Mar 08, 2022 030822 AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING (trimmed)

[Call to Order]

[00:05:05]

OK, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MARCH 8TH MEETING OF BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ORDER, PLEASE.

[00:05:12]

THANK YOU. NOW, IF YOU WILL PLEASE STAND PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.

. OVER THE PAST WEEK, I'VE HAD SOME MEDICAL ISSUES IN MY FAMILY AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PLANNING FOR THIS MEETING, COULD NOT ATTEND AGENDA PREP MEETING AND SO FORTH.

SO IN FACT, I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL ABOUT TWO HOURS AGO THAT I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME.

SO I'VE ASKED MR. NUESSLE TO ACCEPT THE GAVEL THIS EVENING AND PRESIDE OVER TONIGHT'S MEETING.

SO MR. NUESSLE, VICE CHAIRMAN.

SO, FIRST ORDER, THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S BEEN CIRCULATED AND PUBLISHED, AND EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THAT.

IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS, WE'LL ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PUBLISHED.

HEARING NONE, THE AGENDA ACCEPTED AND APPROVED.

NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS, WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES, ONE FROM THE REGULAR MEETING FROM FEBRUARY 22ND, 2022, AND THEN THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF MARCH 1ST, 2022.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? MS. PATRICE RHINEHART-JACKSON MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES SECOND BY DR.

HANKS.

DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE TWO SETS OF MINUTES.

PLEASE SIGNIFY YOUR APPROVAL BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.

NEXT PORTION OF OUR AGENDA IS SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS IN OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

[Special Orders of Business]

SO MOVING ON.

MR. LAURENCE, WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS AROUND SOME RECOGNITION.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE? YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND I AM GOING TO ASK MR. ROSIER TO INTRODUCE THIS SEGMENT.

THANK YOU, SIR, OUR SEGMENT TONIGHT IS ON VIDEO, SO I WILL PULL THAT UP IN JUST A SECOND.

GOOD EVENING, DR. BRADLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND EVERYONE ATTENDING TONIGHT'S MEETING ONLINE. TONIGHT'S FIRST BOARD RECOGNITION COMES FROM SCHOFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING THE AIKEN COUNTY ACADEMIC TEAM CHAMPIONS.

ACADEMIC TEAM COMPETITIONS CONSIST OF STUDENTS COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER IN QUIZ BOWL FASHION. A QUESTION IS READ ALOUD BY THE MODERATOR AND STUDENTS, THEN BUZZ IN WITH THEIR ANSWERS. THIS YEAR, THE SCHOFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMIC TEAM TEAM AWESOME BUZZED IN FASTER AND PROVIDED MORE CORRECT ANSWERS THAN ANY OTHER TEAM IN THE COUNTY, FINISHING THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR SEASON WITH 10 WINS AND JUST ONE LOSS.

THIS MEANS WITH THE BEST RECORD OF ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMIC TEAMS IN AIKEN COUNTY, THEY ARE THE NEW AIKEN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMIC TEAM CHAMPIONS.

THE SMS TEAM ALSO IS COACHED BY SEVENTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AARON [INAUDIBLE].

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK SMS PRINCIPAL DR.

SCOTT FLOYD TO STEP TO THE PODIUM FOR SOME REMARKS.

DR. FLOYD. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, DR.

BRADLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT LAURENCE AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE. THIS IS A VERY PROUD HONOR FOR SCOFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IT'S A VERY PROUD MOMENT FOR ME AS PRINCIPAL AT SCHOFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL.

WE HAVE SEVEN STUDENTS HERE TODAY WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR ALL.

THEY COMPETED VERY THOROUGHLY, THEY'VE BEEN COACHED VERY WELL BY MR.

[00:10:01]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL RECOGNIZE EACH TEAM MEMBER.

WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE FROM AIKEN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT KEYBOARDS, A SCHOOL CERTIFICATE FROM SCHOFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL DR. SCOTT FLOYD AND CONGRATULATIONS FROM CYNTHIA HALL, DIRECTOR OF [INAUDIBLE] ACTIVITY AND COMPETITIONS.

OUR FIRST TEAM MEMBER IS TEAM CAPTAIN AND EIGHTH GRADER KIMBERLY NIKSARIAN.

SECOND TEAM MEMBER IS EIGHTH GRADER, RYAN CRAPSE.

OUR NEXT TEAM MEMBER IS DAIGAN “DIZZY” HALLMAN, EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT.

NEXT, WE HAVE TEAMMATE LORENA TILLER.

ALSO AN EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT.

OUR NEXT ACTIVE TEAM MEMBER IS EMMA “ALEX” BAGGOT, ALSO AN EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT.

OUR NEXT TEAM MEMBER IS KAORI RAMIREZ-GOJI.

ALSO AN EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT , AND OUR FINAL TEAM MEMBER THIS EVENING IS CHRISTOPHER ORTIZ-MIRANDA, THE TEAM'S ONLY SEVENTH GRADE STUDENT.

AND TEAM AWESOME'S FEARLESS LEADER COACH AARON KNOWLES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SCHOFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMIC TEAM, THE '21-22 AIKEN COUNTY ACADEMIC TEAM CHAMPIONS.

[APPLAUSE] FOR TONIGHT'S SECOND BOARD RECOGNITION, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK DIP IN THE POOL.

WHAT BEGAN AS A FUN WAY TO LEARN TO SWIM HAS BECOME A PASSION FOR TWO ACPSD STUDENT ATHLETES.

JOINING THE SOUTHERN TIDE SWIM CLUB, IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HELPED BUILD BOTH INTO COMPETITIVE HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMERS WHO NOW HOLD THE TITLE OF STATE CHAMPION SOUTH AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR KAITLYN GOLYSKI, WHO HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS VARSITY SWIM TEAM FOR SIX YEARS, EARNED THE 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SEASON IN THE 50 YARD FREESTYLE COACHED BY SUSAN ADAMS. SHE WAS THE 2021 4A STATE CHAMPION IN THE 50 YARD FREESTYLE AND A SILVER MEDALIST IN THE 100 YARD FREESTYLE.

SHE HAS WON MULTIPLE AWARDS, MEDALS AND PLAQUES.

SHE WAS THE TEAM MVP FOR THE 2020 21 SEASON AND WAS NAMED TEAM CAPTAIN FOR THE 2021 22 SEASON. KAITLYN HOLDS THE SOUTH AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN'S RECORD IN THE 100 BACKSTROKE, 100 FREESTYLE AND 200 FREESTYLE, AND SHE IS A MEMBER OF SOUTH AIKEN HIGH SCHOOLS RECORD HOLDING 200 METER FREESTYLE RELAY TEAM.

[00:15:04]

KAITLYN WILL BE COMPETING COLLEGIATELY IN THE SEC FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, WHERE SHE PLANS TO EARN A DUAL MAJOR WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND HISTORY, ALONG WITH A MINOR IN CRIMINOLOGY.

SHE HAS ALSO BEEN ACCEPTED TO THE LEWIS HONORS COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

MEANWHILE, AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE JARED ALLISON, WHO HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE HORNETS SWIM TEAM FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WON THE 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SEASON IN THE 100 METER BUTTERFLY.

COACHED BY FORMER AHS SWIM COACH BRIANNA HANCOCK JR.

WAS ALSO THE SILVER MEDALIST IN THE 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY AND WAS NAMED AS AN ALL-REGION AND ALL-STATE SWIMMER.

JARED SAYS SWIMMING COMPETITIVELY HAS TAUGHT HIM TO CHASE HIS DREAMS AND TO NEVER GIVE UP.

THIS YEAR WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR OF GROWTH FOR HIM, AND HE CONTINUES TO PUSH HIMSELF IN THE POOL. WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN AND OUT OF THE POOL OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

CONGRATULATIONS, KAITLYN AND JARED.

PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO ACCEPT THE CERTIFICATE FROM AIKEN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT KING LAURENCE. I.

CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE FOLKS.

UNDER THE OFFICE OF BOARD CHAIRMAN, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA FOR

[Office of Board Chairman]

[INDIVIDUAL ITEMS]

[Personnel Appointments]

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LIST AS PRESENTED? MOVED. I HEARD MS. PATRICE RHINEHART-JACKSON MADE THE MOTION.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND FROM MR. SILAS? ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO APPROVE THE LIST RECOMMENDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR EMPLOYMENT OF CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL. SORRY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL POLICY FIRST READINGS TONIGHT.

[Revision of Policy JIH and Administrative Rule JIH-R]

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ON THE FIRST READING? MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON IS A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

MR. CRANE SECONDS.

ANY DISCUSSION? MR. CRANE? JUST PROBABLY A FAIRLY SIMPLE QUESTION, JUST REVIEWING IT, THERE'S A GOOD BIT OF STRIKETHROUGH, RIGHT, THE OLD LANGUAGE AND NEW LANGUAGE ADDED, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S TO BRING US IN LINE WITH MOST UP TO DATE REGS AND ALL THAT? THANK YOU. YES, SIR, THAT'S GREAT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THE MOTION WE HAVE IS TO APPROVE ON THE FIRST READING, THE REVISION SUBMITTED FOR POLICY JIH.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYBODY, ALL EIGHT.

[Revision of Policies KA, KF, KJI, KLG, KLGHA, KJI-R, KF-E]

[00:20:03]

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE ON THE FIRST READING? MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON MOVES.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

MR. SILAS SECOND SET MOTION.

DISCUSSION. YES, MR. LAURENCE? MR. NUESSLE, JUST TO CLARIFY, THERE IS ALSO ADMINISTRATIVE RULE KJIR AND KFE INCLUDED IN THAT LIST, JUST TO MAKE SURE THOSE GET LISTED.

WHEN WE RESTATE THAT BEFORE WE VOTE, I'LL MAKE SURE I SAY THAT.

ANY DISCUSSION? MR. CRANE. I APPRECIATE THIS BEING BROUGHT AS I'VE RECEIVED SOME QUESTIONS WHICH I SHARED WITH YOU ABOUT RENTAL, SO NOT REALLY ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT WE MODERNIZED THIS AND STANDARDIZE IT.

OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE IS WE HAVE A REVISION TO POLICIES, KA, KF, KJI, KLG, KLGA, THE ADMINISTRATIVE RULE, KJI-R AND FINAL KF-E, AND THAT MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED.

WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYONE THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

[Suspension of portions of IKE-R]

THIS IS THE POLICY THAT ESTABLISHES A STRUCTURE FOR PROMOTION AND RETENTION OF STUDENTS AND, YOU MAY REMEMBER IN RECENT TIMES WE SUSPENDED PART OF THIS, AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS ASKING US TO SUSPEND THE PORTION AROUND HAVING TO PASS ALL FOUR CORE CLASSES AND ONLY BEING ABLE TO TAKE TWO AND CREDIT RECOVERY IN SUMMER SCHOOL AND SUSPENDING THAT WOULD TAKE IT BACK TO WHAT IT WAS PREVIOUSLY PRIOR TO 2016, WHERE STUDENTS WERE PROMOTED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I'M TALKING ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL IF THEY PASS ELA AND MATH AND EITHER SCIENCE OR SOCIAL STUDIES, AND THERE WAS NO LIMIT ON HOW MANY OF THOSE SUBJECTS YOU COULD TAKE IN SUMMER SCHOOL. SO THAT'S THE SUSPENSION OF THAT PORTION OF THE POLICY.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUSPENSION OF THAT PORTION OF POLICY IKE-R? MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON MOVES.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? DR. HANKS SECONDS THE MOTION.

DISCUSSION? DR.

BRADLEY? IS THIS PROGRAM THAT WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT RECENTLY IS BASICALLY A COMPUTER PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

NO, SIR, BUT WE WILL BE HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, BUT THIS IS STRICTLY SUMMER SCHOOL AND STRICTLY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.

ALL RIGHT. OTHER DISCUSSION.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SPEND PORTIONS OF POLICY IKE-R SPECIFIC TO THE PROMOTION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE AMOUNT OF CLASSES THOSE STUDENTS CAN TAKE IN SUMMER SCHOOL.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING THOSE PORTIONS OF POLICY IKE-R PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THAT'S EVERYBODY.

OKAY, A5, SO PERIODICALLY,

[Approval to make a contract award for demographics and facility assessment services.]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON MAKES THE MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? YES, SIR, AFTER SECOND.

MR. CRANE HAS SECONDED THE MOTION.

[00:25:02]

I'VE GOT A RUDIMENTARY IDEA, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE EDUCATED A LITTLE BIT MORE.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME ASK DR.

MURPHY TO SHARE SOME MORE INFORMATION WITH YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MR. BRADLEY MR. NUESSLE, OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, MR. LAURENCE. IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY THIS TIME AROUND.

SO IN THE PAST, WE'VE BEEN DOING DEMOGRAPHIC STUDIES THAT WERE FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE IN SCOPE, BUT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO COUPLE THAT WITH THE FACILITIES YOUTH STUDY AS WELL AND ALSO EDUCATIONAL ADEQUACY INDEX, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE CONTRACTING THIS FIRM TO COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES, HOW WE'RE USING IT AND PROJECT THE GROWTH OUT IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MAXIMIZE THE USE WITH GROWTH EXPANDING AS IT IS IN THE DISTRICT AND WHERE IT IS IN THE DISTRICT.

WE NEED TO BE MORE THOUGHTFUL AND I GUESS DATA DRIVEN IN HOW WE'RE UTILIZING OUR CURRENT SPACES, AS WELL AS WHAT WE'RE PROGRAMMING IN NEW SPACES IN THE FUTURE AND WHAT'S COMING AT US.

WILL THIS STUDY COME BACK TO US WITH SUGGESTIONS? YES, THAT'S THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF IT IS TO ADMIT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN COME UP WITH SOME DIFFERENT ZONE--I GUESS THE WORD, I TRY NOT TO USE IT TOO EARLY, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOME REDISTRICTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOLS AS WELL.

TO US, AND WE DECIDE WHAT'S PALATABLE TO US AS A DISTRICT, AND SO WE DETERMINED BASED ON THE SCENARIOS THEY PROVIDE WHAT WE GO WITH.

THEY DON'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS.

THANK YOU. I SAW MR. CRANE'S HAND UP.

MR. CRANE, THANK YOU.

I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS, ONE OF WHICH WAS JUST PROMPTED FROM MR. SMITH. FIRST, I KNOW IN THE PAST THE BOARD AUTHORIZED A ROUGHLY FIVE YEAR IN DEPTH POPULATION TREND STUDY.

IS THIS IN ADDITION TO THAT OR IS THIS PART OF THAT PROCESS? RIGHT, BASICALLY THE WAY OUR GROWTH IS HAPPENING, OUR CYCLE SHOULD BE EVERY FIVE YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WITH THE GROWTH, POPULATION STUDIES, BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN DOING THAT WITH THE FACILITY STUDIES.

OUR LAST COMPREHENSIVE FACILITY STUDY WAS 2007.

OKAY, YEAH, OVERDUE. THEN SECOND QUESTION, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE RESULTS OF THIS BACK? THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMELINES AT PLAY HERE, SO WE LIKE TO HAVE SOME RESULTS BY THIS FALL, BUT THERE'RE SOME DIFFERENT TIMELINES AT PLAY BASED ON THE FACT WHAT INFORMATION WE CAN GET FROM THE CITY AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WILL BE BAKED IN, I GUESS, UNTIL THE INITIAL AND FINAL TIMELINE.

SO WE'LL BE SUBJECT TO SOME OTHER FOLKS' WORKLOADS AND WHATNOT, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

YES, SIR. THEN THIRD QUESTION WHEN YOU SAY REDISTRICTING SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT, AND I'M JUST CLARIFYING WHAT MR. SMITH'S ASKING, FOR MYSELF.

ARE WE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT REDISTRICTING TRANSPORTATION ZONES OR DOES THAT PLAY INTO OUR POLITICAL REDISTRICTING? BECAUSE THAT'S COMING UP THIS YEAR TOO.

WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT ATTENDANCE.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT POLITICAL VOTING MAPS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER; I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.

MR. SILAS. MY QUESTION WAS ANSWERED, THANK YOU.

OKAY. DR.

BRADLEY. THE WORD AREA LINES [INAUDIBLE] WAS MENTIONED TO, I THINK THAT'S IN LAW.

I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT THE AREAS COULD BE RECONFIGURED WOULD BE TO HAVE THE LEGISLATURE CHANGE THE ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I THINK I'M RIGHT ABOUT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE WANT TO BE SURE OF BEFORE WE START TAMPERING WITH IT. MM HMM.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR DR.

MURPHY. SO ON THE FACILITY ASSESSMENT PORTION OF THIS, THEY WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE CAPACITY OF OUR FACILITIES ARE, AT LEAST I HAVE SEEN ROUGH NUMBERS ON THAT.

WHAT MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD THEY PROVIDE THAN WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW AS LIKE AN EXAMPLE? WELL, WE'VE MODIFIED OUR BUILDINGS IN THE WAY WE USE OUR BUILDINGS SINCE THE LAST STUDY WAS DONE, AND SO WHEN A BUILDING HAS A NEW WING THAT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN IN CONSIDERATION OF OUR LAST, OUR LAST ADEQUACY STUDY AND ALSO IN HOW WE ACTUALLY USE THE SCHOOL.

SO LET'S SAY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT JUST RAW SPACE, YOU'LL SAY, HEY, THEY HAVE AN EXTRA CLASSROOM, BUT IF THAT CLASSROOM IS A SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSROOM THAT MAY

[00:30:04]

ON PAPER, IF YOU SEE AN EXTRA CLASSROOM, YOU MAY THINK YOU CAN GET 25 CHILDREN IN THERE, BUT YOU CANNOT, AND SO IT'S HOW WE UTILIZE THAT SPACE AS WELL.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO GO IN AND DO A ROOM BY ROOM STUDY OF THE BUILDINGS AND ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE EXPECTED LIFE EXPECTANCY OF SOME OF OUR MAJOR SYSTEMS, HVAC, ROOFING, FLOORING, AND THEY TELL US, HEY, THIS SCHOOL IS GOING TO NEED X Y Z IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THIS FUTURE POPULATION, AND IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, THEN START PLANNING PROGRAMING TO BUILD A SCHOOL IN FOUR YEARS IN THIS AREA.

SO THEY'RE KIND OF THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US A ROADMAP AND WE DECIDE ACTUALLY HOW WE POPULATE THOSE SCHOOLS WHO GOES TO THOSE SCHOOLS THAT THEY DETERMINE ARE NECESSARY.

UNDERSTOOD, AND THE LAST ONE, SO THIS WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT INPUT TO ANY FUTURE LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS. ABSOLUTELY.

YEP. YEAH. WHICH WE'D PROBABLY HAVE A BIG LIST BEING PUT TOGETHER IN THE NEXT YEAR FOR TWO YEARS FROM NOW. YES, SIR.

OKAY, I APPRECIATE IT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MR. CHAIR? YES, MR. SILAS. THIS CONVERSATION BROUGHT UP ONE QUESTION.

DR. MURPHY, YOU MENTIONED HVAC AS PART OF THE STUDY.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY CAN [INAUDIBLE] COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE FOR THE ABM CONTRACT THAT WAS DONE.

SO COULD THAT POSSIBLY SAVE SOME TIME AND EFFORT IF, USE ALL EXISTING INFORMATION WE HAVE, THAT WAS PART OF THE THING.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE I WAS HESITANT TO DO GIVE ANY TIMELINES BECAUSE THAT'S A BIT OF A BURDEN ON US. WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE TO GO BACK AND PROVIDE THEM WITH, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT X Y Z, THIS, THAT, AND THE THIRD. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAND THEM ALL THOSE REPORTS.

THEY HAVE A HUGE INFORMATION REQUIREMENT FOR WHAT THEY NEED PRIOR TO ACTUALLY GOING INTO THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MAKING THE CONTRACT AWARD FOR DEMOGRAPHICS AND FACILITY ASSESSMENT SMITH. I JUST SAID, YES, MR. SMITH. WHAT'S THE COST GOING TO BE? TELL ME, PLEASE REAL QUICK.

I CAN'T REMEMBER.

IT'S ROUGHLY $260000.

THANK YOU. YEP.

OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MAKING THE CONTRACT AWARD FOR DEMOGRAPHIC AND FACILITY ASSESSMENT, THAT, MOTION HAS BEEN SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYBODY, UNANIMOUS.

[Consideration of Proposed ESSER II Funding Revisions]

I BELIEVE BACK IN SEPTEMBER, WE ALLOCATED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO COVER THE EXTENSION OF COVID LEAVE, AND THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED HALFWAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SO WE HAD ORIGINALLY HAD A BUDGET OF A MILLION DOLLARS AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE AND A HALF MILLION TO COVER THAT COVID LEAVE.

SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO ESSER 2 FUNDING FOR THAT? MR. CRANE'S MADE A MOTION.

DO I HEAR SECOND? SECOND BY MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON.

DISCUSSION. MR. CRANE? WHAT'S THIS GOING TO IMPACT? IF WE'RE ADDING FUNDS TO THIS, WE'RE TAKING IT FROM SOMETHING ELSE.

THAT IS CORRECT. SO WHAT THIS TAKES THE MONEY FROM IN ESSER 2 IS SUMMER PROGRAMS, AND THEN THOSE SUMMER PROGRAMS WILL BE SHIFTED INTO ESSER 3. NO MORE DETAIL THAN THAT, I SE MS. CANSLER OVER THERE AND MS. FORESTER, BUT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY HOW WE'RE SHIFTING THOSE DOLLARS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN COVER THAT COVID LEAVE.

AS A AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT GOING TO ULTIMATELY IMPACT OUR GOAL OF A NEW WAGENER-SALLEY. I KNOW THE ANSWER IS IT'S NOT GOING TO, BUT I WANT TO HEAR THAT.

IT IS NOT GOING TO IMPACT OUR PLANS FOR WAGENER-SALLEY.

THANK YOU. MR. SMITH? WHEN YOU SAY SUMMER PROGRAMS, SOMEBODY EDUCATE ME BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF SUMMER PROGRAMS. WELL, SPECIFICALLY, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DESIGNATED IN OUR ESSER PLAN.

SO, ANYTHING THAT'S DESIGNED TO SUPPORT REMEDIATION FOR STUDENTS, DELAYED LEARNING,

[00:35:05]

SO BUT THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUNDING IN ESSER 3 TO TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF ESSER 2.

OKAY, SO I CAN EXPECT THE SAME TYPE OF SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR THE REMEDIATION AND SO FORTH THAT WE'VE HAD. I'M CONCERNED WITH THAT.

YOU CAN EXPECT SUMMER PROGRAMS. YOU AND I HAVE TALKED AND THE STAFF AND I HAVE TALKED THAT WE CERTAINLY SEE THAT THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE THAT WE DID IT, THERE WERE SOME GAPS.

THERE WERE SOME PLACES WHERE WE FELT WE COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB, AND SO WE'RE ADDRESSING ALL OF THOSE AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND LOOKING AT THE CURRICULUM AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE WANT THE STUDENTS TO HAVE.

SO ALL OF THAT IS GETTING ANOTHER LOOK BEFORE SUMMER GETS HERE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND I CERTAINLY DON'T MEAN TO BRING IN BEFORE THE INQUISITION, BUT A REMEDIATION COMPONENT IS HUGE, ESPECIALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AND I'M GOING TO ASK THIS, I CERTAINLY KNOW WE NEED TO DO THIS, BUT IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY WE CAN PICK HERE AND THERE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT INSTEAD OF TAKING SO MUCH KIDS NEED IT. YES, SIR, AND KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS A SHIFT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE SAME DOLLARS.

WE'RE JUST GETTING THEM FROM ANOTHER POT.

MR. CRANE? JUST A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

SO THIS ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR BUCKET IS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR ONLY? YES, SIR. I'M NOT GOING TO ASK THE BOARD TO CONTINUE THIS BEYOND THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE COVID LEAVE, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEED FOR IT ANYWAY.

SO, JUST FOLLOW WITH ME HERE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT INSIGHT, SO WE'VE USED A MILLION DOLLARS UP IN MARCH, OR WAS THAT BEFORE MARCH? BEFORE WINTER BREAK, BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK.

DO WE ACTUALLY ANTICIPATE NEEDING ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OR ARE WE GIVING OURSELVES A RESERVE FUND THERE JUST IN CASE? AND IF SO, AND THERE'S LEFTOVER MONEY, WE'LL JUST SHIFT IT BACK INTO OTHER ESSER PROGRAMS ? IF WE NEED IT, WE NEED IT.

YEAH, I MEAN, WE'VE ALREADY SPENT IT.

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD WE'VE HAD CONSIDERABLY MORE TEACHERS ON COVID LEAVE THAN WE ANTICIPATED. SO, SO WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THAT, AND ANOTHER THING IS, TOO, WE'RE ENTITLED TO USE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COVID DOLLARS FOR INDIRECT COSTS, AND SO INDIRECT COSTS ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, MONEY THAT REALLY GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER THINGS LIKE ELECTRICITY AND WEAR AND TEAR AND SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN REMOVE SOME OF THAT SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR ESSER PLAN.

THAT'S ALL I NEED, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YEAH, MR. LAURENCE, YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION WITH THAT LAST STATEMENT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU ALL MEANT FROM INDIRECT COSTS, AND IT WAS IN MR. CRANE'S QUESTION, BUT I'LL RESTATE IT.

JUST MAKE SURE WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE WOULD REALLOCATE ANYTHING THAT'S NOT USED, CORRECT? YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU AGAIN TO DO IT.

I UNDERSTAND. OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED REVISION TO ESSER 2 FUNDING SPECIFICALLY TO GIVE AN ADDITIONAL 1.5 MILLION TO COVER THE COVID LEAVE THAT WE HAD APPROVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

[Modified Calendar for 2023-2024]

SO OBVIOUSLY FOR THIS MEETING AND PREVIOUS TO THIS MEETING, THAT SPECIFIC CALENDAR WAS PUBLISHED AND CIRCULATED, AND THERE WAS A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING PARTIALLY LAST TUESDAY TO GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND DISCUSS THAT.

SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MODIFIED CALENDAR AS PRESENTED FOR THE '23-24 SCHOOL YEAR? SO MOVED.

[00:40:01]

DISCUSSION? MR. CRANE I'VE, A COUPLE OF THINGS, SO I'LL JUST GET STARTED AND I MAY GIVE UP MY TIME AND COME BACK LATER. NUMBER ONE, I ASKED LAST WEEK, I'D REALLY LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT ATHLETICS, BAND, GATEWAY IN ANY OTHER MAJOR SUMMER PROGRAMS. I'M NOT SO WORRIED ABOUT THE SUMMER SCHOOL AND REMEDIATION PROGRAMS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND HOW WE'VE KIND OF BAKED THAT INTO THE WHOLE PROCESS, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S GIVEN ME A LITTLE HEARTBURN.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY...

THERE'S NO QUESTION.

SO FROM A BAND STANDPOINT, THE SUMMER OF '23 WILL BE TOUGH.

BAND DIRECTORS HAVE SHARED WITH US THAT THEY SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY TYPICALLY HAVE A THREE-WEEK BAND CAMP.

THEY MAY HAVE TO ADJUST THAT SOME TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

I MEAN, THEY CAN STILL DO A THREE WEEK BAND CAMP, BUT THAT REALLY TAKES TAKES MOST OF THAT SUMMER BREAK FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE LOOKING AT MAYBE SHORTENING THAT SOME.

SUMMERS AFTER THAT, I DON'T THINK IT HAS THAT MUCH OF AN IMPACT.

WHEN IT COMES TO COMPETITIONS AND OTHER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE SCHEDULED BY THE STATE AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF SCHEDULES AROUND SOUTH CAROLINA ANYWAY. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE AN IMPACT.

I'VE SUGGESTED TO ALL OF YOU BEFORE AND IN PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT A LOT OF PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

YES, YOU'RE USED TO HAVING A THREE-WEEK BAND CAMP IN THE SUMMER, BUT WHAT WHAT ABOUT A ONE WEEK BAND CAMP IN THE SUMMER AND THEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE INTERCESSION PERIODS FOR ADDITIONAL BAND CAMPS? TWO WEEK BAND CAMP IN THE SUMMER AND ANOTHER ONE IN THE FALL? I'M JUST SAYING THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY AND ADJUST TO THAT.

I THINK THAT MOST OF THE EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED AND THEY GENERALLY FALL IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE GOING TO REALLY BE IMPACTED.

ATHLETIC SCHEDULES ARE SET BY THE STATE, USUALLY A COUPLE OF YEARS IN ADVANCE, ESPECIALLY FOOTBALL. I DON'T THINK THAT GETS IMPACTED.

WE'VE TALKED TO A FEW ATHLETIC DIRECTORS AND SOME HEAD FOOTBALL COACHES.

THEY WILL HAVE TO ADJUST A LITTLE BIT, PARTICULARLY THE TIMING OF PRACTICES IN EARLY AUGUST, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PRACTICE TAKES PLACE IN JULY, WELL, WORKOUTS TAKE PLACE IN JULY. THE FIRST OFFICIAL PRACTICE WITH PADS IS TYPICALLY THE LAST FRIDAY IN JULY, SO NOBODY IS STARTING BEFORE THAT ANYWAY.

THEY'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT PERHAPS ADJUSTING THE TIMING OF THEIR PRACTICES IN THOSE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF AUGUST, BUT AS FAR AS GAMES ARE CONCERNED, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY IMPACT ON THAT, AND AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, YOU KNOW, FOOTBALL AND OTHER FALL SPORTS WILL WILL CERTAINLY HAVE CONTESTS DURING THOSE DURING THAT BREAK PERIOD, BUT THAT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN BASKETBALL HAVING EVENTS OVER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL HAVING EVENTS IN SPRING BREAK.

JUST AS A CLARIFICATION AND THAT'S ALL GOOD INFORMATION, I'M LESS WORRIED ABOUT THE SCHEDULE ONCE THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS STARTED, WHEN GAMES HAPPEN AND WHATNOT, THAN I AM, THEORETICALLY, SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS MAY HAVE TO START EARLIER.

CAN THEY OR DOES THIS CUT OUT? LIKE WITH GATEWAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT SCHEDULE WOULD WORK.

YES, SIR, GATEWAY HAS TO BE 30 DAYS, SO WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT AT SOME KIND OF CREATIVITY IN HOW WE DO THAT. PERHAPS IT GETS SPREAD INTO THOSE INTERCESSION PERIODS AS WELL.

MAYBE THERE ARE 20 OR 25 DAYS IN THE SUMMER AND THEN FIVE DAYS IN THE FALL, OR FIVE DAYS IN THE FALL AND FIVE DAYS IN THE SPRING.

WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS TO ENSURE THAT.

OTHER PROGRAMS HAVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY, BUT GATEWAY IN PARTICULAR DOES SPECIFY 30 DAYS FOR OF CONTACT.

WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE IN THE SPECIFIC CASE OF GATEWAY, FOLLOWING YEAR ONE, THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE EASIER? IT WOULD BE. I THINK WE GET A HEAD START ON IT.

[00:45:04]

WELL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK MY OTHER MAJOR QUESTION.

THAT WAS A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT KIND OF ONE TOPIC.

SO MY SECOND TOPIC ON THE TWO WEEK BREAKS, I'M NOT SOLD ON THE TWO WEEKS AND THE FEEDBACK I'VE GOTTEN ISN'T REALLY SOLD ON THE TWO WEEKS.

THAT'S NOT TO DIMINISH WHAT THEY'RE THERE OR THE EFFORTS THAT WERE PUT INTO DESIGNING THIS FOR US. I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUESTION THERE, I JUST I HAVE SOME TROUBLE WITH THE TWO WEEKS AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INTERCESSION WEEK.

AS DR.

BRADLEY POINTED OUT LAST TIME, WE COULD BUILD THAT INTO THE SUMMER, BUT THEN FROM THE PROGRAMS THAT WE JUST MENTIONED, A LOT OF THAT ADJUSTMENT IS ONE WEEK, NOT THREE WEEKS OR TWO WEEKS. GIVEN THE CASES, I'M TROUBLED.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE TWO WEEKS AND I'VE SAID THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES IN TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND HERE IN THIS ROOM THAT I BELIEVE THE TWO WEEKS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOES GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERVENTION WITH STUDENTS.

I MENTIONED THE LAST TIME WE WERE TOGETHER THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BUILD 30 MINUTES OF INTERVENTION INTO EACH OF OUR DAYS.

30 MINUTES OF INTERVENTION IS IS GOOD, INTENSE INTERVENTION FOR OUR STUDENTS IN A SMALL GROUP ENVIRONMENT. IF WE LOOK AT A FIVE HOUR, IF IT'S JUST A FIVE HOUR DAY AND WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT LONGER THAN THAT, BUT WE LOOK AT A FIVE HOUR DAY DURING THAT INTERVENTION TIME. THAT'S 10 TIMES WHAT THEY GET IN A NORMAL SCHOOL DAY.

SO FIVE DAYS THEY'RE GETTING 50 TIMES MORE THAN THEY GET IN A NORMAL SCHOOL DAY.

SO THAT ONE WEEK OF INTERVENTION COULD POTENTIALLY BE THE EQUIVALENT OF 50 DAYS OF INTERVENTION DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AT 30 MINUTES AT A TIME.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE TRANSITIONS AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT GO ON DURING THAT TIME, BUT RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME SCAFFOLDING TO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING AFTER THAT FIRST QUARTER OF SCHOOL AND WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN THE SPRING, GETTING INTO THAT LAST QUARTER OF SCHOOL AND INTO STATEWIDE TESTING. I'VE ALSO SAID BEFORE WE CAN'T CURE EVERY ILL IN A FIVE DAY INTERVENTION PERIOD, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS TARGET SPECIFIC SKILLS AND TARGET SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE THAT THE TEACHER OR THAT AN ASSESSMENT HAS DETERMINED ARE CRITICAL TO THAT STUDENT BEING SUCCESSFUL, MOVING INTO THE NEXT PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION AND GET THOSE STUDENTS THAT OPPORTUNITY, HOPEFULLY MAKING THEM MORE SUCCESSFUL IN THE NEXT QUARTER.

ALSO THERE COULD BE TIME FOR PRELOADING OF SOME INFORMATION FOR A STUDENT THAT WE KNOW HAS HAD A HISTORY OF STRUGGLING.

THAT STUDENT COULD HAVE SOME INFORMATION, SOME SKILLS, SOME KNOWLEDGE PRELOADED SO THAT WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL AFTER THE INTERCESSION, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE OTHER STUDENTS IN THAT CLASS, AT LEAST IN WHATEVER IS COMING NEXT AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT IT NOT BEING THEIR INDIVIDUAL TEACHER, AND IN MANY CASES IT WILL BE BECAUSE BECAUSE MANY OF OUR TEACHERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

BUT WE'RE FORTUNATE HERE IN AIKEN COUNTY THAT WE DO HAVE A A COMMON CURRICULUM AND THAT WE DO HAVE A STANDARD DELIVERY MODEL, AND SO THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WHAT A THIRD GRADE STUDENT IS GETTING THE NINTH WEEK OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AT ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOULDN'T BE THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY'RE GETTING IN THE THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM IN ANOTHER PART OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND SO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AS WE GO INTO THE SECOND QUARTER, WHILE THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF VARIATION, SHOULD BE CONSISTENT.

SO ANYTHING THAT WE DO FOR THOSE STUDENTS IS GOING TO BE DESIGNED TO HELP THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL INTO THAT NEXT QUARTER, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GOOD IN THAT ONE WEEK, AND WE ACTUALLY HEARD FROM ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO

[00:50:02]

SO OF COURSE, THAT'S ANECDOTAL, BUT IT'S SOME REASSURANCE THAT WE CAN DO STUDENTS SOME GOOD DURING THAT TIME.

DO WE ANTICIPATE THE TWO WEEK USING ONE FOR INTERCESSION TO GO BEYOND THE FIRST IMPLEMENTATION YEAR INTO YEAR TWO AND SO ON? YES. OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR THE MOMENT.

I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE ASK SOMETHING.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? MR. CRANE, I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER CHANCE, GIVEN WHAT YOU SAID.

WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU BECAUSE OTHERWISE I'M GOING TO CALL IT, BUT I'M OK WITH BEING CALLED FOR A VOTE. OKAY.

DR. BRADLEY? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT, NOT A QUESTION.

I'VE EXPRESSED MY VIEWS ON THE MODIFIED SCHOOL CALENDAR THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSING IT, AND I'M NOT SOLD ON A LOT OF THE CLAIMS BEING MADE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THE MODIFIED CALENDAR, BUT IN BEING A BOARD MEMBER, I HAVE TO FIND BALANCE BETWEEN MY PERSONAL BELIEFS AND THE BELIEFS OF THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT, AND EVEN THOUGH I THINK THAT THE SAMPLES THAT WE'VE OBTAINED WHEN WE DID SURVEY SOMEBODY SMALL, THEY'RE THE ONLY SAMPLES WE HAVE, AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THEY WERE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF DOING THIS THING.

THE TEACHERS WERE VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANTLY IN FAVOR OF IT, AND THE PARENTS WERE, I THINK IT WAS LIKE 60:40 SPLIT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON BOTH OF THE SAMPLES THAT WE GOT.

SO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE CREATING A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR SOME PEOPLE, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT TO DO WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WANT DONE IN THE ABSENCE OF REASONS NOT TO OR OVERWHELMING REASONS NOT TO. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, SO RESTATED, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED MODIFIED CALENDAR FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S SIX.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S ONE. MOTION PASSES.

ALL RIGHT.

BOTH MR. CRANE AND DR.

BRADLEY, MY BIGGEST HEARTBURN WITH IT IS THE REMEDIATION THERE, AND I WANT THAT'S WHY I SAY I WANT TO LOOK AT IT AS BEING FLUID.

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE B ITEMS, CONSENT ITEMS.

[CONSENT ITEMS]

BEFORE WE BEGIN, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS? MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON MAKES THE MOTION.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? MR. CRANE SECONDS THAT MOTION.

SO WE'LL STEP THROUGH EACH SIX OF THESE AND I'LL ASK FOR ANY DISCUSSION ON EACH ONE.

THE FIRST ONE IS RATIFICATION OF EXPULSIONS.

[Ratification of Expulsions]

ANY DISCUSSION ON THE RATIFICATION OF EXPULSIONS? OKAY, HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND CONSENT ITEM, AND THAT'S OUT OF DISTRICT

[Out-of-District Transfer Requests – Transfer In]

[00:55:01]

THIRD ITEM IS THE ASSOCIATION FOR MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION, THE PLAYBOOK CHALLENGE GRANT

[Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) The Playbook Challenge Grant Award to Leavelle McCampbell Middle School – FY22]

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? ALL RIGHT, FOURTH ITEM UNDER CONSENT ITEMS.

[Change Order #2 for the Belvedere Elementary School Additions and Renovations Project]

SO JUST REVIEWING WHAT THIS MONEY IS GOING FOR, JUST UP FRONT, I'LL SAY I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL, ADDING THESE LIFTING BEDS INTO THE SPECIAL ED BATHROOMS. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WERE SOME CONSTRUCTION QUESTION MARK ABOUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE. I GUESS WHY WAS THAT LEFT OUT? WELL, GOOD EVENING, ONCE AGAIN, THE INITIAL SCOPE OF OR SPECIFICATION FOR WHAT WAS BEING PUT IN THERE IS SIMPLY ONCE WE SAW IT, ONCE WE HAD IT ON THE WALL, WE REALIZED THAT WHILE IT WAS ADEQUATE FOR THE STUDENTS WE HAD, WE KNEW THAT SOME STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE IT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATE FOR. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A BED THAT WAS, WELL, A CHANGING TABLE THAT'S GOING TO BE FUTURE COMPATIBLE.

BOTTOM LINE. IT WAS JUST TOO SMALL.

IT WAS TOO FLIMSY FOR A LARGER CHILD.

A CHILD THAT COULD HELP US WITH THE CHANGING AT ALL CAN SUPPORT THEIR OWN WEIGHT, AND SO WE END UP GOING BACK IN AND PUTTING A MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGING TABLE IN THERE AS WELL AS [INAUDIBLE] LIFTS IN THE ROOF ON BOTH SIDES, AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING ON ONE SIDE, WE'RE DOING FOR THE OTHER SIDE.

SO IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE SCHOOL A LOT MORE FLEXIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

SURE, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE AND THIS IS A GOOD THING.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE WANTING TO OVERBUILD IT A LITTLE BIT.

I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE READY TO RECEIVE STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE.

I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS CHANGE ORDER? OKAY, THE FIFTH ITEM UNDER CONSENT ITEMS IS WE'VE GOT CONSTRUCTION BIDS FOR THE NEW CAR

[2022 Construction Bids for the New Car Loop at J.D. Lever Elementary Paving Project]

I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT YOU GUYS SEE IT THAT THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A SAFETY ISSUE, OR I SHOULD SAY THERE IS AT JD LEVER ELEMENTARY.

I THINK YOU GUYS REMEMBER ONE OF THE INCIDENTS THAT WE HAD WITH FOLKS DIRECTING TRAFFIC OUT THERE, AND THAT PARTICULAR ITEM THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR DOLLARS.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSTRUCTION BIDS FOR THAT CAR LOOP? ALL RIGHT, THE LAST CONSENT ITEM WE HAVE IS THE FINAL ARCHITECTURAL CONTRACT DOCUMENTS

[Final Architectural Contract Documents for Aiken High School Auditorium Addition Phase 4 Project]

ANY DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. MR. SMITH.

THIS IS THE FINAL PHASE OF WHAT WE WERE PLANNING ON BUILDING IN THE BEGINNING, YES, SIR.

ALL FUNDS WILL BE COMING FROM THAT BOND REFERENDUM, NOT OUT OF THE LOCAL NOT AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE STILL WITHIN THE ALLOWANCES THAT WERE IN THAT ORIGINAL PROJECT.

YES, SIR, RIGHT NOW IT IS.

OKAY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY THAT'S COME IN FOR THOSE SCHOOLS.

OTHERS AREN'T LOOKING NEARLY AS WELL AS THESE ARE.

I'M HAPPY FOR THEM.

YES, SIR.

MM HMM. SO AND I APOLOGIZE.

I SHOULD'VE RECOGNIZE WE HAVE FOLKS VISITING FROM LS3P, AND IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANTED

[01:00:05]

MURPHY? WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO GO INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF DESIGN, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD A CHANCE TO COME UP AND GO THROUGH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU AS WELL.

MR. CLINT RIDDLE AND ALLEN TAYLOR FROM LS3P AND IF NECESSARY, ALSO WE HAVE JEFFREY REYNOLDS FROM REYNOLDS CONSTRUCTION.

I'D APPRECIATE THAT; I WAS GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

GOOD EVENING, DR.

BRADLEY, MEMBERS OF BOARD.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOT IT, AND DR.

LAURENCE.

YES, SO WE WANTED TO UPDATE YOU.

SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

SO WE ARE IN THE FINAL PHASE.

WE'RE COMING TO YOU TONIGHT TO ASK FOR APPROVAL TO RECEIVE FINAL BIDS ON THIS PROJECT AND GET THE FINAL BID NUMBERS FOR THE PROJECT.

I KNOW WE RAN THROUGH THIS WITH YOU ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

I'LL BE BRIEF HERE.

JUST A QUICK REFRESHER.

SO THIS ADDITION, THE PHASE FOUR WE'RE CALLING IT WAS TEED UP WHEN WE DID THE PHASE TWO WORK. SO THE AUDITORIUM GOES AT THE BACK WHERE THE BAND/CHORAL AREA IS ROTC ON THE BACK OF DUPONT, AND WE'RE ADDING TWO PARKING AREAS BACK THERE.

IN THIS AREA, HERE, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 142 SPOTS HERE, AN ADDITIONAL 20 ON THE SIDE NEXT TO THE DRILL PAD. SO WE'RE PROVIDING SOME PARKING SPECIFIC FOR THAT AREA, FOR EVENT SPACE AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, OVERFLOW SPACE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL.

SO ANY QUESTIONS ON THE SITE AND WE'LL JUMP INTO THE TO THE MAIN BUILDING.

SO NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED IN TERMS OF THE PLAN SINCE THE LAST TIME WE PRESENTED, BUT I'LL QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE BUILDING LAYOUT.

THE MAIN ENTRY FACING EAST TO THAT LARGER PARKING LOT THAT ALLEN WAS JUST SHOWING YOU, WE ENTER INTO A PRE-FUNCTION SPACE AND A TICKETING AREA, LADIES AND MEN'S RESTROOMS AT THE FRONT OF THE FACILITY.

THE CONTROL ROOM SPACES AND UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ROOM.

THE LOWER CONTROL ROOM BEING A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE SPACE FOR CONTROLLING OF THE, YOU KNOW, THEATRICAL EVENTS AND APPROXIMATELY 750 SEAT AUDITORIUM WITH ACCESSIBLE SEATING AND AS WELL AS SOME FRONT AREA DESK SPACE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, SIDE TABLES FOR THESE SEATS SO THAT IF NEEDED, THERE COULD BE CLASSES PRESENTED IN HERE.

THE STAGE AREA AND THEN THE DRAMA CLASSROOM AND DRESSING ROOMS AT THE BACK OF THE BUILDING.

ON THE UPPER LEVEL STORAGE AREA AND MECHANICAL SPACES, AS WELL AS THE CATWALK FOR THEATRICAL EQUIPMENT AND THE RIGGING.

AGAIN, JUST SOME UPDATED EXTERIOR IMAGES.

NOT A LOT'S CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE PRESENTED JUST A LITTLE BIT OF REFINEMENT TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, AGAIN, KEEPING IN WITH THE MATERIALS AND THE APPEARANCE OF THE REST OF THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS.

THESE BEING IMAGES AT THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING AS IT FACES THE LARGER PARKING LOT AND THEN SOME IMAGES AROUND DUPONT DRIVE AND THE BACK OF THE BUILDING, WHERE THE LOADING AREA FOR THE DRAMA CLASSROOM.

WE'VE GOT SOME UPDATED INTERIOR IMAGES FOR YOU AS WELL.

AGAIN, WE'RE KEEPING WITH THE MATERIAL PALETTE AND THE REST OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THIS BEING A, YOU KNOW, A PUBLIC SPACE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF, YOU KNOW, THEATRICALITY AND PAGEANTRY TO THE SPACES.

A LOT OF SCHOOL COLORS, SOME OF THE HIGH, THE HORNET'S NEST MOTIF THAT YOU SEE IN THE IN THE PANELS.

WE'VE WORKED WITH THE, YOU KNOW, VERY TALENTED ACOUSTICAL AND THEATRICAL CONSULTANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS SPACE IS WELL PREPARED TO SERVE, SERVE THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WORK PAID ATTENTION TO THE MATERIALS AND THE ACOUSTICS IN THE SPACE AND THEATRICAL EQUIPMENT.

SO YOU SEE SOME IMAGERY HERE OF THAT PRE-FUNCTION SPACE ON THE TOP TWO IMAGES AND THEN THE THEATER SPACE ITSELF ON THE BOTTOM TWO.

AGAIN, A LOT OF BRANDING FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL SOME TERRAZZO SEAL ON THAT MAIN ENTRY, SIMILAR TO WHAT'S AT THE FRONT OF THE MAIN ENTRY OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.

JUST TO RECAP ON THE SCHEDULE, SO OUR HOPE IS THAT ACA REYNOLDS CAN GET STARTED ON THIS IN APRIL, SO OUR PLAN IS TO COME TO YOU IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WITH A FINAL GMP ON THE

[01:05:03]

AS YOU KNOW, COSTS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE RIGHT NOW, SO WE WANT TO GET THAT GMP SET AND GET ALL THAT STUFF LOCKED IN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

SO THE GOAL IS IN SPRING OF '23 TO HAVE THIS PROJECT COMPLETED SO THAT IT'LL BE READY FOR MOVE IN FOR THE SUMMER OR FALL SCHOOL YEAR OF '23.

LIKE I SAID, SO THIS IS THE SAME BUDGET WE SHOWED YOU A FEW WEEKS AGO.

WE'LL BE GETTING THE FINAL GMP HERE SHORTLY.

SO, TO YOUR QUESTION EARLIER ON THE CONSTRUCTION.

SO THIS IS STILL REFLECTING WHAT WE SHOWED YOU WITH THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTS A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND WITH THAT, OPEN UP TO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON? I HAVE THREE CONCERNS.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS WOULD BE BEST SUITED FOR MR. LAURENCE OR DR.

MURPHY. MY FIRST CONCERN IS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, THE BUS TRAFFIC ON THE BACKSIDE OF DUPONT AND THE RESIDENTS.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT OR HAVE WE PUT ANY THOUGHT INTO THAT? MY SECOND CONCERN IS ONCE THIS FACILITY IS BUILT YET AGAIN, THE TRAFFIC, BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THE FOOTBALL STADIUM ON THAT SIDE, NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AUDITORIUM, AND IF THEY HAVE AN EVENT AT THE SAME TIME, HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT THOSE RESIDENTS? THIRDLY, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO BE DIRECTLY FOR DR.

MURPHY. I WAS TOLD WHEN THIS WAS LAST BROUGHT UP THAT THE BUS TRANSPORTATION OFFICE WAS GOING TO BE MOVED TO SIX POINTS ACADEMY, BUT NOW I'M TOLD IT'S GOING TO BE MOVED TO TWO SEPARATE LOCATIONS.

SO ADDRESS IN ANY ORDER, PLEASE? THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, ONCE AGAIN.

WHENEVER WE MAKE A CHANGE TO THE FISCAL PLAN OF AN AREA OR IF WE BUILD A CONSTRUCTION SITE, WE DO TAKE CONSIDERATION TRAFFIC FLOW, AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FOR ME TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO MODIFY IT WOULD PROBABLY BE PREMATURE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO SIT BACK AND IT'S A 750 SEAT STADIUM, BUT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ALL THAT PARKING GOING INTO THE REAR OF THE BUILDING IN AND OF ITSELF, AND THERE WOULD I WOULD JUST VENTURE TO SAY AS A FORMER PRINCIPAL, I WOULD NOT ALLOW ANYTHING TO GO ON IN THAT AUDITORIUM ON A FRIDAY NIGHT OF A FOOTBALL GAME.

SO I WOULD JUST I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYONE ELSE TO SCHEDULE SOMETHING ON A NIGHT OF A FOOTBALL GAME. WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUS SLOT WE HAVE, WE EVALUATED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS. SIX POINTS CANNOT BE USED AS A BUS LOT.

WE CAN'T HAVE BUS TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA AT ALL WITH THE BASICALLY THE AGREEMENT WE MADE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

SO WE'RE NOT USING THAT AS A SCHOOL, AND SO WE CAN'T DELIVER STUDENTS AND WE CAN'T HAVE BUSSES GOING THERE IN AND OUT OF THAT AREA, AND SO WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT AIKEN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL AND THAT LARGE FIELD BEHIND THERE AS THE RELOCATION FOR THE BOTH AREA ONE TRANSPORTATION OFFICES, AND SO WE'RE SCOPING THAT OUT NOW AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, PUTTING IN THE FUEL TANKS AND STORAGE AND WHAT ALL MODIFICATIONS WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE TO DO THAT, BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE USED.

I SPOKE EARLIER, WE HAD MENTIONED BEING A BOND REFERENDUM.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A PENNY SALES TAX PROJECT, BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE A PART OF THE PENNY SALES TAX. OKAY, AND I HAVE A QUICK ONE BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ANYONE ELSE WITH THE DISCUSSION. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME, I KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THE SMALL THINGS WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT BUDGETS AND SAFETY AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS STILL SHOW AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BRANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE AUDITORIUM, AND I'M JUST REALLY IT'S NOT A QUESTION FOR THE ARCHITECTS, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION IS THAT STILL WHAT WE PROPOSED? THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT IT HAD BEEN CHANGED.

SO THAT DOESN'T MATCH WHAT'S IN HERE, AND I WAS LIKE, I THINK THAT'S AN AIKEN HIGH EMBLEM.

SO THAT IS LIKE, THAT'S AIKEN HIGH BRANDING ON THE SIDE OF AIKEN HIGH'S AUDITORIUM.

YES, SIR, IT'S JUST THAT WAS PRINTED PRIOR TO THE UPDATE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

OTHER DISCUSSION FROM FOLKS.

MR. CRANE? I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS JOINING US.

THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU ALL.

SO DR. MURPHY, I'LL GIVE YOU A BREAK FOR A MINUTE.

SO WITH THE COST BREAKDOWN THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PRESENTED TO US, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW INFLATION IS RIDICULOUS AND PROBABLY GOING TO KEEP GOING THAT DIRECTION FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I'M ASSUMING Y'ALL HAVE BUILT SOME OF THAT IN TO THE ESTIMATE.

[01:10:03]

THAT'S CORRECT. SO THE SO THE NUMBER THAT WE SHARED WITH YOU FOR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE NOW HAS CONTINGENCY BUILT INTO IT.

SO WE'RE FEELING FAIRLY GOOD THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO HOLD FOR THESE BIDS THAT WE'RE GETTING IN. OKAY, WE'LL CROSS OUR FINGERS.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY VOLATILE, BUT WE DID THE CURRENT MARKET. WE'LL DO AS BEST AS WE CAN WITH IT.

THAT'S RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, SO I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT AND I'LL JUST SAY I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE LOOK.

I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE FOR US WITHIN EVERY PROJECT, BUT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE BOND PROJECTS AND THE PENNY SALES TAX PROJECTS, I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THIS TYPE OF UPDATE AND EQUITABLE FACILITY TO SOME OF OUR OTHER SCHOOLS, WHICH AT THIS POINT, ONCE WE'VE DONE WAGENER, IT WILL JUST BE SOUTH AIKEN AND SILVER BLUFF FROM A HIGH SCHOOL STANDPOINT THAT HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY ATTENTION YET, AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THERE'S NOT OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE HAVE NEEDS BEYOND WHAT THEY'VE GOTTEN, BUT I'LL JUST SAY THAT'S JUST A COMMENT FOR US, MORE SO.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. SMITH. I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF MR. CRANE JUST A LITTLE BIT.

YES, SOUTH AIKEN, SILVER BLUFF, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE, BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT'S BEEN PROMISED AT MIDLAND VALLEY, TOO, AND I DON'T WANT THEM FALLING OUT OF THE LOOP.

DR. BRADLEY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY TWO THINGS COMPLIMENTARY YOU DON'T CATCH DR.

MURTHY. HE'S ALWAYS DOTTED HIS I'S AND CROSS HIS T'S.

I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM CAUGHT SHORT YET.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

APPRECIATE LS3P.

THEY'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PARTICULARLY AT AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL, STARTED WITH THE JAMES TAYLOR GYM, AND NOW THEY'VE COMPLETED IT.

WE TALKED ABOUT SILVER BLUFF AND MIDLAND VALLEY AND THOSE SCHOOLS, THEY WERE BUILT IN 1980. AIKEN HIGH WAS BUILT IN 1950 THREE.

I THINK OF SOMETHING WAY WAY BACK AND MY SON WENT TO THAT SCHOOL THAT WAS BUILT IN 1953, I BELIEVE, UNTIL HE GRADUATED IN 1990, AND IT WASN'T REALLY RENOVATED UNTIL SOMETIME AFTER THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO I THINK THAT THE AIKEN HIGH DESERVES WHAT IT'S GOTTEN, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR ROLE IN THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU WORKING ON IT FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

I WAS WORKED ON THAT GYM BUILDING EARLY IN MY CAREER.

THAT'S WHEN WE FIRST GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

THAT'S RIGHT. OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU.

SO WE'VE BEEN THROUGH DISCUSSION ON ALL SIX CONSENT ITEMS. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE CONSENT ITEMS? OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE SIX CONSENT ITEMS AS DETAILED IN OUR DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THOSE CONSENT ITEMS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EVERYBODY. IT'S UNANIMOUS.

OKAY, SO THAT IS ALL THE BOARD ACTION

[INFORMATIONAL ITEMS]

THE FIRST ONE OF WHICH IS ALL OF THESE ARE CONSTRUCTION STATUS REPORTS FROM DR.

[Construction Status Reports for the Belvedere Elementary School Addition and Renovations Project]

GOOD EVENING, FOR THE LAST TIME TONIGHT.

WE HAVE JUST A VERY BRIEF CONSTRUCTION STATUS UPDATE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN A BIT OF A HOLDING PATTERN, SO I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S GOING ON AT BELVEDERE.

FIRST WE BEGIN, THIS IS THE NEW PLAYGROUND LOCATION AREA AND WE'VE HAD THE PAVED AREA.

THAT'S ALL FROM THE SCHOOL AND IT'S A PAVED WALKWAY LEADING OUT OF THE SCHOOL AND DIRECTLY ONTO THE PLAYGROUND AREA, BUT THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IS NOT SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE UNTIL JUNE, SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THEIR PLAYGROUND.

THAT'S JUST [INAUDIBLE] PLAYGROUND UNTIL JUNE.

I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A BIT OF A STICKING POINT AND SOME ISSUE FOR THE CHILDREN THERE, BUT

[01:15:04]

SO JUST WANT TO BE UP FRONT THERE.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT OSF FINAL INSPECTION WENT WELL.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST REVIEWING SITE WORK AND ANY INTERNAL BUILDING ISSUES THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT THERE.

YOU CAN SEE THE OVERPASS FOR THE NEW RELOCATED BUS LOOP THAT THEY'RE PUTTING UP FRONT THERE, AND SO THE PROJECT IS STILL WITHIN BUDGET AND IT'S ON SCHEDULE, IT'S BASICALLY WE'RE HAVING SOME PROBLEMS GETTING THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PLAYGROUND IN.

SO THAT'S THE SITUATION IN BELVEDERE.

[Construction Status Reports for the Hammond Hill Elementary School Additions and Renovations Project ]

WE'RE STILL IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE WAITING THE FLOORING AS WELL AS THE FIRE ALARM ISSUES. SO THAT'S NOT A TWO WEEK, THREE WEEK DELAY THAT'S GOING TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL DELAY IN COMPLETION OF THAT PROJECT THERE.

WE'RE THINKING IT'S TENTATIVELY APRIL RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IS THE LATEST UPDATE THAT WE HAVE IS THAT APRIL WILL GET THAT STUFF IN THERE, BUT THEY ARE INSTALLING IRRIGATION AND LANDSCAPING AS WELL AS FINISHING UP ON THE FINAL STRETCH OF THE TWO STOREY BUILDING.

DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? MR. SMITH. JUST EDUCATE ME ON WHAT THE FIRE ALARM PROBLEM IS, BECAUSE I'M SURE AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO GET ASKED AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS IS WHAT'S HOLDING US UP.

I MEAN, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF CHIPS PROCESSORS IN ORDER TO GET THOSE IN.

SO THE COMPONENTS NEED THE CHIPS AND WITHOUT THE CHIPS, THEY CAN'T MAKE THE COMPONENTS, INSTALL THE FIRE CONTROLLERS, AND SO WE JUST CAN'T HAVE A BUILDING OPEN WITHOUT AN ACTIVE WORKING FIRE ALARM. IT'S AFFECTING CARS; IT'S AFFECTING A LOT OF OTHER AREAS IN THE INDUSTRY AS WELL, SO THAT'S THE ONE THING WE CAN'T HELP.

HERE YOU'LL SEE WHERE DOT RECOMMENDED AND WE DID PUT IN A FOUR WAY STOP--WELL, THEY PUT IN A FOUR WAY STOP OUT IN FRONT OF BELVEDERE, AND WE ARE BEHIND ON THE MOVE IN DATE FOR THE TWO STORY BUILDING. SO THE TWO STORY BUILDING, OUR MOVE IN DATE, WE WERE HOPING TO BE IN THERE EARLY JANUARY, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT THE OVERALL SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETION FOR THIS PROJECT IS JANUARY OF 2023.

SO WE'RE STILL WITHIN THAT WINDOW OF SAYING WE'RE GOING TO BE COMPLETED ON TIME.

IT'S JUST I CAN'T GET THE CHILDREN INTO THE BUILDING ON TIME, AND THIS DELAY ALSO WILL NOT IMPACT STARTING A PHASE TWO PHASE TWO.

AS I REMIND YOU, THE CAFETERIA AND A COMPUTER LAB ADDITION THAT'S SCHEDULED TO START I WANT TO SAY, APRIL OF 2023.

SO RIGHT AT THIS POINT, THIS DELAY IS NOT GOING TO IMPACT THAT AS WELL.

SO WE'RE JUST WORKING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE TO BUTTON EVERYTHING UP IN THAT SITE THERE, AND I WILL MENTION THAT I THINK MR.

[Construction Status Reports for the Highland Springs Middle School Project]

IT'S A BIG MUD PILE, BUT WE HAVE POURED FOOTINGS AND IT'S WE'VE RESTRUCTURED THE SHAPE OF THAT HILL AND IT'S ACTUALLY PHENOMENAL TO SEE THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE, SOME OF THE WALLS THAT ARE GOING UP, BUT IT'S NOTHING VERY, I GUESS, IMPRESSIVE TO REPORT AT THIS POINT, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY ON TRACK AND UNDER BUDGET.

SO I CAN HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE FOR THERE.

MR. SMITH? I'VE BEEN OUT THERE AS WELL.

WE HAVE TWO HUGE WALLS.

ONE IS THE WALL IS OVER ON THE I-20 SIDE OF THE PROJECT.

I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POURED WALL THAT'S FACING, I GUESS, EVENTUALLY BE THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL AND NOT THE CMU WALL, THE BLOCK WALL THAT'S NEXT TO THE COMMUNITY PROPERTY, RIGHT? THE UPPER WALL.

MM HMM. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR THAT WALL? THAT THING MUST HAVE COSTED.

YES, THAT IS PUT IN DUE TO THE WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO HAVE A LEVEL SO ALL THAT DIRT WAS CUT IN ORDER TO BRING UP THE LOW SIDE TO CREATE A LEVELED SLAB.

YEAH, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ON ONE SOLID LEVEL ALL THE WAY ACROSS I'M GOING TO BE ASKED THIS, WAS THERE NOT ENOUGH PROPERTY TO ALLOW A SLOPE THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. WE ARE VERY NARROW ON THAT WIDTH.

I CALL IT THE WIDTH OF THE PROPERTY.

YOU'VE GOT YOUR HIGH POWER UTILITY LINES ON THE NORTH SIDE, AND THEN RESIDENTIAL HOUSES ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

I UNDERSTAND, THAT'S JUST A HUGE WALL.

[01:20:01]

MR. CRANE? SO, A THEME THAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT ON TIME IN GENERAL.

WHILE IT'S NOT THE SCOPE OF THESE THREE PROJECTS.

WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE MILLBROOK PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT? I BELIEVE WE'RE EXPECTING TO GET THAT PLAYGROUND IN WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

IT'S HERE, IT'S ON GROUND.

IT'S DONE NOW. OKAY, YEAH, THEY WERE INSTALLING.

I KNOW I SAW SOME ON THE GROUND.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT, COOL, BECAUSE THAT WAS THEME FROM EVERY STUDENT THAT SPOKE AT MILLBROOK, RIGHT? SO, I HATE THAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO ALL THESE DELAYS WITH EVERY PROJECT, BUT IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I APPRECIATE THE DILIGENCE OF EVERYONE INVOLVED.

THOSE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN PLAYING IN LIKE AN EMPTY FIELD BETWEEN TWO OF THE BUILDINGS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT FINISHING UP THAT PROJECT.

MR. SILAS? YEAH, LET ME JUST REPORT MAYBE FROM OUR VISIT THAT THE AMOUNT OF SITE WORK IS INCREDIBLE, THAT'S GONE ON AND STILL YET TO GO ON, BUT WHEN YOU GET UP THERE, IT'S REALLY A NICE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A NICE SPACE.

IT'S OPEN.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, COMPLETED PROJECT IS REALLY GOING TO LOOK NICE UP THERE.

IT'S OPEN.

I CAN IMAGINE SUNSETS WILL BE NICE UP THERE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE AT SUNSET, ARE WE, BUT IT'S JUST A NICE SPACE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT ADVANCE.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.

MURPHY? THANK YOU FOR THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATES, DR.

MURPHY. I APPRECIATE IT.

[INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS]

[AGENDA ITEMS SUBMITTED BY INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS]

[CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESSED TO BOARD MEMBERS]

[OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT]

JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME EXCITING THINGS GOING ON WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR, SOME SATURDAY WORKSHOPS THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND PUT INTO PLACE BY OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES DIVISION, MS. GLOVER AND ALL OF OUR TEAM HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF MARKETING THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPLEMENTING THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR TEACHERS.

WE STARTED BACK IN FEBRUARY.

FEBRUARY 12TH WAS OUR FIRST ONE THAT WAS HELD AT LEAVELLE MCCAMPBELL MIDDLE SCHOOL.

WE HAD 76 TEACHERS TO ATTEND THAT AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TEACHERS, GET A STIPEND FOR PARTICIPATING AND ALSO GET RECERTIFICATION CREDIT. THE SECOND ONE WAS ON FEBRUARY 26, AT AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO YOU SEE, WE'RE MOVING THESE AROUND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THESE THINGS.

WE HAD 82 TEACHERS AT THAT ONE, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THESE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE SPRING.

THE NEXT ONE IS THIS SATURDAY, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AT NEW ELLINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

WE'VE GOT THEM ALSO ON MARCH 26TH, APRIL 23RD, MAY 7TH AND MAY 14TH.

SO WE ENCOURAGE OUR TEACHERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE, AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND ONE LAST THING I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE A COUPLE OF OUR TEAMS FROM THIS WEEKEND OR FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SILVER BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL LADY BULLDOGS COMPETED FOR THE 2A LOWER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THEY FELL SHORT, BUT WE'RE PROUD OF THEM FOR GETTING THAT FAR AND THE NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL LADY JACKETS WON THE 4A LOWER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND TOOK ON WEST SIDE FROM ANDERSON AND THE RAMS. THEY WENT INTO OVERTIME WITH THAT ONE AND FELL JUST SHORT OF THE TITLE, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM, BUT I DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE TEAMS AND IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO CONGRATULATE THEIR COACHES AND THE PLAYERS, FEEL FREE TO DO SO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. LAURENCE. THE BOARD IS GOING TO NEED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON HAS SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THESE MATTERS, PLEASE RAISE

[01:25:02]

PLEASE TRY. IT'S ABOUT 7:20 RIGHT NOW, LET'S PLEASE CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AROUND 7:30. THANK YOU.

OKAY, SO THE BOARD HAS CONVENED IN THE BOARDROOM.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO END EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION? MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON HAS MOVED.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND FROM MR. CRANE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS. WHILE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE BOARD DISCUSSED A STUDENT MATTER OF THE ADMISSION OF A TRANSFER STUDENT TO THE DISTRICT.

DO I HEAR A MOTION FOR THAT? MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE DENY THE ADMISSION REQUEST.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION MADE TO DENY THE REQUEST FOR ADMISSION OF A TRANSFER STUDENT TO THE DISTRICT AND SECONDED BY MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF DENYING THE ADMISSION OF THE TRANSFER STUDENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

ALSO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HAD AN EMPLOYMENT MATTER ABOUT AN EMPLOYEE CONTRACTUAL MATTER. DO I HEAR A MOTION FOR THAT? MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT WE DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING EMPLOYEE A AND EMPLOYEE B'S BREACH OF CONTRACT.

MR. SILAS HAS MADE A MOTION AND MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON HAS SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

. [CHUCKLING] DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT, MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON MOVES TO ADJOURN.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND BY DR. HANKS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS. MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.