Bamberg School District One
Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees
Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School
April 23, 2007
7:30 P. M.
Members present: Chairman Dale Padgett, Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler, Secretary Stacey H.
Long, Trustee Rita M. Sease and Trustee Tony E. Duncan.
Absent: None
1. Call meeting to order: Chairman Dale Padgett called the meeting to order and asked the audience to repeat the Lord’s Prayer.
2. Notice to Media: In accordance with the S. C. Code of Laws, Section 30-4-80
(e), as amended, the following have been notified of the time, date, place and agenda of this meeting:
The Times and Democrat
The Advertizer-Herald
3. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the March 26, 2007, meeting, will be reviewed as requested by Trustee Rita Sease in order to make sure that on “page 6 under Item A Employment / Resignations/ Terminations motion five” wasn’t made by her.
Corrections as follows were made to the minutes by Trustee Rita Sease and they were approved:
Page 6 - Item B Student Transfers – Motions two and three:
The school district was listed as Orangeburg School District #4 and should have been Orangeburg Consolidated School District #4.
4. Administering the Oath of Office to Mr. Tony E. Duncan, Board Member, Seat 5
Mr. Franklin R. Dash administered the Oath of Office to Mr. Tony E. Duncan, newly elected Board Member for Seat 5.
Trustee Tony Duncan stated that it was a pleasure to be apart of this great system here in Bamberg. He plans to carry out his duties professionally and profoundly. It took truth, God, and the people to make all of this possible. It is his hope that everyone would work together for the betterment of this school district and that everyone would take a stand and be a part of change. Change can only take place when people let it.
5. Election of Officers
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to amend the agenda to add the Election of a Vice-Chairperson and any other vacant office position as Agenda Item #5 and continue with the remaining agenda items in a sequential order. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Stacey Long nominated and Chairman Dale Padgett seconded a motion to elect Sheri Seigler as Vice-chairperson of the Board of Trustees (replacement for the vacated position of John Bamberg). Trustee Tony Duncan nominated and Trustee Rita Sease seconded to elect Trustee Rita Sease as Vice-chairperson of the Board of Trustees. Trustee Sheri Seigler received 3 votes and Trustee Rita Sease received 2.
Trustee Sheri Seigler nominated and Trustee Tony E. Duncan seconded a motion to elect Trustee Stacey Long as Secretary to replace Trustee Sheri Seigler. The motion passed 4-1 [Trustee Rita Sease opposed].
Chairman Padgett announced that Trustee Sheri Seigler would move from the position of Secretary to the position of Vice-chairperson and Trustee Stacey Long would become Secretary.
6. Student/Staff Recognition
Superintendent Schwarting reported the following:
· Mrs. Jill Taylor and Mrs. Jamie Williams, Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A speech teachers, will present their classroom Speech Literacy Model at the Reading First State School Leadership Team meeting on Thursday, April 2, 2007.
· Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A has been selected as one of 10 elementary schools across the state to participate in Reading First Summer School in grades 5K-3rd during June 2007.
· Eric Padgett, Allison Martino, Satin McIntosh, Becky Still, and Glennda Russell, students from Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, have been accepted into the Governor’s School Discovery program.
· Randon Sandifer, Mitchel Whetstone, Julia Chavis, Caitlin Smith, Erik Fender, Mahalia Sapp, and Khristen Murdock, students from Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, have been invited to attend the 2008 People Future Leaders Summit. These students will pursue school credit while building leadership skills and explore their future career interests. These students were recommended by Ms. Donna Sease, teacher.
· Jelisa Raysor, Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School student, is the winner of the 2006-07 Governor’s Citizenship Award. Jelisa, her parents, and Principal Robbie Kearse were invited to attend the Citizenship Day event at the State House in Columbia on April 16, 2007.
· Damion Jones has received the US Department of Agriculture Full Academic Scholarship.
· Sylina Brooks was selected to play in the CSRA All-Star Basketball Game on April 21, 2007.
· Nick Tritapoe was selected to play in the 1A/4A North-South All-Star Baseball Game this summer in Myrtle Beach.
· The Baseball, Softball and Soccer Teams won the Region 6A Championships.
· Baseball and Softball Playoffs have begun and Soccer Playoffs will begin next week.
· The girls and boys Track Teams placed second at the Region Track Meet held last week. 15 boys and 10 girls have qualified for the Lower State Track Meet.
· The 6th, 7th and 8th grade Project Beyond students enjoyed a trip to Washington, DC. The group of 56 students and adults enjoyed many sights, including a night tour of the monuments and memorials, tours of many of the historic buildings, visits to several of the Smithsonian Museums and a live performance at the JFK Center for the Performing Arts.
· Ehrhardt Elementary School 4th and 5th grade students and teachers celebrated Earth Day. In the Art classes, Mrs. Smith presented the history of Earth Day and guided students in creating an Earth Day wreath. Mrs. Bryant-James helped students write, edit, and publish Earth Day essays in English/Language Arts classes. In science classes, Mrs. Varnadoe led discussions and activities on ways to help recycle, reduce, and reuse products to help make the Earth a cleaner place to live.
7. Approval: 2007-2008 School Calendar
Superintendent Schwarting reviewed the 2007-2008 School Calendar. The calendar coincides with Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four because the district shares the Cope Career Center and Alternative School. Following is a copy of the calendar:
2007-2008 School Calendar
July 2-6 - Closed for Fourth of July
August 13-15 - Staff Development
August 16-17 - Teacher Workdays
August 20 - School Starts
September 3 - Labor Day – Holiday
September 25 - Staff Development
October 2 - End of First Six Weeks
October 23 - End of First Nine Weeks
October 23-25 - HSAP Testing (Grades 11&12)
November 2 - HSAP Make-up
November 13 - End of Second Six Weeks
November 21-23 - Thanksgiving Holidays
December 19 - Last Day before Winter Holidays\Half Day
Dec. 20-Jan. 2 - Winter Holidays
January 3 - School Reopens
January 11 - End of Second Nine Weeks
End of Third Six Weeks
January 14 - Teacher Workday
January 15 - First Snow Make-up Day / Teacher Workday
January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. – Holiday
February 18 - Presidents’ Day – Holiday
Second Snow Make-up Day
February 19 - Staff Development
Third Snow Make-up Day
February 29 - End of Fourth Six Weeks
March 21 - End of Third Nine Weeks
March 24-28 - Spring Break
April 18 - End of Fifth Six Weeks
April 22-24 - HSAP Test Grades 10th - 12th
May 2 - HSAP Make-up
May 12-16 / 19-23 - PACT Testing
May 29 - Half Day
2007-2008 School Calendar Continued:
May 30 - End of Fourth Nine Weeks
End of Sixth Six Weeks
Last Day of School / Early Dismissal
June 2 - Work Day / Graduation 7:00 p. m.
June 23 - Grade Twelve – HSAP Test
Trustee Stacey Long moved and Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler seconded to approve the 2007-2008 School Calendar as presented. The motion passed 5-0.
8. Presentation and Selection of Proposed Referendum Options
Superintendent Schwarting stated that the following construction options were discussed on April 26, 2007 and March 11, 2007, during a work session:
Option #1
4K-6 New Elementary 23,350.000
Renovate High School 6,000,000
Renovate Middle School 3,200,000
Renovate Ehrhardt Elementary 1,100,000
Renovate Athletic Facilities 1,700,000
Total Cost 35,350,000
Option 2
4K-5 New Elementary 21,750,000
6-8 New Middle School 21,570,000
Renovate High School 6,000,000
Renovate Ehrhardt Elementary 1,100,000
Renovate Athletic Facilities 1,700,000
Total Cost 52,120,000
Option 3
4K-5, 6-8, 9-12 New Facilities 70,800,000.00
Renovate Ehrhardt Elementary 1,100,000.00
Renovate Athletic Facilities 1,700,000.00
Total Cost 73,600,000.00
Note 1: does not include cost of land.
Superintendent Schwarting reviewed handouts from Margaret B. Meyer, Bamberg County Auditor, regarding Owner Occupied Property, Bond Mills at 165, 243, and 344; estimates with Debt Service at 165 mills, 243 mills, 344 Mills and examples of current taxes on owner occupied homes under current laws with 2006 tax millage.
Some of the main concerns of the present buildings in the district are the hazardous conditions of Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A (mold, mildew, bats), outdated cafeteria equipment in all schools with the exception of Ehrhardt Elementary School, roofing and air conditioning problems at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, the hazardous structure of the Allen Building in Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, and the outdated cement bleachers at the stadium.
Property somewhere on 601 between Bamberg and Ehrhardt is a geographical center of the district in terms of location for the purchase of land. The Hunters Chapel and Spring Branch areas are also up for consideration.
Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept Option 3 [4K-5, 6-8, 9-12 New Facilities - 70,800,000.00; Renovate Ehrhardt Elementary - 1,100,000.00; Renovate Athletic Facilities - 1,700,000.00; Total Cost - 73,600,000.00] of the construction plans. The motion passed 3-2. [Trustees Rita Sease and Tony Duncan abstained].
9. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Schwarting reported the following:
· District Summary 2006-07 – Accreditation Classifications results:
Board of Trustees - All Clear
District Operations - All Clear
Adult Education - All Clear
Cope Area Career Center - All Clear
Ehrhardt Elementary - All Clear
Richard Carroll Elementary - All Clear
Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle - Probation
Bamberg Ehrhardt High - Advised
The administration has responded to the State Department of Education on the deficiencies which should become cleared [Board Packet Enclosure].
· Bamberg School District One qualified for a 5% credit in the Workers’ Compensation premium for the fourth quarter of the 2006-2007 fiscal year and for the 2007-2008 fiscal year by participating in the PARR (Premium and Risk Reduction) program of the South Carolina School Boards Insurance Trust. The district also qualified for the Risk Control Honor Roll. [Board Packet Enclosure]
· Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus B has been selected to participate in the “Count Your Smiling Faces Survey”. Parents will be contacted for screening. [Board Packet Enclosure]
· The administration received a copy of the new Property Tax Reform Bill that pertains to millage from Margaret Meyer, Bamberg County Auditor. Changes have been made in the way millage will be calculated in 2007. [Board Packet Enclosure]
· Handout and reviewed: Brunson Construction Company specifications of the restrooms at the stadium.
· Handout and reviewed: Class of 2007 Schedule of Senior Events and Activities. Students will receive a copy of the senior events and activities and a meeting is scheduled with parents on May 8 and 10, 2007. Students will have certain obligations to meet before they can march. Awards Night, Baccalaureate Service and Graduation are upcoming scheduled events. Awards Night practice, Awards Night, and Graduation are mandatory. Students will have until May 31, at 3:00 p. m. to satisfy any financial obligations that they may have to the office. All of the listed senior events are included in the student handbook. Only legitimate excuses are acceptable for missed practices. Chairman Dale Padgett suggested that the administration have every senior parent sign stating that they have read this information.
· Ms. Virginia Wilson, teacher from Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A, passed away on April 15, 2007. She had been employed in this district for 37 years. Her funeral services were well attended by the district on Friday, April 20, 2007. She will be greatly missed.
10. Monthly Financial Report
Finance Director Devon Furr presented the Finance Report for March 2007 [Board Packet Enclosure].
11. Visitors’ Comments
Jasie Kinard stated that the board did not respond to some questions that were asked at the last board meeting and she wanted to know how much progress had been made because the community is looking for answers.
Chairman Dale Padgett responded to Ms. Kinard by stating that one of the big issues here is that there are specific questions about personnel and by definition, personnel cannot be discussed in public--that’s executive session information.
12. Executive Session
Chairman Dale Padgett called for a motion to enter Executive Session. Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to enter Executive Session. The motion carried (5-0). The purpose for entering executive session was to discuss:
a. Legal Advice – Allison Hanna, Childs & Halligan
b. Employee Grievance
c. Employment Resignations
d. Employment
e. Student Transfer Requests
Open session: Chairman Dale Padgett declared the board out of Executive Session.
A. Legal Advice:
Legal advice was received. No action taken.
B. Employee Grievance:
Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded not to grant the request for a hearing on the employee’s grievance. The motion passed 3-2. [Trustees Rita Sease and Tony Duncan voted nay].
C. Employment Resignations:
Chairman Dale Padgett announced that Frankie Kemp, Jametta L. Black, Beryle W. Shuler, and Christine Lee Tindall, teachers of the district, have submitted resignations effective at the end of the 2006-2007 school year.
D. Employment:
Trustee Stacey Long moved and Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the employment of Angela M. Bunch, science teacher at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Stacey Long moved and Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the employment of George Robert Williams, physical education teacher at Richard Carroll Elementary School Campuses A and B, for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Stacey Long moved and Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the employment of Tom Ritari, social studies / coaching teacher at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Rita Sease moved and Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the employment of Arlene Jennifer Sease, 3rd grade teacher at Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A, for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Stacey Long moved and Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the employment of Christy G. Rutland, 3rd grade teacher at Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A, for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Stacey Long moved and Vice-chairperson Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the employment of Brandi D. Wiles, 1st grade teacher at Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A, for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
E. Student Transfer Requests:
Trustee Rita Sease moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the transfer of Elizabeth Meree Hutto from Bamberg School District One to attend school in Orangeburg Consolidated School District Three for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Tony Duncan moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the transfer of Landon Todd Sandifer from Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
With no other business before the board, the chairman adjourned the meeting.
Minutes approved:
_____________________________
R. Dale Padgett, Chairman
_____________________________
Stacey Long, Secretary