Bamberg School District One
Minutes of Regular Meeting of Board of Trustees
Ehrhardt Elementary School
September 26, 2005
7:30 P. M.
Members present: Chairman Dale Padgett, Vice-chairman John E. Bamberg, Trustee Sheri Seigler, secretary, Trustee Donald Mallory, and Trustee Stacey H. Long.
Absent:
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 August 22, 2005, were approved as presented.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to amend the board’s agenda to add “Discussion of the High School Band” following Agenda Item #9. The motion passed 4-1 [Trustee Donald Mallory voted no].
4. Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Schwarting stated in the absence of Dr. Rick Starr, Assistant Superintendent, that everything in the district has been fixed that can be at this time.
5. Second Reading: Board Policy GBED – Tobacco Free Schools
Superintendent Schwarting reviewed for second reading Board Policy GBED – Tobacco Free Schools. An Administrative Rule that stipulates the consequences of disciplinary action was presented as requested by the board. This policy does not permit smoking in any district-owned buildings or on district-owned property, including athletic facilities. The policy also does not permit smoking at any district-sponsored events, such as field trips or athletic events, whether on or off district property. Smoking in this policy means
all uses of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, and pipes and all smokeless tobacco, including chewing tobacco and snuff. “No smoking” signs will be conspicuously displayed
in all schools and other district-owned facilities. Violation of this policy by employees may lead to disciplinary action. The following sanctions are included the Administrative Rule of Policy GBED-R:
STUDENTS: Discipline will follow procedures as stated in student handbooks.
FACULTY/ STAFF:
§ 1st Offense - Official warning from direct supervisor.
§ 2nd Offense - Written reprimand to be filed in personnel file.
§ 3rd Offense - One day out of work without pay and appearance before
Bamberg School District One Board of Trustees to discuss
insubordination.
After a discussion of Policy GBED and Administrative Rule GBED-R, Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept Board Policy GBED – Tobacco Free Schools and Administrative Rule GBED-R. The motion passed 3-2 [Trustee Stacey Long and Trustee Donald Mallory voted no].
6. Student/Staff Recognition
Superintendent Schwarting reported the following:
· Varsity Sports: Girls Tennis Team 4-2; Girls Volleyball 9-0; and Varsity Football 6-0. Daquan Bowers was named the T&D Player for week #4.
· Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School Junior Ring Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, September 29th at 7:00 p.m.
· Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School Homecoming Queen is Miss Jennifer Forbes, a senior.
· Open House will be held at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School on September 27, from 5:00 p. m. – 7:00 p.m.
· Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School Raider Regiment Band participated in the Walterboro Band Classic on Saturday, September 24th. The Band received a Performance Rating of Excellent and outscored all other 1A bands. The Band also placed third in its division next to two other 4A bands. The Raider Regiment will compete again on Saturday, October 1, in the Barnwell High School Music “N” Motion Competition.
· The Junior Beta Club and Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School students raised over $500 within a week for Red Cross hurricane victims.
· Parent Visitation is scheduled at Ehrhardt Elementary School on October 4. All classes will participate in a musical program.
· Ehrhardt Elementary School takes the last 25 minutes of the day for all teachers to do PE in their classrooms.
· Open House will be at Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campuses A&B on October 13.
Mr. Randy Maxwell, Principal of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, gave an overview of his school’s opening since he was absent at the last board meeting. He stated that he had a very smooth school opening. Freshmen Orientation prior to the opening of school cleared
up a lot of questions and anxiety for incoming students. The enrollment has increased by approximately 35 students due to a large freshmen class. The current enrollment is 523. Due to the increase in enrollment, lunch serving is being monitored. The dress code, tardies, and student ID’s continue to be issues of concern.
7. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Schwarting stated the following:
· SC School Boards Association will sponsor a Regional Training Meeting at Barnwell High School on October 17. The registration deadline is Monday, October 10. Board members may invite community members; however, their registration fee of $15 will come from each member’s allotted budget.
· Character Education Newsletters are published for all parents each nine-weeks by Mrs. Cindy Hurst, teacher. She is working with all the schools to implement an official Character Program. [Board Packet Enclosure]
· Margaret Myers, Bamberg County Auditor, submitted a letter to the district stating that the School Operating Bond Mills for the 2005-2006 school year is 205.5 and the School Bond Debt Retirement is 47.6. This information will be sent to the newspaper for public awareness.
· Principal Randy Maxwell and Principal Robbie Kearse sent letters home to parents stating that the student handbook involving shirttails worn by male students is rescinded. Shirttails of any type must be completely tucked into pants around the waist. Pants must be worn at waist level. The waistline and belt must be visible around the entire waist. The dress code applies to the entire school premises including the bus port. Failure to follow the dress code will result in consequences listed in the student handbook. This memo is the only warning that students will receive.
· South Carolina Varsity Top Ten has ranked Bamberg-Ehrhardt No. 1 in the State.
· Ivan Rice, a Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School senior, was featured in the Advertizer-Herald Newspaper as being a dedicated B-E football player. When Ivan enrolled in four-year-old kindergarten program, he was almost totally deaf. Following his enrollment, the district purchased a phonic ear for him and since that time he has received cochlear ear implants that have improved his hearing significantly. His attitude has always been positive. Ivan stated that it doesn’t bother him that he doesn’t play football a lot, as long as the team is winning. He never thinks the game is over until the end. “Life is like a ladder, the higher you climb the more you succeed,” stated Ivan.
· Susie Morrell, a 5th grade Language Arts teacher at Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus B, was featured in the Advertizer-Herald Newspaper as having all the students that she taught to score Basic or Above on the PACT test.
· The State Newspaper featured an article on Coach Ron Duncan and the B-E football team. The article stated that the team rallied to support Coach Duncan with the heart problems that his infant daughter is enduring.
8. PACT, SAT and ACT Scores 2004-2005
Superintendent Schwarting reviewed handouts on the PACT, SAT and ACT test scores for 2004-2005. PACT and Act tests are required by colleges for students to be able to enter. Students that take rigorous courses have scored better on tests. [Handouts]
Compared to the state, the district’s SAT scores are average. Last year the Composite score was 922. This year it increased to 969. The district scored in the 48th percentile of the state.
HSAP testing has replaced the old BSAP Exit Exam. This is the second year it has been administered and is required for a 10th grader to get a high school diploma. The state scores for 2005 have not been completed yet. The state score was 76.0 and the district’s was 76.2. The number passing ELA on the first attempt in 2004 for the state was 80.0 and the district’s was 85.2. The number passing math on the first attempt was 80.1 for the state and the district’s was 83.3. For 2005, the number passing both test increased .8. The number passing ELA for the first time increased 2.4. The number passing math decreased 1.4%.
The district’s PACT scores were average. There are some concerns with 6th grade English Language Arts and math scores at Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, however, they are being addressed. The district employed someone to begin work on October 17, for 12 days to work with all English-Language Arts and social studies teachers. Many of these days will include staff development days. Others will require release time for the teachers. Funds to pay the teacher will come from “retraining grant funds” that the middle school received.
PACT scores will be reviewed again at the next regular board meeting, to allow trustees time for review.
9. Election of Delegate to 2006 SCSBA Convention
The South Carolina School Boards Association business meeting of the Delegate Assembly in conjunction with the Legislative and Advocacy Conference will take place on Saturday, December 3, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Hilton Head’s Crowne Plaza Resort.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee Stacey Long seconded to elect Vice-chairman John Bamberg as the Delegate. The motion passed 4-1 [Trustee Donald Mallory voted no].
Trustee Donald Mallory made a motion to elect himself as an alternate but the motion died for a lack of a second.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Trustee John Bamberg seconded to elect Trustee Stacey Long as the Alternate Delegate. The motion passed 4-1 [Mr. Donald Mallory voted no].
10. Discussion of the High School Band
Concerns held by Chairman Dale Padgett and Board members Sheri Seigler and Stacey Long about the Marching Band, particularly their performance during the homecoming parade and game, were brought forth.
Superintendent Schwarting stated many of the issues had already been addressed by Principal Maxwell with the Band Director.
Also brought up was the issue of Band members not appearing at games in uniform.
Superintendent stated the uniforms have a significant amount of wool in them and she doesn’t know if they can be worn during the first few games due to the heat. Superintendent Schwarting and Principal Maxwell will meet with the Band Director to review the concerns.
11. Monthly Financial Report
Finance Director Devon Blume stated that the 2004-2005 fiscal audit has been completed. Hopefully, the auditor will present a report at the October board meeting. Trustee Donald Mallory will receive a monthly report of his financial spending as he requested.
12. Visitors’ Comments
None
Trustee Donald Mallory displayed a DNA packet for testing students. All principals have received packets for their students to take home. The test requires parents to take a swab of the child’s salvia, place it in the packet and then refrigerate for future use if needed. There is no cost factor for the district involved.
13. Executive Session
Chairman Dale Padgett called for a motion to enter Executive Session. Vice-chairman John Bamberg moved and Trustee Stacey Long seconded the motion to enter Executive Session. The motion carried (5-0). The purpose for entering executive session was to discuss:
a. Employment
b. Hardship Cases
c. Student Transfer Requests
Open session: Chairman Dale Padgett declared the board out of Executive Session.
A. Employment Recommendations
Vice-chairman John Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the employment of Ricky Wingard Padgett, Jr. as technology assistant in the district for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-1 (Trustee Donald Mallory voted no).
Vice-chairman John Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept, with regrets, the resignation of Mrs. Kay Crosby, math teacher at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, at the end of the first semester (January 2006). The motion passed 5-0.
B. Hardship Cases
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Chyne Hires (4th gd.) from Ehrhardt Elementary School to attend Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus B for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Weston Gill (5K) from Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus A to attend Ehrhardt Elementary School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-1 [Trustee Donald Mallory voted no].
Trustee Sheri Seigler made a motion and Vice-chairman John Bamberg seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Howard “Dawson” Stokes (5K) from Richard Carroll Elementary School – Campus A to attend Ehrhardt Elementary School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 4-1 [Trustee Donald Mallory voted no].
C. Student Transfer Requests
Vice-chairman John Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Kelvin Kearse (11th gd.) from Allendale County School District to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
Vice-chairman John Bamberg made a motion and Trustee Sheri Seigler seconded to accept the attendance transfer request of Brian Cory Dantzler (8th gd.) and Laurel Brookes Chandler (K5) from Denmark-Olar School District Two to attend school in Bamberg School District One for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed 5-0.
With no other business before the board, the chairman adjourned the meeting.
Minutes approved:
_____________________________
Dale Padgett, Chairman
_____________________________
Sheri Seigler, Secretary