Jul 14, 2026 Board of Education

[00:00:01]

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY.

[ Call to Order]

UH, IT IS A 5:00 PM HYBRID VIDEO CONFERENCING SESSION, AND WE'LL BE, THIS MEETING WILL BE BROADCAST BY THE COUNTY CHANNEL.

UM, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN THE MEETING, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM, BUT WE WILL GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF IN INFORMATION GATHERING, AND ONCE WE HAVE A QUORUM AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DECISIONS AND VOTING, WE WILL DO THAT, UM, IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH NEW SAFETY AND SECURITY GUIDELINES.

BAGS, BACKPACKS AND PURSES ARE PROHIBITED BY THE PUBLIC AT BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS.

REQUESTS TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA PHONE WILL BE ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY.

YOU CAN FIND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PUBLIC COMMENT FORM ON OUR WEBSITE.

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 FORUM TIME AND SHOULD BE READY TO SPEAK.

YOU MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES ON ISSUES WITHIN THE BOARD'S DOMAIN.

THE FORUM WILL BE LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES.

CITIZENS DESIRING TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON MUST FILL OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD THAT CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE BOARD CLERK, CLERK UPON ARRIVAL.

REQUEST FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE THE SAME MANNER AS ABOVE.

UH, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO THE ADJOURNMENT, NO LATER THAN 9:00 PM THE SECOND FORUM WILL BE LIMITED TO 15 MINUTES.

UH, IN THE EVENT THAT THE BOARD HAS NOT FINISHED ADDRESSING ALL ITEMS LISTED ON THE JULY 14TH, 2026 AGENDA, THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE AT 5:00 PM ON JULY 15TH, THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY TO FINISH THE AGENDA ITEMS. SO WE'LL, WE NOW HAVE, UH, A PUBLIC SESSION AND WE'LL CALL THE ORDER.

WE WILL, UH, RETURN TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AT A, AT A LATER TIME.

BUT WE

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

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHERE WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

AND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

MS. BERRY, HAS THE MEDIA BEEN NOTIFIED? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

AND IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE FIRST COMMENT PERIOD? NO, SIR.

NO.

OKAY.

I DO NOT HAVE A CHAIR'S REPORT.

SO WE

[Committee Reports (Part 1 of 2)]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UH, MS. CROSBY'S COMING, UH, TO THE PODIUM.

I'LL START OFF AND, AND START WITH SOME OF THE GENERAL COMMENTS, AND THEN I'LL ASK MS. UH, CROSBY TO, UH, EXPAND ON 'EM.

UH, THE FIRST ITEM, UH, THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS THE BUDGET STATUS OF SPENDING FOR THE BOARD.

THE BOARD'S BUDGET IS REPORTED TO, OR AT 71.5% EXPENDED, UH, THROUGH MAY 31ST WITH 117,000 REMAINING IN THE ACCOUNT TO COVER ANY OUTSTANDING EXPENDITURES THAT WILL COME THROUGH IN THE COMING MONTHS.

WE THEN TALKED ABOUT THE APRIL, 2026 FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY REVIEW, ALONG WITH A FOCUS REVIEW.

THE APRIL TRANSPARENCY REPORT WAS PRESENTED WITH MAJOR SPENDING AREAS, CONSTRUCTION AMENDMENTS, BUILDING FINISHES, AND CONTRACTED SERVICES.

THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE NEEDS FOR A WAY OF MONITORING UTILITY USAGE AND EXCEPTIONS IN FINANCIAL REPORTING.

MS. CROSBY STATED THAT THE FACILITIES AND OPERATION STAFF MONITOR UTILITY USAGE AND EXCEPTIONS ON AN ONGOING BASIS AND NOTIFY APPROPRIATE VENDORS OF EXCESSIVE USAGE FOR INVESTIGATION.

THE FOCUS REVIEW WAS, UH, THE DISTRICT'S SUBSTITUTE TEACHER STAFFING.

AND MS. CROSBY,

[00:05:01]

UM, SO THE FOCUS REVIEW, THE BOARD, UH, THE COMMITTEE HAS REQUESTED THAT WE, UH, PRESENT, UH, ITEMS FOR A POTENTIAL REVIEW.

AND, UH, A SELECTION IS MADE EACH MONTH FOR ONE PARTICULAR ITEM.

THIS MONTH WAS SUBSTITUTE TEACHER STAFFING.

AND SO THE STAFFING, UH, WAS REPORTED, UM, SHOWED A REDUCTION IN THE SPENDING OF THE ESS, OR ALSO KNOWN AS FORMERLY KNOWN AS SOURCE FOR TEACHERS, UM, CONTRACTED SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.

UH, AND THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN, UM, UH, AS A RESULT OF CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE, WE'VE BROUGHT, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, SUBSTITUTE OR THE FULL-TIME STAFF BACK IN-HOUSE.

SO PAYMENTS FOR, UM, PAYMENTS TO ESS HAVE SHIFTED FROM A SERVICE TO A SALARY AND BENEFIT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, SOME OF OUR SPECIALIZED POSITIONS THAT WILL BE FILLED WOULD NEED TO BE FILLED, UH, FOR PERIODS OF TIME OR ABSENCES, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS PROGRAM WOULD, COULD BE FILLED BY OTHER VENDORS AS WELL.

UM, UH, SO NOT JUST ESS IS, WE ARE CONTRACTING OUT.

WE ALSO HAVE OTHER SPECIALIZED VENDORS, UH, THAT WILL HELP US FIND THOSE SERVICES.

SO THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT? ALRIGHT, I'LL GO ON, UH, APRIL MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.

PROPERTY AT TAX REVENUES AS OF APRIL 30TH, WERE 97.9% COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR AT THIS POINT, AT 97.7%, EXPENDITURE REPORT IS AT 73.3% COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR AS 73.4.

SO AGAIN, WE ARE ON TARGET, UH, WITH BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.

A DUE TO SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN A DOUBLE A ONE RATING FROM MOODY'S AND A DOUBLE A RATING FROM STANDARD AND POORS, WHICH ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE STATES.

AND THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR OUR UPCOMING 8% BOND ISSUE.

COULD YOU, UH, EXPAND UPON THE, UH, WHEN THE 8% BOND ISSUE WILL BE? UH, YES.

WITHIN THE, UH, WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE CREDIT RATING, SO WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, WE'LL, I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC DATE, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S THE END OF JULY.

UH, WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE THE BOND SALE, UH, WE'RE, I SPOKE WITH, UH, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR TODAY.

WE'RE FINALIZING THE DETAILS OF THE, UH, THE SIZING OF THE BOND, UH, WHICH MEANS HOW MUCH THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS ARE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

AND SO THAT WILL BE COMING UP WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM .

MOVE ON.

THE MINORITY WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REPORT.

AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2025, THE DISTRICT EXCEEDED ITS 10% GOAL WITH $16.6 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES, WHICH WAS 11.47% OF THE CONTROLLABLE BUDGET.

SO, AND THAT'S, THAT'S VERY GOOD THAT WE ARE REACHING OUT, UH, TO MINORITY AND WOMEN, UH, UH, BUSINESSES.

THERE ARE NO, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, MORE MINORITY WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES HAVE RECEIVED, UH, HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY, HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY BIDS FROM THEM DURING THE REST, UH, THE REPORTING PERIOD, GRANTS AUTHORIZATION AND FINANCIAL PLANNING.

UM, MS. CROSBY, WOULD YOU EXPAND ON THAT? SURE.

UM, EACH YEAR, ACCORDING TO OS SEVEN, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE RULE, IT DOES REQUIRE THE DISTRICT TO, UM, GET A RELU, HAVE A RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE BOARD, UH, FOR DR. RODRIGUEZ TO BE ALLOWED TO, OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPLY, SIGN, ADMINISTER, AND SUBMIT ANY LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL GRANTS.

UM, THERE WERE SOME MEMBERS DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR, UM, FOR, UH, CLARIFYING THE CURRENT PROCESS.

UM, SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RESEARCHING THIS, UH, TO SEE.

WE HAVE NOT, UH, INDICATED OF, UH, UH, DETERMINED ANY STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES THIS.

UH, WE HAVE SEEN THAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE A SIMILAR, UM, HAVE A SIMILAR ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY AS WELL.

UM, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT, UM, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO RESEARCH AND DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS OF THE BOARD PROVIDING A RESOLUTION OR WHETHER WE CAN PERMANENTLY, UH, MODIFY OS SEVEN, EDIT THAT OR REVISE IT, UM, TO PERMANENTLY AUTHORIZE DR. RODRIGUEZ AND HIS DESIGNEES TO PERMANENTLY, UH, PERFORM THOSE FUNCTIONS.

SO THAT IS STILL IN PROGRESS.

UM, SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE AN ANNUAL APPROVAL OR RESOLUTION OF THIS BOARD DEPENDING ON WHAT OUR RESEARCH FINDS, BUT IT'S, WE NEED TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER AND, UH, GET SOME MORE INFORMATION BEFORE WE CAN FINALIZE THAT.

THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT IS THE OE FIVE MONITORING REPORT, AND THE COMMITTEE, UH, PASSED A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THE

[00:10:01]

WE DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE WILL NOT MAKE THAT MOTION AT THIS TIME.

UH, LAST ITEM IS ON TIFF AND MCIP FUND UPDATES.

MS. CROSBY HAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY $4.1 MILLION IN POTENTIAL FUNDS TO BE RETURNED TO THE DISTRICT THROUGH SEVERAL, ALTHOUGH SEVERAL ENTITIES WHO WE WERE WORKING WITH HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST.

THE COMMITTEE AGREED THAT SUPERINTENDENT RODRIGUEZ SHOULD FOLLOW UP WITH NON-RESPONDING ENTITIES BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH BOARD TO BOARD COMMUNICATIONS.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPAND ANY ON THAT? SURE.

UM, I DID REACH OUT TO SEVERAL ENTITIES.

WE DID GET SOME, UM, INFORMATION.

UH, BASICALLY MOST SAID THAT, UM, THERE WERE NO REMAINING FUNDS ON A FEW ENTITIES.

WE DIDN'T GET RESPONSES FROM SOME OTHERS.

UM, MOST OF THE TIFF AGREEMENTS AND MCIP AGREEMENTS WERE VERY OLD, MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN SOME CASES.

UM, SO IT, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT MOST OF THEM HAVE REMAINING FUNDS, BUT WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO, UH, INQUIRE FOR THOSE THAT FOR DID NOT RESPOND AND ATTEMPT TO MAKE THAT EFFORT.

WE DID, UH, RECEIVE EARLY ON BY THE REQUESTED DATE.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, UH, DID, TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND DID RESPOND AND PROVIDED AN AMOUNT, WHICH THEY INTEND TO FULLY EXPEND.

UM, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY FINANCE OFFICE INDICATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF NO OTHER FUNDING AVAILABLE.

UM, AND, UH, SO, AND THE CITY OF BEAUFORT DID PROVIDE A LETTER STATING THAT WE WERE OWED, UH, $1.8 MILLION.

SO WE HAVE SOME MORE WORK TO DO THERE AS WELL, UH, TO TRY TO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE THAT DID NOT RESPOND AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UH, THAT WILL REMAIN PROJECT FUNDS THAT WILL REMAIN UNSPENT IN THOSE PROJECTS.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

THAT'S THE LAST AGENDA ITEM THAT I HAVE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MAY, UM, MS. CROSBY? SO HOW ABOUT, UH, WOULD OUR, UM, BOND COUNCIL BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER SOME OF THESE, UH, MUNICIPALITIES THAT SAY THEY DON'T HAVE FUNDS, ACTUALLY KNOW THAT THEY DO HAVE FUNDS? UH, I DID CONTACT OUR BOND COUNCIL, UM, AND WE TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE NEW RIVER TIFF, WHICH WE DID PARTICIPATE IN, UM, SEVERAL, MANY YEARS AGO.

UH, SHE INDICATED THAT SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE ANY FUNDS LEFT, THAT IT WAS FULLY EXPENDED AND THE PROJECT FINISHED EARLY.

SO WE PAID OFF BONDS MUCH EARLIER THAN, UM, OR OUR PARTICIPATION ENDED MUCH EARLIER THAN WE BELIEVED IT WOULD.

UM, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC DATA OR RECORDS RELATING TO THAT.

UM, SO SOME OF THESE ARE SO OLD THAT IT'S HARD TO, UM, UH, RECEIVE OR, OR FIND THESE RECORDS AND BE ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE THE INFORMATION.

SO, UM, I DID INQUIRE, BUT, UH, I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH, WITH HER TO SEE IF THEY THERE IS ANY DOCUMENTATION RELATING TO THAT.

UM, MANY OF THE, THESE T REQUIRE IN THE WOR HAVE WORDING THAT REQUIRE AN ANNUAL REPORT, AND MANY OF THE ENTITIES DID NOT COMPLY WITH THAT.

UM, SO, UH, SOME DID.

HILTON HEAD WAS PROBABLY THE BEST THAT I HAVE SEEN AT, AT, UH, FOLLOWING, FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

YES.

AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY NOTES? UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT COMPLETES MY REPORT.

THANK YOU, COLONEL GOER.

[Superintendent’s Report ]

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT THIS EVENING.

WE HAVE THREE RECOGNITIONS UNDER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND THEN WE'LL END WITH A CONSTRUCTION UPDATE UNDER OTHER MATTERS.

FIRST, THE SOUTH CAROLINA OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AWARDED PRITCHARD ELEMENTARY AS THE 2026 DATA TRAIL TRAILBLAZER WINNER.

THERE WERE THREE SCHOOLS, A HIGH SCHOOL, A MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND AN ELEMENTARY.

AND PRITCHARD WAS RECOGNIZED AS OUR ELEMENTARY.

UM, AND THAT IS FOR THEIR EXCELLENT USE OF DATA TO DRIVE INSTRUCTION AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR STUDENT OUTCOMES.

SO HERE TONIGHT WE HAVE PRINCIPAL BRENDA BLUE THAT WILL COME UP AND SPEAK FOR A FEW MOMENTS ON WHAT HER TEAM DOES TO DRIVE INSTRUCTION WITH DATA.

THANK YOU, DR. LEE AND GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.

WE ARE SO PROUD TO RECEIVE THE SOUTH CAROLINA DATA TRAILBLAZER AWARD.

I'VE TOLD MANY THAT I AM SO BLESSED TO WORK WITH A GREAT GROUP OF TEACHER LEADERS.

SO THIS IS REALLY A RECOGNITION

[00:15:01]

AT PRITCHARD MILL DATA IS MORE THAN A NUMBER.

DATA TELLS THE STORY FOR EACH OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE ARE VERY STRATEGIC IN OUR SYSTEMS APPROACH TO UTILIZE DATA TO STRENGTHEN OUR DECISION-MAKING, AND ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS CHALLENGED, SUPPORTED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY CELEBRATED.

WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO HIGH EXPECTATIONS, COLLABORATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS.

SO WE WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE EDUCATIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OVER C AND WE'RE HONORED TO REPRESENT OUR DISTRICT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. BLUE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR SCHOOL.

AND WHILE YOU'LL BE PRESENTING TO THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL PRESENT TO OUR PRINCIPALS AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT.

WE ALSO HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF AWARDS, UH, FOR THE BE PRESENT SOUTH CAROLINA ESSAY CONTEST.

THIS, THESE STUDENTS WROTE AN ESSAY AS TO WHY COMING TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY WAS IMPORTANT.

UM, AND SINCE ATTENDANTS WAS ONE OF OUR AREAS THAT WE FOCUSED ON LAST YEAR, IT WAS GREAT THAT WE HAD TWO WINNERS.

OUR FIRST WINNER IS SECOND GRADER, THIAGO, QBS FROM RED CEDAR ELEMENTARY AND THIRD GRADER AREA, AREA GRANT FROM LADIES ISLAND ELEMENTARY.

I'M NOT SURE IF EITHER ONE OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE ARE VERY PROUD, UM, TO RECOGNIZE THEM.

SO, UM, WE WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE THEM AT ANOTHER BOARD MEETING TO COME FORWARD.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE ROBERT OTTING.

HE WILL COME FORWARD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE.

GOOD EVENING.

AND IF YOU THINK IT'S, UH, BEFORE I HAND THIS OVER TO AUGUSTINE, I'LL JUST EXPLAIN WHILE WE'RE HERE.

UH, WE DID NOT HAVE AN OPERATIONS COMMITTEE THIS MONTH.

PART OF OUR REQUIREMENT IS TO REPORT MONTHLY, SO WE'RE TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT TO YOU AT THE BOARD.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO AUGUSTINE VARGAS WITH TURNER TOWNSEND AIRIE.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU, ROBERT.

WELL, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY, AND ALLOW ME TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATES THROUGH THE MONTH OF JO, UH, JUNE.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE 2019 BOND REFERENDUM.

AND, UH, I KNOW THE REPORTS THAT I ISSUED EARLIER REPORTED THAT WE STILL HAD SOME RECONCILIATIONS THAT WE HAD TO, UH, WORK THROUGH AND FINALIZE, BUT I AM GLAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY THROUGH WITH THE RECONCILIATIONS AND WE HAVE DONE THE FINAL RECLASSIFICATION OF THE FUNDING FOR THE 2019 MONTH REFERENDUM.

SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE OFFICIALLY FINISHED THE REFERENDUM PROGRAM FOR THE 2019, UM, PROJECTS.

ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING 2019 BOND REFERENDUM? SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THERE WILL BE NO MORE REPORTS ON THE 2019 BOND REFERENDUM FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.

, THAT IS CORRECT, .

GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR WORK, .

ALL RIGHT.

SO NOW MOVING FORWARD WITH THE 2023 BOND REFERENDUM, WHICH IS WHERE WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK TAKING PLACE.

UH, RIGHT NOW WE ARE CURRENTLY, UH, PROGRESSING THROUGH A LOT OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

AND WE DO HAVE ONE PROJECT THAT RIGHT NOW IS, UH, BEING REPORTED WITH A YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHT, AND THAT IS HILTON HEAD ON HIGH SCHOOL.

SO AS I GO THROUGH THE REPORT, UH, REPORT, I WILL, UM, TELL YOU WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.

BUT, UH, OVER AT MAY RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE BILLING ENVELOPE AND, UM, WE ARE PROGRESSING WITH SITE UTILITIES.

WE'RE NEAR ALMOST NEARING COMPLETION OF THAT PROJECT.

PALMETTO EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATING THAT THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS WILL BE RECEIVED THIS MONTH, AND WE ANTICIPATE THE GMP PRICING WILL BE RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER, UM, BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL CTE.

THAT PROJECT HAS TAKEN OFF, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE BUILDING PAD PREPARATION, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE TREE REMOVAL THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETE.

SO IF YOU DRIVE BY THAT SITE, YOU CAN SEE THAT FINALLY THERE HAS BEEN, UH, PROGRESS BEING MADE, AND THERE'S A, A SITE ACCESS ROAD THAT HAS BEEN, UH, TIED TO THE BUCK WALTER, UM, ENTRANCE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

NOW, THAT PROJECT, THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THE YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHT IS BECAUSE, UH, AMBI CON FAILED TO ACHIEVE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION ON JUNE 19TH.

THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WHEN THEY HAD THE INSPECTION FROM THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL THAT THEY HAD, HAVE, EXCUSE ME, HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING, AND THEY HAVE BEEN PUT ON NOTICE.

THEY HAVE A DEADLINE OF THIS FRIDAY TO ACHIEVE THAT SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION.

OTHERWISE, WE WILL GO AFTER THEM FOR THE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR THAT PROJECT.

UH, AND THAT IS FOR PHASE ONE A, WHICH IS A NEW THREE STORY FACILITY BUILDING.

SO WE'RE CLOSELY MONITORING RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE A FINAL INSPECTION SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW WITH THE FIRE, UH, STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

AND RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY'S BEEN HANDS-ON ON THAT PROJECT.

SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT TOMORROW WE SHOULD HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THAT PROJECT.

SO AGAIN, WE'LL, UH, NOTIFY EVERYBODY OF THE PROGRESS.

UH, BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL CT, THAT'S ANOTHER PROJECT THAT'S TAKEN OFF, AND WE HAVE THE BUILDING LAYOUT THAT HAS BEGUN AND THE FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN,

[00:20:01]

AND, UH, LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAVE THE RELOCATION OF THE EXISTING UTILITIES THAT ARE PROGRESSING.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FINALIZE A COUPLE THINGS TO BE FOR JASPER, UM, WATER SEWER AUTHORITY, AND THAT WAY THEY CAN TURN THE BACK, THE WATER SERVICE BACK ON FOR THE BUILDING BEFORE THE KIDS COME BACK.

UH, THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING LOCKER ROOMS IS ONGOING, AND THE FINAL BUILDING PAD PREPARATION IS ALSO ONGOING OVER AT RIVERVIEW, UH, CHARTER SCHOOL GYM EDITION AND RENOVATIONS, WE HAVE THE PLAYGROUND DEMOLITION THAT'S TAKEN PLACE AND RELOCATION SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE FOR THE BUILDING PAD WHERE IT'S GONNA BE LOCATED, LOCATED.

AND THE UTILITY WATERLINE, UH, WORK IS COMPLETED THAT SCHOOL.

MOVING ON TO THE 2023 BOND REFERENDUM FINANCIALS.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE CURRENTLY REPORTING A PAID AND COMMITTED FUNDS OF $355.1 MILLION.

THAT'S ABOUT 80% OF THE PROGRAM.

AND THE REMAINING AVAILABLE FUNDS, WHICH INCLUDE THE CONTINGENCY, WHICH TOTAL $83.94 MILLION, THERE WAS NO CONTINGENCY ACTIVITY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE CURRENTLY SITTING AT A OVERALL PROGRAM AND PROJECT CONTINGENCIES OF, UM, THREE POINT, UM, I APOLOGIZE, IT'S 5.6, UH, $65 MILLION FOR THE PROGRAM LEVEL CONTINGENCIES AND THE PROJECT LEVEL CONTINGENCIES AT 3.1.

SO WE ARE, UM, AGAIN AT $8.75 MILLION.

ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE 2023 BOND REFERENDUM UPDATES? RIGHT, HEARING NONE, I'LL MOVE OVER TO THE OTHER PROJECTS.

THAT'S THE 8% RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF PRO, UH, PROGRESS GOING ON THERE.

UH, BUT I'M JUST GONNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE LARGER PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ONGOING.

UH, MICHAEL C. RILEY, THE DRAINAGE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS IN PARKING LOT RENOVATIONS.

THAT WORK IS CURRENTLY ONGOING.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT PROJECT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETE PRIOR TO THE KIDS COMING BACK TO THE FACILITY AS WELL AS THE STAFF.

SO A LOT, LOT'S GOING ON WITH THAT PROJECT.

UH, MOSEY OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE HAVE THE HVAC RENOVATIONS GOING ON THROUGH THE SCHOOL.

THAT WORK IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION THIS MONTH AS WELL.

UH, PORT ROYAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIRE ALARM REPLACEMENT, THAT'S A PROJECT THAT CURRENTLY IS WRAPPING UP THE, UH, FIRE ALARM WORK.

AND WE ARE DOING SOME TESTING SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT SCHOOL BACK UP AND RUNNING AGAIN ONCE THE STAFF COMES BACK.

AND, UM, THE ROOFING PROJECTS, WE HAVE FOUR, UH, FOUR PROJECTS CURRENTLY ONGOING.

WE HAVE BLUFF TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, HILTON HEAD ON SCHOOL OF CREATIVE ARTS, AND HILTON HEAD ON, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL AS WELL AS BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL.

ALL THAT WORK IS CURRENTLY PROGRESSING AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS WORK'S GOING TO, UH, GO INTO THE, UH, FALL SEMESTER.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN A PLAN IN PLACE WITH THE ADMIN AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE.

THERE SHOULD BE NO INTERRUPTIONS TO THE ONGOING DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE BUILDINGS.

UM, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE 8% PROJECTS? UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I HAVE A CONSTITUENT WHOSE, UH, DAUGHTER IS A TEACHER AT MOSSY OAKS WHO TEACHES DANCE AND, UH, HERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FLOOR AND THE DANCE STUDIO.

MM-HMM .

DO YOU KNOW, HAVE ANY, UH, UPDATE ON HOW THAT'S COMING ALONG? SO I WILL DO A FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, BUT NOT KNOWING ALL THE SPECIFICS, IF I'M CORRECT, THAT WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANNA VERIFY THAT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.

WE DID, UM, LET THE TEAM KNOW THAT THIS WAS A PRIORITY THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT PROJECT.

SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS WILL BE READY BEFORE TO START SCHOOL.

IF YOU CAN, IF YOU CAN LET ME KNOW, I'LL PASS IT ALONG.

THANK YOU.

WILL DO.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

UH, REGARDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH, UH, RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON COORDINATING THE, UH, GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL, CTE, AS WELL AS THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE RIVERVIEW CHARTER GYM, UH, EDITION.

CURRENTLY, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A DATE IN PLAY, UH, IN PLACE.

SO WHEN THAT DOES, UH, MATERIALIZE, WE'LL SHARE WITH Y'ALL AS WELL.

AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW HILTER HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL FACILITY.

AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE FULL DETAILS, BUT WE WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW WHEN THAT DOES, UH, COME TOGETHER.

AND THE LAST PORTION IS THERE, UM, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE, UH, ONE OF EACH, WE HAVE AN RFP FOR THE MONITORING OF SAFETY SECURITY SYSTEM SYSTEMS, WHICH HAS A DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTALS OF JULY 21ST.

AND WE HAVE A SOLICITATION FOR A FACILITIES CONDITION ASSESSMENT, WHICH HAS A DEADLINE OF TOMORROW, UH, FOR THE SUBMISSIONS.

SO WITH THAT, I CONCLUDE MY, UH, CONSTRUCTION UPDATES.

ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE PORTIONS OR ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE.

MM-HMM .

HAVE ANY FUTURE

[Future Agenda Topics ]

[00:25:03]

[Announcements]

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, SIR.

SO THIS EVENING I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE A PERSONNEL UPDATE.

UM, MS. CARRIE CARTER WILL BE THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE HAS BEEN THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL THERE SINCE 2019.

SO WE WANNA CONGRATULATE HER AND WE KNOW THAT SHE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT WORK TO MOVE MAY RIVER FORWARD.

ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? WELL, I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

OKAY.

GO AHEAD, MR. SMITH.

UM, YOU JUST ANNOUNCED THE PRINCIPAL FOR MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, RIGHT? YES.

UH, COULD YOU TELL US WHAT THAT PROCESS WAS? THAT WAS A DECISION MADE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, AT THIS POINT,

[Second Public Comments]

I HAVE ONE RIGHT HERE.

MR. JAMES MILLER.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

BOARD MEMBERS FOR HEARING ME.

I DIDN'T TESTING.

YEAH, I'M SORRY.

YEAH.

UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK WITH YOU FOLKS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE SYNERGY OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE WITH EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OF BAND IS ONE, YOU MIGHT CALL IT A EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME AS SPORTS.

AND SOME OF THOSE BAND ACTUALLY, STUDENTS ACTUALLY GET CREDIT FOR THEIR TOWARD GRADUATION.

UH, I THINK THE COMMONALITY BETWEEN THE TWO IS THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO THRIVE ON THE ATHLETICS OR THE BAND OR WHATEVER THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY IS, AND THAT DRAWS 'EM TO SCHOOL AND, AND MAKES THEM A BETTER STUDENT.

HOWEVER, I THINK ALSO THE FINE ARTS, AND PARTICULARLY MUSIC EDUCATION, IT, EVERYTHING I READ SAYS THAT THERE IS AN ENHANCED SYNERGY THERE.

AND THAT IS THE PURPOSE THAT I'VE, FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, THAT I THINK AN IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA WOULD ALSO IMPROVE THE OVERALL ACADEMICS OF THE SCHOOL.

UH, SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO BAND, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT THINK MAYBE I, I, I HAVE OVER THE YEARS OR COMPARED HOW GIVEN DATA, HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT OR IN THE STATE.

AND, UH, YOU MIGHT THINK THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF DEMOGRAPHICS AND THEREFORE WE FUNCTION KIND OF DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER THE PEOPLE IN THE UP UPSTATE.

HOWEVER, I THINK YOU NEED TO JUST GO ONE COUNTY NORTH TO CALTON RIVER.

THEIR BAND PROGRAM IS NUMBER OF STUDENTS, IS PROBABLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TWICE WHAT MAY RIVER IS AND IS AND HAS AN ENROLLMENT SLIGHTLY LESS THAN MAY RIVER.

UH, UH, STUDENT ENROLLMENT, THEY ABANDON, THEY RANK 10TH IN THE STATE OF FOUR A, WHEREAS

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I NOW INDICATE THAT IT'S TIME FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UM, DO YOU HAVE, CAN YOU CALL INGRID BECAUSE SHE SEEMS TO BE TRYING TO JOIN, I THINK.

OKAY.

YEAH.

AND YOU HAVE WILLIAM, RIGHT? OKAY.

YEAH.

OKAY.

SHOULD WE GO BACK AND APPROVE THE AGENDA FIRST? YEAH, YEAH.

AND DO THOSE MOTIONS AND THE MOTION? YEAH.

UM, I'LL GO BACK TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND.

WAIT, WAIT.

JUST GET 'EM ON THERE.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.

CAN'T I CAN'T SEE.

SHE'S TRYING NOT INDICATED THERE.

SHE GETS UP.

UH, THERE'S A CONSENT TO AGENDA TO APPROVE ALSO.

YEAH, EXACTLY.

OKAY, GREAT.

I,

[Approval of Agenda ]

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THANK YOU MR. SMITH.

MR. SMITH, YOU STILL WITH US? OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UM, WE

[Committee Reports (Part 2 of 2)]

MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ACCEPT OPERATIONAL EXPECTATIONS, FIVE FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING.

ALL DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

ONLINE VOTE, RIGHT? AYE.

MR. SMITH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

OKAY.

YES.

I'M GONNA ABSTAIN.

HE SAID ABSTAIN.

ABSTAIN.

YEAH.

OKAY.

AND,

[Consent Agenda ]

I'LL SECOND IT.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ONLINE? AYE.

I HEARD AN AYE.

.

YEP.

MS. BOATWRIGHT, CAN YOU HEAR US? OH, I SAID, I SAID I, OKAY.

OH, WE DIDN'T HEAR IT.

WE DIDN'T HEAR YOU, BUT THANK YOU.

SORRY.

OKAY,

[Executive Session ]

PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 30 T FOUR TAX 70 A ONE.

RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE RELATED TO SOCIAL MEDIA COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 40 T FOUR TAX 70 A TWO RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE

[00:35:01]

DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER NINE WITH MB CONN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE PHASE ONE REROOFING OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

SCOPE OF WORK GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 30 T FOUR TAX 78, 2 2, SECOND, SECOND ONLINE.

I WANNA BE USEFUL.

.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I HAVE A QUESTION.

I HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION.

YES.

MR. SMITH, UH, WHO WILL BE, WHO WILL BE ADVISING US IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OR ATTORNEYS? WE'LL HAVE MS. CARTILAGE, WE'LL ALSO HAVE GIBSON SOLOMONS IN PERSON.

ON ZOOM, WE'LL HAVE DAVE DUFF AND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY ON ZOOM WE MIGHT HAVE VINCENT SHAHEEN AND AUSTIN SHAHEEN.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

WE'RE GOOD TO GO? YEP.

YES, SIR.

IF YOU VOTE.

OH, MS. MR. SMITH? YES, SIR.

YEAH, WE VOTED.

AYE.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

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

UH, THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS.

UH, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE EMPLOYMENT LISTED ON JUNE 1ST, 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026.

PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT.

SECOND DISCUSSION.

UM, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE, UM, THIS, THIS, THIS, UH, THIS REPORT, THE, UM, RATIFICATION REPORT IN TERMS IN TERMS OF THE EMPLOYEES, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, UM, AND CONCERNS THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM EMPLOYEES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

UM, SO, UM, AND I SEE A LOT OF POSITIONS IN TERMS OF, OF, OF OUR RESIGN TOO AS WELL.

AND WE'VE BEEN PAYING TEACHERS MORE NOW, UM, SO THAT THEY DON'T RESIGN.

AND THIS IS JUST, TO ME, IT'S A LARGE LIST OF 'EM, AND THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I'VE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT.

SO, UH, I, I, TONIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS, UH, EMPLOYEE RATIFICATIONS TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? AYE.

AYE.

SAYING AYE.

AYE.

VOTE AYE.

YEP.

ME, AYE KNOWS MR. SMITH? NO.

MR. SMITH? NO.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

SECOND MOTION.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IMPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER NINE WITH MP CON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INCORPORATED FOR THE PHASE ONE REROOFING OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL FOR A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE OF $2,201,991.

SECOND.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

I LET YOU DO THAT.

INGRID , THANK YOU.

QUESTIONS? UM, I ASKED QUESTION PUBLICLY.

I I JUST ASKED TOM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY DIDN'T WE INCLUDE THIS IN THE REFERENDUM AND MAKE IT A, A, A, A ONE, UM, A, A A, A A ONE, UM, ONE AND DONE.

BECAUSE I HAVE A CONCERN THAT, AND PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY, THEY DON'T LIKE WHEN WE HAVE, UH, WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE SAME BUILDING DOING DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT THINGS, IT WHEN WE CAN, WHILE WE'RE THERE, WE SHOULD PROBABLY, PROBABLY TRY TO GET 'EM ALL DONE AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, YOU COULD TELL, MAYBE TELL THE PUBLIC, UM, WHY WE DIDN'T PUT ON A REFERENDUM, MR. OTT.

UM, IT JUST WAS, UH, ALWAYS PLANNED TO HAPPEN AFTER THE RENOVATION WAS COMPLETE AND WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IT FORWARD A LITTLE.

WELL, WE NEED TO BRING IT FORWARD DUE TO SOME LEAKS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE GYM.

SO WE NEED TO DO IT NOW.

SO WE'VE BROUGHT IT FORWARD SOONER THAN WE THOUGHT.

UH, AND IT'S BEING PAID FOR WITH 8% FUNDS THAT WERE APPROVED, UH, THIS YEAR BY THE BOARD.

AND THAT'S, AND, UH, JUST TO RESPOND, THAT'S KIND OF SOME CONCERNS.

I THINK THAT WE CAN USE 8% MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS, UH, AROUND THE DISTRICT.

AND IN TERMS, IN TERMS OF, UH, IF WE WANNA, IF WE, IF WE'RE GOING OFFER A REFERENDUM, UH, AND WE'RE BRINGING THAT, WE'RE BRINGING THIS BACK.

I MEAN, WE, WE WE'RE BRINGING THIS BACK AND ADDITIONALLY TO WORK ON A BUILDING THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVE PEOPLE AT AND GETTING A ROOF DONE, WHICH, WHICH IS A DEFINITELY A REFERENDUM, UH, ITEM.

I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS A CONCERN AND I THINK WE SHOULD POSSIBLY BE TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING OUT AT ONCE SO THAT WE'RE NOT MUNCHING AND WE'RE NOT KIND OF KEEP GOING AT THE TAXPAYERS, UH, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR DOLLARS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OH, RIGHT.

AYE.

THANK YOU.

OPPOSED?

[00:40:01]

I JUST, OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I'M GONNA PUT THOSE CONCERNS OUT THERE SO WE ALL AWARE OF IT.

CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES A BUSINESS OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THANK YOU.

SECOND PUBLIC SESSION.

WE ALREADY, WE ALREADY AT IT.

AND OUR, UH, NEXT MEETING WILL BE AUGUST 4TH.

AND IF I, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, I'LL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADJOURN AND SECOND, SOMEBODY WILL SECOND IT.

AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

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

THE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST FORMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED STATES.

EARLY SETTLERS FROM ENGLAND BROUGHT THE TRADITION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO AMERICA.

TODAY, MORE THAN 3000 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT AFFECT ALMOST EVERY CITIZEN'S LIFE.

SOUTH CAROLINA'S 46 COUNTIES ARE VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS EVOLVED NATIONALLY.

THE COUNTY UNIT IN SOUTH CAROLINA WAS REGARDED AS A LOCAL EXTENSION OF STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM MOVEMENT IN THE EARLY 1970S LED TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PASSING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HOME RULE ACT.

IN 1975, THE HOME RULE ACT GREATLY EXPANDED COUNTY AUTHORITY AND CHANGED THE NATURE OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION TO WHAT WE KNOW TODAY.

BEAUFORT COUNTY WENT FROM HAVING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO A COUNTY COUNCIL.

MEMBERS OF THE 1975 COUNCIL INCLUDED CHAIRMAN ARTHUR HORN, BIAS CHAIRMAN GRADY THAMES, LEROY BROWN, GARY FORDHAM, WILLIAM GRANT, HARRIET KEISLING, DAVID JONES, BILL MCBRIDE, AND BOOKER WASHINGTON.

AS THE NEW COUNCIL SOUGHT TO DISTINGUISH ITSELF, COUNCIL MEMBERS DESIRED AN OFFICIAL SYMBOL THAT WOULD REPRESENT THE JURISDICTION'S IDENTITY AND UNIQUE CHARACTER COUNCIL APPOINTED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE THE TASK AND CARRY OUT A CONTEST FOR THE BEST COUNTY SEAL DESIGN.

HARRIET WAS A MEMBER OF COUNTY COUNCIL, AND IT WAS HER IDEA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IDENTIFY OUR BEAUTIFUL BEAUFORD COUNTY.

WE MET THEN UP AT A, I THINK IT WAS A CAROLINA BANK, AND SOME YEARS AGO, BACK THERE ON WEST STREET.

AND THEN WE PUT 'EM IN PILES.

YOU KNOW, LIKE, GOOD, BAD MAYBE UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT IT DOWN TO THE ONE THAT WE NOW USE.

COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SEAL COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, WHICH REFLECTED THE COUNTY'S HISTORY, TRADITIONS, AND NATURAL BEAUTY.

THE SEALS COLORS OF BLUE AND GREEN REPRESENT THE COLORS OF THE COUNTY'S OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT WITH ITS MANY WATERWAYS, MARSHLANDS, AND MARITIME FOREST.

THE FIVE IMAGES WITHIN THE SEAL DEPICT SOME OF THE COUNTY'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.

ANCIENT LIVE OAK TREES, THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY, RICH NATURAL RESOURCES, AND RARE MARINE ECOLOGY, LOW COUNTRY ARCHITECTURE, AND MILES OF RIVERS, CREEKS, AND INLETS.

I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED.

I THOUGHT IT ENCOMPASSED WHAT THE, WHAT WE AS A BODY WERE LOOKING FOR A SEAL.

IT WOULD, WHEN YOU LOOKED AT IT AND JUST THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, IT REALLY COVERS THE ASPECTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

SO HE DID A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING TOGETHER THE THINGS THAT WE, UH, WHOLE, SO DEAR AND WHAT WE REALLY LIKE ABOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY.

COUNCILMAN BILL MCBRIDE WAS IN OFFICE WHEN THE CONTEST WAS HELD AND WAS PRESENT WHEN THE COMMITTEE REVEALED THE WINNING DESIGN.

I THINK COUNCIL WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT IT.

UH, WE THOUGHT THAT THE, THE SEMINARS ON THE SEAL REPRESENTED, UM, ASPECTS OF LIFE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE ORIGINAL, UM, DRAFT THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US WHERE YOU HAVE THE SHRIMP BOAT TODAY.

INITIALLY, THAT WAS A PLEASURE CRAFT,

[00:45:01]

AND, UH, IT WAS CHANGED BY COUNTY COUNCIL BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THE SHRIMP BOAT WAS A BETTER REPRESENTATION, UM, OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, UH, ASPECT OF BEFORD COUNTY LIFE BECAUSE YOU HAD OTHER THINGS ON THE SEAL THAT REPRESENT THE PLEASURE AND RECREATION, THE FISHING AND THE BEACH.

SO THEY THOUGHT THE SHRIMP BOAT, WHICH WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF BEFORD COUNTY CULTURE, SHRIMPING, ESPECIALLY AT THAT TIME, WOULD BE REFLECTED ON THE SALE.

THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST WAS AN ARTIST FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, THE LATE LEE PAYNE, WHOSE DESIGN WAS SELECTED FROM MORE THAN 126 CENTURIES SUBMITTED FROM AS FAR AWAY AS INDIANA AND TENNESSEE.

HE WAS AWARDED $250 FOR HIS DESIGN.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE CAPTURED THE LEGACY OF OUTDOOR BEAUTY, CULTURE, AND HISTORY THAT HELPED TO DEFINE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF LIFE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.