Sep 03, 2024 Board of Education

APPLY TODAY@BEAUFORTCOUNTYSC.GOV.

SO WE HAVE SEVEN, UH, YESES AND NO NAYS AND NO ABSTENTION.

SO WE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

HEY HONEY, CAN YOU SET THE TABLE? DALE 9 1 1.

WHERE IS YOUR EMERGENCY? LOOKING FOR A GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITY.

BUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA HAS SEVERAL JOB OPENINGS IN AREAS THAT WILL MATCH YOUR SKILLSET.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, DETENTION CENTER OFFICERS, STORM WATER AND GROUND CREWS, AIRCRAFT MECHANICS, ALCOHOL AND DRUG SPECIALISTS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, IT SPECIALISTS, LIBRARY ASSISTANCE, BUS DRIVERS, AND MUCH MORE.

BEAUFORT COUNTY OFFERS COMPETITIVE SALARIES, BEST IN CLASS BENEFITS, AND A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2024.

[00:05:01]

THE MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.

WE HAVE BEEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND NOW WE'RE BACK IN PUBLIC SESSION.

DO WE HAVE ANY

[Action as Necessary or Appropriate Regarding Matters Discussed in Executive Session]

EMPLOYMENT MATTERS? UH, OR I SHOULD SAY, DO WE HAVE ANY ACTION AS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE REGARDING MATTERS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? MADAM SECRETARY? YES, MA'AM.

MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT FOR THIS MONTH.

SECOND.

THANK YOU MR. NA.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR.

IN THE PRESENT IN THE ROOM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU, UH, VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE FOR THE MOTION TO APPROVE IT.

AYE, MR. UH, CAMPBELL? AYE.

NOW WE'LL GO ONLINE AND WE'LL GO ALPHABETICAL.

SO WE'LL GO, UH, VOTE RIGHT.

UH, DALLAS HAY.

SORRY.

PLEASE STATE YOUR LAST NAME AND YOUR VOTE.

SO WE HAVE EIGHT, UH, YES YESES AND, UH, NO NOS, AND ONE ABSTENTION, WHICH IS, UH, VOTE.

RIGHT.

SO THE, THE, UM, RATIFICATION REPORT, UH, PASSES.

NEXT WE NEED THE APPROVAL

[Approval of Agenda]

OF THE AGENDA.

SO MOVE MADAM CHAIR A SECOND.

FOR THE, UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

MR. SMITH, SECOND THE MOTION.

UM, THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA IS UNANIMOUS.

PLEASE STAND

[Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence, Statement of Media Notification]

PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

THE MEDIA HAS BEEN PROPERLY NOTIFIED.

[Student Performance]

NEXT, WE HAVE, UH, BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL'S BAND, AND THEY ARE OUTSIDE, UH, RIGHT HERE IN THE COURTYARD, SO WE'LL GO OUT THERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE IT OVER THE, UH, MICROPHONE SO THOSE OF US ONLINE CAN HEAR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND THE BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL BAND IS GONNA PERFORM, AND I'M SURE I'M GONNA BUTCHER THE, THE , MY, UH, PRONUNCIATION, LOS CUROS BY JAY DAWSON AND EL GATO, TRITE BY CHUCK MANGIONE, ARRANGED BY DAWSON UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MATTHEW T BENNER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE BANDS AND ORCHESTRA AT BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WE'LL GO OUTSIDE TO LISTEN TO THEM, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK IN FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING.

[00:10:04]

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US TO COME AND PERFORM FOR YOU TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK BOARD.

AND DR. RODRIGUEZ FOR THE INVITATION.

UH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK MY BOOSTER PARENTS WHILE I WAS HERE FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT AND MY VOLUNTEER STAFF, UH, UH, MISS AMANDA TRIME, UH, MR. UM, MICHAEL GI FORGOT YOUR FIRST NAME.

UM, EVERYBODY CALLED YOU MR. G.

I GET, UM, AND MS. MEREDITH NELSON, MY GUARD INSTRUCTOR AND MY STUDENTS PUTTING IN ALL THE EFFORT, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, EXCUSE TO PREPARE PART OF THE SHOW THAT YOU HEARD TONIGHT.

UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A THIRD SONG THAT WE UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO, UH, BRING TO YOU THIS EVENING.

UH, BUT YOU CAN

[00:15:01]

CHECK US OUT SEPTEMBER 28TH WHEN WE TRAVEL TO WALTERBORO FOR COMPETITION THAT AFTERNOON.

UM, AND AT EVERY BEAUFORD HIGH HOME GAME.

SO YOU COME TO SEE US THERE.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TO EVERYBODY, UH, FOR ALL THE EFFORTS.

UH, LIKE I SAID, STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY, UH, FOR ALL OF THE TIME THAT YOU PUT IN, THIS IS PURELY, UH, OUR BAND IS 100% EXTRACURRICULAR.

EVERYTHING THEY DO HAPPENS AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS.

WE DON'T SPEND ANY TIME IN OUR CLASSES GOING THROUGH ANY OF THE MARTIAL MUSIC, SO THEY HAVE THE COMMITMENT TO COME IN AND WORK ON MUSIC AFTER THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DAY AND GIVING UP TWO WEEKS OF THEIR SUMMER TO COME IN AND DO IT DURING BAND CAMP AS WELL.

UM, SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM FOR DOING WELL AND SOUNDED GREAT.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OH, THAT ? YEAH, NOW IT'S ON.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL FOR THE SECOND SESSION, AND WE WILL, UH, CALL THOSE, UH, COMMENTERS UP TO THE PODIUM WHEN THE TIME IS, UH, WE REACH THAT SECTION.

WHAT A NICE PERFORMANCE BY, UH, BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR POINTS OF

[Points of Celebration]

CELEBRATION.

AND TONIGHT WE ARE CELEBRATING THREE OF OUR BOARD COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR LEVELS THAT THEY'VE ATTAINED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, BOARDMAN INSTITUTE, SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE.

BOARDMAN INSTITUTE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1982 AND OFFERS A YEAR-ROUND TRAINING CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR BOARD MEMBERS ON STATE AND NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ISSUES.

BOARD MEMBERS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR REACHING EACH OF THE SIX LEVELS.

LEVEL ONE IS 25 CUMULATIVE POINTS.

LEVEL TWO IS 40 LEVEL THREE, 100, LEVEL FOUR, 200, LEVEL FIVE, 300, AND LEVEL SIX IS 300 AND MUST HAVE LEVEL FIVE RECOGNITION FOR ONE YEAR, AND THEN PASS AN ONLINE TEST.

TONIGHT, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING THREE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

ONE IS HERE IN ATTENDANCE, AND THAT IS VICTOR NAY.

HE IS ATTAINED LEVEL ONE AND RECEIVES A CERTIFICATE.

SO VICTOR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO THAT HAVE, I BELIEVE, ARE ONLINE, UM, THAT HAVE, HAVE EARNED LEVEL TWO, AND THEY RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE AND A SILVER PIN, WHICH WE WILL KEEP HERE AT THE OFFICE UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO PICK IT UP.

AND THAT IS BOTH CARLTON DALLAS AND CHLOE GORDON.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE THREE OF YOU.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBER.

[00:20:15]

I DON'T REALLY HAVE A CHAIR REPORT

[Chair Report]

FOR TONIGHT, ALTHOUGH I WOULD JUST SAY I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A VERY, UH, SAFE AND RELAXING, UH, LONG WEEKEND AND, UH, WISH OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, UH, WELL AS THEY'RE BACK AT SCHOOL AND, AND CONTINUING THEIR, UH, HARD WORK.

WE HAVE TONIGHT,

[Committee Reports]

UH, ONE COMMITTEE REPORT OPERATIONS.

WE DID HAVE A MOTION OF COMING OUT OF THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AT THE WORK SESSION, BUT WE DID NOT GET A COMMITTEE REPORT AT THAT TIME.

AND SO TONIGHT, UH, WE HAVE CARLTON DALLAS ONLINE AND HE WILL GIVE US THE COMMITTEE REPORT.

OKAY, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.

UH, WE HAD OUR, UH, MOST RECENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST THE 20TH, I BELIEVE IT WAS, AND WE COVERED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TOPICS.

WE COVERED CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY, WHICH, UH, LOOKS, UH, GOOD.

UH, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE WANTED TO NOTE, UH, WHERE THE OPERATIONS TEAM AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE, UH, ADMINISTRATION HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED TOGETHER TO IMPROVE SOME OF THE RESPONSES WE GET IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

ONE IS WHERE WE HAD A SUB, UH, NOTICE OF SUB, UH, COMPLETION LETTER.

AND, UM, THAT LETTER, UH, EVOLVED FROM SOME CHANGES A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE IT WAS DECIDED THAT WE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT FIRMER ABOUT ISSUING THOSE IN AN EFFORT TO HELP OUR CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING THEIR TARGETS AND DEADLINES.

AND THAT WAS ISSUED, UH, WITH A POTENTIAL PENALTY OF SEVEN $50 A DAY.

UH, AND THEN AT WILL BRANCH, WE HAD A, A SUBCONTRACTOR WHO HAD HAD SOME CHALLENGES, BUT THEY WERE ISSUED A NOTICE TO CURE ON JULY 23RD, AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

THEY RESPONDED ON JULY THE 29TH, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THAT GAP WAS CLOSED ON AUGUST 6TH.

SO KUDOS TO THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF THAT WORKED TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THIS.

AND THIS IS ON THE 2019, THE CLOSEOUTS ON, UH, SLIDE 33, BUT, UH, IT WAS ON THE SAME, UH, SAME PAGE.

UH, WE GOT 30 PROJECT CLOSEOUTS.

WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON THOSE SINCE IT'S FROM 2019.

BUT WE CERTAINLY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SAME AMOUNT OF PROGRESS SHOWN IN OTHER AREAS OF THE, UH, BEAUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENT, UH, THERE'S 123,653 THOU, $653 LEFT IN TERMS OF CONT PROGRAM CONTINGENCY REMAINING.

SO WE STILL HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THAT REGARD.

AND, UM, IF YOU ALLOW ME, UH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION FOR 2023 MAY RIVER.

THE, UH, GMP IS EXPECTED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER, UH, FOR MAY, UH, BUT THAT'S MAY RIVER, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MAY RIVER, EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER.

UH, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION DESIGNS ARE DUE AUGUST 29TH, SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THOSE IN THE MEETINGS IN SEPTEMBER, MAY.

RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, THE CTE AND THE J-R-O-T-C CDS ARE DUE AUGUST THE 19TH.

AND, UH, LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL REPLACEMENT ARE DUE AUGUST THE 29TH AS WELL.

SO, CONSTRUCTION TEAM, AND AGAIN, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED ARE MOVING THESE THINGS FORWARD.

SO VERY PLEASED WITH THAT IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL $11.5 MILLION LEFT IN PROGRAM CONTINGENCY AND 16.7 IN PROJECT CONTINGENCY.

SO, UM, THAT IS COMFORTING AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

BUT JUST LIKE IN 2019, REFERENDA, WE HAVE TO, AND OUR LEADERS AND OUR COLLEAGUES AND, UH, OPERATIONS ARE REALLY WORKING COLLECTIVELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UH, TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.

IF I MAY MOVE TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN 12 INTERESTED COMPANIES ON THE WOMEN AND MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, UH, THAT WERE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES.

SO WE, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST ENGAGEMENT ON THAT.

AND SO THERE WAS SOME REAL GOOD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE COULD HOPEFULLY IMPROVE THAT.

UH, AND THEN THERE WERE, THERE WAS A MEETING, COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEETING ON THE LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL DESIGN, AND WE HAD A REALLY CONVERSATION THERE

[00:25:01]

ABOUT HOW DO WE ENGAGE BOARD MEMBERS, AND I APPLAUD THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO WERE ATTENDING THE OPS MEETING FOR STEPPING UP AND ASKING HOW THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP AND RECOMMENDING THAT.

AND ALSO APPLAUD, UM, UH, OPERATIONS GROUP FOR RESPONDING.

AND THEY'RE GOING, THEY MADE A COMMITMENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO INVOLVE THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND THE BOARD MEMBERS WILL TAKE THEIR NORMAL LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY OF HELPING SPREAD THE WORD.

SO IF WE CAN MOVE ON, IF WE CAN GO TO CUSTODIAL, YOU'LL SEE THAT ONE OF THE INNOVATIVE EFFORTS TAKEN HAS BEEN TO ACTUALLY SEPARATE AND HAVE SIX DIFFERENT GROUPS FOR CUSTODIAL RESPONSIBILITY MANAGED BY THREE DIFFERENT SERVICE PROVIDERS.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT BEST PRACTICES MAY EVOLVE IN ONE THAT CAN BE ETHICALLY TRANSPORTED TO ANOTHER AND IT BENEFIT THE OVERALL OPERATION IN TERMS OF OUR CUSTODIAL.

AND YOU'LL SEE THOSE FIRMS ARE A BM BUD AND INTERSTATE, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING SOME COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS IN THE PERFORMANCE BETWEEN THOSE THREE ENTITIES AT GOING FORWARD.

UH, THE, IN TERMS OF CLEANING, YOU'LL SEE IN THE PRESENTATION THAT THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD VISUALS AS TO WHAT THE RESULT IS.

AND THE OUTCOME IS AFTER A REAL RIGOROUS CLEANING EFFORT.

AND AS I'VE LEARNED, AND MOST OF YOU ALREADY HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS, THAT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE AESTHETICS OF WHERE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL REALLY IS A, A PERFORMANCE BOOSTER AND A MORALE LIFTER.

SO THAT'S GOOD TO SEE AS WELL.

UH, WE ALSO DISCUSSED BEST BUS CONDUCT, UH, AND JUST SOME ANECDOTAL COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST ON THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUSES, UH, WE THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HANDLE ON IT, BUT SOCIETY WIDE, WE, THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THERE TO BE FIRMER, UH, DELIVERY OF DISCIPLINE WHERE NEEDED, AND WE'RE REPETITIVE SO THAT STUDENTS FEEL SAFE IN TERMS OF TRAVELING, UH, ON OUR BUSES.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS THAT WE REVIEWED THE BUS ROUTES, WHICH IS A REAL COMPLEX OPERATION, AND I PERSONALLY HAD NO IDEA, UH, THE MULTITUDE OF TIMES AND, AND ROUTES AND THE LIMITATIONS THAT ARE INHERENT IN LAW AND SAFETY GUIDELINES.

BUT, UM, AGAIN, GIVE KUDOS TO THE TEAM FOR HOW THEY ARE MANAGING THAT.

SO, WITH THAT, I'LL SEE AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.

AND I THINK MR. OTTING IS IN THE, IF HE'S IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, HE TOO CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS? UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, MR. DALLAS.

THERE DON'T SEEM TO BE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

ON OUR, WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG ON OUR, UM, AGENDA IS, IS BOARD BUSINESS ACTION.

[Board Business Action]

THE BOARD ALWAYS NEEDS TO, UH, VOTE ON A, ANY DONATION THAT IS, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF 5,000 OR GREATER.

AND TODAY WE HAVE A DONATION FROM AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 FOR MEDICATION CARDS FOR EACH SCHOOL.

SO, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MADAM CHAIR? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE DONATION FOR $10,000 FROM THE ANONYMOUS DONOR FOR MEDICATION CARTS FOR EACH SCHOOL.

AND I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.

FOR THE, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 13TH AND AUGUST 23RD.

THANK YOU MR. SMITH.

SECOND THE MOTION.

ANY, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

THE MOTION IS, UH, APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, THANK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD THE ANONYMOUS, UH, DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 10,000.

THAT IS VERY GENEROUS, AND OUR SCHOOLS WILL VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

NEXT, WE HAVE NEED A MOTION

[Consent Agenda]

MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE, WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR AUGUST 13TH, 2024, BOARD MEETING MINUTES AND AUGUST 23RD, 2024, WORK SESSION MINUTES.

ALL IN FAVOR?

[00:30:01]

SECOND.

OH, I'M SORRY.

I SKIPPED SECOND, BUT VICTOR REMINDED ME.

ONLINE VOTE, RIGHT? AYE.

DALLAS.

AYE.

A AYE.

THE MOTION, UNANIM UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

NEXT, WE HAVE FUTURE AGENDA

[Future Agenda Topics]

TOPICS.

AS YOU KNOW, WE BE, WE WITH AGENDA SET IN EACH MEETING.

WE KEEP A RUNNING LIST.

SO WE, I'M, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME ON THAT LIST STILL.

MADAM CHAIR, IF, IF, IF NOW THE APPROPRIATE TIME, I DO HAVE ONE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OFF, OFF CENTER, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE RELEVANT.

UH, I HAVE .

SURE.

SO, UM, UH, MR. DALLAS, JUST YOU CAN MENTION THE, UM, TOPIC AND I WILL WRITE IT DOWN, BUT YOU CAN'T GET INTO THE DETAILS OF, OF, UH, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT IT, REALLY.

NO, NO PROBLEM.

IT IS THE CORRELATION OF TWO PARENT HOMES, AND I'M AGNOSTIC AS TO THE ORIENTATION OR ANYTHING ELSE RELATIVE TO THE TWO PARTIES.

BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE, FROM WHAT I'M READING, A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT SAYS THAT TWO PARENT HOUSEHOLDS ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN LONG-TERM ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

AND SO JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME RESEARCH AROUND THAT.

DR. RODRIGUEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO, MA'AM.

[Announcements]

WE DO HAVE SEVERAL, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTERS.

NEXT,

[Second Public Comments]

AND LET ME, YES.

SO THERE'S, UH, FOUR PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE GOING TO SPEAK, AND BY FILLING OUT THESE PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS, YOU HAVE AGREED TO ABIDE BY THE RULES FOR SPEAKING, WHICH MEANS THAT YOUR COMMENTS MUST BE GERMANE TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR IN THE BOARD'S, SCHOOL BOARD'S PURVIEW.

AND THAT THE, UH, COMMENTS, YOUR COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES, AND THERE'LL BE A, A TIMER THAT YOU'LL SEE WHILE YOU'RE SPEAKING.

YOU'RE GOING TO SIT AT THAT, UH, DESK THAT'S, UH, YOU IN THE AISLE WHERE THE PUBLIC IS CURRENTLY SEATED.

AND SPEAKING TO THE MICROPHONE, AND I, I'M NOT GONNA READ EVERYTHING ON THIS CARD, BUT I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE, THE GIST OF, UH, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

SO, FIRST WE HAVE, UH, MS. SONYA BELLAMY AND HER TOPIC, I'M GONNA, IT'S QUITE LONG, I WILL READ IT.

THE ABSOLUTE TOP REASON THAT BAND AND ART GO TOGETHER WELL IS BECAUSE THEY BOTH BRING LIFE JOY, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MOVEMENT TO THE BODY.

SEE, EVEN EXERCISE, MOBILITY CHANGES, LIVES EVERY DAY.

DEPRESSION, BELIEVE THE WORD IS ANGRY.

SADNESS.

I'M SORRY, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE LAST WORD IS.

MAYBE DESPAIR, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT'S CORRECT.

I THINK IT IS DESPAIR.

DYNAMICS OF YOUR MIND AND YOUR, AND YOUR DAY.

SO, MS. BELLAMY, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND YOU MAY DELIVER YOUR REMARKS.

OKAY? I DON'T KNOW.

YOU CAN DO THAT.

UM, DO I I GET THE SIT DOWN.

UH, YES, MA'AM.

I, UM, HAVE DEALING WITH BAND, UH, ALL MY LIFE, AND I WANTED TO, UM, BRING TO ATTENTION THAT THE MUSIC THAT THE CHILDREN DO, WHETHER THIS, UH, LOUD OR SWEET OR A SOFT OR MELODY, UH, IT DOES BRING AND IT CHANGES IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LAPS.

AND SO, EVEN WITH MY CHILDREN, ALL THESE DVDS I, THEY'VE BEEN LISTENED TO SINCE THEY WERE IN THE WOUND.

AND IT BRINGS SUCH A JOY, EVEN IF YOU, EVEN IF CHILDREN HAVE, UH, SOME TYPE OF DISABILITY OR ANYTHING, IT BREAKS THE CHANGE.

AND I, AND THIS, AS I PUT IN THE, UM, THE COMMENTS AND THE EXTRA STUFF, I WAS GONNA PUT, IT IS HARD TO HAVE A BAND, OR IT'S HARD TO HAVE A PARADE, AND YOU DON'T HAVE MUSIC WHEN YOU HEAR THE MUSIC AND MOVES PEOPLE, AND IT CHANGES THEIR WHOLE MINDSET.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD.

MUSIC, BAND, ORCHESTRA, SOUND TRAVELS, AND IT MOVES PEOPLE IN SUCH A, AND JUST AS I SAID, DEPRESSION CHANGES.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL ISSUES OR YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MENTAL ISSUES, BUT IT JUST CHANGED THE WHOLE

[00:35:01]

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BRING THAT TO ATTENTION ALL SCHOOLS FROM PRE-K PRE-K TO ALL THE WAY TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.

THE POINT OF HAVING MUSIC IS GONNA CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND BRING ATTENTION TO WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY NEED.

THE PARENTS GO THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN PLACE FOR THESE CONCERTS AND THESE, UM, UH, PARADES AND THINGS.

IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S A LOT TO, TO BRING.

SO THAT'S MY MAIN POINT, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE UNDERSTAND, BE THERE FOR THE CHILDREN, WHATEVER THAT THEY NEED, SO THAT THEY CAN BRING JOY TO PEOPLE'S LIVES.

NEXT WE HAVE DEVONTE SINGLETON, AND HE IS GOING TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO THE PUBLIC AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS, UH, THE SCHOOL BOARD AT BOARD OF EDUCATION AS RIVERVIEW CHARTER SCHOOL'S NEW DIRECTOR.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT RODRIGUEZ, ALONG WITH HIS EXECUTIVE CABINET AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DEVONTE SINGLETON, AND I AM EXTREMELY HONORED TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY AS THE NEW SCHOOL DIRECTOR AT RIVERVIEW CHARTER SCHOOL.

FIRST, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION FOR THE CONCERTED EFFORT OF THIS BOARD, AS WELL AS BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

UH, YOU ALL HAVE MADE AN EXEMPLARY STEWARD OF EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

YOUR DEDICATION TO RIVERVIEW AND ALLOWING US TO PROVIDE DIVERSE AND MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR STUDENTS IS TRULY COMMENDABLE.

AND IT IS THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT OUR STUDENTS THRIVE AS BCSD STUDENTS, NOT WHILE THEY ARE JUST HERE AT RIVERVIEW, BUT ALSO WHEN THEY ENTER BCSD HIGH SCHOOLS.

AT RIVERVIEW, MY TEAM AND I, ALONGSIDE WITH OUR DEDICATED BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WE LEAD ALONGSIDE DCSD SO AS TO CONTINUE CREATING ENRICHING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THIS TRULY EMPHASIZES THE WHOLE CHILD.

I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT RIVERVIEW IS FULLY INVESTED IN THIS PARTNERSHIP.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE CANNOT DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION OF THE DISTRICT AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR RELATIONSHIP.

I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY INVITE EACH OF YOU TO GET MORE ENGAGED WITH RIVERVIEW.

WE HAVE SEVERAL UPCOMING EVENTS, INCLUDING OUR ANNUAL STINGRAY SCRAMBLE FUNDRAISER THAT'S HAPPENING THIS MONTH IN SEPTEMBER, AS WELL AS THE BEAUFORT TWILIGHT RUN IN EARLY SPRING.

YOUR PRESENCE AND PARTNERSHIP OF THESE EVENTS WOULD MEAN A GREAT DEAL TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS OUR SPECIAL GUESTS.

IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY INVITE EACH OF YOU TO VISIT RIVERVIEW WHEN YOUR SCHEDULE PERMITS.

I'LL LEAVE EXTRA COPIES OF MY BUSINESS CARDS, UM, WITH SUPERINTENDENT RODRIGUEZ FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, IN CASE I WASN'T ABLE TO GET ONE TO YOU.

AND IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO REAFFIRM MY PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING A STRONG LASTING PARTNERSHIP WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TOGETHER.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TRUST AND SUPPORT.

AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL ARE, UH, A LITTLE HUNGRY LIKE I AM, BUT IF YOU GET OUT OF THIS MEETING BEFORE NINE TONIGHT, I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALL JOIN US AT HEARTH WOOD-FIRED PIZZA.

THEY ARE HOSTING AN ATHLETIC SPIRIT NIGHT FOR OUR ATHLETIC TEAMS. UH, SO PLEASE COME ON NOW AND ENJOY SOME PIZZA.

UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU.

AND WELCOME.

NEXT UP WE HAVE JIM MILLER, AND HIS TOPIC IS QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BANS COMPARED WITH OTHERS IN THE STATE.

IF I COULD, BEFORE WE START, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A HAND OF APPLAUSE TO THE BEAUFORT BAN.

YOU MAY, THEY MENTIONED THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO A CONTEST AT WALTERBORO.

I THINK THAT'LL BE THE FIRST CONTEST FOR THEM IN THREE YEARS.

SO IT'LL BE A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR MANY OF THE STUDENTS NOW, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

AS I'M OPENING MY SUBJECT IS REALLY QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON ANALYSIS OF BUFORD SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BANDS COMPARED TO OTHERS IN THE STATE.

WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE MANY TEST SCORES, ET CETERA, FOR THE OTHER ACADEMIC AREAS.

THERE ARE NONE THAT FOR BANDS AND MANY OF THE ART AREAS THAT COMPARE HOW WE FUNCTION AS A DISTRICT COMPARED TO OTHER,

[00:40:01]

UH, OTHER SCHOOLS.

I HAVE WORKED WITH THE DISTRICT AND HAVE PREPARED A RATHER SUBSTANTIAL PRESENTATION THAT I THINK HAS HELPED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS OF HOW WE QUANTITATIVELY NOT SUBJECTIVELY, BUT QUANTITATIVELY COMPARE TO OTHER SCHOOLS.

I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU FOLKS TO WORK WITH ME.

I KNOW THE BAN IS, OR THE DISTRICT IS WORKING TOWARD THOSE NEW GOALS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO WORK AND SEE THAT THEY'RE BEING ACCOMPLISHED.

I WISH I HAD TIME TO REVIEW THESE 35 PAGES OR SO, AND SO YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE EVERYTHING.

BUT LET ME SUMMARIZE IN ONE WAY.

THERE ARE BASICALLY FOUR AREAS THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAND DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION PUTS TOGETHER VARIOUS WAYS AND ELEMENTS FOR PEOPLE TO WORK OR BANDS TO WORK.

THEY INCLUDE THINGS LIKE MARCHING, UH, A CONCERT, UH, SITE READING, ET CETERA.

THERE ARE FOUR WAYS.

THREE OF OUR BAND OF OUR SIX HIGH SCHOOLS DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY ONE OF THOSE FOUR.

IT'S EVEN WORSE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

IN SUMMARY, I WOULD SAY THERE IS ONE, ONE I I'M OUT OF.

I WILL LEAVE THAT ONE FOR ANOTHER TIME, BUT THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE ANTHONY CAMBRIA.

HIS TOPIC IS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS STATED, AND I QUOTE, I'M DRIVEN BY THE NOTION THAT A GREAT EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO A PERSON'S FUTURE.

AND I DEDICATE MYSELF TO ENSURING THAT EACH AND EVERY CHILD RECEIVES ONE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE LATEST DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DATA REVEALS A DIFFERENT VISION.

THE NUMBERS CLEARLY SHOW THAT THERE IS A BROAD DIVIDE IN EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AMONG OUR STUDENTS AND BETWEEN OUR SCHOOLS.

WHY DO MINORITY AND THE MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS CONTINUE TO UNDERPERFORM ON THE ALGEBRA END? OF COURSE, EXAM, YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, WHEN WILL FACTS AND DATA MATTER? IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE BOARD AT THE BEHEST OF THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS INCREASED YEARLY OPERATIONAL SPENDING BY MORE THAN $79 MILLION FOR STAFF COMPENSATION ENHANCED TECHNOLOGY AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE, CLAIMING THAT DOING SO EQUATES TO INVESTING IN STUDENTS PLUS ANOTHER 82 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS ACADEMIC NEEDS RELATED TO COVID PANDEMIC.

THAT'S MORE THAN $160 MILLION INVESTED IN STUDENTS.

THE DEMOGRAPHIC GRADE DISTRIBUTION DATA FOR THE FOUR LARGEST AND MOST VULNERABLE SUBGROUPS SHOWS A DIFFERENT VIEW.

ALMOST 80% OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY STUDENTS SCORED A D OR AN F IN ALGEBRA, MORE THAN 70% OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS SCORED A D OR AN F.

MORE THAN 60% OF PUPILS IN POVERTY SCORED A D OR AN F.

ALMOST 60% OF HISPANIC LATINO STUDENTS SCORED A D OR AN F.

LESS THAN 35% OF WHITE STUDENTS SCORED A DNF.

WHAT EXPLAINS THIS BROAD DISPARITY IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE? HOW DO THESE RESULTS ALIGN WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DRIVING VISION OF A GREAT EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD? A CLOSE INSPECTION OF THE DATA MAKES IT CLEAR THAT PROMISES ARE NOT BEING KEPT.

STATE'S ALGEBRA PERFORMANCE REVEALS THAT THERE IS A STRONG PROBABILITY THAT 60 TO 80% OF OUR STUDENTS WILL NOT ENJOY A PROSPEROUS LIFE.

GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER STATED, 99% OF ALL FAILURES COME FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HABIT OF MAKING EXCUSES.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR THIS DISTRICT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

UP WE HAVE THOMAS BALMY JR.

[00:45:01]

AND HIS TOPIC IS, CHILDREN ENJOY MUSIC OF ALL KINDS.

MUSIC TRULY MOVES THEM AS WELL AS HAS THE ABILITY TO SET THE MOOD.

BAND BUILDS UNITY AND COURAGE.

IT ALSO STRENGTHENS SELF-CONFIDENCE.

OH, HELLO.

UH, BAND HAS DONE WONDERS FOR MY NAME.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT.

UH, MY NAME IS THOMAS BELLAMY JR.

AND MY SON THOMAS BELLAMY II, HE PLAYS THE TROMBONE AND HE'S BEEN IN THE BAND FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW.

AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, HE IS THE FIRST BELLAMY TO BE IN A BAND.

AND FOR HIM TO PLAY THE TROMBONE, IT'S KIND OF UNLIKELY, ME BEING HONEST IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT A YOUNG BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUNG MAN, HE WANTS TO PLAY THE TROMBONE AND THE BAND.

IT ALSO BUILDS LEADERSHIP.

HE HAS TWO.

HE HAS, UH, YOUNGER TWIN SIBLINGS WHO WANTS TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.

HE ALSO WANNA BE IN THE BAND.

SO I, THE BAND, IT'S MAKING MY NAME LOOK GREAT, AND I TRULY APPRECIATE IT.

THAT COMPLETES OUR SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, SESSION.

AND THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA, WE CAN ADJOURN BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS ADJOURNED.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ATTENDED.

YOU'RE WATCHING BUFORD COUNTY TV, LIVE, WORK, PLAY.

JOE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, DALE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

UH, I WE'RE, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT, AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO TALK ABOUT IN A, ALL OF THIS IN A VERY SMALL KIND OF PRESENTATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

UH, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, UH, WE STARTED WORKING ON A NEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OPPORTUNITY LAST YEAR, UM, BECAUSE WE KNEW, AND WE HAVE KNOWN THAT TRYING TO RECRUIT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BE CLASS ONE CERTIFIED, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE REQUIRED.

UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE IN OUR SCHOOLS AS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, WHICH ARE, IS, IS A SPECIAL, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT IS REALLY SPECIAL CANDIDATE, UH, THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THAT CLOSE AN ASSOCIATION TO OUR KIDS.

'EM THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND BE READY FOR DEPLOYMENT, UH, WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN AUGUST.

UM, AND, BUT WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FACTORS IT CREATES, NOT ONLY IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WHAT OUR WHAT, WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL IS A MELTING POT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

SO HAVING THAT RIGHT PERSON IN THAT JOB AND THAT ROLE TO PROVIDE SECURITY TO OUR KIDS LEADERSHIP, TO OUR KIDS, UH, AND GIVING THE CONFIDENCE TO THE STAFF TO WORK IN THE SCHOOLS, I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND THAT RIGHT PERSON.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND A CLASS ONE OR A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, IS ONE THAT GOES TO THE ACADEMY FOR 12 WEEKS, SPENDS 12 WEEKS FOR THE MOST PART IN COLUMBIA.

AND WE DO SOME OF THE TRAINING HERE LOCALLY.

BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, HAS TO BE DONE IN COLUMBIA.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT TO BE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR LIFE AND THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLUMBIA AND GO THROUGH BOOTCAMP TO BE A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

SO I HAD OUR TRAINING STAFF PUT TOGETHER A TRAINING SYLLABUS FOR A, WHAT WE CALL A CLASS THREE.

UH, AND IT WAS A CLASS THREE DESIGNATION FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

WHAT THAT DID IS IT ALLOWED US TO CREATE A TRAINING SYLLABUS THAT WE COULD TAKE A PERSON, UM, YOU KNOW, OF, OF ANY AGE, UM, AND THAT WE WOULD BRING 'EM INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, WITH BLUFFTON OR BEAUFORT OR PORT ROYAL OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

UH, AND WE WOULD TRAIN THEM HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

ALL OF THEIR TRAINING WOULD BE DONE RIGHT HERE.

UH, IT WOULD BE EIGHT WEEKS, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE THAN EIGHT WEEKS OF TRAINING.

UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO START THIS, UH, THE, OUR FIRST CLASS.

WE'D LIKE TO START IT IN JUNE.

UH, THAT WAY WE CAN GET

[00:50:01]

UH, I, I THINK IT'S AN AWESOME PROGRAM.

WE, WE, WE SENT THE TRAINING SYLLABUS TO THE ACADEMY THAT TRAINS ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THEY APPROVED IT, UH, WITH THE BLESSING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRAINING COUNCIL.

SO WE ARE READY TO GET THIS THING MOVING AND GET IT STARTED.

AND I THINK FOR US, UH, WE JUST NEED TO KIND OF TELL OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? UH, THE ROLE IS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

IT'S A CLASS THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT DESIGNATION.

UH, IT'S A UNIFORM POSITION.

IT'S AN ARMED POSITION.

UH, THEY HAVE ARREST POWERS, UH, AND THEY HAVE ALL THE POWERS OF ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, UH, THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, JOE, SHERIFF? I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING LEAD ON THIS.

UM, WE HAVE FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN BLUFFTON THAT CURRENTLY ARE NOT STAFFED BY CLASS THREE OR HIGHER OFFICERS.

AND I THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GONNA ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THESE POSITIONS, AND IT'S GONNA PROVIDE MORE OF A SECURITY BLANKET FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

SO WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PART OF IT.

SO THANK YOU.

DALE.

WHO, WHO DO WE WANT TO ATTRACT? I THINK WE'VE GOT A, WE'VE GOT AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF RETIRED MILITARY FOLKS HERE.

MM-HMM.

THAT ARE ABLE TO RETIRE FAIRLY YOUNG AND MAY BE LOOKING FOR THAT JOB.

THEY MAY HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WITH THE, WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER.

UM, THEY'LL BE HOME WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE HOME, NOT IN SCHOOL.

AND, UM, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, SHERIFF, WE, WE NEED TO GET INTO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF WE, IF WE WAITED UNTIL HIGH SCHOOLS WERE TOO LATE.

SO I, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU TOOK THE LEAD ON IT.

UM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE IN, BUT I REALLY THINK THE YOUNG RETIRED MILITARY PEOPLE, OR THEY'RE JUST MADE FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGHOUT OUR CAREERS, UH, IN THE COUNTY OF BEAUFORT, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION AFTER CONVERSATION WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M RETIRED.

I'D LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING TO DO.

AND THEN YOU START TALKING TO 'EM.

AND THEY'RE RETIRED TEACHER OR RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT, RETIRED FIRE DEPARTMENT, RETIRED MILITARY, RETIRED BANKERS, RETIRED, I MEAN, RETIRED, THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER.

THEY'RE STILL, STILL AT AN AGE THAT THEY COULD, UM, THEY, THEY COULD DO THIS JOB WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL OF ANY KIND.

UM, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.

YES, I'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, THOSE THAT ARE STILL, THAT STILL FEEL LIKE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THAT MAYBE HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AS BEING A JOB, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PAY AND BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND FAMILIES AND, AND ALL THAT, THEY JUST DIDN'T WANNA DO IT.

BUT HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO MAKE $45,000 A YEAR STARTING PAY TO WORK, BASICALLY THE SCHEDULE OF THE TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD SCHEDULE.

IT IS, UH, TO HAVE BENEFITS, UH, TO BE IN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR MATURITY, UH, THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, TO, TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE KIDS WHO WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM JUST HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE AND BE AROUND, UH, THESE FOLKS THAT BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE.

AND I, WE, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, YOU TAKE BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT AND, AND IN THE COUNTY AND THEN IN POOR ROYAL, THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE.

THEY ARE.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.

AND I JUST THINK THIS IS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO, YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST DO IT KINDA LIKE NIKE.

LET'S JUST DO IT.

UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S, THE TRAINING IS, I THINK THEY'LL ENJOY THEIR TRAINING.

AGAIN, IT'S ALL DONE RIGHT HERE.

THEY, THEY'LL STAY AT HOME, THEY'LL SLEEP IN THEIR OWN BED, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR OWN PILLOW, AND THEN THEY CAN COME TO TRAINING.

AND ONCE THEY'RE CERTIFIED, UH, THEN THEY'LL START THE SCHOOL YEAR, UH, AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.

SO, I MEAN, I KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTS THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.

YOU KNOW.

SO WHAT ELSE, WHAT ELSE YOU THINK THIS, UM, THIS PROGRAM'S GONNA DO IN TOTALITY FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? I THINK, I THINK THIS PROGRAM, ONE WILL BE ABLE TO GET US OVER THE TOP.

I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A POLICE OFFICER IN EVERY SCHOOL IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

A POLICE OFFICER AND I, AND I, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

WE, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS JOB.

THERE IS.

AND, AND THIS IS NOT A SECURITY OFFICER.

NO.

THIS IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE WELL TRAINED, UH, IN THIS.

AND I, I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK WITH THE YOUNG CHILDREN TARGETING THE RETIREES MM-HMM.

, WHETHER THEY'RE RETIRED TEACHERS, RETIRED MILITARY IS IMPORTANT.

THEY'VE GOT THE LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR THE, FOR THE

[00:55:01]

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND, AND TO GET THAT STARTED OFF.

SO , HOW, HOW MANY, HOW MANY OPENINGS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM? FOR THIS PROGRAM? WE, WE ONLY HAVE TWO CURRENTLY.

POSSIBLY A THIRD COMING ON BOARD.

I'VE GOT NINE JOE, I HAVE FOURS.

SO, I MEAN, IN TOTAL, AND HERE'S THE THING.

IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU WORK AT THE CITY OF BEAUFORT OR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, OR PORT ROYAL, OR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT YOU TO COME TO WORK.

AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE A CLASS THREE SRO, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU GO, DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE EMPLOYED BY.

THE PAY IS GONNA BE THE SAME.

THE WORK ENVIRONMENT'S BASICALLY THE SAME.

THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENCE IN UNIFORM THAT YOU WEAR AT THE SCHOOL THAT YOU'RE ASSIGNED TO, UH, THE PAY.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE BASICALLY THE SAME.

SO ALL WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO IS PUT THEIR APPLICATIONS IN, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM IN DETAIL.

AND IF YOU REALLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT, UH, THEN LET'S, LET'S, LET'S GET STARTED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, JOE? YEAH.

AND, AND ONE THING THAT I WANT TO HIT ON IS THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT AND, AND REASON BEING IS NONE OF ARC KIDS SHOULD FEEL AFRAID GOING TO SCHOOL.

UM, THEY SHOULD BE GOING TO SCHOOL TO LEARN AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.

UM, AND WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS PROVIDES ANOTHER LAYER OF SAFETY FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

UM, IT ALSO PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO MENTOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.

MM-HMM.

, UH, AS THEY'RE COMING UP THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND SO, LIKE THE SHERIFF SAID, IF YOU TRULY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, UH, THIS IS A POSITION THAT YOU REALLY, REALLY WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

I JUST HOPE THE APPLICATION START POURING IN.

AND IF YOU GET MORE THAN, THAN YOU NEED THEN AND, AND WE NEED TO GO TO BEAUFORT OR WE NEED TO GO TO, UH, THE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR, OR PORT ROYAL, WE JUST NEED, WE NEED TO PUT THESE PEOPLE TO WORK.

WE NEED TO FILL THESE VACANCIES, UH, AND LET'S MAKE OUR SCHOOLS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AS SAFE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS PROGRAM, THESE OFFICERS WILL BE TRAINED BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN THESE SCHOOLS.

THEY HAVE THE SAME DESIRES, THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

WELL, I MEAN, THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE ARE, WE WILL BE DOING THE TRAINING TOGETHER.

IF YOU GET, IF YOU GET, IF YOU HIRE ONE OR TWO AND YOU HIRE FOUR, AND YOU KNOW, AND I CAN FILL THE NINE THAT WE NEED, WE'RE ALL GONNA BE TRAINING TOGETHER.