Bamberg School District One
Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees
Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School
March 26, 2007
7:30 P. M.
Members present: Chairman Dale Padgett, Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg, Secretary Sheri
Seigler, Trustee Stacey H. Long and Trustee Rita M. Sease.
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 February 26, 2007, were approved with the following correction by Trustee Rita Sease: On page 6 under item D (Superintendent’s Evaluation), the motion was made by Trustee Stacey Long and seconded by Vice-chairman John Bamberg instead of the motion being made by Trustee Rita Sease and seconded by Stacey Long.
4. Student/Staff Recognition
Superintendent Schwarting reported the following:
· Ms. Margaret Ritter, 3rd Grade teacher at Ehrhardt Elementary School, and two of her students, Courtney Zorn and Kaitlyn Myers, attended a Writing Workshop in Columbia on March 24. Ms. Ritter served as a facilitator and has been asked to return next year to help.
· The South Carolina Young Writers’ Conference was held on Saturday, March 24. The following students from Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School participated: Kelsey Reynolds, Bonnie Miller, Cachet McMillan, Jennifer, Adams, Kendra Stewart, Ja’Carl D. Safford, Damaris Thomas, Shauntina Benson, and Lehe Fender.
· Roper Mountain Science Center, a facility of Greenville County Schools, is pleased to announce that Del Jones, teacher at Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, has been selected to attend the Science P.L.U.S. Institute during the summer of 2007. The Institute emphasizes the Center’s belief that all students deserve a good science education.
· Spencer Isaac, Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School student, has been awarded the 2006-2007 Governor’s Citizenship Award.
· Domian Jones, Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School student, was a semi-finalist in the Coca Cola Scholarship.
· Christine Walter, junior at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, has been chosen as one of 17 high school students from across South Carolina named to the Ad Hoc Student Advisory Committee for the State Board of Education. The committee is one of several advisory panels to provide feedback on important education issues, legislation and policies.
· The Chess Team came in 2nd place in the State Chess Tournament. Anthony Ford tied for 1st place in the 12th Division.
· Heather Plowden, FBLA student at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, won 4th place in Public Speaking at the state conference.
· Ehrhardt Elementary School students collected $436.75 in pennies for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Pennies for Patients.
· Mrs. Virginia Wilson, 3rd grade teacher from Richard Carroll Elementary School, is not doing well. She has a terminal diagnosis of cancer.
Chairman Dale Padgett called for a moment of silent prayer for Ms. Virginia Wilson and her family.
5. Board Resolution for Bond Referendum
Handbook (Stevens & Wilkinson of SC): Facility Study Plans for Construction
Dean Mohr, Architect for Stevens & Wilkinson of SC, reviewed a recent study on the district’s facilities. Included was a price for a new 4K-6 building, renovations to the high school, middle school and Ehrhardt Elementary School, and some additional athletic facility plans that were requested at the last work session. Also, included was an updated cost for renovations which totals approximately $49,000,000. Updated costs for new facilities are as follows: 4K-5 + 6/7/8 Combined Facility - $40,200,000; 4K-5 Facility - $21,750,000; 6/7/8/ Middle School Facility - $21,570,000; 4K-6 Facility - $23,350,000; K-12 - $75,000,000 (land not included – athletic facility included). These facilities are large enough to accommodate Ehrhardt students if this option is ever considered. Approximately 50 to 60 acres of land would be needed to build a K-12 facility. Land is being sought toward the Ehrhardt area (Hwy. 301).
The board discussed the Facility Study Plans, Property, and Tax Mills then agreed to meet again at a work session before the next regular meeting. Suggested dates for a work session were April 11, 12, and 13.
Trustee Rita Sease moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to table the Referendum vote until the next (April 2007) board meeting. The motion passed 4-0 [Chairman Dale Padgett was absent during the voting].
6. Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rick Starr stated that concrete will be poured on the Field House Project on March 27. The erecting of the building will begin on Thursday and it should be completed by July 2007. The stadium site is being measured for the new restrooms.
7. Superintendent’s Report
Ms. Paulette Plowden, Executive Director for Bamberg County First Steps, thanked the district’s board, and the leadership of Superintendent Schwarting for all assistance, collaboration and partnership throughout the past 8 years. Ms. Plowden announced that the annual meeting celebration will be held on April 26, 2007, at Richard Carroll Elementary School Campus A, and everyone is invited to attend. First Steps includes programs on Facility Quality Enhancements, Center Staff Training and Development, Parents as Teacher Program, and Scholarship Initiatives. First Steps supports 6 child-care facilities.
Chairman Dale Padgett thanked Ms. Plowden for all she does for the children.
Superintendent Schwarting reported the following:
· Handout and reviewed: Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School Newsletters (Grades 9-12)
· Handout for review: 2007-2008 School Calendar (Draft Copy)
· Bamberg School District One celebrated “Reading Rocks” on Thursday, March 1, 2007, from 8:30-8:50 a. m. This was a time set aside for everyone to read.
· Board Packet Enclosure: Letter from Department of Health and Human Services The results of an on-site compliance review on November 9, 2006, indicated that the district was in compliance with the credentials and licensure required by the Medicaid Program. The speech teachers are to be commended for their excellent work.
· Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School is projected to receive funding allocations of $250,000 and Ehrhardt Elementary School $75,000 for the 2007-2008 school year and contingent upon state funding approved by the Legislature. This funding will be used to help improve PACT scores and academics.
· MAP testing was recently administered. Information from this data will be used to help prepare students for PACT testing.
· The district’s finance department will have an audit on May 23, 2007. This state audit occurs every 5 years.
8. Monthly Financial Report
Board Packet Enclosure: Finance Report – February 2007
Finance Director Devon Furr reported the following:
· Technology Equipment is overspent because of the manner in which E-Rate funds have to be posted in certain accounts; however, the overage will offset this account.
· Temporary Salaries is overspent due to several positions that have long-term substitutes.
· Supplies are overspent due to an increased demand of printer cartridges.
· Data Processing Supplies is overspent due to an increase in software licenses -- more than budgeted.
· Equipment is overspent because computers were purchased with Title One funds and more tables were needed which the district paid for.
Chairman Dale Padgett announced that this would be Vice-chairman John Bamberg’s last board meeting. He was applauded by the audience for the 20 years of service and countless hours he gave to the children of this school district.
Vice-chairman John Bamberg stated that he could not have done what he did if it had not been for the children of this district. The children gave him the incentive to do what he did. Vice-chairman Bamberg stated that this board is one of the best in the state. He has enjoyed working with the administration and this is a good school district.
9. Visitors’ Comments
Tony Duncan stated that the community is concerned about the discrepancies in leadership, what led to what happened and how it will be solved in reference to the bus drivers. The drivers feel that they are nobody and they shouldn’t have to feel like that because they are responsible for our children. Some people may even want resignations.
Jasie Kinard stated that the board could never imagine how whatever took place within the couple days has affected the children. She had an experience that wasn’t handled properly and she wished that she had done something about it. Perhaps if she had, it would have spared this incident from getting to this point. The students had no business being exposed to what they had to a few weeks ago. She asked the board to remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What was in the paper was really uncalled for.
Pamela Singleton expressed concerns about an article in the newspaper that stated that some bus drivers were afraid to speak out because the bus supervisor’s wife is on the school board. She wanted to know at what point the board considers it to be a conflict of interest for the bus supervisor to be the spouse of a board member. She valued bus drivers and wasn’t saying that she has never had a problem with one. Although some bus drivers were offered their jobs back, she wondered about the ones that the newspaper stated that were not offered their jobs back. Are they not being offered their jobs back because of the confusion that was stated that they caused, or is it because they are telling the truth and administration doesn’t want to face it?
Demmie W. Raysor stated that there are drivers who have driven for 15 or more years and they are not a complaining group of people. Once they began complaining they should have been heard. If they had been heard, what happened last Friday would not have happened. Because it happened, things have just kept escalating. Now the bus drivers are the unhappy group in the district. Mrs. Raysor stated further that she had experience with two bus supervisors but they all knew how to talk to you. If the bus
drivers are unhappy, we need to get to the bottom of it because we are sacrificing too many years of service.
Adrine Hatcher stated that she thought she would never stand up for a bus driver because of a situation she had with one. She asked that the bus drivers be given a chance and respect. Apparently, something is wrong – 15 years to 20 years of driving and now this.
Chairman Padgett stated that the board appreciates the bus drivers even if they don’t know each one individually. The board has always tried to make sure that non-certified personnel receive the same pay increase as certified personnel. Although it’s not a requirement, whatever the state gives to certified personnel, the non-certified personnel of this district receive the same increase. This is something that is not done in all districts. Chairman Padgett stated further that the comments received would be taken to heart and a lot of the members have already done that -- they won’t fall on deaf ears. The board is concerned about all employees of the district. Chairman Padgett asked all bus drivers to stand and be recognized. They were applauded by the board and audience.
10. Executive Session
Chairman Dale Padgett called for a motion to enter Executive Session. Vice-chairman John Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to enter Executive
Session. The motion carried (5-0). The purpose for entering executive session was to discuss:
a. Employment Resignations / Termination
b. Student Transfer Requests
c. Purchase of Land
Open session: Chairman Dale Padgett declared the board out of Executive Session.
A. Employment / Resignations / Terminations:
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the resignation of Mary Rizer Fleetwood, art teacher at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, at the end of the 2006-2007 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler moved and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the employment of Frederick Burt Orr, math teacher at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the employment of Cheryl Maynard-Ryan, art teacher at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, for the 2007-2008 school year -- pending acceptance into the PACE program. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Stacey Long moved and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the employment of Bridget S. Bridges, science teacher, for the 2007-2008 school year -- pending the signing of contract. The motion passed 5-0.
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the employment of Denise R. Crosby, special education teacher at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, for the 2007-2008 school year -- pending the signing of a contract. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the transfer in position of Dottie Haulbrooks Brown from teacher to Director of Student Services for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 3-2 [Trustee Rita Sease opposed and Chairman Dale Padgett abstained].
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Trustee Rita Sease seconded to re-hire Mary R. Montgomery, school bus driver, effective March 27 2007. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Rita Sease moved and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to rehire Shirley J. Wright, school bus driver, effective March 27 2007. The motion passed 5-0.
Chairman Dale Padgett called for a motion to terminate Lionel Sapp as a bus driver. No action was taken. Therefore the recommendation stands.
B. Student Transfers:
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the transfer of Steven Bart Weeks from Barnwell School District 45 to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the transfer of Brenna Alexandria Weber from Bamberg School District One to attend school in Orangeburg School District #4 for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the transfer of Mitch, Brandon, and Kirstin Whetstone from Orangeburg School District #4 to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
C. Purchase of Land
Discussed but no decision made at this time.
With no other business before the board, the chairman adjourned the meeting.
Minutes approved:
_____________________________
R. Dale Padgett, Chairman
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Sheri Seigler, Secretary