR THE ACQUISITION OF THAT TARGET LANGUAGE AT KINDERGARTEN.
SO I, CAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE EXACTLY, WE'RE OBTAINING KNOWLEDGE AT BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY.
I'M ACQUIRING MY TONE LANGUAGE AS WELL AS E TARGETT LANGUAGE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
THE CHALLENGE IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DATA AND ACTUALLY HAPPENS LATER ON, IS THE STUDENTS ARE A LITTLE OLDER.
THAT IS WHERE OUR DATA AT MLS AND WE ARE WORKING SIGNIFICANTLY AT THAT.
I'M LUCKY, AT LEAST NOW THAT WE HAVE THE COACHES IN PLACE, WE HAVE NOT HAD, UM, ML COACHES WORKING WITH US.
UM, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA CLOSELY, IT'S IDENTIFIED WITHIN BIOLOGY AND SCIENCE AND BOTH THOSE, UM, I MEAN US HISTORY, BOTH THOSE TESTS ARE PREDOMINANTLY READING TESTS.
SO YEAH, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
WE HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION AT DEPTH.
WAS ASK YOU THEN, MR. MEL CAMPBELL.
UM, GIVEN THAT, UH, KINDERGARTEN IS NOT COMPULSORY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WHAT DO WE HAVE IN TERMS OF A TRANSITION OR A SUMMER, UM, ORIENTATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR FIRST GRADERS? WE DON'T YET.
ACTUALLY, THIS PAST SUMMER, IN THE PAST TWO SUMMERS, AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR, THAT OPPORTUNITY OF ONBOARDING EDUCATORS HAS BEEN A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING.
THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 105 ELEMENTARY TEACHERS WORKING SUBJECT TO THE REED SUCCEED.
AND IF I'M CORRECT, I WANNA SAY IT WAS 90, 60 YEAR PRIOR TO THAT AND WAS TURNING EVERY ROCK OVER AND OVER TO GET TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT FIRST.
I'M JUST, AND IT'S JUST A COLONEL GEIERS POINT ABOUT LOSING THAT LOVE FOR IT.
AND BECAUSE WE DON'T NECESSARILY GET THEM ALL IN KINDERGARTEN, ALTHOUGH THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.
UM, SOME OF THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH US ARE GONNA BE IN FIRST GRADE.
SO I FEEL LIKE SOME TYPE OF ORIENTATION OR SOMETHING TO IGNITE THAT WHEN THEY FIRST COME TO US IS, IS MUCH NEEDED.
ONE IS, UM, WE HAVE VERY, VERY FEW PARENTS, IF ANY IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT HAVE WAIVED THEIR RIGHT TO KINDERGARTEN.
NOW, THEY MAY, UM, CHOOSE TO DO THEIR KINDERGARTEN YEAR AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR A CHILDCARE CENTER, BUT I HAVE VERY FEW AND WE CAN PULL FROM POWERSCHOOL THE DATA.
WE DON'T, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, I CAN COUNT ON ONE HAND WHO HAVE WAIVED THEIR RIGHT TO KINDERGARTEN.
SO THEY MAY HAVE DELAYED THEIR START.
SO THEY START AT SIX, UM, WHICH IS N THEY STILL GO.
AND WE, AS A DISTRICT, WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE EVERY CHILD TO HAVE A KINDERGARTEN EXPERIENCE.
UM, SO I, I TAKE THAT RO THE ROAD DOWN WITH EACH PARENT WHEN THEY, CUZ I ASK THE SCHOOLS FOR THE PARENTS TO CALL ME.
AND WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATION WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT TRACK IS BEST FOR YOUR CHILD.
BUT, UM, WE HAVE VERY FEW THAT GO STRAIGHT INTO FIRST GRADE.
BUT TO YOUR POINT, THAT THERE, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY ARE COMING FROM CHILDCARE CENTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? I MEAN, I, WE CAN LOOK AT THAT.
UM, WHAT I AM SEEING POST PANDEMIC, OR I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN THIS SITUATION, BUT DURING, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT KINDERGARTEN DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN HAVE NOT, WE HAVE CHILDREN NOW THAT FROM BIRTH TO FIVE, THAT WERE BORN IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
SO THEY LACK EXPERIENCES THAT OTHER CHILDREN PRE PANDEMIC HAD.
SO GOING SIMPLE THINGS OF GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, GOING TO THE BANK, GO.
WE HAVE CHILDREN WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A PARK BEFORE.
[03:35:01]
AND SO WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR PRE-K, KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.SO THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING TO US WITHOUT THOSE KINDERGARTEN EXPERIENCES, OUR KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS ARE GONNA HA I MEAN, OUR FIRST GRADE PROGRAMS ARE GONNA HAVE TO START INCORPORATING MORE INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING.
UM, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING EXPLORATION TIME.
SO THE, THE, THESE ARE, AND THESE ARE THE KIDS THAT ARE GONNA FILTER INTO FIRST GRADE, SECOND GRADE, THIRD GRADE, FOURTH GRADE IN THE YEARS TO COME.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAY IT'S, IT'S SUCH A MULTI-YEAR PIECE, YOU KNOW, UH, TO, TO, TO GET OUT OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE, OKAY, NOW THAT IT'S BEHIND US, THESE KINDERGARTNERS ARE JUST LIKE, THEY WERE IN 2019 IN AUGUST OF, OF, I'M SORRY, 2018 AUGUST OR WHATEVER.
ANYWAY, THEY, THEY WHAT YEAR? THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FINDING THAT AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL.
THAT, UH, CHILDREN SEEM TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, A LITTLE BIT LESS, LITTLE BIT LESS MATURE THAN THEY WERE PRE PANDEMIC AT THOSE GRADE LEVELS.
SO, SO THAT LEADS TO BEHAVIOR AND OTHER FACTORS.
WELL, THAT RIGHT, MR. MEL CAMPBELL.
UM, BUNCH OF STUFF NOW ASKED IT ABOUT A, THAT MADE ME, UH, REFLECT.
BUT SINCE YOU'RE GONNA GET DIFFERENT FIRST GRADERS NOW, OR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS, WHAT DO WE DO TO EDUCATE THEM DIFFERENTLY? I MEAN, THAT SAME RUBRIC WE ARE USING IS NOT GONNA WORK.
AND, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHO OR WHERE YOU ARE IN, IN THE WORLD, YOUR EXPERIENCES FROM CHILDBIRTH UP TO A POINT OF INTERACTION MATTERS.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT EDUCATING THOSE PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO EXAMINE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH SOME DETAIL.
CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE, WE DRAW ON.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T, NOT EVOKING RELIGION, BUT GOD'S HAS THE GREATEST PLAN OF ALL HE EDUCATES FROM THE BEGINNING ALL THE WAY THROUGH EVERY HUMAN BEING.
HE CONTINUE TO LEARN AT HIS MODE.
HE SHOWS WHAT HE WANTS TO SHOW.
AND YOU DISCOVER ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU SEE AND HOW YOU CAN TAKE IT.
SO KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ARE THE SAME AND FIRST GRADE STUDENTS ARE THE SAME.
THEY'RE BRINGING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE MEASURING IT OR NOT, AND WHETHER YOU ARE ENHANCING IT OR NOT.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT IF WE HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING AND HOW TO ENHANCE IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT EASY WITH THE PANDEMIC.
IT'S EVEN HARDER NOW WITH THE PANDEMIC.
SO THAT IS WHAT I, YOU KNOW, WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT AS YOU DEVELOP YOUR NEW PROGRAM, YOU, YOUR, YOU KNOW, A PROGRAM TO HERE'S THESE CHILDREN.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I SUPPOSE THE NUMBER'S NOT GONNA LOOK GOOD IF YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MEASURE THE SAME WAY.
WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT, UM, AND WE'RE BUILDING TEACHER CAPACITY NOW WITH A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODULES ABOUT GE REALLY GETTING TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS.
SO WE ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO MOVE THESE STUDENTS FORWARD WITHOUT KNOWING THEIR PAST HISTORY, WHERE THEY HAVE SPENT THEIR CHILDCARE DAYS OR STAYED AT HOME WITH A MOM OR A CAREGIVER.
AND SO BY BUILDING TEACHER CAPACITY OF REALLY GETTING TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS, THEN BEING ABLE TO BUILD PERSONALIZED LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR THAT STUDENT IS THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE HEADING WITH US.
THAT, UM, MS. STRICH, YOU WANNA SHARE WITH HIM? UM, SORRY, ASHLEY AND DR.
SO JUST, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED, UM, ABOUT THE SELECTION OF WHERE THESE, WHERE THIS NEW PROGRAM IS.
KUSA PORT, ROYAL OKAT AND MASI OAKS.
AND I MAY, I TRUST YOU GUYS, IMPLICIT YOU GUYS ARE SUCH PROFESSIONALS, BUT WHY DIDN'T WE CHOOSE SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE SHOWING SUCH NEED? WHY DIDN'T WE START WITH YOU? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, WE HAD SOME VERY LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE ON THE, UM, THE FIRST ROUND OF THIS.
UM, SOME OF THOSE SCHOOLS THAT WE HAD INITIALLY IDENTIFIED FOR THIS WERE ALSO LETTER SCHOOLS.
WERE ALSO IMP BEGINNING TO IMPLEMENT SCHOLASTIC LITERACY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT UVA SCHOOLS AND UVA SCHOOLS.
AND SO WHAT WE HAD TO REALLY THINK ABOUT, AND AS WE STARTED TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING THIS IS WHAT DEMAND
[03:40:01]
ON THE TEACHERS ARE ALREADY BEING PUT, WHAT DEMAND IS ON THE SCHOOL.WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A, UM, A SITUATION WITH TEACHER SHORTAGES AND KEY AND CAPACITY BUILDING.
AND SO WE REALLY HAD TO FOCUS ON HOW ARE WE GOING TO BEST SPEND THE FUNDS THAT WE, WE HAVE A SET ASIDE FOR THIS INITIATIVE, UM, NOT TO OVERWHELM OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR TEACHERS.
UM, AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT PROCESS THAT WENT INTO THE SCHOOLS FOR JUST THIS FIRST ROUND.
BUT THERE, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD THIS INITIATIVE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
MR. SMITH, UM, IN, IN, IN TERMS OF, ACTUALLY, SHE JUST ASKED, ONE OF, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS, WAS, WAS BASICALLY WHAT WAS THE PROCESS OF, OF, UM, PICKING THESE SCHOOLS? BUT YOU, YOU ANSWERED THAT, BUT ALSO, UM, IN, IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY JUST PICKING THESE SCHOOLS, I, I I AM WHAT, WHAT OTHER, WHAT OTHER ENTITY OR OR AGENCY HAVE WE INCLUDED IN THIS, IN THIS PROCESS? WELL, THE PROCESS IS JUST STARTING.
SO WE HAVE TO SHARE, LET'S RECOGNIZE THAT.
AND I THINK WE'VE FOUND PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST TO WORK WITH OUR DISTRICT.
UM, WE'VE SPENT SOME TIME PRIOR TO COMING TO THE BOARD SO THAT YOU CAN GET TO MEET TRACY TOMORROW.
PR PRINCIPALS ARE HAVING A LONG SESSION WITH HER THERE AS PUSHBACK FROM HER, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND IF I COULD SAY THAT WHAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED SIMILAR NEEDS AND SIMILAR AREAS THAT ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN GREAT THINGS.
AND THAT'S THAT WE DID NOT SPEAK TOGETHER.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO WE HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE OF WHERE WE'RE STARTING AT.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE START AT A POINT AND DON'T BRING TOO MUCH ON AT FIRST BECAUSE THAT EDUCATE, THAT CLASSROOM CAPACITY, MR. SMITH, WE HAVE TO TAKE ON IN INCREMENTS AND STEPS.
THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL SITES AND WE DON'T WANNA OVERLOAD, WE WANT BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND I I I, I HATE YOU, DOC, BUT MY CONCERN IS, AND AND I SAY THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I, AND I ALMOST FEEL AS THOUGH I'M BEING AS, BASICALLY, I'M, I'M SAYING IT, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT IS NOT BEING PROCESSED OR IT'S BEING WELL, WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION THAT WE, AND I, I'M, AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO SAY THIS IN, IN TERMS OF KINDERGARTEN.
YOU HAVE PRE-KINDERGARTEN, YOU ALSO HAVE, YOU HAVE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LIKE HEADSTART.
HEADSTART IS WHERE IT STARTS AT.
WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE SAME PROGRAMS WE OWN IN THIS DISTRICT.
WE OWN HEADSTART NUMBERS REGARDLESS OF REVEREND WE LIKE IT OR NOT, WHEN THOSE KIDS COME TO US.
MAYBE NOT ALL OF 'EM, BUT MAJORITY OF 'EM.
AND SO IN RETURN, I'M LOOKING AT EVEN AT THESE PRIORITIES SCHOOLS SO THAT SOME OF THESE KIDS LIKE HAVE CAME FROM SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT PLACES AND SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND, AND, AND MY, MY MY, MY, THE STAY FOCUS, MY POINT IS THIS, HOW HAVE WE ENGAGED THEM IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING, IN TERMS OF HOW THEY WORK IN THE SCOPE OF THE PLAN WITH EVEN WITH EVEN THE INITIATIVE OF BRING, OF BRINGING MRS UH, WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN? NOW? UH, NO, I APOLOGIZE FOR MY, MY, MY HEART.
IT, IT, IT'S NOT ABOUT, IT IS JUST THE, USING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AT HOME TO PROCESS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE.
HAVING A KID LEARNING FROM 50 WORDS TO 250 WORDS, FROM A HUNDRED WORDS TO 600 WORDS, AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE THEY DOING AND HOW ARE THEY DEVELOPING THOSE KIDS? YOU HAVE TO TEAM IT, IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE VILLAGE AND BE ONE UNTIL WE DO THAT.
I DON'T CARE HOW HOW MUCH WE DO, IT'S, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE HARD.
AND THOSE BARRIERS STILL GOING, STILL GOING BE THERE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS WITH AGENCIES LIKE THAT.
WHO, WHO ARE OUR FEEDERS? BECAUSE WE, YEAH, WE CAN GET THE INFORMATION OVER THE DAYCARE, BUT THE DAYCARE NOT, I'M NOT DOING WHAT HEAD STARTERS DOING.
AND ALSO THEY'RE GETTING SOME RESULTS.
SO THEY'RE DOING, OR THEY, OR THEY'RE MOVING, GETTING KIDS NUMBERS.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING DIFFERENTLY FROM WHAT ARE WHAT WE DOING? OKAY, BEAUTIFUL COUNTY SCHOOL WE'RE DESCRIBING IN THIS DIRECTION.
OKAY, WHAT ARE, WHAT, WHAT, HOW DID Y'ALL GET THAT? OKAY, WELL, WELL SHARE THAT WITH US.
SO THEREFORE WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE WE ALL GOT ONE COMMON THEME GOAL MOVING KIDS
[03:45:02]
TO COMPETE GLOBALLY, INTERNATIONALLY.HAVING, HAVING KIDS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE ABLE BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND BE ABLE TO DO MULTIPLE MULTIPLICATION BY THE TIME THEY'RE FIRST GRADE.
BUT UNTIL WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, I, I, I DON'T SEE IT.
AND MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE DOING IT? AND, AND, AND, AND IF WE ARE NOT, WHY NOT? AND HOW DOES THAT NOT FIT IN, IN OUR, IN, IN, IN OUR SCOPE? I DON'T THINK IT'S PART OF THE MEETING FOR TODAY.
A GREATEST RESPECT, MR. SMITH.
UM, WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD INFORMATION ON INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
UM, IF WE WANNA HAVE A CONVERSATION ON PARTNERING WITH HEADSTART OR IN THE DATA THAT TO LOOK AT, THAT'S BEING, THAT YOU'RE SHARING, THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DEFINITELY DEVELOP AND BRING FORWARD.
BUT IT WASN'T CLEAR IN DETAIL TO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, SIR.
BUT I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR MONTHS.
AND THEN YOU BRING A NEW PROGRAM TODAY, IT'S ALMOST LIKE I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE DEAF AIR AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, I'M, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ENTITY AND WHEN IT COMES TO THIS DEPARTMENT AND, AND MOVING OUR KIDS, I'M A LITTLE FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE OF THE TERM OF I APPRECIATE THE, THE, THE MOVEMENT AS WAS TAKING PLACE TO MOVE THESE SCHOOLS.
BUT ALSO WE TALKING ABOUT GATHERING INFORMATION.
YOU NEED INFORMATION FROM SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THESE FROM SOME OF THOSE SAME PLACES BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE KIDS CAME FROM THAT, FROM THOSE ENTITIES.
THAT'S WHAT THAT DATA INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE HANDY.
AND THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF A STRUCTURE THAT CAN FEED INTO US, THAT CAN GIVE US THAT AND HELP US HELP HER BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
AND I APOLOGIZE IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO HEAR IT.
BUT THAT'S JUST THAT, THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M AT WITH IT.
SO CAN I ASK SOMETHING? WERE, WERE THERE DOCUMENTS IN, IN BOARD DOCS FOR THIS? OKAY.
SO LET'S, LET'S HAVE MR. UM, EARL CAMPBELL FINISH UP AND I, LET ME SAY THIS, MOVE ON.
SOME OF US DON'T REALIZE THAT MANY OF THE CHILDREN THAT COME TO OUR SCHOOL HAVE NEVER BEEN TO PRE-K OR ANY KINDERGARTEN CLASSES.
THE GRANDMOTHER, GRANDMOTHER OR A COUSIN IT OR, OR, OR HOME WITH THEM.
HEAD START ALSO HAS A WINNING LIST.
IF YOU MAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOUR CHILD IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HEAD START PERIOD.
SO IT, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO, TO CHANGE THIS AND LET THE PARENT MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CHILD IS READY WHEN THEY COME TO SCHOOL.
RODRIGUEZ, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE READY TO GO ON TO OTHER MATTERS.
RODRIGUEZ, CAN WE DO THE GRADUATION UPDATES WHEN THE IT'S ON THE BOARD BUSINESS ACTION AND GO TO YOUR OTHER TWO? SURE.
JUST TO CHANGE IT, IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT JUST BEFORE WE GO, WE'LL JUST PASS, PASS PA GO PAST IT.
WE'RE GONNA COME BACK TO IT, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
CAUSE WE KINDA HAVE IT TWICE ON IT.
I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT WITH YOU.
OKAY, MR. OTTI, CAN YOU COME AND BRIEF ON, UH, PROJECT REVIEW COMMITTEE 2.0? SIR? THANK YOU.
UM, JUST TO UPDATE THE BOARD, UH, THE COMMUNITY PROJECT REVIEW COMMUNITY COMMUNITY C P R C 2.0, WE'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS.
UH, THE FIRST MEETING WAS NOVEMBER 29TH.
UH, WE HAD 19 PEOPLE IN A, IN ATTENDANCE.
RODRIGUEZ KICKED US OFF AND INTRODUCED, UM, DR.
BERG TO THE COMMITTEE WHO'S GOING TO ASSIST US WITH THAT.
UM, THAT FIRST MEETING, WE KIND OF, THE ITEMS THAT WE TALK TOUCHED ON WAS, UH, A SCOPE OF WORK, JUST KIND OF GOING OVER WHAT THEIR PURPOSE WAS, THE HISTORY OF THE 2019 BOND REFERENDUM, UH, PURPOSE, WHERE WE ARE IN THAT REFERENDUM, AND WHAT THE CLOCK'S ROLE IS IN THAT GROUP.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR A COMMITTEE AND WHAT THE BOARD'S TIMELINE WOULD BE FOR ANY REFERENDUM WORK.
WE DISCUSSED THE REVIEW OF THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN BUFORD COUNTY AD HOC COMMITTEES AND WHAT, HOW, WHAT THEIR CONCLUSION WAS AT THE END OF THEIR TIME.
AND THEN WE DID A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE 2022 FACILITIES MASTER PLAN.
AND WE GAVE THE GROUP HOMEWORK, WHICH WAS TO REVIEW, UM, WHAT WE HAD SET ASIDE AS PROJECTS
[03:50:01]
IN THAT MASTER PLAN.SECOND MEETING WAS YESTERDAY, UH, AT OKEE, UH, SIX 15.
UH, AND LET ME JUST SIT IN THAT SECOND COMMITTEE MEETING.
UH, THEY CAME BACK WITH THEIR HOMEWORK.
WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK, A LOT OF GOOD, UH, INTERACTION WITH THAT GROUP.
UH, WE WENT OVER THE SCOPE OF WORK AGAIN FOR THE COMMITTEE, THE MASTER PLAN IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
UH, WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE PREVIOUS REFERENDUM AND WHAT PROJECTS WERE LEFT FROM THAT WHOLE, THAT 629 MILLION THAT THE ORIGINAL C P R BROUGHT TO THE BOARD.
WE WENT OVER THE PURPOSE OF 8% CAPITAL FUNDING.
AND, UM, THE FACILITIES CONDITION ASSESSMENT, IT ACTUALLY WENT, UH, WE WENT LONG, BUT EVERYBODY STAYED AND, UM, WANTED TO KEEP GOING.
UH, THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE JANUARY 15TH.
WE DO PLAN ON IF IT'S, WILL THE BOARD TO HAVE THAT GROUP COME AND REPORT TO THE BOARD, KIND OF HOW THINGS GOING AS AN INTRODUCTION AT THE, UH, JANUARY 17TH MEETING.
CAN YOU FIRST JUST SAY HOW, HOW MANY, UH, MEMBERS, YOU SAID 19 WERE ON THE FIRST MEETING NOVEMBER 29TH.
HOW MANY WERE LAST NIGHT? I DIDN'T, I DON'T HAVE THOSE NOTES TO COUNT.
AND WE ARE STILL, UH, UM, ADDING MEMBERS.
SO IF YOU'VE NOT GIVEN YOUR NAMES TO DR.
RODRIGUEZ OR I HAVE OTHERS, WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO ADD, UH, MEMBERS INTO JANUARY.
MS. BOATRIGHT, HOW MANY MEETINGS WILL THERE BE TOTAL, DO YOU THINK? WELL, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE'VE SET KIND OF A DEADLINE FOR APRIL 4TH, AND WE'RE MEETING EVERY OTHER WEEK RIGHT NOW.
IF THEY FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO ADD MORE MEETINGS, WE WILL.
SO THAT'S APPROXIMATELY, UM, WE HAVE THREE MONTHS, UH, WITH, UH, APPROXIMATELY TWO MEETINGS A MONTH.
SO THERE'S SIX TO SEVEN MORE MEETINGS.
AND HOW MANY OF THIS FIRST MEETING ROUGHLY WERE FROM HILTON HEAD? HOW MANY MEMBERS? WAS IT JUST THE TWO THAT I KNOW ABOUT? YES.
WELL, NOT, NO, THERE WERE TWO, THERE WERE TWO MEMBERS THAT DID ATTEND OUTSIDE OF YOUR TWO MEMBERS THAT, UH, UM, WERE MISSED AND DID NOT GET INVITED.
BECAUSE THAT'S OF THE 19, THOSE TWO, THAT'S A, THAT WHAT WHAT IRRITATES ABOUT IS IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL VOICE AND YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT NORTH BROAD, SOUTH ABROAD, YOU KNOW IT.
SO, HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO RECTIFY THAT BECAUSE, UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT HILTON HAS VOICE IS WELL REPRESENTED.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT COMING UP, UM, ON THIS NEXT REFERENDUM.
WELL, THE TWO MEMBERS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT TODAY, WE CONTACTED TODAY.
SO, AND THEY'RE GONNA NEED TO GET CAUGHT UP BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE COVERED A LOT OF MATERIAL ALREADY.
I'LL BE GLAD TO SIT WITH THEM, OR CAROLYN, I'LL BE GLAD TO SIT WITH THEM AND GO OVER.
AND WE ALSO ARE GONNA PUBLISH ON THE WEBSITE OUR MEETING MINUTES AND DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
ARE THESE MEETINGS RECORDED FOR NOTE TAKING? SO THERE IS A RECORDING OF THE MEETING? YES.
ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, THANK YOU.
STRATOS, THE NEXT ITEM IS THE UPDATE ON THE BOOK REVIEW COMMITTEES.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN UP TO DATE ON INFORMATION FROM DR.
BRUNER, INFORMATION REGARDING OUR BOOK REVIEW PROCESS.
SO I WILL BE BRIEF BECAUSE I WILL SHARE FIRST WITH YOU WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BOARD DOCS.
YOU HAVE A SUMMARY SHEET REGARDING EACH BOOK AND THE VOTES AND THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE BY THE COMMITTEE TO DATE.
WE HAVE COMPLETED A FULL PROCESS OF ONE CYCLE OF COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT TO REVIEW ADDITIONAL BOOKS.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS HAPPENING AS WE FROM THE HOLIDAY, ONE BOOK AT A TIME.
THE DECISION FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP OVERALL RETURNED TO LIBRARY CIRCULATION.
FIRST MEETING WAS ON THE 17TH OF NOVEMBER.
THE CONVEN MEETING WAS ON THE 1ST OF DECEMBER.
DATE OF MODIFICATION TO THE COMPLAINANT WAS PROVIDED ON DECEMBER 8TH SHEET, EVERYTHING.
AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THE 10 SHEETS AS WELL RESPECTED TO EACH BOOK.
SECOND BOOK UNDER REVIEW, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER.
SAME SCENARIO WITH REGARD TO INITIAL DATE OF
[03:55:01]
DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS COMMITTEE MEETING.THE VOTE OF THE COMMITTEE WAS RETURNED TO LIBRARY CIRCULATION IN GRADES NINE THROUGH 12.
ONLY ONCE AGAIN, COMPLAINANTS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AS OF DECEMBER 8TH, 2022.
YOU LOOK AT THE, THAT YOU HAVE, I'LL GO RIGHT TO THE DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE.
LET'S RETURN TO CIRCULATION PROVIDED TO THE CITATION.
COMING TO A MIDDLE OF THAT BOOK.
EVENING, I'M RETURN TO MY RECIRCULATION.
MY BOOK IS INS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
ONE IS IN REGARD TO THE, UM, TALLY SHEET.
AND COULD JUST BE A, A TECHNICAL THING OR SOMETHING, OR I MAY BE READING IT, UH, INCORRECTLY, WHICH I DO.
WHICH FOR NUMBER ONE, UM, THE HANDMADE HANDMAID'S TALE.
IN THE, IN THE TALLY BOX FOR CHALLENGE MATERIAL RETURNED.
AND THEN IT HAS SPECIFIC GRADE LEVELS.
THAT'S ACTUALLY AN ITEM THAT WE HAD CONVERSATION.
AND IN REVEALING FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM THE COMMITTEE AS MEMBERS WHO WERE THERE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST LINE MM-HMM.
SO THERE, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE DIRECTLY FROM THAT SECOND.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO YOU HAD SOMEONE CHANGE MATERIAL? SHOULDN'T YES, I WAS READING.
I I WAS, I SHOULD HAVE JUST ASKED YOU HOW MANY TOTAL PEOPLE THERE WERE.
NOW THE QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENED? AND I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE A, GIVE A LITTLE GREATER CLARITY ON THE TOWN, THE PUT CYCLE.
OH, SEE, YEAH, THAT MAKES MA'AM MUCH MORE SENSE.
UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS IN REGARD TO PROCEDURE, FOR THOSE THAT WERE, UM, PUT BACK INTO CIRCULATION AND THEY'RE IN, UM, HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, WHAT IS THE PROCESS OR THE PROCEDURE FOR ENSURING THAT THOSE DON'T, DON'T GO NOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN REVIEWED? THOSE BOOKS DON'T GO INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL OR TRICKLE DOWN.
SO AS A RESULT OF THIS, IT, LET'S JUST SAY BOOK WHO'S IDENTIFIED THE RETURN TO HIGH SCHOOLS ONLY, BUT YOU DO BOOKS CIRCULATING, LET'S SAY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THOSE BOOKS WOULD BE ROOTED OUT IN THE READING PROCESS AT THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THEY'LL BE ADDED TO THE CIRCULATION TO THAT, UH, HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIAN.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO PICK UP THAT MATERIAL.
BUT WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR MAKING SURE THAT THEY DO NOT RE-ENTER THE MIDDLE SCHOOL? SO WITHIN IDENTIFIES IF HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PURCHASING PROCESS.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE MY PRINCIPAL, I IN THE LIBRARY IS THE LEAD, UH, FOR AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, I WOULD'VE TO BRING CONVERSATION WITH YOU PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN WE GOING THROUGH RECOMMENDATIONS THIS GRADE LEVEL? YES, MA'AM.
I WASN'T SURE IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF PROCEDURE.
THERE'S WRITTEN THAT'S INTERNAL PRACTICE THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING AND WE WOULD'VE TO COME TO WOULD'VE INTERNAL AUDITING.
AND THAT MAKES SENSE IN DESTINY TO ASSURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING WHAT THE RESULTS OF THIS IS.
I THINK THERE MIGHT NEED TO BE SOME TYPE OF, RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE A COMMITTEE AND A PROCESS AND WHATNOT, AND THEY HAVE MADE A DETERMINATION, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO, SO IT'LL BE TIED TO HAVE FINDINGS ACCUMULATED SOMEWHERE.
STRATOS, CAN YOU STATE HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INVITED AND STARTED ON EACH COMMITTEE? SO EACH COMMITTEE IS, IS TO BE, AS THEON SUGGESTS, SEVEN MEMBERS.
SO NONE OF THESE COMMITTEES HAD SEVEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY VOTE ON A BOOK.
SO YOU MAY NOT NEVER SEVEN SHOW UP.
SO THE REALITY IS, DO YOU NOT HAVE THE BOOK REVIEWED OR YOU CONTINUE WITH THE PREMISES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AND CONTINUE IN THE PROCESS? I JUST WANTED TO VERIFY YES, MA'AM.
[04:00:01]
TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE BOOK AND WERE, HAD AGREED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH.
WE RECEIVED MINUTE NOTIFICATIONS AND WE HAVE APOLOGIZE FOR STEPPING ON.
UM, IN THE FOUR YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, LET'S SEE, SHOULD WE WEAR MASKS? SHOULD WE NOT WEAR MASKS? AND THIS ONE AS WELL, AS FAR AS VERY CONTENTIOUS COMMUNITY FOCUSED CONVERSATIONS, UM, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW MUCH TIME THIS HAS TAKEN YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND STAFF MEMBERS AT THE SCHOOLS, UM, TO REVIEW THIS.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, THAT EVERY ONE OF US SITTING HERE, UM, HAVE RECEIVED CALLS TO SAY, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A MOTION, MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE EVERYTHING RETURNED BACK TO THE LIBRARIES, OR MAKE A MOTION THAT THEY SHOULD JUST PERMANENTLY ABANDON AND SO ON.
I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THAT THIS IS A PROCESS AND IT'S A COMMUNITY INVOLVED PROCESS TO GO THROUGH SOME BOOKS THAT FOR OVER SIX MONTHS, WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE HARPING ON US ABOUT THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF THESE BOOKS.
SO I THINK THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, GOING THROUGH THEM, READING THEM, GETTING COMMUNITY INPUT, EXPERT INPUT ABOUT THIS CONTENT AND WHERE IT SHOULD BE RELEGATED, UM, IS APPROPRIATE.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME THIS IS TAKING, BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.
AND, UH, UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING IT THE, THE, THE DILIGENCE THAT OBVIOUSLY OUR COMMUNITY WANTS IT TO HAVE.
MRS. FRI AND I, I HAVE TO SHARE THAT YES, WE DO RECEIVE COMMENTARIES REGARDING THE MATERIAL, UM, OF BOOKS, AND WE WANNA BE FOCUS AT ITS BOOKS.
AND, AND THEN WE HAVE COMMENTARY ON PROCESS.
PROCESS IS A DECISION THAT'S DEVELOPED THROUGH RUNWAY DIVISION.
WE FELT THAT WE WENT WAY IN BEYOND THAT OF THE STATE.
SO WE ARE IN AS OBJECTIVE AND 100% OBJECTIVE, AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS 90 SOMETHING BOOKS.
AND I WOULD JUST ADD TRICIA TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID, IS THAT, AS WE HEARD TONIGHT, ANY PARENT WHO DOES NOT WANT THEIR CHILD EXPOSED TO SOME TYPE OF BOOK OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, LIKE A COMIC BOOK OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, SEXUALLY EXPLICIT OR WHATEVER, THEY MAY, UH, YOU KNOW, NOTIFY THE LIBRARIAN.
SO THERE IS NO PARENT WHO DOES NOT HAVE THAT OPTION AT THIS POINT.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ALL THESE REVIEWS ARE FINISHED TO, TO EXERCISE AN OPTION LIKE THAT.
IF THERE'S BEEN, THE LIBRARIANS DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.
THEY'RE VERY ABLE AND CAPABLE TO WORK WITH PARENTS.
THEY WANNA PROVIDE READING MATERIAL TO OUR STUDENTS.
THE NEXT THING IS FIRST IS OUR BOARD MEETING
[Board Business Action]
CALENDAR.THAT'S UNDER BOARD BUSINESS ACTION.
AND, UM, WE HAVE TWO, TWO MEETING CALENDARS HERE.
AND, UH, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THEY'RE IDENTICAL.
AND I'LL LET ROBIN, UH, ADDRESS THIS EXCEPT FOR THE MONTHS OF MARCH AND APRIL.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN MARCH AND APRIL ON THE ALTERNATE CA CALENDAR IS
SO THE, THE ALTERNATE, UH, SCHEDULE FOR, UM, MARCH DOES NOT HAVE THE SECOND BUSINESS MEETING ON THE 21ST.
AND THE, AND FOR APRIL, IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SECOND BUSINESS SESSION ON THE 18TH.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE A FEW DAYS LATER, FOR BOTH OF THOSE MONTHS, THERE IS A BUDGET, EITHER DEBT WORK SESSION OR A PUBLIC FORUM.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
YEAH, MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE ALTERNATE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION 2023 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS.
MY COMMENT IS IN REGARD TO THE NOVEMBER 7TH DATE, I BELIEVE THAT'S AN ELECTION DAY.
IT'S NOT, IT'S, BUT IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A GENERAL, BUT IT, IT IS AN ELECTION DAY.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HEAR ABOUT IT.
[04:05:01]
PARDON? COULD BE A GOOD OMAN.YOU THINK SO? HUH? I'M ALL ABOUT THIS 2019 ELECTION DAY.
WE WERE IN A BOARD MEETING WHEN WE PASS THE REFERENDUM.
SO MAYBE WE NEED TO BE HERE,
JUST WANTED TO BRING ATTENTION TO IT.
SO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TWO CALENDARS, MR. SMITH? UM, WELL, WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE MOTION? THE MOTION? OH, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE ALTERNATE.
UH, YOU HAVE TWO CALENDARS BEFORE YOU, AND THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE ALTERNATE AND IT DELETES THE SECOND BUSINESS MEETING ONLY IN MARCH AND APRIL BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET.
ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, I, I THINK THAT, UM, WE SHOULD TABLE THIS DISCUSSION UNTIL THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS COME ON BOARD BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVING, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, THREE PEOPLE LEAVING IT.
AND I THINK THAT WE'RE NOT SURE OF THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT, AND WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO GET IN THE FULL SWING OF THINGS.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD TABLE BUSINESS MEETING.
I MEAN, WE DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD GET RID OF BUSINESS MEETINGS, UM, BECAUSE THAT IS, THAT, THAT IS IMPORTANT.
AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
I MEAN, AT THAT TIME, IF WE SEE NECESSARY, YOU KNOW, BUT I I, I AM NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF NOT MEETING OR CANCELING THOSE MEETINGS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON? SO I, I CAN NOT SUPPORT THAT MOTION.
I THINK THAT I'M, I MAKE A MO I'M, I'LL MOVE THAT WE TABLE THAT.
WE TABLE THIS MOTION UNTIL THE, UH, NEW, UNTIL THE NEW BOARDS, UH, I SEATED.
NEED A SECOND, WE'RE GONNA TABLE IT.
THERE, THERE'S NOT A SECOND TO TABLE IT.
AND MR. SMITH, WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO APPROVE THE BOARD MEETING CALENDAR.
SO WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL JANUARY.
SO I DIDN'T ATTEND THE LAST BOARD WORK SESSION, BUT I WATCHED THE VIDEO AND DIDN'T WE HAVE THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS THERE? AND YOU REVIEWED THE CALENDAR AND THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, THIS PROPOSED ALTERNATE CALENDAR WAS BROUGHT UP AND ALL THE, ALL THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE STATED THAT THEY AGREED WITH THE ALTERNATE CALENDAR AND WHATEVER WE DECIDED, AND, AND, AND I ALL DO RESPECT, I RESPECT THAT, BUT I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER, EVEN THOUGH YOU SAY YOU WATCHED IT, I DON'T REMEMBER THEM ACTUALLY SAYING THAT, THAT, THAT THEY DIDN'T, AND, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T, BUT MY, MY POINT IS THAT I THINK IT, IT, IT, IT, IT IS, I I, I DON'T SEE, I DON'T SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM GETTING THE FULL SWING OF THINGS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? POINT OF VOTER MANAGER.
THIS IS MY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
WE NEED TO DISPOSE OF THAT MOTION.
THE MOTION TO TABLE FAILED WITHOUT A SECOND.
SO CAN WE JUST VOTE ON THE MOTION ABOUT THIS? OKAY.
WELL, SO I, OKAY, I'M GOING BACK TO THIS RIGHT MOTION RIGHT HERE IN TERMS OF THIS MOTION RIGHT HERE.
I CAN'T SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE, I I I I, I DON'T LIKE, UH, GETTING RID OF THE, OUR BUSINESS MEETING.
OUR BUSINESSES MEETING ARE IMPORTANT A, A BUDGET.
UH, THOSE DIFFERENT MEETINGS ARE, ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT, UH, AIMED TOWARDS THE DIFF DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.
I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT, I I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT WE ARE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING, WE'RE FALLING SHORT.
SO, UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE ALTERNATE, UH, 20 22, 20 23 BOARD MEETING CALENDAR, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
WE NEED A, I GOT A CF HAND COUNT HERE.
ALL THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED SMITH.
SO IT'S SIX ONE AND THEN ABSTAIN THREE.
UM, SO THE ALTERNATE CALENDAR IS APPROVED.
UM, NEXT UP IS THE APPROVAL OF THE GRADUATION DATE CHANGES.
AND WE PROBABLY ALREADY APPROVED THEM RIGHT IN THE ALTERNATE CALENDAR.
RIGHT? DID WE
WELL, THAT'S THE FOUR CHANGES.
ALRIGHT, WE GOTTA DO THIS SEPARATELY THEN.
WHAT MEMBERS? MADAM CHAIR? YEAH.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU ONCE AGAIN.
SO, TO TO IN FRONT OF THE OPPORTUNITY, I DO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR BOARD REP APPROVES OUR ACADEMIC CALENDAR, ACADEMIC CALENDAR, IDENTIFIED OUR GRADUATION
[04:10:01]
DATES AT THIS TIME, THE STATEMENT, WE HAVE SOME CONSTRUCTION THAT WILL INHIBIT GRADUATION HAPPENING.I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE 180 DAY ACADEMIC DAYS THAT OUR STUDENTS MUST BE ATTENDING SCHOOL.
SO THE GRADUATION DATES WERE PUT IN TO START AT THAT.
WE, LET ME CORRECT MYSELF THAT WE ADDRESSED THE 180 DAYS.
I KNOW IN THE PAST HAS BEEN PRIOR PRACTICE.
I AM TRYING TO KEEP US A AS ALIGNED TO WHAT THE CODE 59, WHICH SAYS 180 DAYS OF INSTRUCTIONS.
THIS IS ALSO AN ACCREDITATION YEAR, AND THIS BEEN APPROVED AT THIS STATE LEVEL.
SO I WANNA SHARE THAT AS WELL.
THE PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME IS TO MOVE CREEK TO JUNE 2ND.
JUNE 2ND IS IDENTIFIED AS A HALF DAY.
IT WILL BE INCLUSIVE INTO OUR 180 DAYS.
AND THE TIME WOULD BE ALL GRADUATIONS WOULD BE AT 7:00 PM FAMILY MEMBERS TO ATTEND.
SO BATTERY CREEK TO THE SECOND, SECOND RECOMMENDATION CONVERSATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PRINCIPALS AND WAS INFORMALLY AND KEPT VERY QUIET, WAS ROBIN TO MOVE TO JUNE 8TH AND RIGHT.
WILL SEE IT, AND I IDENTIFIED AS JUNE 10TH AS A POTENTIAL MAKEUP DAY, SHOULD THERE BE RAIN, RAIN AND RAIN.
SO AT THIS TIME, RECOMMENDATION IS THE JUNE 2ND MOVE FOR BATTERY ARE TO JUNE 8TH.
NOW I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE ON THE BOARD CALENDAR, YOU SAID EVERY GRADUATION'S AT 7:00 PM BUT IT SAYS THAT BEAUFORT HIGH ON THE SIXTH IS AT 10:00 AM SO WHAT TIME IS THAT ONE? IT'S GOING BE AT 7:00 PM I IN DETAIL.
WHAT WE JUST I DID NOT HAVE THAT.
I WANT EVERYBODY CLEAR I THAT TO YOU.
SO THE ALTERNATE CALENDAR THAT WE JUST APPROVED WE'RE BEAUFORD HIGH SCHOOL, SAME DATE JUNE 6TH, BUT IT'S GONNA BE 7:00 PM BATTERY CREEK, 7:00 PM BUT JUNE 2ND AND WILL BRANCH EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, 7:00 PM BUT ON THE EIGHTH, NOT THE 10TH, AND THE 10TH BEING RESERVED FOR MAKEUP.
AM MA'AM I UNDERSTANDING OR CORRECTLY? YES.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MS. BOATWRIGHT? OKAY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, FRUSTRATION AND UPSET PARENTS OVER THE FACT THAT GRADUATIONS OCCURRING AFTER SCHOOL ENDS.
GRADUATION IS ON THE NINTH, SO IT'S ON THE FRIDAY NIGHT AFTER SCHOOL ENDS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN THAT IT WILL NOT HAVE THE SAME EFFECT THAT TEACHERS WILL BE GONE.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME BACK ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, ET CETERA.
SO, AND I'VE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A FAIR NUMBER OF GRADUATIONS NOW, AND BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, IS THIS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT AFTER SCHOOL ENDS? SO I CAN'T SPEAK FOR PARADE.
WE WHEN YEAH, I WAS JUST GOING THANK YOU.
YEAH, BEFORE HOW LONG AGO? BECAUSE EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED.
99% CERTAIN WE'VE HAD THAT BEFORE.
THERE HAS BEEN PUBLIC SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR.
I, I DON'T HAVE TO SHARE THAT.
WHEN DO WE APPROVE GRANT? THE CALENDAR? LIKE SO WE DO THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND THE GRADUATION DATE WERE IDENTIFIED AT THAT TIME.
SO IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE, UM, CHANGING ON THIS CALENDAR? MM-HMM.
WELL, UM, OKAY, SO IT IS N SO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.
IT IS 84 96 BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S AT THE TOP OF THIS.
I I WAS FOCUSED AT THE GRADUATION DATES.
WADS, I CAN GO BACK AND RECOUNT THIS.
THIS WAS GIVEN TO ME AT A PUBLISHER.
WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANY ACADEMIC DAYS WITH AT ALL ON THIS CALENDAR.
OKAY? NONE THE THINGS I REVIEWED.
JUST THE ITEMS THAT YOU REVIEWED TO APPROVE THIS WITH THE, JUST THE GRADUATION.
[04:15:01]
JUST THE GRADUATION.SO WE'RE JUST GONNA APPROVE THE CHANGING GRADUATION DATES ON THIS AND THIS, RIGHT? TWO THINGS FRONT.
MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES THE GRADUATION DATE CHANGES ON THE 20 22 23 ACADEMIC SCHOOL CALENDAR AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION 2023 SCHEDULED MEETINGS.
WENSKI MADE THE MOTION, MR. O CAMPBELL, SECOND, MS. BOATWRIGHT, WHY WASN'T THE THIRD CONSIDERED? BECAUSE WE NORMALLY HAVE A SATURDAY THAT WAS BROUGHT UP.
WE LEFT THE 10TH FOR SATURDAY FOR MAKEUP DAY, AND IT WASN'T PUT FORWARD WITH THE SAME CONVERSATION TO SAY, BE PEOPLE.
WERE NOT GONNA, YOU KNOW, SELECT THE DAY MRS. MRS. BOATWRIGHT AT ALL FROM, FROM THE START.
IT WASN'T, IT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME HOPING I'M ELEVATOR A MAKEUP, SAY WE CAN EXECUTE ONE GRADUATION LIKE TWO ON THAT SATURDAY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAGES FOR SONS IN OUR DISTRICT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ALL THEM.
SO WE LEFT THE 10TH WAS THE MAKEUP DAY.
AND ALL TRUTH, I THINK THE TEACHERS MAY WANNA JUST REST AFTER A WEEK UNTIL WEEK.
EXHALE, ASSUME THEY'RE GONNA TAKE OFF ON THE NINTH AND BE GONE.
BUT THAT'S, WE'LL SEE IF THAT HAPPENS.
THIS GRADUATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED SINCE MARCH.
I WAS GONNA STATE THAT, UM, MS. BOATRIGHT QUESTIONS ARE VALID, BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKING THEM IN THE SPRING WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT, YEAH, I WAS, I I ASSUME, YOU KNOW, GRADUATIONS, GRADUATION, I THINK IT'S ODD THAT HALF OF THE GRADUATIONS ARE GONNA OCCUR BEFORE SCHOOL'S OVER AND HALF AREN'T.
I DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT WHEN WE DID THE THING.
AND NOW WHAT WAS TOLD WHEN THE, WHEN THE PARENTS WERE FOUND OUT WAS THAT WE COULDN'T CHANGE IT BECAUSE OF SEAT HOURS.
BUT NOW WE ARE CHANGING IT BECAUSE THERE'S A CONSTRUCTION CONFLICT.
IT'S NOT, BUT IT'S NOT IMPACTING SEAT BY ANY MEANS, MA'AM.
BUT WE COULD HAVE MOVED TO THE, I'M JUST SAYING, I, I'M GONNA VOTE NO, JUST BE ON THE CHANGES, JUST BECAUSE PLACE ON ANY OF THESE ON BATTERY CREEK, THEY MOVED IT FROM THE EIGHTH TO THE SECOND DAY.
SCHOOLS ARE DONE, STUDENTS ARE DONE.
SO YEAH, I MEAN, I'M TOO TIRED TO GET INTO IT.
THE MOTION'S, UH, DISPLAYED AND, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
OKAY, SO THE MOTION CARRIES, UH, SEVEN ONE WHO, WHO OPPOSED IT? OH, INGRID BOAT.
AND THE TWO ABSTENTIONS WERE FREDRICH AND, OKAY.
NEXT UP IS, UH, I PULLED OUT THE SEPTEMBER 9TH BOARD WORK SESSION MINUTES BECAUSE I WAS NOT, UM, IN ATTENDANCE.
SO, UH, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE IT THEREFORE, AS PART OF CONSENT AGENDA.
SO CAN SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 9TH WORK SESSION MEETING.
AND, UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
UH, ANY, UH, NAYS AND ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY.
OH, FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE MEETING MINUTES, YOU WANNA ABSTAIN ON VOTING ON THEM? NO.
WHAT DID YOU WANT AHEAD? OKAY.
SO THOSE, THOSE, UH, PASS, UM, 7 0 3 AND THIS THREE ABSTENTIONS SMITH, WATTS AND WITH,
[Consent Agenda]
OKAY, NEXT UP IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.SO CAN WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT? MADAM CHAIR? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SECOND IS VOTE RIGHT? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AND WE HAVE TWO ABSTENTIONS, CORRECT.
MIDDLETON, BUT A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS NOT ON THERE.
I CAN SHOW YOU I NEED THIS SLOW MOTION.
[04:20:01]
OKAY.[Future Agenda Topics]
THE NEXT THING IS THE FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS.AND WE DON'T NEED TO REPEAT 'EM AND THAT WE ALREADY SAID, UH, UM, EARL CAMPBELL'S WAS THE DISCIPLINE DETAILS.
UH, HE'S AT THE JANUARY WORK SESSION.
THAT'S HIS PREFERENCE, AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WILL DECIDE.
AND THEN WE HAD ROBERT SMALLS ACADEMY GAGGLE, UH, STRATIFIED BY GRADE LEVELS, RIGHT? THAT KIND OF THE CONVERSATION.
WERE THERE ANY OTHERS? AND IF YOU'D RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER, YEAH.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ASK ME TO ASK THE BOARD TO, UM, HAVE A FUTURE TOPIC ABOUT THE FOUR BY FOUR SCHEDULE AT HIGH SCHOOL.
IS THAT REALLY THE BEST OPTION FOR, FOR HIGH SCHOOLS? SO I'VE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
ANY, ANY OTHER, UH, FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS FOR TONIGHT?
[Announcements]
ANNOUNCEMENTS? DR.R IT'S NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT IT'S MORE OF A COMMENT.
UM, I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK, UH, THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE, ARE GONNA BE, UH, MOVING OFF THE BOARD.
YOU KNOW, TRICIA, KATHY, AND MEL.
UM, APPRECIATE YOU PLACING YOUR TRUST IN ME BACK IN 2019.
UH, AND, UH, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR, UH, ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK ON THE BOARD AND YOUR SUPPORT AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU'VE MADE, UH, BY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY ON THE BOARD.
I WANNA SAY A REAL ADDED BONUS OF THIS, UH, BEING AN, UH, ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHAT YOU SAY, OH,
UM, YEAH, NO, I THINK A REAL ADDED BONUS TO BEING, UM, ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OR THE FRIENDSHIPS.
DO WE HAVE A, UH, MOTION TO ADJOURN? WE'LL ADJOURN BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO ON DEMAND.
SCREW, SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.
CLICK WATCH NOW, AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM THE LIST CALL MEETING TO, UH, ORDER.
IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
THE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST FORMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.
EARLY SETTLERS FROM ENGLAND BROUGHT THE TRADITION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO AMERICA.
TODAY, MORE THAN 3000 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT AFFECT ALMOST EVERY CITIZEN'S LIFE.
SOUTH CAROLINA'S 46 COUNTIES ARE VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS EVOLVED NATIONALLY.
THE COUNTY UNIT IN SOUTH CAROLINA WAS REGARDED AS A LOCAL EXTENSION OF STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM MOVEMENT IN THE EARLY 1970S LED TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PASSING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HOME RULE ACT.
IN 1975, THE HOME RULE ACT GREATLY EXPANDED COUNTY AUTHORITY AND CHANGED THE NATURE OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION TO WHAT WE KNOW TODAY.
BEAUFORT COUNTY WENT FROM HAVING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO A COUNTY COUNCIL.
MEMBERS OF THE 1975 COUNCIL INCLUDED CHAIRMAN ARTHUR HORN, VICE CHAIRMAN, GRADY THAMES, LEROY BROWN, GARY FORDHAM, WILLIAM GRANT, HARRIET KEISLING, DAVID JONES, BILL MCBRIDE, AND BOOKER WASHINGTON.
AS THE NEW COUNCIL SOUGHT TO DISTINGUISH ITSELF, COUNCIL MEMBERS DESIRED AN OFFICIAL SYMBOL
[04:25:01]
THAT WOULD REPRESENT THE JURISDICTION'S IDENTITY AND UNIQUE CHARACTER COUNCIL APPOINTED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE THE TASK AND CARRY OUT A CONTEST FOR THE BEST COUNTY SEAL DESIGN.HARRIET KALIN WAS A MEMBER OF COUNTY COUNCIL, AND IT WAS HER IDEA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IDENTIFY OUR BEAUTIFUL BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE MET THEN UP AT, UH, I THINK IT WAS THE CAROLINA BANK, AND SOME YEARS AGO, BACK THERE ON WEST STREET, AND THEN WE PUT 'EM IN PILES.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, GOOD, BAD MAYBE UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT IT DOWN TO THE ONE THAT WE NOW USE.
COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SEAL COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, WHICH REFLECTED THE COUNTY'S HISTORY, TRADITIONS, AND NATURAL BEAUTY.
THE SEALS COLORS OF BLUE AND GREEN REPRESENT THE COLORS OF THE COUNTY'S OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT WITH ITS MANY WATERWAYS, MARSHLANDS, AND MARITIME FOREST.
THE FIVE IMAGES WITHIN THE SEAL DEPICTED SOME OF THE COUNTY'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURES, ANCIENT LIVE OAK TREES, THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY, RICH NATURAL RESOURCES, AND A RARE MARINE ECOLOGY, LOW COUNTRY ARCHITECTURE, AND MILES OF RIVERS, CREEKS, AND INLETS.
I THOUGHT IT ENCOMPASSED WHAT THE, WHAT WE AS A BODY WERE LOOKING FOR A SEAL THAT WOULD, WHEN YOU LOOKED AT IT AND JUST THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, IT REALLY COVERS THE ASPECTS OF BEAUT COUNTY.
SO HE DID A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING TOGETHER THE THINGS THAT WE, UH, WHOLE, SO DEAR, AND WHAT WE REALLY LIKE ABOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY.
COUNCILMAN BILL MCBRIDE WAS IN OFFICE WHEN THE CONTEST WAS HELD AND WAS PRESENT WHEN THE COMMITTEE REVEALED THE WINNING DESIGN.
I THINK COUNCIL WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT IT.
UH, WE THOUGHT THAT THE, THE SEMIS ON THE SEAL REPRESENTED, UM, ASPECTS OF LIFE IN MU COUNTY.
THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE ORIGINAL UND DRAFT THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US WHERE YOU HAVE THE SHRIMP BOAT TODAY.
INITIALLY, THAT WAS A PLEASURE CRAFT, A SAILBOAT YACHT TYPE BOAT.
AND, UH, IT WAS CHANGED BY COUNTY COUNCIL BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THE SHRIMP BOAT WAS A BETTER REPRESENTATION, UM, OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, UH, ASPECT OF BU COUNTY LIFE BECAUSE YOU HAD OTHER THINGS ON THE SEAL THAT REPRESENT THE PLEASURE AND RECREATION, THE FISHING AND THE BEACH.
SO THEY THOUGHT THE SHRIMP BOAT, WHICH WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF BU COUNTY CULTURE, SHRIMPING, ESPECIALLY AT THAT TIME, WOULD BE REFLECTED ON THE SEAL.
THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST WAS AN ARTIST FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, THE LATE LEE PAYNE, WHOSE DESIGN WAS SELECTED FROM MORE THAN 126 ENTRIES SUBMITTED FROM AS FAR AWAY AS INDIANA IN TENNESSEE.
HE WAS AWARDED $250 FOR HIS DESIGN.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE CAPTURED THE LEGACY OF OUTDOOR BEAUTY, CULTURE, AND HISTORY THAT HELPED TO DEFINE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF LIFE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.