Oct 12, 2021 101221 AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

[Call to Order]

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AS YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS BEGIN OUR MEETINGS WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE, SO I WOULD ASK

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THANK YOU.

NOW, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND AND SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.

AGENDA AND I RECEIVED NO FEEDBACK ABOUT CHANGING ANYTHING ON IT, SO

[Special Orders of Business ]

WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES REQUIRING APPROVAL THIS EVENING.

THAT'S THE REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 28.

IS THERE A MOTION MOVED BY MISS RINEHART SECONDED BY MR. SMITH? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF IMPROVING THE MINUTES? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYONE.

OUR FIRST ITEM UNDER SPECIAL ORDERS IS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

I HAVE HERE TWO, TWO REQUEST, I'LL REMIND THE AUDIENCE THAT YOU PRESENT US, EACH PRESENTER HAS FIVE MINUTES TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY AND YOU'RE ASKED TO GO TO THE MICROPHONE AND IT IS ON ITS ON, IF YOU WILL.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS JOYCE, AND I'M GOING TO MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME AND I APOLOGIZE IN [INAUDIBLE].

NO, I WAS SO BAD THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE IT.

AND SHE IS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT CRT IN OUR SCHOOL.

DR. BRADLEY, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO.

OK.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD AND EVERYONE HERE AT THE SCHOOL WHO HAS ALLOWED A NUMBER OF US TO COME AND REVIEW SIXTH GRADE SCHOOL CURRICULUM FOR EVIDENCE OF CRT.

EVERYONE FROM THE RECEPTIONIST AT THE FRONT DOOR TO THE ADMINISTRATORS WHO ASSISTED US WITH A SYSTEM THAT WE WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL AND PLEASANT.

AND JUST I JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT FIRST OFF, I'M ONE OF FOUR OR FIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME IN TO REVIEW THE CURRICULUM.

AND YOU KNOW, I'M SOMEONE WHO I HAVE A BIT OF A TEACHING BACKGROUND IN THAT I TAUGHT AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR NURSING, AND I WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ALL THE STAFF AT THE SECOND LARGEST VNA IN MASSACHUSETTS.

SO I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THE ADMINS THAT HELPED US AS WE LOOKED AT THE CRT INFORMATION BY HELPING US WITH THE RUBICON, A PROGRAM, IT WAS VERY HELPFUL.

THAT SAID, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO READ YOU SOMETHING THAT I WROTE BECAUSE I WOULD NOT REMEMBER AT ALL, SO I HAD TO WRITE IT DOWN.

MY FIRST QUESTION OF THE EVENING IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY NOW? THAT'S A QUESTION MANY OF US HAVE ASKED EACH OTHER.

I DO BELIEVE I DON'T BELIEVE I'M THE FIRST ONE OR THE LAST.

THAT SAID, ACTUALLY, IT WAS NO SURPRISE TO ME TO RECEIVE AN OPINION PIECE FROM

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AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH JACK DEVINE, HE OFTEN WRITES FOR THE AIKEN STANDARD AND HIS OPINION PIECE THAT HE SENT TO ME THIS MORNING.

GUESS WHAT? IT BEGAN WITH THAT VERY QUESTION.

WELL, I DON'T PRETEND TO HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT FRIENDS OF MINE, PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WILL TELL YOU THEY ARE WORRIED.

ESPECIALLY ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN AND THE INCLUSION OF CRT IN SCHOOL CURRICULA.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST STATS, YOU MAY BE AWARE, CRT HAS ALREADY BEEN BANNED IN 21 STATES, THANKS TO PARENTS EXERTING CONSIDERABLE PUSHBACK.

HOWEVER, NOW WE HAVE THE U.S.

ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND CALLING PARENTS DOMESTIC TERRORISTS AND STATING THAT HE WILL UNLEASH THE FBI, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND MULTIPLE OTHER FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON THESE PARENTS.

WELL, WE ARE NOT DOMESTIC TERRORISTS.

AS TAXPAYERS, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EVALUATE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

TO THAT END, RECENTLY A GROUP OF US MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH YOUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO REVIEW SOME OF THE CURRICULUM.

AND WHILE I WAS ABLE TO REVIEW SOME ONLINE ELEMENTS, IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACCESS THAT WAS WORRISOME, AT LEAST TO ME, SINCE IT'S A WELL PUBLISHED FACT THAT CRT IS UMBRELLA, WHICH IS USED BY OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

FURTHERMORE, IT WAS ONLY POSSIBLE TO REVIEW A SMALL NUMBER OF LESSON PLANS, AND THESE WOULD BE CONSIDERED BY MOST, MOST INSTRUCTORS, EDUCATIONAL PEOPLE.

BUT THESE ARE KEY INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS USED BY OUR TEACHERS.

SO IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR THAT WE WOULD BE DENIED ACCESS TO THESE KEY DOCUMENTS.

ADDITIONALLY, A LIST OF QUESTIONS WAS SHARED WITH ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE TO DATE.

SEVERAL OF THE QUESTIONS ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY.

ON THAT NOTE, I FEEL IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A SCHOOL POLICY IF NOT WRITTEN ALREADY TO BE WRITTEN, WHICH EXPLICITLY ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF CRT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT REQUEST TO SPEAK IS FROM DAVE POLLAN, WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO CURRICULUM REVIEW AND LESSON PLANS.

GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS DAVE PAULIN.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BRADLEY, SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD TRUSTEES, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS ALWAYS.

I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THE TOPIC OF CURRICULUM AND THE SIXTH GRADE CURRICULUM REVIEW.

I AM IN SUPPORT OF MS. [INAUDIBLE] AND MY ASSOCIATES THAT WERE ABLE GRACIOUSLY TO REVIEW THE SIXTH GRADE CURRICULUM HERE IN THE DISTRICT.

BUT I WANT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO LESSON PLANS.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE LESSON PLANS WE WERE DENIED ACCESS TO THOSE LESSON PLANS.

SO WHAT I'M REFERRING TO IS THE TEACHER LESSON PLANS THAT PARENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO ASK THEIR CHILDREN, WHAT DID YOU LEARN? AND THE TEACHER, OF COURSE, WOULD PRESENT THAT TO THE PRINCIPAL.

SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRINCIPALS ARE THE PRIMARY ROUTE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT, SUCH THAT THE PRINCIPAL WILL AUDIT AND REVIEW AND ENSURE THAT THE TEACHERS ARE TEACHING ACCORDING TO STANDARDS AND POLICIES THAT THE BOARD GOVERNS.

SO WE WERE DENIED ACCESS FOR THAT, AND THAT'S QUESTIONABLE BECAUSE ACTUALLY, I WOULD SHOW YOU THAT WE WERE GIVEN ONE SET OF LESSON PLANS, SOCIAL

[00:15:01]

THESE WERE PROVIDED AS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL AND AS A COURTESY.

OK, SO WHEN WE ASKED FOR MORE, WE WERE SAID THAT ACTUALLY THESE LESSON PLANS ARE NOT RETAINED BY THE DISTRICT AND THEREFORE THEY DON'T FALL UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

SO I WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO JUST BE AWARE THAT WHEN PARENTS AND CITIZENS ARE WANTING TO LOOK AT LESSON PLANS, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A WAY TO DO THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY FOR THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

SO THAT'S A THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT POINT.

AND THEN AGAIN, THERE WERE SIX OF US THAT SUBMITTED OUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND THAT WAS APPROVED AND WE DID PAY FOR YOUR LABOR AND YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

BUT WE APPRECIATE IT.

EVERYBODY WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING AND I GIVE SIGNIFICANT APPRECIATION TO THIS BOARD AND THE WAY THAT THEY ADMINISTER THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

YOU FOLKS ARE WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE A CUT ABOVE YOU ARE VERY ATTENTIVE AND YOU SUPPLY AND ARE AS TRANSPARENT AS I BELIEVE YOU CURRENTLY CAN BE.

BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU THAT THAT TRANSPARENCY CAN BE APPROVED AND WE AS CITIZENS AND PARENTS CAN ASSIST YOU IN THAT AND I'LL CONTINUE ALONG THAT LINE RIGHT NOW.

THE DISTRICT APPEARS TO BE WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE REACTIVE WITH REGARD TO TEACHERS AND THE PRINCIPALS AND MAYBE SOME INFRACTION SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO POLICY G, C AND A, WHICH IS SUPERVISION OF INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF.

SO WHEN WE HAVE A PRINCIPAL THAT'S ADMINISTERING THE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY, THEY ONLY AS FAR AS WE KNOW SEEM TO REACT WHEN INFRACTIONS ARE BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION.

WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE A MORE PROACTIVE SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY THE BOARD AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT THOUGHT, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AND I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT A CITIZEN'S CLASSROOM AUDIT COMMITTEE BE FORMED WITH YOUR GUIDANCE AND WITH YOUR APPROVAL, SUCH THAT WE CAN AUDIT RANDOMLY ALL OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, SUCH THAT WE CAN HELP THE PRINCIPALS ACCOUNT FOR ENFORCING ADHERENCE TO YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR POLICIES.

OF COURSE, WE WOULD WANT TO DO THIS WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT MAYBE HAVE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND OR MAYBE THAT HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT UNDERSTANDING OF THE TEACHING THAT GOES ON IN THE CLASS.

NOW, WITH REFERENCE TO THE THE MAIN IDEA BEHIND PROVISO ONE POINT ONE ZERO FIVE, WHICH WAS RATIFIED BY THE STATE ASSEMBLY, AND I BELIEVE SUPERINTENDENT LAWRENCE PROVIDED THAT TO THE PRINCIPALS.

WE WOULD QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THE BOARD HAS DONE ANYTHING, EITHER WRITTEN OR SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROVISO IS BEING ADHERED TO.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD ASK WHETHER OR NOT THE TEACHERS THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN TRAINED SPECIFICALLY ON WHAT THE PROVISO INCLUDES AND IF THEY UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR CRITICAL RACE THEORY BASED IMPLEMENTATION AND EDUCATION.

WE, MISS [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

WE KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM'S SECOND STEP, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE SIXTH GRADE CURRICULUM, DOES IN FACT CONTAIN SOME ASPECTS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY BASED IMPLEMENTATION, SUCH AS EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND A TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE AND A TRANSFORMATIVE EQUITY TYPE OF ADVOCACY.

SO WE WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT THAT AND ALLOW THE PARENTS AND THE AUDIT COMMITTEE TO GO INTO THE SCHOOLS ON YOUR BEHALF, WITH YOUR GUIDANCE AND CONDUCT SOME OF THOSE AUDITS FOR YOU.

AND SO THAT WE CAN SEE HOW THESE LESSON PLANS ARE BEING TAUGHT AND SEE WHAT THE CONTENT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE BLIND TO THAT.

NOW THE OTHER THING IS THAT TEACHERS ARE ALLOWED HERE.

YOU HAVE A RUBICON DATABASE THAT'S ALL OF YOUR VETTED AND AND PRE-APPROVED INFORMATION THAT EXISTS IN A DATABASE THAT THE TEACHERS CAN ALIGN WITH IN THEIR LESSON PLANS.

MY POINT TO YOU IS THIS WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE NOT PROHIBITED FROM GOING BEYOND THE RUBICON DATABASE, AND THEY CAN SEARCH AND USE SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES THE ENTIRE WIDTH AND BREADTH OF THE INTERNET.

SO THAT'S OF CONCERN TO US BECAUSE WE WONDER WHETHER OR NOT THE BOARD HAS ANY ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT OR WHETHER OR NOT WHAT THOSE TEACHERS ARE SELECTING FOR THEIR LESSON PLANS BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEE THEM.

WE WONDER IF YOU SEE THEM.

SO I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

[INAUDIBLE] CHAIRMAN, I JUST WANT TO REMIND ONE, NOT REALLY REMIND WE NEED TO RATIFY A VOTE TO GIVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE IN DECEMBER THE

[00:20:02]

AND IF NO ONE ELSE IS GOING, MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO DIVIDE THE VOTES ALLOTTED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY EQUALLY AMONG THESE INDIVIDUALS.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S A REQUIREMENT TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE A VOTE ON THAT, IF YOU WOULD.

SO I WOULD MOVE THAT WE DIVIDE THE EIGHT VOTES I THINK IT'S EIGHT THAT ARE ALLOCATED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF AIKEN COUNTY AMONG THE THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE AT WHICH THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY WILL OCCUR.

IN THE MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, I MEAN, IN DECEMBER.

SO THAT'S MY MOTION.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE? EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO.

IS THEIR A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND BY MR. CRANE.

ALL IN FAVOR.

ANY DISCUSSION FIRST? THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, MR. CRANE.

THREE DOESN'T GO INTO EIGHT EVENLY, SO WE'RE ASSUMING THE THREE ARE JUST GOING TO.

WE'LL DRAW A NAME OUT THE HAT.

I AGREE WITH [INAUDIBLE], WE'LL DO ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS AND WORK IT OUT.

I'M NOT JOKING, BUT YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

[Informational Items]

THAT'S RIGHT.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, THANK YOU.

IT'S OF THE DISCUSSION, IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

BOTH, ALL RIGHT, THAT'S EVERYONE, SAID MR. SMITH.

THE NEXT WE GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, THESE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE PRESENTED FOR INFORMATION ONLY, DO NOT REQUIRE BOLD ACTION.

FIRST ONE IS COVID 19 UPDATE MR. LAWRENCE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND WE WILL HAVE A SLIDE UP THERE IN JUST A SECOND TO SHOW YOU THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE.

NUMBERS IN AIKEN COUNTY CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AS WELL, STEADILY GOING DOWN THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES.

ALL OF THOSE ARE HAPPENING.

WE'RE WE GOT UNDER 100 STUDENTS LAST WEEK, DOWN TO 67.

EMPLOYEE CASES HAVE STAYED KIND OF CONSTANT.

WE'VE STAYED AROUND, YOU KNOW, 10 TO 15 FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS.

QUARANTINES ARE STILL JUST UNDER 3000, BUT THAT'S CONTINUING TO GO DOWN, THERE STILL RESIDUAL FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS, NOT AS MANY STUDENTS AS WE MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SEVEN DAY QUARANTINE.

SO MANY ARE STAYING THE FULL 14 DAYS, BUT WE SHOULD SEE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THAT ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WE LEARNED TODAY THAT DEAC IS CHANGING SOME OF THE CLOSE CONTACT EXPECTATIONS AND QUARANTINE EXPECTATIONS.

SO UP UNTIL NOW, STUDENTS WHO ARE BETWEEN THREE AND SIX FEET APART HAVE A CLOSE CONTACT, A CLOSE CONTACT AND A PERSON WHO IS TESTED POSITIVE.

THEY BOTH HAVE TO BE WEARING MASKS IN OTHER IN ORDER FOR THERE NOT TO BE A QUARANTINE.

IF EITHER ONE OF THEM IS NOT WEARING A MASK, THEN THE QUARANTINE HAS TO OCCUR.

DEAC CHANGED THAT TODAY, SO IF THE CLOSE CONTACT IS WEARING A MASK, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE PERSON WHO TESTED POSITIVE IS WEARING A MASK OR NOT.

SO IT'S KIND OF AN INCENTIVE TO WEAR A MASK.

IF YOU'RE A CLOSE CONTACT THREE FEET OR THREE TO SIX FEET AND YOU'RE WEARING A MASK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO QUARANTINE.

SO THAT MAY BE AN INCENTIVE FOR FOLKS TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN WEAR MASKS MAY OR MAY NOT.

BUT I THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE THING FOR US.

IT SHOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF QUARANTINES THAT WE HAVE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR, FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND SO THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING THAT AND THAT UNLESS ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS, I THINK THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SHARE ON COVID.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT THREE ITEMS ARE CONSTRUCTION.

I'M SORRY, MR. NUESSLE.

I JUST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT, I JUST WANT TO, IT SEEMS IT'S GERMANE TO THE TOPIC.

[00:25:01]

ONE OF MY KIDS RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, LET'S CALL IT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME LIVE INSTRUCTION REMOTELY.

AND THAT REALLY DOES HELP A LOT, AND I KNOW IT TAKES EXTRA EFFORT, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

THANK YOU.

MR. ONLY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE EVER SAY IT, BUT IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE APPRECIATE THE NURSES THAT ARE INVOLVED BECAUSE I'VE GROWN TO UNDERSTAND THROUGH MR. LAWRENCE HOW MUCH EFFORT THE NURSES ARE PUTTING FORTH FOR THE COVID DATA AND THE QUARANTINE DATA.

SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THEY'RE DOING IT ON THEIR OWN TIME ON THE WEEKENDS AND JUST WANT TO LET THEM KNOW, WE APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE HERE? ALL RIGHT, DR. MURPHY, CONSTRUCTION STATUS REPORTS ON BELVEDERE, HAMMOND HILL AND MILLBROOK ELEMENT.

GOOD EVENING MR. CHAIRMAN, DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS, MR. LAWRENCE, I'M VERY PLEASED TONIGHT TO BRING YOU THE LATEST CONSTRUCTION STATUS UPDATE.

WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE FINAL PHASES OF SOME OF THESE, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS MANY EXCITING PHOTOS, BUT WE SHOULD STILL HAVE SOME THINGS TO SHOW YOU HERE AND UPDATE YOU AT BELVEDERE.

THIS IS JUST A SHOT OF THAT FRONT LOBBY AREA AGAIN.

WE'RE WORKING ON A PUNCH LIST ITEMS AND SOME CABLING ITEMS AND ALSO MAKING SURE THE ENTRY CONTROL PANELS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONING.

SO THAT'S OUR PRIMARY WORK THERE.

JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER SHOTS THERE YOU CAN SEE.

WELL, YOU CAN'T SEE THAT WE COMPLETED A SECOND ROUND OF ASBESTOS REMOVAL AS WE DEMO THE SITE IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER, AS WELL AS IN THE LOWER.

THE LOWER PHOTOS KIND OF SHADED THERE, BUT THAT'S THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE EXISTING BUILDING AND THE NEW BUILDING THERE.

AND WE'RE ALSO BEGINNING THE WORK ON THE NEW BUS LOOP.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCITING PORTION OF THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AS WELL.

THE PROJECT IS, OF COURSE, WITHIN BUDGET AND ON SCHEDULE.

I WILL ALSO ADD, I KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN, WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND WE WE DO HAVE SOME DESIGNS FOR THAT PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE.

AND SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, I GUESS, A PLAYGROUND GROUNDBREAKING REALLY SOON.

WHAT HELD US UP A LITTLE BIT IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME EXISTING EQUIPMENT THERE AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO MOVE THAT.

SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PLAYGROUND PLANS.

ON OVER TO HAMMOND HILL.

ALL THE GLASS HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN THE EXTERIOR WINDOW FRAMES ON A TWO STORY ADDITION.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON ALL THE INTERIOR FIXTURES AND FIX THINGS INSIDE OF IT.

THE FINISHES, EXCUSE ME, AND THE BUILDING IS DRIED IN SO THE ROOF AND WE HAVE THE GLASS AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE HAVE HVAC DUCT WORK THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED AND INSULATED AT THE LOWER FLOOR LEVEL.

OVERHEAD FIRE ALARM, SPRINKLER, PLUMBING, CABLE AND TRAY CONNECTORS IS GOING ON IN THE UPPER FLOOR LEVELS, AND THE TWO STORY ADDITION IS APPROXIMATELY 80 PERCENT COMPLETE CURRENTLY.

WE'VE EXPANDED THE EXISTING STORM WATER RETENTION POND AND IT IS LITERALLY THE NICEST OF RETENTION POND I'VE EVER SEEN, THANKS TO SOME OF OUR ORDINANCES IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD.

BUT IT'S COMPLETED AS WELL, AND THE PROJECT IS STILL VERY MUCH ON TIME AND SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN JANUARY.

ON OVER TO MILLBROOK, MILLBROOK, THE BEGINNING YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE AS WE'RE GETTING READY FOR THAT, THAT CAR LINE BACK IN THE BACK, SO IT LOOKS LIKE A, I WAS TELLING KEVIN, IT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE RACE CAR TRACK BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A LOT OF PARENTS IN THERE IN A VERY SMALL AREA.

SO IT HAS A LOT OF CURVES IN IT, BUT IT'S FULLY FUNCTIONAL, IT'S FULLY LAID OUT AND WE'RE LAYING IT DOWN NOW.

THEY'RE FINISHING UP, THE GROUND LOOK 1000 PERCENT BETTER AND WE'RE GETTING OUT OF THAT MUDVILLE KIND OF STAGE THAT WE'VE BEEN IN IN A WHILE ON THAT SIDE OF THE WORLD.

SO IF WE GET SOME DRY WEATHER, WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO STAY ON OUR CURRENT TRAJECTORY THERE.

AND BASICALLY, THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED MID TO LATE NOVEMBER AS WELL.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY UP THERE, BECAUSE THE NEXT ITEM IS FACILITY'S CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT CORRELATE CHANGE ORDER NOTIFICATION.

UM, THIS IS BY POLICY, THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS DESIGNEE, THEY CAN APPROVE

[Consent Items ]

[00:30:09]

YES, SIR IT'S BASICALLY JUST A WRAP UP OF THE TWO CHANGE ORDERS THAT WE'VE COMPLETED THIS AND AGAIN, THEY'RE BOTH CREDITS.

SO THE FIRST ONE IS AT WARRRENVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A CREDIT FOR UNUSED ALLOWANCE FOR THAT SPRINKLER INSTALL, THAT WE HAD TO DO THAT EMERGENCY REPAIR.

AND THEN THE SECOND IS WE BASICALLY DO A SCRUB COAT AND TOP LAYER OF ALL THE GYMS IN THE DISTRICT, AND WE HAD A CREDIT FOR THAT CAME BACK IN AT $11487 SO THESE ARE JUST THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE CREDITS THAT WE APPROVED AT OUR LEVEL UNDER $15000.

AND HERE THEY ARE.

OKAY, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DR. MURPHY.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT SECTIONS TO BE ITEMS TO CONSENT ITEMS. THESE WILL BE PRESENTED AS A GROUP, ONE AT A TIME AND THEN WE WILL VOTE ON ALL OF THEM AT THE END UNLESS THERE'S A MOTION TO MOVE ONE OUT.

THE FIRST IS OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFER REQUEST.

THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE REQUESTING TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT.

NUMBER TWO IS THE HEAD START EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM APPROVAL OF COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON THE POLICY COUNCIL.

MISS REINHART JACKSON, I THOUGHT, HAD ALREADY BEEN APPROVED WITH DR. HANKS AS THE BACKUP.

BUT ANYWAY, THEIR NAMES ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BEING SUBMITTED TO SEE ME AS A REPRESENTATIVE AND A STANDBY.

OK, THE THIRD ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSTRUCTION COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THAT THOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO YOU.

AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, ANYTHING LET'S HEAR THEM, IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE TO NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE TEXTBOOK ADOPTION FO 2021.

THIS IS A HEALTH, TEXTBOOK FOR CERTAIN GRADES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNAVAILABLE, AVAILABLE FOR YOUR REVIEW.

AND NUMBER FIVE IS THE ELAIN S.

ANDREW FOUNDATION DONATION TO NORTH AIKEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE AMOUNT OF $15000 THESE FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO PURCHASE SCIENCE LAB EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS TECHNICAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES.

NUMBER SIX, THE RFQ CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK, DR. MURPHY, YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS ? GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN, BASICALLY, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE IS AN EXTENSION OF OUR BASICALLY OUR RFP WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONCEPT.

WE HAVE TWO MORE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING UP.

BASICALLY, ONE IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE FINISHING OUT OF AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE AUDITORIUM AND THEN OUR PROPOSED WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SITE, AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY TIME SENSITIVE AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK CONTRACTS.

AND SO WE WON'T LIKE WE COULD EXTEND IT UP TO TWO YEARS WITH SUPERINTENDENT APPROVAL AND THIS IS THE BOARD APPROVAL YEAR TO EXTEND IT JUST COMPLETELY OUT OF THESE FINAL TWO PROJECTS.

SO THIS WOULD GIVE US NINE YEARS? MAYBE FIVE PLUS TWO PLUS ONE, IT'D BE AT LEAST.

YEAH.

OKAY.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

FINAL ITEM IS THE LIST OF ITEMS TO BE DECLARED SURPLUS AND HOW THEY WILL

[Individual Items ]

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ONE? IF NOT, WE'VE GOT SEVEN ITEMS THAT WE NEED APPROVAL.

SO IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE SEVEN ITEMS, SO MOVE.

MOVED BY MR. SMITH, SECONDED BY MS. RINEHART JACKSON.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, OPPOSED.

I THINK THAT'S EVERYBODY IN FAVOR.

[Individual Board Members]

YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED WITH THE LIST OF THESE.

AND ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING, IF NOT TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO

[Office of Superintendent ]

MOVED BY MR. SILAS, SECONDED BY MS. REINHART JACKSON.

ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYONE.

I'VE RECEIVED NO REQUEST FROM INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA OR TO DEAL WITH CORRESPONDENCE.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE.

[00:35:01]

THANK YOU AGAIN MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I JUST WANT ONE ONE QUICK ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND MR. NUESSLE HELP ME TO INTRODUCE IT, BUT JUST THANKING OUR TEACHERS FOR THEIR EFFORTS WITH DUAL MODALITY FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE ON QUARANTINE.

I APPRECIATE THE BOARD AT OUR LAST MEETING APPROVING THAT, MAY HAVE BEEN TWO MEETINGS AGO, BUT WHENEVER IT WAS APPROVED, OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO OBSERVE SEVERAL AND AND SEE THE IMPACT THAT IT IS HAVING FOR OUR VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT MANY OF OUR TEACHERS WHO WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE DUAL MODALITY, BUT HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN VERY LARGE NUMBERS VOLUNTEERED TO DO SO.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST A A TESTAMENT TO THE COMMITMENT AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR TEACHERS HERE IN AIKEN COUNTY THAT THEIR DESIRE IS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENT.

AND I THINK IT GOES BEYOND OUR TEACHERS.

EVERYONE IS UNDER A GREAT DEAL OF STRAIN, WHETHER IT'S OUR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE OR OUR BUS DRIVERS, CUSTODIANS, SCHOOL LEADERS, DISTRICTS STAFF, EVERYONE IS

[Executive Session ]

BUT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO AND IT COMES DOWN TO THE COMMITMENT AND EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HARDSHIPS THAT THEY ARE ENDURING, THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR STUDENTS FIRST AND THEY'RE MEETING THOSE NEEDS.

SO MY APPRECIATION GOES OUT TO TO ALL OF THEM.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.

YES, SIR.

WE WILL NEED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING.

WE NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO AN ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS IN SUCH ORDER AS THE BOARD DEEMS APPROPRIATE, AN EMPLOYMENT MATTER, OR ACTUALLY A DISCUSSION OF TWO PERSONNEL MATTERS.

DISCUSSION OF A PROPERTY MATTER.

DISCUSSION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT, AND LEGAL ADVICE CONCERNING THE CODE OF IT'S THAT MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION MOVED BY MISS REINHART JACKSON AND SECONDED BY MR. MOULTON, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYONE.

WE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED AT THAT TIME.

[01:22:03]

[Return to Open Session ]

[Action on Items Discussed in Executive Session ]

[02:28:30]

[02:28:33]

[02:28:37]

[02:28:41]

[02:28:42]

[02:28:44]

[02:28:46]

[02:28:47]

[02:28:48]

[02:28:49]

[02:28:52]

[02:28:58]

[02:29:01]

[02:29:02]

[02:29:04]

[02:29:09]

[02:29:13]

[02:29:15]

[02:29:18]

[02:29:24]

[02:29:29]

[Adjourn]

[02:30:01]

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECONDED BY MR. SMITH, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYONE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVE.

MOVED BY MS. RINEHART JACKSON, SECONDED BY MR. SMITH.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

WE STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.