Bamberg School District One
Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees
Ehrhardt Elementary School
March 27, 2006
7:30 P. M.
Members present: Chairman Dale Padgett, Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg, Trustee Sheri Seigler, Secretary and Trustee Stacey H. Long.
Absent: Trustee Donald Mallory
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 27, 2006, were approved as presented.
4. Student/Staff Recognition
Superintendent Schwarting reported the following:
· Kyle Smith, 8th grade student from Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, won the Lt. Governor’s Award for writing an essay.
· Bamberg-Ehrhardt Wrestling Team finished 8th overall in Class A-AA and was one of the top Class A schools in the state. Thanks to coach Derek Ayers, employee Larry Long and other community persons who volunteered their services to the wrestling program.
· Freeman Cooler was selected and won his match in the North-South All-star Wrestling Match.
· Freeman Cooler won his 3rd State Championship in Wrestling and Larry Long placed third in state competition.
· Justin Sunday is a finalist in the South Carolina State Department of Education’s Archibald Rutledge Art Scholarship.
· The Junior Senior Prom is scheduled for March 31, 2006.
· Bretta Cook was awarded a Santee Cooper Scholarship.
· Jennifer Rahn was awarded a full scholarship to the Clemson Honor’s College. She was one of 16 selected nationally and 1 of 8 in South Carolina. This award includes full tuition, room, board, laptop computer, summer study abroad and $2,000 in cash.
· Perry Davis was awarded the Presidential Scholarship at Morris College.
· Approximately 25 students are enrolled in Clemson University’s Emerging Scholars program this summer.
· Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School and a number of other schools in the district are continuing to raise money for Relay for Life which is scheduled for the first week-end in May.
· Students are enrolled in various summer academic programs at the University of Tennessee, University of South Carolina, Voorhees College, Claflin University, South Carolina State University and Clemson University.
· Jennifer Forbes and Whitley Raysor participated in the Regional Olympic Volleyball playoffs in Charlotte, North Carolina.
· Jennifer Rahn was one of 18 selected for Furman’s Emerging Public Leaders program. She received money to initiate community service projects in Bamberg County.
· Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School Future Business Leaders recently participated in its annual statewide conference. The following members received 5th place awards in competitive events: Sarah Moustafa – Business Calculations; Damian Jones – Marketing; Whitney Fralix – Business Procedures; and Eric Jones – Economics. Heather Plowden was awarded 2nd place in Public Speaking II. Adam Davis, Janell Dickerson and Crystal Brabham received 2nd place in Emerging Issues in Business.
· There are approximately 130 students from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School involved in various athletic events at this time. Included are approximately: 30 JV and Varsity Baseball players; 25 JV and Varsity Softball players; 40 Track players; 20 Soccer players; and 15 Golf players.
5. First Reading:
Policy JFABD – Admission of Homeless Students
Policy JFABD-R –Administrative Rule – Admission of Homeless Students
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rick Starr reviewed for first reading Board Policy JFABD – Admission of Homeless students and Policy JFABD-R – Administrative Rule – Admission of Homeless Students. These policies are required by Federal Regulations. Grievances may be taken to the State Department of Education. Without this policy, the district will not be able to continue receiving federal funds in certain areas.
6. Second Reading:
Policy JLCD – Assisting Students With Medication
Policy JLCD-D –Administrative Rule – Assisting Students With Medication
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rick Starr reviewed for second reading Board Policy JLCD – Assisting Students With Medication and Board Policy JLCD-D –Administrative Rule – Assisting Students With Medication for first reading. Dr. Starr asked the board and the members agreed unanimously to table this policy until the next board meeting in order for the administration to compare it with some more information that just came in.
7. Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rick Starr stated that only preventive type maintenance is being done at this time. There is a lot of work that needs to be done on the playground of Campus A because it does not meet safety requirements.
Dr. Strarr stated that the 2005 Energy Consumption Report indicates that the state’s average per square foot for electricity is .96 and the district’s average was .66 per month. The district is 3rd in the state in efficient on square footage. The most efficient school in the district is Ehrhardt Elementary and the building with the highest average is the annex building.
An athletic facility, a concession stand, and restrooms at the football stadium along with a referendum to replace Campuses A and B were discussed due to the present conditions of the current buildings. Storage space, leaks, mold, animal infestations, and inadequate restrooms are issues at the football stadium that must be addressed. A “Butler Type Building” was suggested. Something must also be done about the hazardous conditions of Richard Carroll Elementary School Campuses A and B and the roof of the high school. Dr. Starr was asked to bring to the next board meeting a price for an athletic facility and work later on a referendum.
8. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Schwarting stated and reviewed the following:
· “Comment on Character” Newsletter by Mrs. Cindy Hurst [Board packet enclosure].
· Reviewed letter to Mrs. Constance Dowling-Ferguson on behalf of the Board of Trustees regarding the death of her mother [Board packet enclosure].
· Reviewed, for insurance purposes, board members’ beneficiaries for SCSBI.
· Handout: Email addresses of all employees of the district (Request made by Trustee Donald Mallory).
· Last year the district was selected for “Focused Monitoring” in Special Education. The focus was on the graduation rate. As a result of a re-visit in February, the district is now in compliance. All issues have been resolved.
9. Tentative 2006-2007 District Calendar
Superintendent Schwarting reviewed a tentative copy of the 2006-2007 District Calendar. The calendar is in line with Edisto School District and Cope Career Center which the district works with. The calendar will be reviewed and presented again at the next board meeting.
10. Monthly Financial Report
Board Packet Enclosure: Financial Report – February 2006
In the absence of Finance Director Devon Blume, Superintendent Schwarting reviewed the current finance report. She stated that the district’s spending is on target. A Budget Work Session will be scheduled between April and May.
11. Visitors’ Comments
None
12. Executive Session
Chairman Dale Padgett called for a motion to enter Executive Session. Vice- chairman John E. Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to enter Executive Session. The motion carried (4-0). The purpose for entering executive session was to discuss:
a. Employment Resignation/Transfer
b. Student Transfer Request
Open session: Chairman Dale Padgett declared the board out of Executive Session.
A. Employment Resignation/Transfers
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the resignation of Deana Bates, L.D. teacher from Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus B, at the end of the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the resignation of Charles Nightingale, P.M.D. teacher from Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus A, at the end of the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the administration’s request to transfer Dr. Tasha Louis-Nance, Director of Special Services, from her current position to a teaching position with her regular salary for one year starting the 2006-2007 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
B. Student Transfer
Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Mitch, Brandon, and Kirstin Whetstone from Orangeburg Consolidate School District Four to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2006-2007 school year. The motion passed 4-0.
With no other business before the board, the chairman adjourned the meeting.
Minutes approved:
_____________________________
Dale Padgett, Chairman
_____________________________
Sheri Seigler, Secretary