Bamberg School District One
Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees
Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School Library
January 24, 2005
7:30 P. M.
Members present: Chairman Dale Padgett, Vice-chairman John Bamberg, Mr. Donald Mallory,
Mr. Gregory Bamberg and Mrs. Sheri Seigler, Secretary.
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
Chairman Dale Padgett asked for additions or corrections to the minutes of November 22, 2004. The minutes were approved as presented.
4. Election of Officers for 2005
Chairman Dale Padgett asked Superintendent Schwarting to preside during the election of Board Chairman.
Mr. John Bamberg nominated and Mrs. Sheri Seigler seconded the motion to re-elect Dr. Dale Padgett as Board Chairman. The motion passed (4-1) with Mr. Donald Mallory voting no.
Chairman Dale Padgett presided during the election of Vice-chairman and Secretary.
Mrs. Sheri Seigler nominated and Chairman Padgett seconded the motion to re-elect Mr. John Bamberg as Board Vice-chairman. The motion passed (4-1) with Mr. Donald Mallory voting no.
Vice-chairman John Bamberg nominated and Mr. Gregory Bamberg seconded the motion to re-elect Mrs. Sheri Seigler as Board Secretary. The motion passed (4-1) with Mr. Donald Mallory opposing.
5. Approval of 2005 Board Calendar
Board Packet Enclosure: Monthly Board Meeting Schedule for 2005
Superintendent Schwarting stated that board meetings are rotated between all five school campuses and meetings are scheduled the 4th Monday of each month. She asked the board to approve the 2005 schedule as printed below:
January 24 7:30 p. m. - Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School
February 28 7:30 p. m. - Richard Carroll Elementary School - Campus B
March 28 7:30 p. m. - Richard Carroll Elementary School - Campus A
April 25 7:30 p. m. - Ehrhardt Elementary School
May 23 7:30 p. m. - Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School
June 27 7:30 p. m. - Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School
July 25 7:30 p. m. - Richard Carroll Elementary School - Campus B
August 22 7:30 p. m. - Richard Carroll Elementary School - Campus A
September 26 7:30 p. m. - Ehrhardt Elementary School
October 24 7:30 p. m. - Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School
November 28 7:30 p. m. - Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School
December 26 7:30 p. m. - Richard Carroll Elementary School - Campus B
Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg moved and Mrs. Sheri Seigler seconded the motion to approve the 2005 Board Calendar as presented. The motion passed (4-1) with Mr. Donald Mallory voting no.
6. Student/Staff Recognition
Superintendent Schwarting stated the following:
· Ehrhardt Elementary School students raised $2,098.17 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Brett McCormick was the top winner in the fundraiser. He raised over $300 and received a CD player for his efforts. Mrs. Lesia McCormick, substitute employee and volunteer in this school, headed the fundraiser.
· Ben Morrell, 11th grade student at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, was named T&D Defensive Player of the Year at a banquet in Orangeburg on Thursday, January 20.
· Ben Morrell and Ricky Sapp were named to the Sports Report All State team for football.
· Austin Smith, student at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, was selected as a nominee for Junior Service League Distinguished Youth Award.
· The following students recently took the PSAT and based on those scores, have been identified as South Carolina Junior Scholars: Taylor Basley, Paulina Buczulinska, Trey Bunch, Jacob Halmon, Jamie Hightower, Bad Munoz, and Jeffery Salley.
· Board vice-chairman John E. Bamberg, was elected president elect of the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA). He will serve a one-year term.
· The Education Oversight Committee has awarded Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School with the Gold Award. This is the highest level of award that the state gives to schools with student academic achievement and the fastest rates of improvement. The school will receive a flag and $3,278.
· Board chairman, Dr. Dale Padgett, has been awarded a certificate for Dedicated Service to public education for 15 years of service on the Bamberg School District One Board of Trustees from South Carolina School Boards Association.
7. Report Cards – 2003-2004
Superintendent Schwarting reported the corrected results of the Report Card as follows and stated that the scores at Richard Carroll Elementary, Ehrhardt Elementary and Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle Schools do not show a true picture.
Richard Carroll Elementary (Grades 5K-Grades 5)
Absolute Rating: Average; Improvement Rate: Below Average
Ehrhardt Elementary (Grades 3, 4 and 5) – Approximately 75 students
Absolute Rating: Below Average; Improvement Rating: Unsatisfactory
Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School
Absolute Rating: Below Average; Improvement Rate: Unsatisfactory
Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School (9-12)
Absolute Rating: Excellent; Improvement Rate: Excellent
Bamberg School District One: Absolute Rating: Average; Improvement Rating:Average
8. Assistant Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Rick Starr
Significant maintenance in the beginning of the school term has caused the maintenance budget to be overspent. Workers have been informed to fix things that are related to health and safety issues. The heating system at the high school was not working properly for three days but it has been repaired. A transformer was blown at the middle school but it was repaired in a timely manner.
Mr. Donald Mallory wanted to know the status of the District’s Emergency Plan and if a Disaster Plan exists. Dr. Starr responded by stated that the principals have compiled a list for the Emergency Plan and he is waiting for them to come in. Also, the State Department submitted a plan that covers both plans.
9. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Schwarting stated that the district met all six standards of the FY 2004 Performance on the Perkins Standards for Career and Technology Education.
Ethics Commission forms that board members received should be returned by April 15, 2005.
For the 3rd year, the district received $427,128.60 from Residential Property Tax Release. This money comes from the roll back of property taxes.
School Trustee Election is scheduled for April 12, 2005. The two seats that need to be filled are Seat 3 (Mr. Gregory Bamberg) and Seat 4 (Dr. Dale Padgett). The Legal Notice for this election will run the week of December 29, 2004 and two weeks later on January 12, 2005. Filing will begin on January 24, 2005, and close on February 7, 2005 at noon. Persons may file at the Voter Registration Office, Bamberg County Courthouse during regular business hours.
Mrs. Beth Clark, 1st grade teacher, had unexpected surgery which will require her to be out 6 to 8 weeks. In order to put a certified person in that position, Mrs. Paige Kemp, 5K teacher, agreed to go to Mrs. Clark’s class and Mrs. Ricky Kearse, Early Childhood Coordinator, agreed to go to Mrs. Kemp’s class because there were no certified people on the substitute list.
10. Monthly Financial Report
Board Packet Enclosures: Financial Report – November and December 2004
Ms. Devon Blume, Finance Director, reported that the maintenance account was overspent.
11. Visitors’ Comments
None
Mr. Donald Mallory received permission from Chairman Dale Padgett to discuss additional funds for his travel expenses. Mr. Mallory stated that the $3,000 that was put in the budget for travel expenses was never enough. He wanted to know if there could be some funds transferred or if some members be willing to transfer some of their funds because he needed to attend the meetings. After a discussion among the board, Mr. Mallory’s budget for travel expense remained $3,000 with no transfer of funds.
12. Executive Session
Chairman Dale Padgett called for a motion to enter Executive Session. Mrs. Sheri Seigler moved and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded the motion to enter Executive Session. The motion carried (5-0). The purpose for entering executive session was to discuss:
a. Student Transfer Request
b. Employment
c. Resignation
Open session: Chairman Dale Padgett declared the board out of Executive Session.
A. Student Transfer Request
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Mrs. Sheri Seigler seconded the motion to accept the transfer of Nicole Swaboda from Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4 to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2004-2005 school year. The motion passed 4-0. [During this vote, Mr. Gregory Bamberg was excused to leave the meeting early.]
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Mrs. Sheri Seigler seconded the motion to accept the transfer of Whitney Stroman from Denmark-Olar School District Two to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the remainder of the 2004-2005 school year. The motion passed 4-0. [During this vote, Mr. Gregory Bamberg was excused to leave the meeting early.]
B. Employment
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Mrs. Sheri Seigler seconded the motion to accept the employment of Mrs. Alicia Batts as a secretary at Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus A for the remainder of the 2004-2005 school year. The motion passed 3-1 with Mr. Donald Mallory voting no. [During this vote, Mr. Gregory Bamberg was excused to leave the meeting early.]
C. Resignation
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Mrs. Sheri Seigler seconded the motion to accept the resignation of Ms. Florine Johnson, custodian from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School (December 14, 2004). The motion passed 4-0. [During this vote, Mr. Gregory Bamberg was excused to leave the meeting early.]
With no other business before the board, the chairman adjourned the meeting.
Minutes approved:
_____________________________
Dale Padgett, Chairman
_____________________________
Sheri Seigler, Secretary