[Call to Order ]
[00:00:03]
COMMENT FORUMS DURING EACH BOARD MEETING.
THE FIRST IS A 30 MINUTE SESSION NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, LIMITED TO TOPICS ON THE BOARD MEETING AGENDA.
THE SECOND IS A 15 MINUTE SESSION, WHICH TAKES PLACE PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT, BUT NO LATER THAN 9:00 PM.
REQUEST TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA PHONE WILL BE ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY.
YOU CAN FIND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PUBLIC COMMENT FORM ON OUR WEBSITE@WWBEAUFORTSCHOOLS.NET SLASH ABOUT US SLASH BOARD OF EDUCATION BOARD.
NO BOARD OF ED SLASH PUBLIC COMMENTS.
PLEASE SIGN UP USING THE PUBLIC COMMENT FORM 24 HOURS FROM THE DAY OF THE MEETING.
REQUESTERS WILL RECEIVE A PHONE CALL DURING THEIR RESPECTIVE PUBLIC FORM TIME AND SHOULD BE READY TO SPEAK.
CITIZENS DESIRING TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON MUST FILL OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD THAT SHOULD, CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE BOARD CLERK UPON ARRIVAL IN THE EVENT THE BOARD HAS NOT FINISHED ADDRESSING ALL ITEMS LISTED IN THE MARCH 4TH, 2025 AGENDA.
THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE AT 6:00 PM ON MARCH 5TH, 2025, THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.
TO FINISH THE AGENDA ITEMS, WE HAVE A FOR A QUORUM
[Executive Session ]
AND I NOW NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, MR. CHAIRMAN.I MOVE THAT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTER EXECUTIVE, UH, SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
REASON NUMBER ONE EMPLOYMENT MATTER REGARDING PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A ONE ADULT EDUCATION MONTHLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 40 A FOUR.
RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A TWO.
DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER 61 WITH THOMPSON TURNER CONSTRUCTION FOR PHASE TWO RENOVATIONS 8% CIP SCOPE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE PROPOSAL PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED 30 DASH FOUR DASH 78 2.
DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER 31 WITH AJAX BUILDING COMPANY LLC FOR ST.
HELENA ELEMENTARY, HVAC, REPLACEMENT AND CASEWORK REPLACEMENT 8% CIP SCOPE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE PROPOSAL PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED 30 DASH 40 DASH 78 2.
DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO AN ENCROACHMENT PERMIT AT THE MAY RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED 30 DASH 40 DASH IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND BY MR. NAY.
ANY DISCUSSION? I SEE NO HANDS UP.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AND THOSE A AYE A IS AYE RIGHT SMITH? AYE.
SMITH IS RIGHT MS. GORDON, YOUR HAND IS UP.
AND WE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Action as Necessary or Appropriate Regarding Matters Discussed in Executive Session ]
PM WE'RE GONNA CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.UH, MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY ACTION AS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE REGARDING MEM MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? YES, COLONEL, WE HAVE SEVERAL MOTIONS TO BRING FORWARD.
THE FIRST ONE IS I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT LISTED ON THE FEBRUARY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025.
PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? MS. FRAZIER IS A SECOND DISCUSSION.
ANY DISCUSSION MR. SMITH? I'M GONNA ABSTAIN BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALLY SEE THE REPORT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
UH, EXCEPT FOR MR. SMITH ABSTAINING.
HOW ABOUT ONLINE? I DON'T HAVE, I DON'T SEE OUR ONLINE SCREEN HERE.
MS. GORDON, ARE YOU THERE? WE'LL GO ALPHABETICALLY.
PASTOR GORDON A OH, PASTOR GORDON.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MONTHLY ADULT EDUCATION REPORT
[00:05:01]
FOR MARCH 4TH, 2025.SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MR. SMALL.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING A AYE.
I'M SORRY WE HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 31 WITH AJAX BUILDING COMPANY LLC FOR THE ST.
HELENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PARTIAL HVAC, REPLACEMENT AND CASEWORK REPLACEMENT BASED ON THE GMP GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE PROPOSAL OF $1,408,455.
I SECOND THAT MOTION SECOND BY MR. SMITH.
ALL THOSE, THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 61 WITH THOMPSON TURNER CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED FOR THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER, PHASE TWO RENOVATIONS BASED ON THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE PROPOSAL OF $3,958,901.
ANY DISCUSSION MS. MADAM? SECRETARY? I'M GONNA BE VOTING NO BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS BUILDING IS OUTTA DATE.
WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO IT AND IT IS NOT CENTRALLY LOCATED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MR. SMITH, YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANNA SAY? I'LL GO TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THE FULL PRESENTATION THAT AS WELL.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
MS. UH, HAY IS NAY, MR. SMALL IS NAY.
CAR IS NAY AND MADAM SECRETARY IS NAY, BUT THE MOTION STILL CARRIES.
UM, OUR FINAL MOTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT TO FINALIZE NEGOTIATIONS AND, OH, SORRY.
AND SIGN A MAY RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT WITH NEW RIVERSIDE LLC.
YOU HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND HEARING.
THE MOTION WILL NOT BE, UH, UH, VOTED ON.
ARE YOU, YOU'RE GONNA SECOND IT FOR THE, FOR DISCUSSION.
YEAH, LET ME, LEMME JUST SECOND IT FOR THE DISCUSSION.
MO, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
UH, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS MOTION AND EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS MOTION BY ROLL CALL.
IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT THAT YOU WISH TO MAKE ON THE, UH, MOTION, YOU COULD MAKE IT AT THAT TIME.
UH, MR. BERRY, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? I'M A NO, I'M A NO.
IS THAT VOTE RIGHT? YEAH, VOTE RIGHT NOW.
NOW MR. SMITH IS A DEFINITELY NO, AND, UH, I THINK THAT THE, UM, THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA, IF THEY WANTS TO BUILD SCHOOLS FOR, FOR STUDENTS, THEN I THINK THAT THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO, UM, SEE WHAT THEIR HOAS ARE, ARE, ARE ABOUT AND GIVING US A HARD TIME.
SO, YEAH, I DEFINITELY WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE A AFRAID OF IT, SO IT'S A DEFINITELY A NO THANK YOU.
CHLOE? CHLOE GORDON? I VOTE NO VICTOR NAY.
ISAAC GORDON? I VOTE NO, THAT, THAT COMPLETES THE VOTE AND THE MOTION DOES NOT CARRY.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR MOTIONS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Approval of Agenda ]
ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? YES.
UH, UH, COLONEL, WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE BOARD AGENDA WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025.
[00:10:01]
HAVE A SECOND.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence, Statement of Media Notification ]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE MOTION OF SILENCE.PLEASE, UH, COME TO YOU, MA'AM.
IGI, AND TONIGHT PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.
PLEASE SILENCE FOR CHASTITY ELLIS, A FRESHMAN AT BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.
DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[Student Performance ]
ON THE AGENDA IS STUDENT PERFORMANCE HILTON HEAD HIGH SCHOOL SEAHAWKS SINGERS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF KATHLEEN, MS. ROWE.I TEACH CHOIR PIANO AT HILTON.
UM, SO, UM, WE HAVE TWO PIECES FOR YOU TODAY.
ONE IS, AND THIS IS THE HONORS CHOIR WE'RE MISSING.
[00:15:46]
OH, YOU GRABBED ONEUM, CAN YOU GO? MY RIVER AND MY ROOTS ARE RIVER AND MY ROOTS ARE RIVER AND MY FARMHOUSE.
I INSIDE IN THE FOREST WAS POSSIBLE.
MY MOTHER TOLD ME WAS BEAUTIFUL.
AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IN A NOT MEDAL.
IT'LL NOT BENEATH IT BY THE, ON THE SCHOOL BUS, TEND BY THE WORDS OF SMALL LINES.
[00:20:50]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,[Points of Celebration ]
DR. RODRIGUEZ.YOU HAVE POINTS OF CELEBRATION.
UM, THIS EVENING, UH, WE BEGIN WITH POINTS OF CELEBRATION WITH THE JANUARY, UH, STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR SOUTHERN BEAUFORD COUNTY.
JANUARY'S CHARACTER TRAIT WAS PERSEVERANCE.
AND PERSEVERANCE IS DEFINED AS PURSUING WORTHY OBJECTIVES WITH DETERMINATION AND PATIENCE WHILE EXHIBITING FORTITUDE WHEN CONFRONTED WITH FAILURE FOR SOUTHERN BEAUFORD COUNTY.
THE JANUARY STUDENT OF THE MONTH IS LEAH SEDA ORTIZ, A FIRST GRADE STUDENT AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND SCHOOL FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS.
AND HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT LEAH IS PRINCIPAL NIKKI LUCAS.
SO THIS IS LEAH AND SHE IS VERY FRIENDLY.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY I MET HER AT CREATIVE ARTS.
SHE'S IN FIRST GRADE, AND I MET HER IN THE MEDIA CENTER WHEN WE WERE GETTING READY TO START FALL TESTING.
SHE JUST MOVED HERE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AND AT THAT TIME, SPOKE VERY LITTLE ENGLISH, BUT I IMMEDIATELY MADE A CONNECTION WITH HER.
AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT LEAH SO FAR THIS YEAR IS THAT SHE IS A VERY HARD WORKER.
SHE HAS AN EXTRAORDINARY WORK ETHIC AND SHE, IT LEARNS VERY QUICKLY.
SO SHE SPEAKS SPANISH FLUENTLY, BUT SHE'S ALSO NOW SPEAKING ENGLISH VERY WELL.
AND WHEN SHE TOOK HER WINTER ASSESSMENT FOR I-READY, SHE MADE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GROWTH.
SO SHE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF PERSEVERANCE AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER.
THE NEXT ITEM, UH, ON THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS, UH, SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE VITAL MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATIONAL TEAM.
THEY HELP STUDENTS IN THE AREAS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT, HELPING TO ENSURE THAT TODAY'S STUDENTS BECOME TOMORROW'S PRODUCTIVE AND WELL-ADJUSTED ADULTS.
BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR, JESSICA STONE IS BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S 2025 SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR.
AND HERE TO INTRODUCE HER IS COUNSELOR, UH, IS BATTERY CREEK PRINCIPAL DENISE LESSARD.
SO PLEASED TO TALK JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THIS AMAZING PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
WHEN I FIRST, UM, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO MS. STONE TO OFFER HER TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE HIRING PROCESS.
SHE SAID, I DON'T KNOW MS. LARD SCH I THINK ELEMENTARY IS GONNA BE MY WHEELHOUSE.
AND THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT HER SPIRIT AND HER PASSION FOR STUDENTS THAT I KNEW WOULD FIT PERFECTLY WITH OUR SCHOOL.
AND SHE HAS EXCEEDED ANYTHING I COULD HAVE IMAGINED FOR WHAT SHE PROVIDES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
JUST LAST NIGHT, OUR SIC CHAIR, UM, WAS SHARING WITH OUR SIC ABOUT THIS RECOGNITION THAT SHE GOT.
[00:25:01]
AND SEVERAL OF HER FAMILIES WERE IN ATTENDANCE, UM, AND ONE OF HER STUDENTS.AND THEY ALL AGREED THAT SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE WHOEVER SHE'S TALKING TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ROOM AND THE ONLY PERSON THAT MATTERS.
AND TO ME, I THINK THAT IS A TREMENDOUS QUALITY FOR A SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO WORK ALONGSIDE HER AND BE PART OF HER PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY.
NEXT ITEM THIS EVENING IS SCHOOL ARTS AND WRITING GOLD KEY AWARDS.
SEVERAL DISTRICT STUDENTS HAVE BEEN HONORED IN THE SCHOLASTIC ART WRITING AWARDS COMPETITION.
THESE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS ARE THE NATION'S LONGEST RUNNING PROGRAM FOR CREATIVE TEENS.
AND GRADE SEVEN THROUGH 12, THE DISTRICT'S TOP AWARD WINNERS, GOLD KEY RECIPIENTS ADVANCED TO JUDGING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
SILVER KEY WORKS ARE JUDGED TO DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY AND HONORABLE MENTION, UH, WORKS ARE JUDGED TO SHOW GREAT SKILL AND POTENTIAL.
I INVITE THE STUDENTS UP AS I CALL THEIR NAME, THEIR ARTWORK IS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN.
GOLD KEY WINNERS FROM BLUFFTON HIGH WERE ALICE ALEXANDER FOR SCULPTING, GIRLHOOD KAYA DUFFY FOR SPANISH MOSS FOREST HERE TO TELL US ABOUT HIS STUDENTS, HIS BLUFFTON HIGH PRINCIPAL, UH, MR. MATT HALL, UM, BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS IS THE WONDERFUL KAYAH DUFFY WHO I ACTUALLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING A MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE HER PROGRESS AND GROWTH FROM NOT ONLY MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT NOW INTO HIGH SCHOOL.
THE SPANISH MOSS FORCE WAS TREMENDOUS.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER OVER THERE ALICE ALEXANDER, WHO HAD TO WORK TONIGHT.
SO UNFORTUNATELY SHE'S NOT HERE.
UH, HAD A NUMBER OF CERAMICS PIECES THAT WERE RECOGNIZED AS A GOLD KEY WINNER AS WELL.
UM, BUT I WILL LET MR. UH, STAN VITA, OUR TEACHER FOR KAYA TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UH, KAYA'S PIECE.
AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR OUR STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT.
KAYA IS AN AMAZING ART STUDENT WHO IS ADVANCED WELL BEYOND HER YEARS.
I HOPE SHE CONTINUES TO MAKE AMAZING ART AND STICK WITH IT BECAUSE SHE'S TRULY TALENTED.
AND, UH, ALICE AS WELL, ONE FOR THE PORTFOLIO.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LETTING US HONOR THEM HERE TODAY.
WINNERS, UH, FROM HILTON HEAD HIGH, WERE MAEVE DOLAN FOR FADING.
ABBY PRATT FOR DANCING THROUGH LIFE.
SIENNA SHOOTS FOR COLORS OF CULTURE.
KAY FOR INDUSTRIES, STEEL GRASP AND SOAR.
AND, AND FOR SOAR CADENCE WOLF FOR LAYERS OF IDENTITY.
AND KELLY BUL SCHULTZ FOR THE POEM, PAINE TOLERANCE.
HERE TO INTRODUCE HIS STUDENTS IS PRINCIPAL STEVE, SID RICH, WHILE THE STUDENTS WORKED THEIR WAY UP.
I ALSO JUST WANNA MAKE MENTION TO YOU THAT KAY IS ALSO THE RIVER OF WORDS WINNER FOR THE COVER.
AND SO YOU SEE, UH, HER, HER PICTURE IN YOUR BOOK THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU AND DOWN HERE AS WELL.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE WINNERS AND AS, UH, UM,
[00:30:01]
MS. MCKENZIE AND, AND, UH, DR. RODRIGUEZ MENTIONED SOME OF THESE, UH, PEOPLE UP HERE.UM, THEY, UH, HAD MULTIPLE AWARDS.
LIKE AS WE MENTIONED, KAY HAS, UH, WON TWO, UM, GOLD, BUT SHE ALSO I THINK WON A SILVER AND ALSO AN HONORABLE ME, RIGHT? SO SHE WON MULTIPLE AWARDS AS SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE UP HERE TOO.
SO I JUST WANNA MENTION THEIR NAMES AGAIN.
MAEVE DOLAN, UH, CHARLOTTE HUSSEY, ABBY PRATT, UH, SMI SANTOS, SIENNA SCHULTZ, KAY CADENCE WOLF AND KELLY ZOS.
KEY GOLD KEY WINNERS FROM MAY GOLD.
KEY WINNERS FROM MAY RIVER HIGH WERE HALEY MATHIS, FIRST SERENE AND HALEY SCHUBERG FOR THE CIRCLE OF LIFE.
AND HERE TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS IS TEACHER BETH SCHLAGER.
I'M JUST GONNA LOOK TO SEE IF HAILEY IS OUT THERE.
OKAY, WELL, WE'LL HAVE, UH, DR. WEBB COME UP HERE WITH ME.
UM, BOTH OF THE HAILEYS THAT ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT ARE EXAMPLES OF WHAT IT IS TO NOT ONLY MAKE, UM, AESTHETICALLY PLEASING ARTWORK, BUT TO DELVE DEEP INTO THE CONTENT AND THINKING THAT GOES INTO IT.
SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US TONIGHT.
NOW IT'S GREAT TO SEE OUR STUDENTS EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH VARIOUS ARTISTIC PROCESSES.
THESE AWARDS ARE A TESTAMENT TO OUR TREMENDOUSLY TALENTED STUDENTS AND PHENOMENAL ART TEACHERS WHO BRING OUR DISTRICT'S ART PROGRAMMING TO LIFE EVERY DAY.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL'S WRESTLING CLASS FOUR EIGHT STATE CHAMPIONS.
BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS WELL REPRESENTED AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP WIN FROM MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL WITH MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL'S WRESTLING COACH ASHLEY POWELL, COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE THE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS.
ALRIGHT, I GUESS I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO SPEAK, BUT, UM, WE GOT A COUPLE, UH, SEVERAL WRESTLERS HERE IF THEY WILL COME FORWARD.
UM, WE WON THE SOUTH CAROLINA FOR A DUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SO THAT WE PUT OUR 14 BEST OUT THERE AGAINST THE, UH, UPPER STATES 14 REPRESENTATIVES.
UM, WE WERE DOWN 35 TO 11 WITH FIVE MATCHES LEFT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT WRESTLING, BUT THE MOST POINTS YOU CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE FIVE MATCHES LEFT IS 30 POINTS.
AND, UH, WE CAME BACK, WE'RE DOWN TWO WITH ONE MATCH TO, UH, TO GO.
AND, UH, WE HAD A JUNIOR LI ENGLE BLOOM WHO WAS ABLE TO, UH, WIN.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE OUR FIRST DUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, 36 TO 35, UH, FROM THE UPPER STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAWRENCE.
UH, WE FOLLOWED THAT UP, UH, THE FALL AND TWO WEEKS LATER OF TRADITIONAL STATE TOURNAMENT WHERE YOU ACCUMULATE POINTS INDIVIDUALLY.
SO TECHNICALLY YOU CAN WIN A TRADITIONAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL.
WE HAD, UH, TWO INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS.
AND, UH, BLAKE BUTLER WAS OUR STATE REP, UH, STATE CHAMPION AT 150 POUND WEIGHT CLASS.
SO WE WON THE TEAM STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL AS TWO INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS, AND I'M SURE THEIR PRINCIPAL IS GONNA JOIN THEM FOR THE PICTURE.
[00:35:28]
BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT MIDDLE SCHOOL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.TONIGHT WE'RE CELEBRATING WINTER BASKETBALL AWARDS AND HERE TO TELL US MORE AS DISTRICT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR, UH, CARLOS CAVE.
AGAIN, THIS IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO STAND BEFORE YOU TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACHIEVED BY OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AS WELL AS THE COACHES.
AND AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PLAYERS OF THE YEAR FOR THIS PAST WINTER BASKETBALL SEASON FOR THE 24 25, UH, SCHOOL YEAR.
FIRST YOUNG LADY, I LIKE TO CALL UP PLAY OF THE YEAR FOR BLUFFING MIDDLE SCHOOL ON THE GIRL SIDE AND ALSO A PART OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, MS. BAILEY GIBSON.
AND AT THIS TIME, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE BOYS PLAY OF THE YEAR, ALSO A STUDENT AT BLUFFING MIDDLE SCHOOL, MR. TERRY TEUS DAWSON, I HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT CORRECTLY.
AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOW GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE COACH'S CHOICE COACH OF THE YEAR.
THIS COACH IS SELECTED BY HIS PEERS.
AND WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE GIRLS SIDE.
THIS YEAR'S GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH'S CHOICE COACH OF THE YEAR IS MR. BLAKE BISHOP RIVER RIDGE ACADEMY.
OUR BOYS COACHES CHOICE COACH OF THE YEAR FROM WELL, BRANCH MIDDLE, MR. GERALD WRIGHT.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA ANNOUNCE THE COACH OF THE YEAR FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING TEAM.
UH, THE BLUFFING MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH OF THE EL AND THE GIRLS SIDE.
[00:40:34]
AND OUR FINAL AWARD WINNER OF THE BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM FROM ALSO FROM BLUFFTON MIDDLE, MR. ABRAHAM, ABRAHAM, TONY BRUIN.SOUTH CAROLINA ATH ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR.
SO AS ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS OF THE SOLINE ATHLETIC COACH ASSOCIATION IS, IS INDEED AN HONOR.
WE, AS A BOARD RECOGNIZE THE TOP, UH, ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL AS ATHLETIC, UH, DIRECTORS FROM AROUND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
INDEED, THIS YEAR, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO HAVE NOMINATED AND TO FIND OUT THAT HE WAS AWARDED THIS AWARD.
UH, MR. BARNES AND I GONNA READ A QUICK SNIPPET ABOUT HIM.
UM, AND IT SIMPLY SAYS, COACH BARNES HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PERSONNEL, PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS INITIATIVE, TAKING APPROACH TO PROFESSIONALISM GROWTH NOT ONLY REFLECTS IN HIS DEDICATION TO HIS OWN DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS HIS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCES FOR HIS STUDENT ATHLETES.
MR. BARNES EXEMPLIFIES THE QUALITIES OF AN EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, AGAIN, FOCUSING ON LEADERSHIP INTEGRITY AND A PASSION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.
NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MS. UH, DR. BROWN TO ALSO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT MR. BARNES.
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD.
I AM SO THANKFUL AND APPRECIATIVE TO STAND NEXT TO THE COACH BARNES, UM, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I BELIEVE FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, UM, I HAVE BEEN AT LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE FOR FIVE YEARS.
AND DURING THAT TIME WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, UM, UPHOLD THE PILLARS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, IN TERMS OF SHOWING LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, MOTIVATION, AND SERVICE.
AND COACH BARNES HAS HELPED CONTINUE TO INSTILL THOSE QUALITIES IN OUR STUDENTS FIRST ATHLETES SECOND APPROACH.
AND, UH, WE ARE DOING QUITE WELL, NOT QUITE WELL ENOUGH TO GET THE NEXT CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT WE'RE CLOSE AND WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING TOWARDS THAT.
COACH BARNES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, SIR.
SO AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE OUR SELECTION FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR.
[00:45:04]
DR. FRANK RODRIGUEZ WAS, UH, RECOGNIZED AS OUR LARGE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.HE IS THE FOUR A FIVE A SELECTION, UM, FOR THE LARGE SCHOOL SIDE.
DR. FOSTER FROM ORANGEBURG COUNTY IS, REPRESENTS THE 3 2 1 CLASSIFICATION IN MARCH.
IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, I THINK IT'S THE 18TH, DR.
UH, RODRIGUEZ WILL RECEIVE HIS OFFICIAL AWARD AT OUR AWARDS BANQUET.
BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE WHY HE IS A RECIPIENT OF THIS AWARD.
HIS LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ATHLETICS FROM HIS ROOTS IN YOUTH COACHING TO HIS CURRENT ROLE AS SUPERINTENDENT.
HIS DEDICATION TO STUDENT SUCCESS FACILITY EXCELLENCE AND SUPPORTING EDUCATORS AND COACHES HAS STRENGTHENED THE DISTRICT REPUTATION AND ENRICHED OUR COMMUNITY.
HIS PASSION FOR ATHLETICS AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL HAS LEFT A PROFOUND AND LASTING IMPACT ON ALL THE STUDENTS AT BEAUFORT COUNTY.
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN THRIVE BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.
AGAIN, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE DR. RODRIGUEZ AS OUR SUPERINTENDENT YEAR ON BEHALF OF THE SC AA AND OF OF COURSE OF ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND CONSTITUENTS HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
YOU ARE WELL DESERVING OF THIS AWARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ANNOUNCING AND PRESENTING YOU AGAIN, UH, IN CHARLESTON.
SO, DR. RODRIGUEZ, LAST ITEM ON POINTS OF CELEBRATION IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF NATIONAL SOCIAL WORKER WEEK TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA.
GOVERNOR MCMASTER HAS PROCLAIMED MARCH 2ND THROUGH EIGHT AS SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WEEK.
WE ARE FORTUNATE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HAVE SUCH A DEDICATED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS TO WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS.
AND IF YOU WATCH THE SCREENS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS DO AND WHY THEY'RE SUCH VITAL COMPONENTS IN SCHOOL SUCCESS.
WHILE THAT'S BEING PLAYED ON THE SCREENS, I'D LIKE TO READ THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, NURSES, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND OTHER STAFF TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS PROBLEM AREAS AND HELP MAKE SCHOOL A POSITIVE AND SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS.
AND WHEREAS SERVING AS A VITAL LINK BETWEEN SCHOOL, HOME, AND COMMUNITY SCHOOL, SOCIAL WORKERS HELP PARENTS UNDERSTAND AND MEET THEIR CHILDREN'S SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
ASSIST SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS WITH STUDENT ASSESSMENTS AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT, AND COORDINATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND WHEREAS SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WEEK HONORS SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BY OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO LEARNING.
NOW, THEREFORE, I HENRY MCMASTER, GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH TWO THROUGH 8 20 25 AS SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER WEEK THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ENCOURAGE ALL SOUTH CAROLINAS TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THE WELLBEING OF OUR CHILDREN.
[First Public Comments ]
NOW WE'RE AT, UH, FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS AND I NEED TO READ THE STATEMENT ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENTS.PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER ON BUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SCHOOL RELATED TOPICS.
CITIZENS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENTS CAN DO SO IN PERSON OR VIA PHONE.
THERE ARE TWO SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT FORUM DURING EACH
[00:50:01]
BOARD MEETING.THE FIRST IS A 30 MINUTE SESSION NEARING THE NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, LIMITED TO TOPICS ON THE BOARD MEETING AGENDA.
THE SECOND IS A 15 MINUTE SESSION, WHICH TAKES PLACE PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT, BUT NO LATER THAN 9:00 PM NOW WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS, UH, ONE FOR MISS FROM MR. MILLER, WHO'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT WEST FLORENCE CASE HISTORY BAND.
AND THAT WILL BE DONE IN THE SECOND PERIOD.
UH, MR. RICHARD BIY IS ASKED TO SPEAK ABOUT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, BUT ON OUR AGENDA, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IS PARENTS' SUPPORT PROGRAM.
SO UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM IN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE SECOND SESSION.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA DO IT AT THE SECOND SESSION.
[Chair’s Report ]
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CHAIR'S REPORT.UH, FIRST I WANNA MENTION THAT WE HAVE TWO FORMER BOARD MEMBERS HERE WITH US TONIGHT.
MS. JOAN DEAR AND MR. MEL CAMPBELL, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH, UH, HERE TONIGHT.
LAST, SECONDLY, WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, THAT WE DID NOT MAKE DURING MOMENT OF SILENCE.
UH, WE MISSED ANOTHER PERSON, CHARLES.
IT'S IN GERMAN, IT'S GUTTA, IT PERHAPS IN AMERICA.
CHARLES GOTHE WAS THE DISTRICT'S COURIER.
HE RETIRED AND CAME BACK TO WORK WITH CLIFF JOHNSON ON A PART-TIME BASIS.
HE WAS EMPLOYED WITH THE DISTRICT FOR OVER 31 YEARS, AND HE PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.
PLEASE GIVE HIM A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WELL.
NEXT IN THE CHAIR'S REPORT, LAST WEEK I GOT A CALL FROM, UH, ALICE HOWARD, THE CHAIR OF THE BUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL.
HE SAID, WHEN ARE WE GONNA DO A JOINT SCHOOL BOARD AND COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING? I SAID, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS, UH, LIKE EACH BOARD MEMBER, UH, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED OR, OR WISH TO PROVIDE A TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION, WE WILL COMPILE THE TOPICS, COME TOGETHER, UH, MS. HOWARD AND I, AND DETERMINE THE TOPICS THAT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS JOINT MEETING.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ONE OF THE TOPICS IS THE MAY RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOPIC, UH, THAT WE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHERS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I WANNA MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, ABOUT GRADUATION.
ONE, IF YOU WANNA WEAR A GOWN, UH, THERE'S A FORM TO FILL OUT.
PLEASE FILL IT OUT AND GIVE IT TO MS. CUSHEN BARRY.
UH, SO YOU GET THE RIGHT SIZES.
SECONDLY, YOU WANNA CHANGE KIND OF THE WAY UH, THE BOARD HANDLES, UH, GRADUATION.
IN THE PAST, THE BOARD CHAIR HAS BEEN THE ONE TO GIVE THE ADDRESS AT EACH, UH, HIGH SCHOOL EACH OF THE SIX HIGH SCHOOLS.
I WANT TO CHANGE THAT THIS YEAR.
I WOULD LIKE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DISTRICT WHICH THE HIGH SCHOOL IS IN, GIVE THE, UH, THE REPORT FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THEREFORE, I'M SUGGESTING THAT THE HILTON HEAD, UH, GRADUATION, THAT MS. INGRID BOATWRIGHT WOULD GIVE THE CHAIR THE, UH, UH, SCHOOL BOARD'S REPORT IN BLUFFTON, MR. CARLTON DALLAS, IN MAY RIVER, MR. VICTOR NAY IN BEAUFORT HIGH, AND MR. SMITH AT WHALE BRANCH, PASTOR GORDON AND AT BATTERY CREEK.
IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO GIVE THE ADDRESS, UH, LET ME KNOW.
AND ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THERE'S 11 OF US IN SIX HIGH SCHOOLS.
THOSE THAT DON'T GIVE THE UH, ADDRESS, UH, THIS YEAR WILL GET A CHANCE TO DO IT THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
AND THAT IS THE END OF THE CHAIR'S REPORT COMMITTEE
[Committee Reports ]
REPORTS ACADEMIC COMMITTEE.I BELIEVE THAT REPORT IS GONNA BE GIVEN BY, UH, MS. FRAZIER OR DR.
STRATUS, JUST MOTION TO MS. FRAZIER.
[00:55:02]
THANK YOU.I ADMINISTRATE REGULATION STUDENT SERVICES 62 SCHOOL BOARD THREAT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT.
NEW AND ADMINISTRATION REGULATION AR TO OUTLINE THE PROCEDURAL EXPECTATION FOR CONDUCTING SCHOOL-BASED THREAT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE AR PROVIDES CRITERIA TO ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING PROTOCOL FOR WHEN A SCHOOL-BASED THREAT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE CONDUCTED.
AS SUCH, IT FURTHER IDENTIFIES THE PROTOCOL WHEN THREAT, A PATTERN OF CONCERNING BEHAVIOR EXISTS AND SETS EXPECTATION FOR MEMBERS OF SCHOOL-BASED THREAT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT TEAMS WHEN COMPLETING AN ASSESSMENT, ALSO ADDRESSES AND OUTLINES PROTOCOL FOR IMMINENT STUDENT DANGER, PROTOCOL AND PROCEDURE FOR A SCHOOL.
BTAM SCREENER, WHICH IS UTILIZED IN SITUATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE REFERRAL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ASSESSED AS POTENTIAL TO HARM.
SECOND, ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION 48 PROMOTION, RETENTION AND ACCELERATION OF STUDENTS UPDATES TO EXISTING AR ADDS NON-DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE REMOVES AND PROVIDE THE STUDENT WITH SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE STATE X EXAM, NO LONGER A REQUIREMENT OF THE STATE.
NUMBER THREE, ADMINISTRATION REGULATION.
CONDUCTING RESEARCH UPDATES TO THE EXISTING AR ADDS NON-DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE CHANGES.
THE CONTACT NAME AND RESEARCH PACKET APPLICATION FROM LANA SIMMONS TO DENISE HOOK DUE TO PERSONNEL CHANGE.
NUMBER FOUR, HONORS APPLICATION DANCE FIVE THROUGH EIGHT COURSES ALIGNED TO STATE STANDARDS, BUT INCREASE THE LEVEL OF RIGOR AND COMPLEXITY PORTFOLIO USING TOPICS ALIGNED TO PROFILE OF THIS SE.
GRADUATE COURSES ARE FOCUSED ON RESEARCH BASE, PROJECT BASED AND REAL WORLD SKILLS COURSES INCLUDE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR IN-DEPTH STUDY OF PROFESSIONAL CHOREOGRAPHIES AND STUDENT WORK PORTFOLIOS.
COURSE PACING SCOPE AND SEQUENCE UNITS OF STUDENT DEMONSTRATION UNITS, LESSONS AND PERFORMANCE TASKS THAT EXCEED ASSIGNMENTS GIVEN IN A CP LEVEL.
COURSE ASSESSMENTS INCLUDE FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE, INCLUDING PEER ASSESSMENTS AND SELF-REGULATION, SELF-REFLECTION.
I DO APOLOGIZE THAT COMPETES YOUR REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MADAM SECRETARY, I HAVE A MOTION.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE BOARD, THE BUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE THE COURSES CREATED FOR THE DANCE HONORS LEVEL FIVE THROUGH EIGHT, AS PRESENTED ON FEBRUARY 12, 25TH, 2025.
YOU HAVE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND THAT.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE.
MR. SMITH, DID YOU HAVE A YEAH, I WAS, I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION BASED UPON, UM, WHEN, UH, AND I BROUGHT IT UP IN THE, IN THE, UH, IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING, IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY DANCE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE IN THE PARADE AND HOW MANY, HOW DANCES REALLY EVOLVING IN THIS AREA, UM, AND HOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS TO IT, I DEFINITELY SEE THE NEED FOR THIS COURSE.
SO THAT'S WHY I'LL BE SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING THIS.
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO TELL THE STUDENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DANCE S TO KEEP SCRIBING.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER? ALRIGHT, I JUST WANT, NO, JUST WANNA THANK THE TEAM.
THA THANK, THANK YOU MS. GORDON.
UH, NEXT ITEM IS THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA OR COMMITTEE REPORT.
AND THAT WILL BE PRESENTED BY COMMITTEE CHAIR CALLED IN DALLAS.
UM, THE COMMITTEE HAS HAD A MEETING AND WE HAVE A SECOND MEETING COMING UP NEXT WEEK.
UH, THE COMMITTEE, WE'VE HAD SOME VERY ENERGETIC CONVERSATIONS AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SORT OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS WE WANT TO POSITION THE DISTRICT SO THAT, UH, WE HAVE A HEADS UP ON BUDDING OR FORMING LEGISLATION.
TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, THE COMMITTEE ALREADY HAS HAD AN EFFORT UNDERWAY TO SCREEN 1,615 BILLS THAT WERE PRE-FILED BEFORE THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY EVEN STARTED 120.
UH, WE ARE SORT OF FINISHING THAT OFF AND WE EXPECT TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COMMITTEE AND HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD DIALOGUE WITH A SCREENING MECHANISM TO CU DOWN TO THOSE THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT
[01:00:01]
TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EITHER HERE OR ELSEWHERE.AND THEN WE'LL TRY TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO ACTUALLY SORT OF CULL THAT DOWN TO A MANAGEABLE NUMBER OF THE MOST CRITICAL BILLS THAT ARE ALREADY MOVING FORWARD.
AND THERE IS A MEETING AT THE CAPITOL ON APRIL 9TH, WHICH WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE WILLING TO ACTUALLY GO THERE AND CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CHAIR HAS DONE HAS ASKED ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS TO ACTUALLY HAVE A GREATER PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE FOUND IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IS VERY, VERY IMPACTFUL AND EFFECTIVE IN HELPING OTHERS.
KEY INFLUENTIALS, WHO ARE BASICALLY ENABLED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH AND CAN TAKE SOME OF OUR, UM, ELEMENTS FORWARD THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THERE ALSO IS BEST PRACTICE SHARING THAT HAS COME OUT OF OUR EFFORT TO BE OUTWARD FACING, NOT JUST SPEAKING AMONG OURSELVES, BUT LOOKING AT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THERE'S ALREADY BEEN ONE MEETING, ZOOM MEETING BETWEEN US AND, UH, CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THERE WAS SOME SUPERB BEST PRACTICE SHARING.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, UH, THE LEGAL, UH, OTHER GROUPS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE ALREADY HAVING THOSE.
SO LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE DIDN'T CREATE THOSE.
BUT WE WANT TO JOIN THE REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN MAKING SURE WE'RE REACHING OUT.
MS. BOATWRIGHT, WHO HAD A CONVERSATION, UM, ABOUT TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE SHE IS SO PROFICIENT IN THAT.
AND SO LOOKING AT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT I HAVE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE CAN IMPORT, AND MS. BOATWRIGHT HAS MENTIONED THAT SHE WOULD TAKE THAT ON.
SO THAT'S A GOOD PARTNERSHIP THERE.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS THAT, UM, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE EQUIPPING BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES IN THE DISTRICT, IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
THAT WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER AN ELECTED OFFICIAL KEY, INFLUENTIAL ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT YOU HAVE A MESSAGE TO SHARE WITH THEM ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE PERFORMANCE, UH, THAT HAS OCCURRED, UH, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
SO WE AREN'T JUST TAKING MESSAGING FROM THE COMMUNITY BACK TO THE BOARD, WE WANT TO EQUIP YOU.
SO YOU'RE TAKING A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S VERY, VERY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD, MR. CHAIR, TO AND BOARD, TO GIVING OUR NEXT, UH, PRESENTATION AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, WHICH WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUBSTANCE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE? ALRIGHT, MOVING ON.
[Superintendent’s Report ]
REPORT.IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT UNDER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, THE, UH, THE ITEM WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT IS PARENTS, UH, SUPPORT PROGRAM.
UH, AFTER A CONVERSATION WITH A COUPLE OF OF BOARD MEMBERS, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I BELIEVE WAS REQUESTED WAS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT OUR, OUR, OUR PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PARENTS IN SUPPORTING THEIR CHILDREN.
AND SO, UH, WE HAVE SOME, SOME WORK THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ENGAGED IN.
AND, UM, HERE TODAY TO, UH, SHARE ABOUT THAT IS DR.
STRATOS AND, UH, MS. HUTCHINSON.
AND BOARD CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS, THIS EVENING.
THIS EVENING, YOU SHOULD HAVE TWO DOCUMENTS.
ONE IS AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF WHAT MS. ASHLEY HUTCHINSON WILL BE SHARING.
SHE'S OUR DIRECTOR OF READINESS.
YOUR SECOND DOCUMENT IS ACTUALLY THE PRESENTATION, AND EACH SLIDE IS SUPPORTED BY THE HANDOUTS BY WHICH SHE'LL BE REFERENCING.
SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD MS. HUTCHINSON.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
AS YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD WHEN I GET UP HERE.
SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, TONIGHT I'M GOING TO DISCUSS THE PROGRAMS AT THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD OFFERS TO OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER DIRECTLY TO PARENTS AND COMMUNITY HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, UM, AND ESPECIALLY A BIG IMPACT ON ASSISTING IN CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
UM, ON THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, IT LISTS A FEW, UM, IMPACTS THAT OUR PARENTING PROGRAMS HAVE ON, UM, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT.
ONE OF THEM IS IMPROVED READINESS, CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, AND ENHANCED PARENT ENGAGEMENT.
LONG-TERM ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND POSITIVE LEARNING HABITS ARE BUILT THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. IN YOUR PACKET OF INFORMATION,
[01:05:02]
ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT HANDOUTS AND PARENT RESOURCES THAT WE GIVE TO OUR FAMILIES IS THE PROFILE OF THE READY KINDERGARTNER.SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS DOCUMENT BEFORE, BUT IT'S A FRIENDLY VERSION OF WHAT, UM, THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS PUT TOGETHER WITHIN IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR, UH, PARTNERS.
FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS, AND IT ALLOWS PARENTS A KIND OF A SNAPSHOT TO SHARE WITH THEM WHAT OUR CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW PRIOR TO ENTERING KINDERGARTEN.
ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT HAS DIRECT IMPACT, UM, ON OUR FAMILIES IS OUR PARENTS' TEACHERS PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE IN OUR DISTRICT FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST, UM, WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM AND ALSO CONTINUE AND SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES DIRECT HOME VISITS, DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, RESOURCES, AND ENHANCE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT TO PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS.
IT STRENGTHENS THE PARENT CHILD RELATIONSHIP.
AND THEN THE PROGRAM SERVES FAMILIES WITHIN THE, THE COMMUNITY BIRTH TO FIVE, OUR TARGET POPULATION FOR THIS PROGRAM, OUR TEEN PARENTS, SO OUR TEENS AND OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, UM, GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN AND OTHER FAMILIES WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE THAT MIGHT NEED THE ASSISTANCE AS WELL.
UH, BCSD EXEMPLIFIES THE POWER OF THE PAT PROGRAM AS ITS STRONG NETWORK OF PARENT EDUCATORS PROVIDING VALUABLE SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION THROUGH ACHIEVEMENTS SUCH AS NATIONAL PARENT EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS.
WE ALSO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE QUALITY SERVICE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND BCSD ENSURES CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RECEIVING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF CARE AND EDUCATION.
CURRENTLY, THE DISTRICT HAS FIVE PARENT EDUCATORS THAT SERVE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
EACH PARENT EDUCATOR SERVES ANYWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 20 FAMILIES, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THE FAMILY HAS.
SO IF THE FAMILY HAS ONE, UM, CHILD, THEN OF COURSE WE CAN SERVE MORE FAMILIES AS A WHOLE.
IF THE FAMILY HAS UP TO FIVE OR SIX CHILDREN, THEN THAT TAKES MORE, UM, OF THE PARENT EDUCATORS TIME SO THAT, THAT PER, UH, PARTICULAR PARENT EDUCATOR SERVES A DIFFERENT, UH, NUMBER OF CHILDREN.
WE HAVE SUSTAINED THE QUALITY ENDORSEMENT, UM, PRO, UH, AWARD OR, UM, STATUS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
AND IN 2025, WE ARE ON TRACK TO MAINTAIN THAT STATUS.
THAT STATUS ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY PROGRAM EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HAVE RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION.
WE ARE A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON AWARD PROGRAM, AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN THIS STATUS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS WELL.
AND THEN RECENTLY, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS CONSECUTIVELY, WE HAVE HAD TWO OF OUR VERY OWN BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENT EDUCATORS WIN NATIONAL PARENT EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR.
THOSE TWO PARTICULAR PARENT EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AND I DO HAVE TO SAY THEY ARE LEGENDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE VERY WELL KNOWN FOR THE SERVICE THEY HAVE PROVIDED TO SEVERAL TEEN PARENTS, UH, AND GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN AND OTHER FAMILIES IN THE, ESPECIALLY IN THE BATTERY CREEK WHALE BRANCH CLUSTER.
UM, IN THE PACKET, IT'S ANOTHER, IT IS JUST AN ADVERTISEMENT, UM, ADVERTISING.
THIS IS ONE WAY THAT WE REACH OUT TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALL OF OUR RESOURCES ARE OFFERED IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH, SO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE ALL FAMILIES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE SPANISH SPEAKING PARENT EDUCATOR THAT CAN SERVE THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE SPANISH SPEAKING SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL.
IF YOU FLIP THROUGH, YOU CAN SEE OUR LATEST PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS GIVES YOU A BREAKDOWN OF WHO'S INVOLVED IN OUR FAMILY, WHAT STRESSORS THE FAMILY HAS.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT, UM, 80%, 84% OF OUR FAMILIES THAT ARE BEING CURRENTLY BEING SERVED, UM, HAVE ONE OR MORE STRESSORS, ALSO KNOWN AS RISK FACTORS.
UM, THOSE RISK FACTORS OR STRESSORS CAN BE A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, WHETHER IT'S SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL, SOC UH, SOCIAL SERVICES THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN, UM, EDUCATION LEVEL OF THE MOTHER OF THE FATHER, AND THEN, UH, ANY OTHER THING, OTHER FACTORS THAT MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO A CHILD'S OVERGROW.
OVERALL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
IN THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR, WE SERVED 124 FAMILIES AND 168 CHILDREN.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE POPULATIONS, UM, ETHNICITIES THAT WERE SERVED.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF HOW LONG A FAMILY HAS STAYED ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAM.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO CATCH OUR FAMILIES EARLY WHEN THEY ARE, UM, AT BIRTH OR EVEN PRENATALLY, AND THEN KEEP THE FAMILY ENROLLED OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS UNTIL THE CHILD ENTERS KINDERGARTEN.
[01:10:01]
STAY IN THE PROGRAM LONGER THAN OTHERS, BUT ULTIMATELY THE GOAL IS TO, UM, KEEP OUR FAMILIES ENROLLED AND THEN WHEN THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN, TRANSITION THEM TO ANOTHER PARENTING PROGRAM OR ANOTHER COMMUNITY AGENCY.I MET WITH, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY COZY, SO HUMAN SERVICES, UH, DEPARTMENT LAST WEEK ABOUT CONTINUING THAT SERVICE OR THAT TRANSITION OF SERVICES OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
SO WE HAVE RECENTLY COMBINED THE COZY PROCESS WITH THE UNIVERSAL STAFFING PROCESS, UH, BOTH, UM, PROGRAMS OR PROCESSES, STAFF, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT DUPLICATING OUR RESOURCES, WE'RE LEVERAGING OUR RESOURCES.
SO, UM, AT THESE TABLES, WHEN WE GO BIWEEKLY, WE STAFF THE FAMILY.
WE THEN ENCOURAGE, UM, AGENCIES AT THE TABLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO BEST SERVE THIS FAMILY.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM IS THE BEST, UM, STARTING POINT FOR A FAMILY BECAUSE THERE'S CHILDREN IN THEIR BIRTH TO FIVE, OR MOM NEEDS A GED OR A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENT, UH, PROGRAM OR FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM, THEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE THE MAIN CASE MANAGER.
IF MOM IS ALSO IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, MENTAL HEALTH IS ALSO COASTAL MENTAL HEALTH IS SITTING AT THE TABLE.
IF HEAD START OR EARLY HEAD START IS NEEDED, THEY'RE SITTING AT THE TABLE AND THEY GET RECOMMENDATION TO ENROLL THE FAMILY IN THEIR PROGRAM AS WELL.
WE THEN BEGIN CO-CASE MANAGING THE FAMILY WHERE ALL AGENCIES ARE.
THEN PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO THOSE FAMILIES.
ALRIGHT, MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS, IS ONCE THEY TURN FIVE, THEY THEN TRANSITION TO THE COZY TABLE AND THEN BEGIN THOSE SERVICES SO THAT THE SERVICES CONTINUE ALL THE WAY THROUGH 12TH GRADE OR HOWEVER LONG IT'S NEEDED.
OVER THE COURSE OF LAST YEAR, WE MADE A TOTAL OF, OF OVER 1500 PERSONAL HOME VISITS.
THESE VISITS ARE TAKEN, ARE MADE DIRECTLY IN THE HOME.
SO WE ARE SENDING PARENT EDUCATORS TO THE HOME TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKE THAT HOMESCHOOL CONNECTION EVEN MORE POWERFUL.
YOU CAN SEE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS ARE TAKEN, HEALTH SCREENINGS ARE ALSO, WE KNOW THAT BASIC NEEDS HAVE TO BE MET PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT IN KINDERGARTEN AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN GOALS ARE DOCUMENTED FOR EVERY FAMILY.
SO EVERY FAMILY HAS ONGOING GOALS THAT THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS, WHETHER IT'S MOM GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE, UM, THE, UM, THE POWER BILL IS PAID, WHETHER IT MIGHT BE, UM, MOM GETTING A JOB AND US GETTING US HELPING MOM GET CONNECTED TO A JOB.
ALL OF THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY OUR PARENT EDUCATORS.
AGAIN, WITH THE FOCUS OF SCHOOL READINESS AS BEING THE KEY.
IF YOU FLIP THROUGH YOUR PACKET, YOU'LL SEE THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TRAVELING PRESCHOOL BUS.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE, UM, AGAIN FOR WE ALMOST CLOSE TO 30 YEARS.
UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO NOW TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE TRAVELING PRESCHOOL BUS IS GETTING UPGRADED.
UM, IN JUNE, WE WILL HAVE A BRAND NEW BUS.
UM, WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING IT OUTFITTED RIGHT NOW.
ONE THING THAT WE ADDED A FEW YEARS AGO IS THE TRAVELING PRESCHOOL BUS TO HAVE ITS OWN DEDICATED STAFF.
SO IT HAS A DEDICATED PRESCHOOL TEACHER AND AN A PARAPRO OR AN INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT ON THE BUS.
THIS HAS ALLOWED THE BUS TO GO OUT MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK VERSUS JUST ONE OR TWO TIMES A WEEK.
SO THE BUS IS ON THE ROAD NOW AT LEAST FOUR TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK WITH ONE DAY COMING BACK TO RESTOCK AND GET EVERYTHING WRITTEN BACK READY TO GO.
UH, THE BUS HAS A LOT OF MILES.
IT HAS BEEN, IT IS ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
SO WE GO AND VISIT APARTMENT COMPLEXES, UM, GROCERY STORES, LITERALLY WHEREVER THE, THEY WILL LET US PARK THE BUS.
UM, WE WILL, WE WILL FIND THE CHILDREN AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET THEM CONNECTED TO RESOURCES.
SO WHETHER WE'RE CONNECTING THEM DIRECTLY TO A PRIVATE CHILDCARE, A HEAD START PROGRAM, A PRE-K KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM HERE AT, AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND THEN WE'RE A ONE STOP SHOP.
SO IF THE PARENTS OR THE CHILDREN NEED MEDICAID FOOD STAMPS OR WIC SERVICES, WE HAVE THOSE APPLICATIONS RIGHT THERE TO SIGN THOSE FAMILIES UP AND GET THEM CONNECTED.
DURING THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR, UH, THE BUS SERVED OVER 1400 CHILDREN AND, UM, A A LITTLE OVER ALMOST, UH, 1300 FAMILIES.
MOST OF THESE FAMILIES WERE THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER BEEN CONNECTED.
SO WE TRACK HOW MANY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN CONNECTED MORE THAN ONCE, OR ARE FREQUENT FLYERS, BUT A MAJORITY OF THEM ARE FIRST TIME VISITORS TO THE BUS.
YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT 54% OF OUR CHILDREN ARE BIRTH TO TWO YEAR OLDS.
AND THEN 61% OF OUR CHILDREN ARE THREE TO FIVE YEAR OLDS.
[01:15:01]
TOTAL OF 140 VISITS LAST YEAR TO DIFFERENT, UM, AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY.AND THEN WE ENSURE THAT YOU'RE ALSO COMPLETING THOSE REFERRALS.
SO IF WE'RE GIVING YOU A REFERRAL TO AND HELPING YOU FIND A PEDIATRICIAN IN THE COMMUNITY, OR WE'RE REFERRING YOU OUT TO, UH, MEDICAID OR WIC OR FOOD STAMPS, WE FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S COMPLETED AND SERVICES ARE PUT IN PLACE.
EVERY FAMILY ON THE BUS RECEIVES A READINESS PACKET.
THEY, UM, RECEIVE SOMETHING ON THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S ALL ALIGNED TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA PROFILE OF THE READY KINDERGARTNER.
UM, AND SO THEY RECEIVE THOSE, WHETHER IT IS, UM, PUPPET PLAY WHERE WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO SOCIALIZE WITH PUPPETS AND READ WITH PUPPETS.
WE MIGHT HAVE A SCISSOR ACTIVITY OR WE MIGHT HAVE, UM, ACCOUNTING ACTIVITY THAT'S GIVEN TO EACH FAMILY ON THE BUS.
UM, THE FLYER FOR THE BUS, IT'S ADVERTISED EVERY MONTH ON FACEBOOK AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT ALSO GET RECEIVE AN EMAIL, UH, DIRECTLY FROM US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR THAT.
IF YOU FLIP OVER TO THE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT CHART AS WELL AS THE FINE MOTOR CHART, UM, WHAT I HAVE FOUND, A LOT OF OUR RESOURCES THAT WE GIVE TO FAMILIES ARE DEVELOPED IN-HOUSE, UM, USUALLY TO SERVE A NEED THAT HAVE, WE HAVE FOUND IN THE OLDER GRADE LEVELS.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT CHART WAS CREATED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR THE GROWING NEED OF CHILDREN COMING TO US WITHOUT THE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY HAVE.
SO THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT, UM, PARENTS CAN HAND, UM, HANG ON THE REFRIGERATOR AND QUICKLY SEE WHERE THEIR CHILD IS WITH THEIR SPEECH AND LANGUAGE.
FINE MOTOR WAS JUST CREATED POST, UM, THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE WE SAW A GROWING NEED OF CHILDREN COMING TO US WITHOUT THE FINE MOTOR SKILLS THEY NEEDED PRIOR TO KINDERGARTEN.
A LOT OF THAT WAS LACK OF EXPOSURE.
OUR CHILDREN'S DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME DID NOT GET ACCESS TO PLAY-DOH SCISSORS, THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT PARENTS DON'T ALWAYS WANNA PUT OUT BECAUSE WE WRITE ON THE WALLS AND THE PLAY-DOH GETS SMOOSHED INTO THE CARPET AND EVERY CHILD CUTS THEIR HAIR WHEN THEY GET THEIR FIRST PAIR OF SCISSORS.
SO WE CREATED THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO HAVE, AGAIN, A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THOSE SKILLS THEY NEED TO HAVE BEFORE, UM, KINDERGARTEN.
WE ALSO ADDED IN RECENTLY POST PANDEMIC, UM, BEYOND SCREEN TIME FOR CHILDREN.
AGAIN, WE SAW A GROWING NUMBER OF CHILDREN COMING TO US THAT KNEW HOW TO USE THAT IPAD OR DEVICE A LITTLE TOO WELL.
AND SO WE HAD TO QUICKLY REMIND PARENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AM AMERICA, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, UH, DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY SCREEN TIME FROM BIRTH TO TWO AND REALLY MOVE THAT INTO THREE.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT, UH, THREE AND FIVE YEAR OLDS, NO MORE THAN AN HOUR A DAY.
WE ARE SEEING A VERY BIG INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING TO US WITH WAY TOO MANY IPAD SKILLS AND NOT ENOUGH OF THOSE, UM, PRACTICAL SKILLS THEY NEED TO TO USE IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND THEN YOU HEARD ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HUMAN SERVICE ALLIANCE WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY, BUT, UH, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION IS STILL PLAYS A VERY BIG ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS COALITION WAS ONE OF THE FIRST COALITIONS THAT TOGETHER FOR BEAUFORT CREATED BACK IN 1999 AND 19 19 8 99.
WE HAVE MERGED, UM, AS THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION WITH JASPER COUNTY AS WELL NOW CREATED THE LOW COUNTRY EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION.
UM, THIS COALITION WORKS TOGETHER TO SOLVE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROBLEMS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
ONE OF OUR NEWEST INITIATIVES, UM, IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD YET, IS CALLED THE BASICS.
IT IS A, UM, INITIATIVE FOR WHOLE COMMUNITIES TACKLING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, STARTING AT BIRTH.
UM, UNITED WAY IS A BIG PLAYER IN THIS PROGRAM AS WELL, BUT WE ARE REALLY WORKING WITH FAMILIES.
FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE A TEXT MESSAGE ON A DAILY, WEEKLY, HOWEVER, UM, HOW OFTEN OF THEIR PARENTS WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE TEXT MESSAGE.
BUT THE TEXT MESSAGE SENDS THEM DIRECT INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT STARTING AT BIRTH.
WE'RE WORKING WITH PEDIATRICIANS TO GET ON BOARD WITH THIS, UM, LOCAL CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, OUR HOME VISITATION PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT, AGAIN, BUILDING THE SAME BASIC FOUNDATION THAT WE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND.
YOU SEE, UH, ANOTHER PARENT RESOURCE, UM, THAT'S GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BASICS.
[01:20:09]
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.UM, THIS AGAIN, ANY, ANY PROGRAM THAT WE DO IN THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD, WHETHER IT'S FROM DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS OR DIRECT PARENT SUPPORT, UM, HAS A CLOSE CONNECTION WITH THAT ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN CLOSING THAT ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
ALRIGHT, I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, BUT DR. RODRIGUEZ, YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANNA SAY FIRST? YEAH, JUST ONE FINAL THOUGHT FROM THE, UH, CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH, WITH A COUPLE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, ONE OF THE REQUESTS WAS ARE THERE ANY FLYERS OR ANY HANDOUTS THAT COULD BE, UH, ALSO HANDED OUT AT A CURRICULUM NIGHT OR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR WHEN PARENTS COME TO SCHOOLS? AND SO, UH, YOU SEE SOME ITEMS IN HERE THAT ARE PERTINENT TO THAT QUESTION THAT, UM, THAT ARE EITHER ALREADY HANDED OUT IN, IN SCHOOLS, UH, OR IF NOT ITEMS THAT WE CAN, UH, UH, PROVIDE AT THOSE MEETINGS.
MR. DALLAS, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING? YES, SIR.
UH, I'D LIKE TO TAG ON TO WHAT, UH, SUPERINTENDENT RODRIGUEZ IS SAYING.
WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE BOARD, I KNEW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THE INNARDS OF ACADEMIA AND HOW YOU IMPART KNOWLEDGE.
I, I JUST THOUGHT IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
UH, AND SINCE THEN, THE TWO YEARS I HAVE LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT BIRTH TO FIVE IS, AND I HAVE BEEN PREACHING THAT WITHIN THE, IN, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, ANYBODY WHO WILL STAND AND LISTEN AND DOESN'T TAKE A STEP BEFORE I FINISH.
BUT THE THING IS, IS THAT IT IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND TOO FEW PEOPLE KNOW IT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I, I WOULD QUERY, AND I KNOW DR. RODRIGUEZ HAS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS, IS TAKING THIS INTO THE COMMUNITY AS YOU'VE DONE WITH OTHER PROGRAMS, THE COMMUNITY REPORT, PEOPLE ARE SO BLOWN AWAY TO SAY THAT YOU ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING.
AND THEN WE CAN HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT AS A SOCIETAL INSTITUTION, HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS.
'CAUSE VERY FEW OTHER ENTITIES ARE DOING THIS.
AND IT'S JUST A MATTER, WE GOT A SUPERB PRODUCT.
HOW DO WE SORT OF ILLUMINATE IT? IT'S LIKE HAVING THEM ON A LEASE.
IF ANYBODY'S EVER SEEN THAT IN A DARK ROOM, I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT PAINTING BOOK.
NO ONE REALLY KNOWS IF, IF YOU DON'T SORT OF PUBLICIZE AND PUBLICIZING IT AS YOU'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.
SO I'M NOT CRITICIZING, BUT ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO.
SO I HOST A, UM, SEGMENT ON W-H-H-I-T-V.
BE GLAD TO USE THIS AT THE TAPING ON NEXT TUESDAY.
OTHER COMMENTS? BOARD MEMBERS? YES, SIR.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ANYBODY KNOWS THIS, BUT I HAVE A GRANDSON.
HE'S THE CUTEST AND I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THIS, LIKE LITTLE PEOPLE, SO I'M DEFINITELY GONNA GIVE THIS TO MY DAUGHTER 'CAUSE SHE'S ALWAYS ASKING AND I'LL THROW ON A VIDEO FOR HIM REAL QUICK.
YEAH, I WON'T DO THAT NEXT WEEKEND.
OH, UH, IN YOUR PRESENTATION YOU STATED THAT Y'ALL HAD A, UH, ABOUT 1500 PER UH, 1500 PERSONAL VISITS.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO ON A PERSONAL VISIT, UM, WE HAVE A EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM THAT THE PARENT EDUCATORS PLAN A ACTUAL LESSON PLAN ACTIVITY FOR THE FAMILY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO A, UM, A LESSON PLAN.
IT'S, UH, TALKS ABOUT FAMILY WELLBEING, UH, PARENT CHILD INTERACTION, UM, OVERALL GOALS, UH, FOR THE FAMILY.
SO AT EVERY SINGLE VISIT WE GO OVER ALL THE PARENT, THE FAMILY'S NEEDS, UH, THE CHILDREN'S NEEDS.
WE HAVE A INTERACTIVE PARENTING, UM, ACTIVITY FOR THEM.
AND THIS IS A INTERACTIVE PIECE.
SO THE PARENT EDUCATOR MODELS THE ACTIVITY OR THE, UM, THE LESSON THAT IS BEING, UM, DONE.
THEN THE PARENT, IT'S THE PARENT'S TURN.
UM, AND SO WE TURN THAT OVER TO THE PARENT AND WE BECOME KIND OF LIKE A WHISPER COACH AT THAT POINT WHERE WE ARE HELPING THE PARENT AND GUIDING THE PARENT, UM, IN ORDER TO INTERACT WITH THEIR CHILD AND SHOW THEM WHAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED.
WE THEN LEAVE THE ACTIVITY IN THE HOME AND THE PARENT AND CHILD ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO THAT ACTIVITY SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS OR WEEKS.
EACH FAMILY IS ASSESSED TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF VISITS THEY GET EACH MONTH.
SO, UH, THOSE WITH HIGHER STRESSORS RECEIVE MORE VISITS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.
UM, THOSE WITH LESS STRESSORS MAY RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF TWO HOME VISITS A MONTH.
AND FOR THE PUBLIC, THE VISITS ARE DONE BY DISTRICT STAFF.
WHO'S THAT? WHO DOES, WHO DOES, WHO DOES THESE VISITS? THEY ARE DONE BY OUR DISTRICT PARENT EDUCATORS.
SO OUR PARENT EDUCATORS ARE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH OUR DISTRICT.
THEY WORK 260 DAY ON THE 260 DAY CALENDAR.
WE DON'T STOP BECAUSE IT'S SUMMERTIME.
UM, OUR CHILDREN STILL NEED TO BE SERVED.
SO THOSE, THOSE ARE TWO 60 DAY EMPLOYEES.
AND, UM, SOME OF THE STUFF I IS, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NEW
[01:25:01]
OR NOT, BUT SOME OF THIS, I I WILL SAY, UM, I PRAY PRETTY CLOSE ATTENTION.UM, SOME OF THE STUFF I, I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER COLLEAGUES I DID NOT KNOW.
AND, UM, BUT, BUT I AM VERY FAMILIAR.
I HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE, UH, THE, THAT TRAVELS EV EVERYONE, EVERYONE LIKES TO BUS.
AND IT IS NO WONDER WHY OUR BUS HAVE GOTTEN THOSE PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL ON THE BUSES HAVE GOTTEN AWARDS BECAUSE, UM, THOSE LADIES VERY, THEY SPEAK VERY, UH,
SO THEY DEFINITELY LET THAT THE, UH, OLD ADAGE THAT WE WOULD SAY IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, LET THE WORK I'VE DONE SPEAK FOR ME.
SO, UH, THAT, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.
BUT YEAH, SOME, SOME OF THESE, UH, PROGRAMS ARE, ARE DEFINITELY NEED, NEED TO KNOW.
AND ACTUALLY, I WAS JUST AT A MEETING RECENTLY AND, UH, AND, AND, AND SOME OF THIS, UH, SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS CAME UP AND I, FOR SURE, I I ONE TOO, UH, WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS.
AND, UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS, WELL, IN THE, IN THE MIDST OF, I THINK IT WAS SOMEONE WAS TALKING ABOUT FIRST STEP AND I GUESS THEM OFFERING MAYBE SOME OF, SOME, SOME SERVICES SIMILAR.
AND IT WAS, AND THEN THEY WOULD ASK, WELL, HOW, WELL WHO, WHO WOULD OFFER SOME OF THESE SERVICES? AND ALSO WHO WOULD FIRST HAVE BEEN IN IN FAVOR OF IT? AND IT MAKES, MAKES ME, UH, MAKES ME THINK IN TERMS OF IT.
UH, WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE RE RECRUITING TOOL.
BECAUSE IF, IF, IF WE ARE REALLY SEEING ALL THESE STUDENTS AND WE'RE ENGAGING ALL THESE STUDENTS RIGHT NOW, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BRING ALL THESE STUDENTS IN-HOUSE BECAUSE THEY ARE, THEY ARE OUR FUTURE STUDENTS.
AND SO IF, IF WE CAN PUT OUR HANDS ON 'EM, THEN THERE'S NO REASON WHY NO OTHER SCHOOL, WHY NO OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR HANDS ON THESE STUDENTS.
SO, SUCH, JUST, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I, I WANNA, I WANNA BRING OUT TOO.
UH, AND I WAS KIND OF SHOCKED TO KIND KIND OF HEAR THAT, BECAUSE THAT MADE ME THINK WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT FIRST, I'M LIKE, FIRST STEP IS NOT REALLY COMP, BUT OKAY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S INTERESTING.
SO THAT'S JUST PROOF OF THOUGHT.
UM, THAT PRESENTATION WAS A, WAS AWESOME.
AND I'M A STICK ALSO FOR, UM, GETTING OUR, OUR LITTLE ONES STARTING EARLY IN EDUCATION.
BECAUSE EVEN WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, UM, WHEN I STARTED SCHOOL IN NEW YORK, MY MOM TAUGHT ME HOW TO READ AND WRITE MY NAME BEFORE I GOT TO SCHOOL.
SO I KNOW THIS IS KEY AND I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE I NEED TO REALLY, UM, PUT THIS OUT IN MY DISTRICT AND DISTRICT ONE, AND WE BRANCH TRUST.
UM, WE NEED TO GET YOU OUT IN THE COMMUNITY MORE.
I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY,
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE RETIRED FOLKS LIKE ME WHO DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING ON, BUT YET VOTE FOR US AND VOTE FOR REFERENDUMS AND SO ON.
AND TO TELL THEM HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR ACHIEVEMENT, UH, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT STARTS AT BIRTH.
AND THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU'VE GOT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO GET HER OUT THERE MORE.
UM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER ON THIS TOPIC? UH, DR. RODRIGUEZ? NO.
OTHER THAN ASHLEY, YOU'VE GOT SOME HOMEWORK NOW.
THE NEXT ITEM ON, ON THE AGENDA IS UNDER FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND, UH, THE BOARD ASKED FOR AN UPDATE ON, UH, LOCAL TAX REVENUE.
AND SO MS. PHILLIPS IS HERE FROM OUR FINANCE TEAM, UH, TO PROVIDE, UH, THAT, THAT UPDATE FOR YOU.
UM, IN FRONT OF YOU, IF YOU'LL FLIP TO THE SECOND SLIDE, YOU HAVE THE THREE YEAR COMPARISON OF OUR LOCAL TAX REVENUE UPDATE.
UH, YOU'LL SEE THE OPERATIONS FOR 20 23, 20 24, AND 2025.
WE ARE AT 201.3 MILLION AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR.
THAT'S THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY.
UM, THE OTHER YEARS, WE WERE HIGHER COLLECTED BY THIS POINT, BUT THERE WERE OTHER FACTORS IN PLAY FOR 2023.
WE HAD SOME SERIOUS INFLATION GOING ON FOR 2024, WE HAD REASSESSMENT.
AGAIN, THOSE SAME THINGS WERE IN PLAY.
THE IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY TO ALL THIS IS THAT WE ARE RUNNING RIGHT WITH PROJECTIONS.
UM, AND IN FACT, IF YOU TURN TO THE LAST SLIDE FOR BOTH OPERATIONS AND DEBT, WE ARE
[01:30:01]
WITHIN $1 MILLION OF THE PROJECTED.SO FOR THE BUDGET TO BE THAT CLOSE AT THIS POINT IS, IS REALLY GREAT.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FOR THE BOARD? IT'S GOOD NEWS.
DR. RODRIGUEZ, UH, WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON CELL PHONE, UH, BAN.
UM, THIS EVENING I'M PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON OUR CELL PHONE POLICY.
THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDES AN OUTLINE OF THE STEPS THAT WERE TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY.
OUR POLICY WAS DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO BOARD DIRECTIVES, RESEARCH FINDINGS, AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MANDATE REQUIRING DISTRICTS TO PROHIBIT ACCESS TO PERSONAL ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES.
WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE MANDATE.
THE POLICY ALIGNS WITH PROVISO 1.103 IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA BUDGET, WHICH TIES STATE AID TO CLASSROOMS FUNDING FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF A DISTRICT-WIDE CELL PHONE PHONE RESTRICTION.
WE LOOKED AT ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL BENEFITS, AND IN THAT RESEARCH WE SAW THAT THERE WAS IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, REDUCED BULLYING AND BETTER MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.
IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED SURVEYS TO GET STAKEHOLDER INPUT FROM PARENTS, STAFF, STUDENTS, AND PRINCIPALS.
AND THAT INDICATED A STRONG SUPPORT FOR STRUCTURED LIMITATIONS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
WE LOOKED AT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMPARED WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE POLICIES SHOWED THAT PHONES OFF AND STORED DURING CLASS RATHER THAN FULL BANS WAS THE BEST COLLECTION OF POLICIES.
OUR POLICY EXECUTION INITIALLY IMPLEMENTED THE REGULATION AT THE, THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THAT WAS BASED ON OUR INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THE, THE STATE WAS GOING TO DO.
WE HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN JANUARY OF 2025 TO FULLY COMPLY WITH THE STATE STATE REQUIREMENT, WHICH AT THAT, AT THAT POINT, WE HAD TO REMOVE THE, THE ACCESS DURING SCHOOL LUNCH FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
UM, OUR POLICY IS DETAILED IN ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION, SS 27, WHICH GUIDES CELL PHONE USE, AND THE ENFORCEMENT IS THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION, SS 18, WHICH IS THE CONSEQUENCES UNDER THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE PLAN.
WE COMMUNICATED CLEAR GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS AND SHARED THOSE WITH PARENTS, STUDENTS, STAFF, AND THE SCHOOLS STILL CONTINUE TO UTILIZE OUR SCRIPTS AND THE SIGNAGE IN THE SCHOOL DAY.
WE UPDATED OUR HANDBOOK AND DISCIPLINE UPDATES AND NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE.
WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND DISCUSS WITH ADMINISTRATION AND ENSURE THAT THERE IS CONSISTENCY AND COMPLIANCE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE TWO, YOU HAVE THE TWENTY FOUR TWENTY FIVE CELL PHONE VIOLATIONS AND THE NUMBER OF INFRACTIONS, AND IT GOES BY MONTH.
IN AUGUST, WE HAD 210 INFRACTIONS.
IN NOVEMBER, WE HAD 137 DECEMBER 79.
THEN IN JANUARY WE CAME BACK AND THAT IS WHEN WE HAD THE ADJUSTMENT TO OUR, UM, OUR POLICY WHERE WE TOOK OUT THE LUNCH USAGE FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAD 109 INFRACTIONS, AND IN FEBRUARY WE HAD 75.
SO WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 1075 INFRACTIONS THIS YEAR.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION IS LARGELY DUE TO OUR PARENT SUPPORT AND OUR STUDENT COMPLIANCE.
WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
UM, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE FOCUS ON INSTRUCTION WILL LEAD TO GREATER ACHIEVEMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
UM, YOU'LL HEAR IN THE SCHOOLS, AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE SIGNAGE, IT SAYS, CELL PHONES OFF AND YOU LEARNING IS ON.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
MR. SMITH, UM, LEMME START OFF BY SAYING, UM, I'M LOOKING AT THIS, LOOKING AT THIS, AT THESE NUMBERS MM-HMM
AND FROM JANUARY BEING THE ACTUAL CUTOFF DATE, I MEAN THE ACTUAL YEAH.
THE ACTUAL CUTOFF DATE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, UM, AND CELL PHONES.
AND FOR THE NUMBERS TO BE RIGOROUSLY LOW VERSUS AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
UM, AND, AND, AND EVEN, UH, NOVEMBER.
I, I, I'M JUST, UM, PUZZLED HOW WE WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE NUMBERS, GET THOSE NUMBERS DOWN IN, UH, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
BECAUSE MATTER OF FACT, I GOT A PHONE CALL YESTERDAY ABOUT A, UH, ABOUT A STUDENT, UM,
[01:35:01]
I GUESS RE RE UH, RECORDING.UH, YOU WERE HAVING CELL PHONE USE AND I GUESS THEY WERE PUT INTO, UH, ISS, UM, AND I, I, I'M JUST, I'M JUST, UH, I, I JUST DON'T SEE, UM, HOW THE NUMBERS COME, CAME DOWN.
UH, SO, SO QUICKLY IN TERMS OF, UH, WHEN, WHEN WE ACTUALLY JUST STARTED THE NO USE FOR JANUARY, I MEAN, IN JANUARY FOR, UH, HIGH HIGH SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL USE.
AND I HAD STUDENTS TALKING TO ME ABOUT THAT, UH, WHILE I'M AT THE GAMES AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST TELL ME HOW WE, HOW WE GOT THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.
SO THIS IS JUST BASED ON THE CELL PHONE VIOLATIONS.
ONCE A STUDENT HAS SO MANY CELL PHONE VIOLATIONS, IT MOVES TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL.
AND SO THAT COULD BE, THEY HAVE, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING SCHOOL RULES.
THEY COULD GO TO SOMETHING A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF, UM, COMPLIANCE IN THIS, IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
SO WHILE THIS IS JUST LOOKING AT THOSE CELL PHONE VIOLATIONS, THEY COULD MOVE UP IN THE LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE IF THEY'VE HAD REOCCURRING CELL PHONE ISSUES, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND SO WOULD EVERY, I SAW YOU TELLING ME THAT EVERY VIOLATION WOULD COUNT, OR JUST THAT FIRST INITIATIVE VIOLATION COUNT, WHICH, WHICH ONE COUNTS? SO OUR CELL PHONE VIOLATIONS ARE BASED ON THE FIRST THREE LEVELS.
WHEN WE GAVE OUT THAT, THAT PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE PLAN, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THERE ARE LIKE NINE LEVELS.
THERE'S EACH VIOLATION MOVES UP A LEVEL IN THE DISCIPLINE MATRIX.
SO THIS IS JUST BASED OFF THE CELL PHONE VIOLATIONS.
SO THAT'S LEVEL ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
SO A STUDENT CAN HAVE UP TO THREE OCCURRENCES OF CELL PHONE VIOLATIONS, THEN IT MOVES TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
BUT I THINK I, I, UH, LEMME SEE IF I CAN GO MM-HMM
I, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND, IT'S NOT THAT THEY STOP COUNTING AFTER THREE VIOLATIONS.
IF YOU'VE GOT FOUR VIOLATIONS, FIVE VIOLATIONS, SIX VIOLATIONS, RIGHT.
I MEAN, THOSE VIOLATIONS ARE TALLIED AND THEY, AND THEY KEEP, THEY KEEP COUNTING.
UM, SO WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT IS HOW IT RELATES TO, UH, TO THE DISCIPLINE MATRIX.
BUT NOT, NOT, NOT NECESSARILY.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T STOP COUNTING AFTER THREE.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? RIGHT.
THEY, THOSE STILL KEEP T THEY GET TALLIED.
THEY'RE JUST DEALT WITH DIS, DIS DIFFERENTLY IN TERMS OF THE DISCIPLINE MATRIX.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH, IT DOES.
AND, AND, AND WHAT, AND WHAT ARE THOSE DISTRICT, WHAT ARE THOSE DISCIPLINE MATRIX, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME, IF YOU COULD REFRESH US ON THAT, ON THOSE? WHERE ARE THEY? NO, I SAID, WHAT ARE THEY LIKE THE FIRST TIME? UM, UH, AND SCHOOL SUSPENSION, I DON'T HAVE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT FROM ELEMENTARY TO SECONDARY.
SO THERE'S A DIFFERENT MATRIX OF WHAT THE, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE FOR ELEMENTARY, AND THEN IT, IT CHANGES, ITS SECONDARY.
I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
UM, AND THEN EACH LEVEL HAS A DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCE, AND EACH TIME THERE'S A VIOLATION, THE CONSEQUENCE IS, UM, LONGER OR IT MOVES UP INTO THE, INTO THE NEXT LEVEL OF, OF WHAT WERE TO WHAT TO HAPPEN.
SO IT MIGHT BE FAILURE TO OBEY RULES.
I CAN LET SOMEONE ELSE GO AHEAD.
BUT I, I'D LOVE I SOMETHING I WANT YOU TO SAY.
I DEFINITELY HAVE A FOLLOW UP.
BUT I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE GO AS WELL.
A LOT OF TIMES IN A LARGE DISPERSED ORGANIZATION, IT IS CONSISTENT AND UNEQUIVOCAL ENFORCEMENT OF WHATEVER THE RULE IS.
SO I'M GONNA ASSIGN IT TO THAT, UH, BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN IT.
AND I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE VERY FORGIVING AND A LOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T HELP PEOPLE GET TO A BETTER PLACE.
AND, UM, FROM WHAT I HEAR, IT'S CONSISTENTLY ENFORCED.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT HAS TO BE NOTED AS A POSSIBILITY.
AND I THINK STUDENTS ARE LEARNING ALONG THE WAY.
I THINK INITIALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THERE WERE A LOT OF, UM, INITIAL ISSUES THAT WE HAD OR INFRACTIONS.
AND AS WE ARE GOING, I THINK STUDENTS ARE GETTING ADJUSTED.
AND I THINK THAT IS HELPFUL IN, IN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE NUMBERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE, UH, OR THAT HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO ASK A QUESTION OR GIVE A COMMENT? GORDON, CAN YOU, MS. GORDON? YES.
HEY, UM, FIRST I WANNA, UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
AND I KNOW WE DON'T SEE THE NUMBERS, BUT, UM, HAVING BEEN AN ADMINISTRATOR, JUST HEARING THAT THIS PARTICULAR INFRACTION IS GOING DOWN, UM, GIVE KUDOS TO THE PARENTS, THE STUDENTS, STAFF.
UM, WHEN TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TO WRITE AN INFRACTION BECAUSE SOMEONE IS ON THE CELL PHONE, THAT MEANS THEY CAN TEACH MORE.
THAT'S MORE TIME IN THE BOARDROOM.
AND WHEN YOU SPEND TIME TELLING KIDS, PUT THE CELL PHONES AWAY, THEY DON'T WANNA PUT 'EM AWAY.
AND IT BECOMES A POWER STRUGGLE, WHICH YOU'LL LOSE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT TEACHING.
[01:40:01]
HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE CAN RETURN TO SOME FORM OF GIVING TEACHERS THE POWER BACK TO TEACH AND STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE REPERCU REPERCUSSIONS FOR YOUR PHONES.IT, IT IS DEFINITELY A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOUR PHONES IN THE, THE, THE CLASSROOMS. BUT AS WE'RE FINDING OUT TOO, IT'S ALMOST, ALMOST A NECESSITY.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN.
UM, NO, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE HIGH NUMBERS IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE LIKE YOU DO IN HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT THE FACT THAT, UM, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION IS IMPLEMENTING THIS NEW POLICY.
AND LIKE THE, THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE ALSO ACQUIESCING TOO.
TEACHERS NEED TO BE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE THE POLICE.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE THE DOCTORS.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE THE PSYCHIATRIST.
BUT WHEN DO THEY GET TO TEACH? SO THIS IS HELPING BRING THOSE NUMBERS DOWN WHERE OUR TEACHERS CAN TEACH.
THEY CAN TALK ON THE PHONES LATER.
THEY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK ON THE PHONES.
BUT I'M JUST GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS INITIATIVE.
AND I KNOW IT'S HARD AND I, I KNOW THESE NUMBERS ARE GONNA FLUCTUATE 'CAUSE WE'RE JUST STARTING IT, BUT STARTING IT IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.
UH, MEOW
SO KUDOS TO THEM FOR KUDOS FOR THE STUDENTS, FOR NOT, UH, GIVING THEM SUCH A HARD TIME ABOUT IT.
MR. SMITH, YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP? YES, SIR.
UM, MY FOLLOW UP IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOU SAID.
UM, SO IS, SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE IN TERMS OF THE DISCIPLINE PROCESS, WHAT IS THAT? BECAUSE, BECAUSE I, I DO HAVE A CONCERN THAT, UH, WHAT, WHAT'S THE DISCIPLINE PROCESS? UH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO WE HAVE A DISCIPLINE MATRIX FOR EVERY INFRACTION.
IT, IT COULD BE AT, AT THEY, THE PRINCIPAL TAKES THE PHONE AND THE PARENT HAS TO COME PICK UP THE SECOND.
AND I, I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY FOR GRADE LEVEL, IT COULD BE THAT AFTER THAT, THERE'S, IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION OUTTA SCHOOL SUSPENSION CAN BE GIVEN AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF VIOLATIONS.
AT THAT POINT, AT LEVEL FOUR, I BELIEVE IT MOVES TO, UM, REFUSAL TO OBEY, AND THEN THERE'S DIFFERENT INFRACTIONS, AND IT CAN, IT CONTINUES AND IT PROGRESSES AS THE MATRIX GOES UP.
WELL, RIGHT THERE IS MY, IS MY PROBLEM, BECAUSE FOR ME, I'M LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY AND I'M LOOKING FOR A CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE DISTRICT THAT IF THIS HAPPENED AT
AND I AND, AND, AND, AND IN TERM, IN TERMS OF THAT, N NO, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING, WELL, WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT IF, IF, IF, IF THE FIRST INFRACTION IS THAT WE TAKE THE PHONE FROM THE STUDENT AND WE GIVE 'EM A WARNING, THEN THAT'S DIFFERENT THEN.
AND THE SECOND INFRACTION, THEY MAY GET ISS.
BUT THE, THE, THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE PARENTS, WHEN THE PARENTS ARE, ARE SAYING, HEY, LOOK HERE, WHY IS IT DIFFERENT FROM MY SON'S SCHOOLS TO MY NEPHEW'S SCHOOL? IF THERE IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? AND TO ME, I WOULD SAY, NO, I BELIEVE THAT, THAT, THAT THERE'S A MATRIX.
AND SO THAT THE MATRIX WILL TELL THAT THE, THE INFRACTIONS ARE, ARE THE SAME.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M SPECIFICALLY SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING IS THAT THE MATRIX ARE NOT THE SAME.
THE MATRIX, THE MATRIX ARE THE SAME.
BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE MATRIX IS DIFFERENT THAN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IN TERMS OF THE STEPS ON THE DISCIPLINE.
BUT ALL ELEMENTARIES ARE THE SAME, BUT ALL ELEMENTARIES ARE THE SAME.
AND ALL HIGH SCHOOL ALL ARE THE SAME MATRIX IN ALL HIGH SCHOOLS.
IN ALL HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE THE SAME MATRIX.
BUT WHEN I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, I MEAN, WHEN I SAY THIS, I'M SAYING THIS BECAUSE WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, WHEN PEOPLE, PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE BOUGHT THESE THINGS TO ME, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE MATRIX FROM MY NEPHEW TO MY, TO MY, TO MY CHILD IN THE, IN THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL OR SOMETHING, OR, OR IN OR IN THE SAME DISTRICT HAD BEEN THE SAME.
AND SO THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE SAY, I, I'VE, I, I, I'M, I, I, I'M, I'M BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT SAYING IS THAT I, IF WE COULD JUST CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR MATRIX ARE THE SAME ACROSS THE DISTRICT FOR EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE TO BE MORE UNIFORM.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR.
JUST TO BE SIMPLE, THE, THE MATRIX ARE THE SAME FOR ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THE MATRIX IS THE SAME FOR ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
AND THE MATRIX IS THE SAME FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOLS.
[01:45:01]
ONE MATRIX FOR EACH OF THOSE LEVELS, RIGHT? MM-HMMAND THEN THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST WENT OVER THIS.
THAT'S, THIS IS WHAT I REMEMBER WHAT WAS GOING OVER.
AND I, AND I REMEMBER ME BRINGING THIS UP FORWARD.
AND THEN LIKE, I, AND LIKE I SAID, THE REASON WHY I BROUGHT IT FORWARD AGAIN IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN, I'VE GOTTEN CALLS THAT IT SAID THAT THAT'S, THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONSISTENT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY AS A BOARD MEMBER, I'M BRINGING IT FORWARD NOW.
SO I, I'M LEAVING IT UP TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STAFF HOW THEY WANT, HOW THEY WANNA ADDRESS THAT.
SO, MR. SMITH, THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD SAY TO THAT IS IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STU TWO STUDENTS, IT MAY BE THAT THEY'RE ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF WHERE THEY ARE IN THE MATRIX.
LIKE, IF IT'S A STUDENT'S THIRD TIME OF HAVING A VIOLATION, AND IT'S ANOTHER STUDENT'S EIGHTH TIME OF HAVING A VIOLATION, WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES MIGHT BE DIFFERENT BASED ON THAT.
BUT WE'RE ALL FOLLOWING IT'S TRUE, THE SAME CONTINUUM OF A MATRIX, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO I, I'M THOROUGH ENOUGH AND I'VE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT LONG ENOUGH OKAY.
SO THEREFORE I'M VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT TALKING TO MY PARENTS.
AND TELLING 'EM, LOOK, THERE MAY BE, IT MAY BE A REASON WHY, BUT WHEN THEY BREAK THINGS DOWN AND THEY TOLD ME, LOOK HERE, THIS IS THE FIRST THEM BOTH TIME, AND THIS IS WHAT THIS ONE HAS GOT.
THEN THAT BRINGS CONCERN TO ME.
SO I'M, I'M NOT GONNA BRING IT TO YOU, BUT I DON'T, AND I HAVEN'T QUESTIONED THEM.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
BUT NO, UH, MR. NAY, BECAUSE IT'S IN THE, IT'S IN THE PARENT HANDBOOK.
IT'S IN THE STUDENT PARENT HANDBOOK.
IT, THE MATRIC AND EVERYTHING IS IN THE STUDENT PARENT HANDBOOK.
BUT THAT'S, OH, BUT YOU, THE MR. NAY, UH, IS THERE A, ANY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE, THE VIOLATIONS THAT GO UNREPORTED? THE NUMBERS THAT ARE POSTED? UH, IS THIS FOR OUR ENTIRE STUDENT BODY OR JUST HIGH SCHOOLS? THIS IS FOR OUR ENTIRE STUDENT BODY.
IN FEBRUARY, THERE WAS ONLY 75 VIOLATIONS OUTTA 21,500 STUDENTS FOR CELL, FOR CELL PHONE VIOLATIONS.
AGAIN, THEY COULD HAVE MOVED FURTHER IN THE MATRIX, AND THAT'S NOW REFUSAL TO OBEY.
AND THAT MIGHT BE CODED IN THE MATRIX UNDER A DIFFERENT, OKAY.
THE OTHER THING, THE OTHER THING YOU, YOU CAN'T TELL FROM THESE NUMBERS, RIGHT, IS I MIGHT SAY, I KNOW YOU GOT A CELL PHONE POLICY, THAT'S GREAT THAT YOU GOT A CELL PHONE POLICY, BUT I'M NOT GONNA FOLLOW IT.
RIGHT? SO THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN 1075 STUDENTS.
THAT COULD MEAN 800 STUDENTS, SOME OF THEM SEVERAL TIMES.
THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE, IS BECAUSE, UM, WHEN YOU, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR SCHOOLS OR HAS HAPPENED, AND THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS ROLLED OUT, WAS A SCRIPT THAT WAS READ EVERY SINGLE DAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY.
AND AT THE BEGINNING IT WAS READ AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SINGLE CLASS, AND IT WENT ON FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UM, BUT I, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SPOKE WITH STUDENTS ABOUT THIS, WHEN I DO STUDENT ADVISORIES AND I SPEAK WITH KIDS AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED THEM, AND I WAS ASKING THEM THIS LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD FROM KIDS WAS, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA ASK FOR A CELL PHONE BAN.
BUT IF THERE WAS A CELL PHONE BAN, IT MIGHT BE A WELCOME RELIEF.
SO I, I THINK TO A GREAT EXTENT, YOU KNOW, UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF KUDOS FOR OUR KIDS IN TERMS OF, OF THEIR PERSONAL COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
NOW, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA, I'M, I'M, I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU THAT SOMETHING ISN'T MISSED.
SOMETHING MIGHT'VE BEEN MISSED, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT IN TERMS OF, UM, WHAT, WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING, I TEND TO SEE PRETTY GOOD COMPLIANCE.
WHENEVER I'M IN SCHOOLS AND WALKING AROUND, I DON'T SEE, I DON'T SEE THE CELL PHONES AS MUCH.
HARDLY EVER SEE HIS CELL PHONE.
OKAY, LET'S, UH, LET'S MOVE ON.
[Board Business Action ]
IS BOARD BUSINESS ACTION.JUST GO AHEAD AND SAY, MS. GORDON, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, MS. GORDON? I THINK HER HAND IS JUST STILL UP.
LET'S, LET'S GO AHEAD TO THE, UH, DONATION.
FIRST DONATION IS TO MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, UH, BOOSTER CLUB
[01:50:01]
THAT PROVIDED, UH, A MONETARY VALUE OF $16,965.THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR A SOFTBALL, BATTING CAGE STORAGE AREA, AND A ROOF COVERING THE UPDATED CAGE.
AND THE RECIPIENT, OF COURSE, IS THE MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM.
UH, INSTALLATION COSTS ARE INCLUDED AND, UH, THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FUND WILL BE SET UP BY THE BOOSTERS TO COVER ANY ISSUES, UH, FOR FURTHER MAINTENANCE.
SECOND, UH, OH, I HAVE A MOTION.
GO AHEAD, AHEAD, MAKE A MOTION, AND THEN I THINK MR. SMITH WOULD LIKE TO SECOND.
I MOVE THAT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ACCEPT THE DONATION FROM MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,965 TO THE MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PROGRAM FOR A SOFTBALL BATTING CAGE STORAGE AREA, AND ROOF COVERING UPDATED CAGE.
MR. SMITH, DO YOU WANT TO SECOND? OH, YES, I SECOND IT.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, TIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THE NEXT ITEM, UH, THE INDIVIDUAL MAKING THE DONATION IS BUFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, AND IT IS A DONATION OF CASH ADS AND SUPPLIES.
VAL, APPROXIMATE VALUE $25,000, UH, HOW THIS GIFT WILL BE USED.
$17,500 IN CASH, $7,500 IN ADS AND SUPPLIES AS OUTLINED IN A SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT.
SO THERE IS A SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS, UH, DONATION IS FOR.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE DONATION.
THAT MOTION MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED.
ANY DISCUSSION, MR. NA? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
UM, AND WHAT DEPARTMENT, UH, MANAGES THESE, UH, THE SPONSORSHIPS? UM, I MEAN, I MEAN, AS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES LIKES TO SAY IT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
THIS PARTICULAR, UM, DONATION.
IT WAS COMMUNICATIONS AND FINANCE.
SO, I MEAN, THERE'S SOMEBODY DEDICATED IN THE OFFICES THAT MANAGES THE, THE, THE TERMS OF THE SPONSORSHIP.
SO, KRISTEN, UH, IN MY KRISTEN CASPER IN MY OFFICE, UM, SHE IS WORKING ON BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP THINGS.
HOWEVER, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH FINANCE ON THIS, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, AND THEN OFF LEGAL, MS. CARTILAGE IS ALSO INVOLVED IN REVIEWING THE CONTRACT.
UH, AT THE STATE OF THE COMMUNITY PRESENTATION PUT ON BY BEAUFORT REGIONAL CHAMBER LAST FRIDAY, UM, THIS WAS MENTIONED BY DOC, BY MR. UM, BAXLEY, ACTUALLY.
AND VERY PROUDLY SO THAT, THAT REALLY RESONATES.
SO IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THAT THE, HE TOO FELT LIKE THIS WAS SOMETHING VERY BENEFICIAL FOR HIS ORGANIZATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Consent Agenda ]
IS NEXT.DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MOVE.
WE ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Future Agenda Topics ]
IS FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS.ANYBODY HAVE FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS? MR. CHAIR, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM.
UM, I THINK I BROUGHT IT UP IN JANUARY.
MAY, MAY HAVE BEEN DECEMBER, UM, ABOUT AN OVERVIEW FROM OUR, UM, SAFETY EXPERT, MS. HENDERSON, IF SHE COULD GIVE US A 10 MINUTE OR SO OVERVIEW ON, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A DISTRICT IN SAFETY FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND FOR OUR KIDS AND STAFF.
THAT'S A BIG KNOWLEDGE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, SO, UH, WE'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
[Announcements ]
ANNOUNCEMENTS.[01:55:01]
MADAM SECRETARY HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT.OH, CAN I PUT MY HAT ON? UM, THIS WEEKEND WE HAD A, UH, OUR SECOND, UH, DEBATE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A POINT, WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, CREATING RELATIONSHIPS.
AND I, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAD BOTH THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, MS. HOWARD AND, UH, ANN MARIE TABER.
WE HAD THE MAYOR OF HARDY V HARRY WILLIAMS. WE HAD THE MAYOR OF BEAUFORT AND SEVERAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE HAD LEADERSHIP FROM THE, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE HAD LEADERSHIP FROM THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL.
I WAS ALSO JOINED BY MR. CARLTON DALLAS AND MR. WILL SMITH.
AND IT WAS JUST GREAT TO SEE THAT KIND OF MENTORING OF PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE, UH, MENTORING YOUNG, UH, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF THAT ENDEAVOR.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY.
[Second Public Comments ]
ITEM IS, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS.UH, MR. BIY, ARE YOU STILL HERE? HE'S NOT HERE.
UH, MR. MILLER AND YOUR TOPIC IS, UH, WEST FLORENCE CASE HISTORY ON THE BAND.
I, UH, I'M GONNA KIND OF CHANGE THE SUBJECT, BUT I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE IT THAT WAY.
UH, WEST FLORENCE BAND, I THINK YOU FOLKS, I HOPE SOME OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WEEKEND ATTENDED THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD, UH, MEMBERS, UH, ASSOCIATION, AND I THINK YOU WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE WEST FLORENCE, UH, JAZZ BAND.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO DETAIL.
I DON'T SEE A CLOCK OF A CASE, HISTORY OF THAT, HOW THAT CATCH YOUR PLUG.
HOW THAT, UH, BAND HAS EVOLVED.
BUT I'M GONNA INTERRUPT THAT AND BRING THAT SUBJECT BACK AGAIN.
AND BECAUSE TODAY WAS THE, UH, COUNTY CPA FOR BANDS CONCERT PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT, IT WAS TO GO ON INTO TOMORROW, WHICH IS BEING CANCELED.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THERE WAS A LOT OF AREA, THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED COULD BE IMPROVED, BUT, UH, I WANT TO GIVE TOTAL SUPPORT TO JOSH WALL FROM THE DISTRICT WHO HANDLED IT.
HE WAS UNDER GREAT, UH, STRESS BECAUSE OF TWO THINGS.
THERE WERE NO VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND MOST IMPORTANT IS THE ADJUDICATORS.
WERE GOING TO BE TWO, UH, GENTLEMEN OR LADIES FROM, UH, THE MARINE BAND JUDGING THESE.
AND AT 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE START OF THIS, HE GETS A PHONE CALL, JOSH GETS A PHONE CALL OR AN EMAIL SAYS THE, UH, THE MARINES HAVE A A AN ORDER HAS COME DOWN TODAY THAT THEY ARE, THE MARINE BAND IS NOT TO BE IN ANY KIND OF PUBLIC RECOGNITION, UH, IN DOING PUBLIC WORK.
SO HE WAS AN, HE DID AN OSMAN JOB OF DOING WHAT I THINK ONE PERSON DID.
AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EIGHT OR 10.
AND I APOLOGIZE THAT THERE WAS NOT MORE, UH, FROM THE MARINES AND AS WELL AS, AS VOLUNTEERS, IT, IT, BUT WE GOT THE JOB DONE.
I, I WILL RETURN THE, TO, TO THE SUBJECT OF A CASE HISTORY FOR WEST FLORENCE AT, AT SOME POINT.
[02:00:28]
WELL, DEVONTE? YES.I'M CALLING YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND YOUR TOPIC OKAY.
AND MY TOPIC IS JUST TO, UM, INVITE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO RIVERVIEW, UM, UPCOMING BUFORT TWILIGHT RUN.
I DIDN'T KNOW MY TIME STARTED.
COLONEL GEIER, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND DR. RODRIGUEZ.
UM, BEFORE I BEGIN, I ACTUALLY WANTED TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME OUTTA YOUR SCHEDULES TO VISIT OUR SCHOOL, UM, IN RECENT WEEKS.
UH, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE TRULY, WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE WARM CONVERSATIONS AND YOUR GENUINE INTEREST IN WHAT MAKES RIVERVIEW SO SPECIAL TO US.
UM, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO COME OUT YET, PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE COME OUT AND VISIT US.
UM, TONIGHT, I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND A PERSONAL INVITATION TO EACH OF YOU FOR OUR 15TH ANNUAL VIEW FOR A TWILIGHT RUN THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH THE 22ND.
UH, THIS IS A 5K RUN THAT, THAT IS VERY CHERISHED IN OUR RIVERVIEW COMMUNITY, AND IT WILL BRING TOGETHER OUR FAMILY, STUDENTS, STAFF, AND SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, JUST FOR A DAY OF FUN, FITNESS AND FELLOWSHIP.
SO, UM, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE RUN FOR ME, IT'S ALSO ABOUT BUILDING THOSE CONNECTIONS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE FOR EACH OF YOU TO JOIN, EXCUSE ME.
ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU, UH, TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT DURING THE EVENT TO MEET AND CONNECT WITH OUR RIVERVIEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SOME OF OUR INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SPONSORS.
IT'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SHARED VISION FOR RIVERVIEW AND, UM, HOW WE'RE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, COLLABORATIVELY TO MAKE THIS A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR EVERYONE.
SO KNOW THAT I'LL BE SENDING THAT EMAIL VERY SOON WITH MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, BUT I WANTED TO PERSONALLY, UH, JUST INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THAT.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, WHILE I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, UH, LOOK FOR AN INVITATION TO OUR FOURTH ANNUAL KALEIDOSCOPE ARTS FESTIVAL THAT'S GONNA BE TAKING PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH THE 26TH FROM FIVE 30 TO SEVEN.
UM, AND THIS IS GONNA BE A FESTIVAL THAT'S GONNA SHOWCASE THE CREATIVE TALENTS OF OUR STUDENTS THROUGH VISUAL ARTS, CREATIVE ARTS, FOREIGN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGY, AND IT WILL FEATURE PERFORMANCES, UH, BY OUR COURSE AND OUR BAND.
THE EVENT WILL ALSO FEATURE INTERACTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS AND WORKSHOPS WITH LOCAL ARTISTS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE.
SO, UM, I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU ALL TO THOSE TWO EVENTS, THE BUFORD TWILIGHT RUN AND THE KALEIDOSCOPE ARTS FESTIVAL.
UM, AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR RIVERVIEW COMMUNITY.
IF THERE HAVE NO OBJECTION, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING UNDER UNANIMOUS CONSENT.