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I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK THE CODE OF CONDUCT COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND LONG HOURS TO ENSURE THAT THESE DOCUMENTS GIVE VOICE TO ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF BUILDING LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS, TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, COUNSELORS, MEMBERS OF STUDENT SERVICES AS WELL AS FEDERAL PROGRAMS. EACH TEAM MET FOR FOUR TIMES AND THOSE ARE THE DATES LISTED.
AN ELECTRONIC SURVEY WAS CREATED FOR EACH LEVEL ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH.
AROUND 500 SURVEYS WERE COMPLETED AND AROUND FIVE COMPLETED SURVEYS WERE RECEIVED.
EACH LEVEL TEAM REVIEWED THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEIR LEVEL, FROM THE SURVEYS AND IN TURN MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE PRINCIPALS FOR THE REVISION AND REVIEW.
FEDERAL PROGRAMS, SENIOR STAFF AND STUDENT SERVICES.
WE WILL START WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISIONS FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
STUDENTS MAY BE PLACED BY THE HEARING OFFICER AFTER A HEARING AND THEREFORE WE REMOVE THE RECOMMENDATION FOR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL AND REPLACED IT WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPULSION. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, SOME WORDINGS OF THE INFRACTIONS IN THE MATRIX AND SOME CIRCUMSTANCES WERE ADJUSTED BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS.
AND THE ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT IS CLEARLY DEFINED TO ALIGN WITH THE NEW POLICY.
BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS.
WORDINGS WERE MODIFIED, DUPLICATES WERE REMOVED AND SOME INFRACTIONS WERE MOVED TO DIFFERENT LEVELS.
FOR EXAMPLE, INSUBORDINATION AND DEFIANCE WERE COMBINED.
GANG ACTIVITY WAS ESCALATED FROM A LEVEL TWO INFRACTION TO A LEVEL THREE INFRACTION.
AND IN ADDITION, SOME CONSEQUENCES WERE MODIFIED.
WORDINGS FOR WAS CHANGED FOR UNDER THE ARREST OR CONVICTION OF CRIMES.
SOME NOTABLE CHANGES TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT WERE MADE TO THE CELL PHONE POLICY, THE DRESS CODE AND ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT PROCESS . FOR CELL PHONES.
WE UPDATED THE CELL PHONE POLICY AND THE MIDDLE AND HIGH LEVEL.
HIGH SCHOOLS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPTION TO ESTABLISH ZONES FOR STUDENTS TO UTILIZE THEIR CELL PHONES FOR NONACADEMIC PURPOSES, WHEREAS MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTED TO HAVE NO ZONES. AND THIS WAS SUPPORTED BY ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS AS WELL AS THE PRINCIPALS.
ANOTHER NOTABLE CHANGE WAS THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE DRESS CODE.
GUIDANCE HAD BEEN GIVEN ON THE WIDTH OF YOUNG LADIES TOPS.
ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE DRESS CODE ARE BONNETS HAVE BEEN DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE AS HEAD COVERINGS AND SHOES AND CLOTHING THAT IS MADE TO BE WORN AT HOME HAS BEEN ADDED AS BEING INAPPROPRIATE.
WE ALSO REMOVE THE DIRECT PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS BY THE BUILDING LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR.
THE FOLLOWING ARE CHANGES MADE FOR ALL LEVELS OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT? THE WORDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS REPLACED WITH ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT.
CURRENTLY, IT'S BEING REVISED AND IT IS IN YOUR PURPLE FOLDER TONIGHT.
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THE LENGTH OF DRESSES, SHORTS, SKIRTS, AND SKORTS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO BE NO LONGER THAN THREE INCHES PAST THE STUDENT'S FINGERTIPS WHEN ARMS ARE EXTENDED TO THE SIDE WHILE STANDING.[Call to Order]
MORE REVISIONS FOR ALL LEVELS.HAIRSTYLES AND COLORS OF THE HAIR WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
SEXTING AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA CODES WERE ADDED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SO THE STAKEHOLDERS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT CONSEQUENCES SHOULD BE FOR THOSE INFRACTIONS.
ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS A GUIDE AND A STUDENT MAY BE DISCIPLINED ACCORDING TO THE NATURE AND THE DEGREE OF THE DEFENSE OR THE ACT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR ATTENTION AND I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
QUESTIONS? MR. SILAS. YEAH, I CAN OPEN UP THE DISCUSSION.
MS. BRAXTON, I APPRECIATE THE JOB THAT YOU DO.
IT'S A TOUGH ONE AND ONE THAT THAT I APPRECIATE.
I'M NOT SURE THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU GOT FROM THE ONES ON THIS COMMITTEE IS CERTAINLY NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I HEAR ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS.
[Special Orders of Business]
I'LL GO SO FAR AS TO SAY CUSTODIANS I'VE TALKED TO.LUNCHROOM WORKERS, TRANSPORTATION.
BUT YET HERE WE ARE IN GENERAL, WE'RE REDUCING THE CONSEQUENCES FOR MANY, MANY ACTIONS.
OUR TEACHERS ESPECIALLY HAVE SPOKEN LOUD AND CLEAR ON THIS POINT THAT DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS AND I'M SORRY, BUT IN SOME CASES THE LACK OF ADMIN AND DISTRICT SUPPORT TO IMPROVE DISCIPLINE IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN TEACHER RETENTION AND THEIR AND MORALE AND JOB DISSATISFACTION.
AND THESE ARE JUST HONEST RESPONSES I'VE GOTTEN.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT CONSEQUENCE MATRIX, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK I SAID BEFORE MANY OF THE REVISIONS WERE TO DECREASE THE CONSEQUENCE EITHER BY NUMBER OF DAYS.
IN SCHOOL, OUT OF SCHOOL, AT WHAT LEVEL? FIRST DEFENSE FOR FIGHTING WAS REDUCED.
AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE JUST EXAMPLES WITHOUT WITHOUT POINTING THEM OUT INDIVIDUALLY.
IT'S JUST NOT THE DIRECTION THAT I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO GO.
I'M BAFFLED AS TO WHY WE'RE GOING THAT WAY AND EVEN AND EVEN SAY OFFENDED, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE MANY CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD IN MY THREE PLUS YEARS IN THIS ROOM OF DISCIPLINE.
AND JUST BAFFLED AS TO WHY WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
I'M NOT SURE QUITE WHAT THE MOTIVE IS OTHER THAN MAYBE STATISTICS TO OUTSIDE PARTIES.
BUT I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW.
WE'VE JUST GOT TO I CAN'T SUPPORT A CHANGE TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT WHERE WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
SO ADMINISTRATORS CAN GO BECAUSE OF MITIGATING MEASURES.
THEY CAN GIVE LESSEN THE CONSEQUENCES OR THEY CAN INCREASE THE CONSEQUENCES.
SO ADMINISTRATION DISCRETION, THEY HAVE THAT OPTION.
RIGHT. AND NOT BEING ARGUMENTATIVE AT ALL.
BUT MY OBSERVATION THUS FAR HAS BEEN THAT THEY TRY TO FOLLOW THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT RATHER THAN STEPPING OUT OF BOUNDS OF THAT, WITH MAYBE RARE EXCEPTION. AND FIGHTING IS A TOUGH ONE, BECAUSE I DO THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME DISCRETION THERE.
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GOING AT EACH OTHER. AND SO THOSE ARE DIFFERENCES AND THEY HAVE TO BE TREATED AS SUCH.AND I THINK THAT DISCRETION IS IMPORTANT.
I'LL. AND SO WE'RE OPEN FOR ANY GIVE US ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE TEAM WILL GO BACK AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BASED OFF OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MAKE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS THE POINT ABOUT THERE BEING SOME GOOD THINGS AND SOME THINGS THAT YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE ANYTIME A REVISION IS DONE, THERE WILL BE CERTAIN THINGS IN THERE THAT SOME FOLKS ARE PLEASED WITH AND SOME AREN'T.
SO WE TAKE THOSE SEVERE BEHAVIORS VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN BEHAVIORS THAT THAT THAT ONCE THEY OCCUR, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RECOMMENDING FOR EXPULSION AND SEEING THAT THROUGH TO THE END.
IF YOU NOTICE FROM THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THESE REVISIONS, THOSE ARE THE PRACTITIONERS.
THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO SEE THESE BEHAVIORS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE DEALING WITH THOSE THINGS.
AND THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THAT THEY WERE MAKING.
THERE WERE ALSO A NUMBER OF THINGS IN THERE.
AND YOU MENTIONED SOME PEOPLE OVERRULING THIS OR OVERRULING THAT.
WELL, THE FACT IS THAT WE HAD SOME LANGUAGE THAT WAS PROBLEMATIC FROM A FROM A DUE PROCESS STANDPOINT, THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE STUDENTS AND PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE.
WE HAD STATEMENTS IN THERE ABOUT DECISIONS OF CERTAIN PEOPLE.
I THINK IT'S THE THE HEARING OFFICER DECISIONS OF THE HEARING OFFICER BEING FINAL.
PARENTS HAVE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUEST SPEAKING TO THE PERSON AT THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO THAT'S WE WOULD CLEAN THAT LANGUAGE UP.
I THINK FIGHTING WAS BROUGHT UP.
AND YOU NOTICE THE FORMER LANGUAGE IN FIGHTING WAS OSS, FIVE PLUS DAYS, ADMIN DISCRETION, POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION OF EXPULSION OR RECOMMENDATION TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL.
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BECAUSE ON THE NEXT OFFENSE, IT'S INCREASED IN THE NEXT OFFENSE IT IS EITHER ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL OR RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPULSION.SO I THINK A LOT OF THESE THINGS AREN'T AREN'T REALLY GOING BACKWARDS.
THEY'RE MORE CLARIFYING AND AND PERHAPS FROM A SCHOOL STANDPOINT AND PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING WITH STUDENTS DAILY, I THINK FROM THEIR STANDPOINT. CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE MORE REASONABLE AND FIT THE THE EVENTS.
DR. HANKS. THIS MAY GET CONFUSING, BUT I THINK JUST IN LOGIC, SOME OF US, WHEN WE READ CERTAIN CODES THAT WERE CHANGED, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, NUMBER 13, THE PERFORMANCE OF A SEVERE MISCONDUCT WAS CHANGED FROM AN OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION TO AN IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION.
IF IT'S A SEVERE MISCONDUCT, WHY WOULD WE JUSTIFY REDUCING THAT? WHEN YOU TURN AROUND IN THAT SAME AREA FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, LEAVING SCHOOL, I GUESS IN THE EYES OF THE COMMITTEE IS MUCH MORE OFFENSIVE BECAUSE THAT REQUIRES AN OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION, BUT A MAJOR DISRUPTION DOES NOT.
SO IT'S JUST A FEW LITTLE THINGS THAT GO BACK AND FORTH.
[Video Recognitions]
THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE FOR SEVERE ACTIONS.THE OTHER THING I HAVE, AND THIS IS MINOR, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CODES WHERE WE ARE LISTING WHAT MEANS WHAT THE TERM THE LETTERS RES AND REST.
I THINK BOTH STAND FOR RESTITUTION.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT LISTS AND SORT OF CLEAN IT UP BECAUSE THEY ARE..
RES IS RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPULSION, REST IS RESTITUTION.
OKAY. TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE CODES MAYBE ARE LISTED IN EACH INFARCTION BECAUSE THEY ARE SORT OF MIXED AND MATCHED AND SOME OF THEM LEVEL TWOS HAVE BEEN CHANGED.
BUT THE CODES FOR WHAT MEANS WHAT SEEMS TO NOT HAVE BEEN CHANGED, AND THAT'S JUST A COMMENT JUST TO LOOK THROUGH THOSE CODES UNDER EACH INFARCTION TO MAKE SURE IT'S COVERING WHAT'S LISTED.
I ALSO CAN YOU CLARIFY TO ME JUST BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT SEEM VAGUE WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PLACEMENT TO CIL.
FOR ELEMENTARY OR MIDDLE AND HIGH? MIDDLE AND HIGH.
ON THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE DUE PROCESS, ADMIN CAN NO LONGER DIRECTLY PLACE A STUDENT AT AN ALTERNATIVE SETTING.
OR A PARENT MAY SAY TO AN ADMINISTRATOR, CAN WE TRY THE ALTERNATIVE SETTING AS AN OPTION? AND THEY AGREE TO DIRECT PLACEMENT.
SO THAT LINE ALSO SAYS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO ME, THAT'S GREAT.
WHAT CIRCUMSTANCE DOES A PARENT GET TO RECOMMEND SILL IN LIEU OF EXPULSION? IT JUST SEEMS GREAT TO ME, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S IN WRITING.
SOMETIMES PARENTS SAY, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GO TO A HEARING.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE? WHAT ABOUT THAT ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL? AND SO IF A PARENT GENERATES A REQUEST THAT WHAT WE FOUND PROBLEMATIC WAS WHEN A PRINCIPAL WOULD JUST ASSIGN A KID TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, AND THAT THAT DOES NOT GIVE THAT CHILD A CHANCE TO STATE THEIR CASE TO TO HAVE THEIR SIDE OF THE EVENTS HEARD.
AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT EITHER THE PARENTS REQUESTING TO IT BASICALLY LIKE AN OUT OF ZONE REQUEST.
AND SO WE CAN PLACE THAT CHILD THERE TEMPORARILY OR WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE REGULAR PROCEDURE, WHICH MEANS GOING TO A HEARING AND YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPULSION OR POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF SEAL.
ARE WE SAYING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE PARENTS OUT THERE THAT WILL NOT REQUEST CIL IN LIEU OF EXPULSION? WELL, THERE ARE SOME PARENTS THAT DON'T WANT TO GO TO CIL, BUT THERE ARE SOME PARENTS THAT WANT TO GO TO CIL BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO THE POINT OF GOING TO A HEARING.
PARENTS MAY SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, MY CHILD'S NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR.
HE'S HIS GRADES ARE GETTING POOR AND HE'S STARTING TO GET INTO TROUBLE.
CAN WE TRY CIL? SO IT MAY NOT BE TO THE LEVEL OF A HEARING.
IT'S JUST A PARENT WANT TO INTERVENE.
WE WANT TO GIVE PARENTS THAT OPTION.
SOME STUDENTS PREFER THAT ENVIRONMENT TOWARDS THE LARGER SCHOOL.
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SOME KIDS LIKE THE MORE STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT, THE SMALLER CLASS SIZE, AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS OF THAT NATURE.SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT IF THE PARENT WOULD LIKE TO TRY THAT PRIOR TO GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO GO TO A HEARING, WE WANT TO WE LEFT THAT FLEXIBILITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN NO LONGER ALLOW PRINCIPALS JUST TO SAY, HEY, JOHNNY, NEXT WEEK YOU'LL START AT CIL.
WE HAVE TO GO TO A DISTRICT HEARING FIRST.
I HAVE A COMMENT. I'M KIDDING.
OH, I'M SORRY IF IT'S ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
SO A PARENT CAN RECOMMEND THAT A CHILD GOES TO CIL, BUT ITS PARENT DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT.
WELL, I'M NOT GOING. I'M SORRY.
BUT I FOUND IN COMING TO CONTEXT WITH PARENTS WHO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RETAINING THEIR CHILD ANOTHER GRADE BECAUSE EDUCATIONALLY THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN WHAT THEIR PARENT FEELS THEY NEED.
BUT A PARENT CAN RECOMMEND CIL.
I'M SORRY. I CAN'T AGREE WITH THAT.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN.
YEAH. SO. SO WE HAVE THE OPTION OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL AS ONE OF THE ONE OF THE CHOICES.
AND IF IT'S AN OFFENSE THAT COULD RESULT IN EXPULSION OR COULD RESULT IN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL.
TYPICALLY THAT IS A JUDGMENT CALL BY THE ADMINISTRATOR.
BUT IF THE ADMINISTRATOR BELIEVES THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING MORE SEVERE THAN A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION, THEN IT NEEDS TO GO TO THE HEARING OFFICER FOR THAT TO OCCUR.
IN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE PARENT, THE PARENT COULD SAY, WELL, IF THE HEARING OFFICER HAS THE OPTION OF EXPELLING MY CHILD OR PLACING MY CHILD IN AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, THE PARENT COULD SAY, WELL, CAN WE GO AHEAD AND TRY THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL INSTEAD OF THAT? THAT THAT THAT ENDS UP BEING EXACTLY THE SAME THING THAT WE HAVE NOW, EXCEPT IT'S THE PARENT AGREEING TO IT.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS, IS PREVIOUSLY THE PARENT DIDN'T HAVE TO AGREE TO IT.
WE'VE ALREADY SPENT 20 MINUTES ON THIS AND WE'RE JUST GETTING WARMED UP.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO ARRIVE AT A PLACE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE HAPPY ANYTIME SOON.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES CONFRONTING THIS BOARD, AND IT HAS BEEN WHEN I RAN FOR THE BOARD.
ALL I HEARD WAS DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE.
AND THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW THAT, OF COURSE, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT 13 KIDS KILLED IN A SCHOOL SHOOTING.
AND I MEAN, PEOPLE IT'S A PROBLEM OUT THERE.
THE ADMINISTRATION'S JUST NOT LISTENING.
THAT MIGHT BE A TOTAL, TOTALLY UNFAIR CHARACTERIZATION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN I SEE THIS KIND OF STUFF, I SAID, WHERE HAVE THESE PEOPLE BEEN? ALL THESE SERMONS WE PREACH? OF COURSE THEY ARE NOT HERE, AND I'M SURE THEY'RE NOT WATCHING THIS ON TV.
YOU KNOW, SO WHETHER THEY EVEN KNOW HOW THE BOARD FEELS, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, WE NEED TO MAKE IT KNOWN.
WE'VE GOT THE NEXT TWO TUESDAYS AVAILABLE.
ENTERTAIN THE MOTION TO WHICHEVER ONE YOU WANT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WHICH NIGHT WOULD BE BEST.
SO. SO WE WOULD NEED FEEDBACK FROM YOU, TOO.
NO, I MEAN, IF JUST A RECOMMENDATION THAT IF A SPECIFIC INFRACTION IS IS OFF BASE RECOMMENDING THAT WE'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE. KING I THINK WE HAVE TO SYSTEMATICALLY REVIEW THEM.
WE JUST NEED TO WE JUST NEED TO SIT DOWN AND WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS BOOK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S WHAT'S GOOD AND WHAT'S NOT GOOD AND THE VIEW OF THE BOARD. AND THEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US WHY WE'RE WRONG.
ULTIMATELY, WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE DECISION BECAUSE WE ARE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
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ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD ABOUT WHAT WHAT WE WANT AND WHAT THEY WANT AND SEE IF WE CAN ARRIVE AT SOME LEVEL OF THAT MAKES EVERYBODY HAPPY.I AGREE. MY DIRECT FEEDBACK, IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR IT, IS EVERY INSTANCE WHERE YOU'VE SUGGESTED TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT YOU INCREASE IT INSTEAD OF DECREASE IT? THAT'D BE A GOOD STARTING POINT.
AND THE ONLY WAY I NEED TO DO IT, WE JUST NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WHEN WE GOT HADN'T EVEN GOT TO THE B SECTION YET AND IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER INTO THE MEETING.
I THINK WE JUST NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
AND I DON'T YOU KNOW, I SUGGEST ONE OF THE NEXT TWO TUESDAYS.
I DON'T CARE WHICH ONE IS THE 31ST, I BELIEVE.
AND THE NEXT ONE IS WHAT, THE SEVENTH OF JUNE.
I KNOW MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY, BUT THE 31ST IS TUESDAY AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE REALLY NEED ANY PREPARATION FOR GRADUATION THIS WEEK.
I KNOW IT'S NOT ON TUESDAY, THOUGH.
AM I MISSING SOMETHING? UM. WE CAN SET THE MEETING ANY TIME.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT TONIGHT.
[Individual Items]
LET'S JUST HAVE A MOTION TO DO THIS AND WE'LL SET A TIME AND SEND IT OUT.WHAT'S GOING? I MOVE THAT WE WAIT AND HOLD ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON THE DISCIPLINE POLICY REVISIONS UPON THE ADMINISTRATION SETTING A SPECIAL CALL MEETING FOR US IN THE COMING COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SECOND. SECOND BY MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S EVERYBODY. WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE APPROVAL DISCIPLINE CODE ON HOLD.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING, A DATE TO BE DETERMINED, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
I THINK REGULAR MEETING? I THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING.
OKAY. I THINK WE'LL JUST CALL IT A SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF THE BOARD.
WE DON'T USUALLY DO THAT. GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. NUMBER A 11 IS THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION.
MR. TRAXLER. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO [INAUDIBLE] TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT MAYBE WE DO.
GOOD EVENING CHAIRMAN BRADLEY, BOARD MEMBERS.
MR. LAWRENCE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, DR.
BRADLEY, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A VERY BRIEF UPDATE.
I DON'T HAVE SLIDES OR ANYTHING, BUT THE IT WAS A GROUP OF STATE LEGISLATORS SEATS IN TOTAL THAT HAD A VERY BRIEF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETING THIS AFTERNOON, BASICALLY JUST TO START THE PROCESS WHERE WE'RE THEY'LL BEGIN TO WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE VERSION AND THE SENATE VERSION OF THE BUDGET.
WE'VE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY HOW THE HOUSE VERSION FOR AIKEN'S PURPOSES IS MORE BENEFICIAL TO US.
LEGISLATORS AREN'T SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO COLUMBIA UNTIL JUNE 15TH.
IF THEY IF THEY APPROVE A BUDGET SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
SO IT WOULDN'T BE IMMEDIATE, JUST FOR REFERENCE.
LAST YEAR WE APPROVED THE BUDGET AT THE END OF MAY.
SO AS MR. LAWRENCE MENTIONED, WE HAVE COME BACK IN THE PAST.
THE THIS RECOMMENDATION HERE IS REALLY LOOKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE.
WE'VE LOOKED AT A VARIETY OF BUDGET SCENARIOS.
TWO SCENARIOS THAT THAT WE PROPOSED IS OR THAT WE'VE LISTED HERE IS IF WE WANTED TO INCREASE ALL
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EMPLOYEES BY THE BY SAME COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH A 3.25% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT BASED ON THE SENATE VERSION OF THE BUDGET, WHICH IS CURRENTLY THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.ANOTHER SCENARIO WOULD BE A 2,000 PER SALE INCREASE ON THE TEACHER SCALE BECAUSE THAT WOULD COST MORE THAN A 3.25% INCREASE.
WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAD TO PULL BACK A LITTLE BIT ON NON TEACHERS.
THE THE STEP INCREASE FOR ANYONE WHO'S ELIGIBLE WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THIS.
BUT. ANY DECISION, ANY GUIDANCE, I GUESS, THAT THE BOARD WOULD PROVIDE WOULDN'T BE FINAL NECESSARILY, BUT IT WOULD HELP US PREPARE FOR THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING.
YEAH. I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD. I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE OR ADVICE, BUT I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION TO GO AHEAD AND BASICALLY DO A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT BY THREE AND A QUARTER PERCENT.
MOTION AND A SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
THIS IS JUST LOOKING FOR TO THE FUTURE, MR. TRAXLER. IN THE, RIGHT TOWARDS THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
OR MAYBE I FORGET WHEN THEY DID IT, BUT THEY'LL BE THEY'LL BE CHANGES IN EFFECT, I THINK NOT NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, BUT THE YEAR AFTER WHERE IT'S A GREAT THING WE'RE GUARANTEEING A BASICALLY A 30 MINUTE UNENCUMBERED LUNCH IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
WOULD WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW WOULD WE WOULD STAFF THAT? WOULD WE NEED TO HIRE ESSENTIALLY MONITORS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT? AND WHAT WOULD THAT COST? YES, WE DID LOOK AT THAT STARTED LOOKING AT IT EARLIER THIS SPRING BECAUSE INITIALLY WE THOUGHT THERE WAS A CHANCE IT MAY PASS FOR THIS COMING YEAR. BASED ON THOSE ESTIMATES, WE BELIEVE THAT IT MAY AVERAGE ABOUT TWO AIDES PER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT A COST A LITTLE MORE THAN $1,000,000.
SO WE COULD BE LOOKING AT THAT THIS LEGISLATION.
I THINK THE EXACT WORDING IS THAT PROVISIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE JULY 1 OF 2023.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE STATE WOULD PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO ADOPT A POLICY TO SAY HOW WE WERE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH IT. AND I MAY BE GETTING SOME OF THE LEGISLATION MIXED UP.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF IT RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT DEADLINE IS JULY ONE OF 23.
OKAY. AND AGAIN, APPROXIMATELY $1,000,000.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE COULD DO IT RIGHT NOW WITH TWO AIDE POSITIONS PER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND MY CONCERN AND I'M JUST THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE BUDGET.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT, SO TO SPEAK.
AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT NECESSARILY NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
BUT MY JUST I'M JUST ANNOUNCING MY CONCERN IS THAT IF FUNDING DOESN'T INCREASE FROM NEXT SCHOOL YEAR TO THE NEXT, BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE THIS COST CUTTING SHOULDN'T WE BUDGET AT IN FOR THIS YEAR AND YOU FOLLOW ME AND THE HAVE WE HAVE WE ALLOCATED ALL THE MONEY ESSENTIALLY WITH LIKE A THREE AND A QUARTER PERCENT COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT OR WE SHOULD BE HOLDING THAT BACK BECAUSE WE KNOW THE YEAR AFTER NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INCREASED EXPENSES.
THREE AND A QUARTER RIGHT NOW WOULD PRETTY MUCH BALANCE THE BUDGET.
IT DOESN'T SET ANY ASIDE FOR NOW.
AGAIN THAT IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IN THE HOUSE TWO VERSION OF THE BUDGET.
IT PROVIDED 50 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT ALMOST A 336 MILLION INCREASE IN GENERAL FUND RECURRING DOLLARS FOR 22-23 952 MILLION NON RECURRING GENERAL FUND DOLLARS IN THIS YEAR, 29 AND A HALF NONRECURRING EIA DOLLARS IN THIS YEAR.
SO THERE IS SOME POSITIVE NEWS OUT THERE, A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN WHETHER OR NOT A SUSTAINABLE JUST GIVEN THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ECONOMY, INFLATION, ETC..
BUT YES SIR, THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THINGS TO BE MINDFUL OF.
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ONE THING THAT I SHARED EARLY ON AND I DO WANT TO MENTION IT AGAIN NOW, PART OF BALANCING OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR IS FLEXING EIA CARRYOVER MONIES THAT THOSE FUNDS GO AWAY IN THE YEAR ANYWAY.YEAH. SO I'M FINE SUPPORTING THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW AND JUST BUT I PROBABLY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND I'M JUST, I BRING THAT UP SO THAT WE'RE ALL THINKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'M STILL A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY RIGHT.
WE PUT IT THE BUDGET IS BALANCED, RIGHT? AND THERE'S NO EXCESS IF YES, SIR, I'M OKAY WITH GIVING YOU THIS DIRECTION.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TONIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR IN THE NEXT MEETING OR WHEN WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS TO HOW SUPPLEMENTS WILL BE ADDRESSED. I KNOW THERE WERE SOME CONSIDERATIONS GOING ON OF MOVING SOME THINGS AROUND AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, SO I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW THAT MAY CHANGE FROM THE LAST PRESENTATION THAT WHICH WAS APPROVED, I THINK ON FIRST READING.
SO I'M HOPING TO SEE SOME POSITIVE DIRECTION.
THERE SHOULD BE MY CONSIDERATION.
YES, SIR. AND AGAIN, THIS THINGS CONTINUE TO BE FLUID.
SO WHENEVER THIS BOARD APPROVES THE FINAL BUDGET IS REALLY THE ORIGINAL FINAL BUDGET, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMENDMENTS THROUGHOUT. MR. GRAY IT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF WORK.
I WILL MENTION THAT. BUT BEHIND THE SCENES.
NOT HAVING FINAL NUMBERS FROM A STATE FRUSTRATES US IN OUR CAPACITY.
SO I KNOW IT HAS TO BE MAGNIFIED FOR YOU WITH THE NUMBERS YOU JUST GAVE US FROM THE HOPEFULLY I CALL THIS THE RIGHT THING THAT YOU JUST SAID, BOARD OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US WITH THOSE THOSE VARIOUS AND SUNDRY NUMBERS? DOES ANY OF THAT FLOW THROUGH TO US TO HELP US OUT AT THIS POINT? I'M NOT SURE. IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT'S CONSIDERED ONCE LEGISLATORS COME BACK.
IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT'S CONSIDERED BY THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
BUT SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS MAY COME INTO PLAY.
IT'S JUST DIFFICULT TO SAY, UNFORTUNATELY.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE BETTER ANSWERS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE A LITTLE MAYBE MUCH FURTHER BEHIND THAN WE TYPICALLY ARE THIS TIME OF YEAR.
WELL, I SUPPORT MR. NUESSLE'S THOUGHT, AND ALSO MR. SILAS THOUGHT.
I WAS HOPING WE'D WE'D HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION AT THIS POINT OR WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DISCUSS THE JULY MEETING OR EXCUSE ME, JUNE MEETING, JUNE 14TH. I'LL ALWAYS TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS ON OUR FRIENDS IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND I HOPE THAT THEY WILL SEE THE WISDOM IN IMPARTING SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING, AS THEY HAVE SEEN IN THEIR WISDOM IMPARTING ADDITIONAL COST TO US.
COMING OFF A COUPLE OF YEARS OF BUDGET SURPLUSES.
OKAY. WE GOT THE MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
IS THAT EVERYBODY? THAT'S EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.
B ITEMS, CONSENT ITEMS. WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE ONE AT A TIME.
BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE, THE B ITEMS. MOVED BY MR. CRANE, SECONDED BY MS..
NUMBER TWO IS THE OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFER REQUEST.
[00:40:06]
FOURTH IS THE SUBMISSION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.THIS IS REQUIRING US TO SPEND MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO US FOR USE WITH THE HOMELESS.
AND THEY ARE GIVING US 14,000 DONATION.
TWENTY FOUR TEACHERS WERE SELECTED TO RECEIVE AWARDS.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE B ITEMS AS A GROUP, PLEASE.
I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. JUST A VERY SIMPLE SINGLE QUESTION.
UNDER THE ARP HOMELESS FUNDS, WHAT DEFINITION OF A HOMELESS STUDENT IS THAT? IS THAT A FEDERAL DEFINITION? OKAY, THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION UPDATE, MISS GLOVER.
CHAIRMAN BRADLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. LAWRENCE, I'M GOING TO INVITE KINNEY LOTT UP HERE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR DELL TECH CREW PROGRAM.
AND THRILLED FOR YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO HEAR HIM THIS EVENING.
AND HE'S BROUGHT A COUPLE OF GUESTS WITH HIM HE'LL INTRODUCE.
MR. LOTT. ARE YOU GOING TO CLICK? OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT. WELL, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'M SORRY.
BOARD MEMBERS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT.
SO I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT THE DELL TECH PROGRAM.
I'M SURE YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT.
SO HAVE A SLIDE ON THE CAREER CENTER AS WELL.
WE TEACH THE SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS.
AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE DO.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT STUDENTS ATTEND THE CAREER CENTER.
A LOT OF THEM HAVE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON THAT AND WE'RE AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET TO THIS POINT RIGHT HERE WHERE WE BRIDGE THAT GAP.
AND THAT NEW CAREER CENTER IS BUILT ACROSS THE STREET AND ON THE AIKEN TECHNICAL COLLEGE CAMPUS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING OUR STUDENTS A DISSERVICE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST FOR OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE WE CAN'T BRING IN MORE PROGRAMS TO THE CAREER CENTER.
SO CAREER CENTER HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO MOVE INTO A NEWER FACILITY WHERE OUR STUDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, LIKE OTHER STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CSRA, THE STATE AND OF COURSE, THE UNITED STATES.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DELL TECH STUDENT HELP GROUP.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS DON'T JUST FALL IN YOUR LAP.
YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND YOU HAVE TO FIND THEM.
IN ADDITION TO FINDING OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THEY ALL REVOLVE AROUND COLLABORATIONS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A COLLABORATION WITH OUR AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, I.T.
DEPARTMENT, MR. DON PENCILLE AND MS. MICHELLE EVERHART.
AND, OF COURSE, MY SUPERINTENDENT.
IF I ASKED HIM, HE PROVIDES SO AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND OPPORTUNITY STARTS WITH A TEACHER LIKE MS. MICHELLE O'ROURKE.
THE THING ABOUT THESE CTE TEACHERS IS THAT CTE TEACHERS ARE NOT JUST TEACHERS.
THESE ARE TEACHERS THAT ARE WORKING IN INDUSTRY.
THEY HAVE A PASSION FOR EDUCATING AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
[00:45:01]
THAT CAN SUSTAIN THEM AND HELP THEM TO ACHIEVE THESE POSTSECONDARY GOALS THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE.SO WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR CTE TEACHERS.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE NOT AS RECOGNIZED AS OTHER TEACHERS ARE, BUT THEY'RE HIGHLY CENTRAL TO OUR LIFESTYLES, TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, AND YOUR LIGHTS DON'T WORK, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T CALL THE MATH MAJOR.
YOU CALL A HVAC GUY TO COME OR AN ELECTRICIAN TO COME AND SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
WHEN YOUR AC IS NOT WORKING, YOU CALL THAT HVAC PERSON OR YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED SOME OF YOUR CAR WORK DONE, YOU CALL THE AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN WHO IN MOST CASES MAKES ABOUT $100,000 A YEAR.
BACK TO THE DELL TECH CREW PROGRAM.
SO WHAT IS DELL TECH STUDENT CREW? BASICALLY THROUGH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION LIKE THE NORTH AUGUSTA CHAMBER EDUCATION WORKFORCE FOUNDATION, DELL PROVIDES ALL THE RESOURCES. SO IT'S BASICALLY ESSENTIALLY DELL COLLABORATES WITH A NONPROFIT IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE STUDENTS HANDS ON EXPERIENCE, WORK BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THIS DELL CURRICULUM.
SO AND IT'S OFFERED ONLY BY DEL TO STUDENTS RECEIVE HANDS ON EXPERIENCE.
HOW WE DO THE PROCESS OF FACILITATING THIS PROGRAM.
WE FACILITATE THIS PROGRAM THROUGH WHAT WE CALL OUR INFORMATION SUPPORT SERVICE PATHWAY, WHICH IS A PART OF THE IT CAREER CLUSTER OUT OF ONE OF THOSE 16 CAREER CLUSTERS WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SO BASICALLY OUR STUDENTS TAKE A SEQUENCE OF COURSES TO BECOME WHAT WE CALL PATHWAY COMPLETERS AND PATHWAY COMPLETERS, MEANING YOU TAKE A SEQUENCE OF COURSES ALONG WITH INDUSTRY SERVICE CERTIFICATIONS, AND YOU BECOME A COMPLETER IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
SO THE FRESHMAN YEAR STUDENTS MAY TAKE FUNDAMENTALS OR COMPUTING.
THEY REALLY GET INTO THE PROGRAM IN THEIR SOPHOMORE YEAR, COMPUTER REPAIR AND SERVICE, AND IN THEIR THIRD YEAR YOU TAKE THAT ADVANCED COMPUTER REPAIR AND SERVICE, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS THAT ARE UP THERE.
AND JUST TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, ONCE STUDENTS RECEIVE THESE CERTIFICATIONS AND THEY MATRICULATE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THEY ARE ACTUALLY QUALIFIED TO GO WORK IN INDUSTRY POST-HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT WITH THEIR CERTIFICATIONS.
SO ONE OF OUR GOALS IN THE FOURTH YEAR IS TO HAVE INTERNSHIPS BOTH WITHIN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS EXTERNSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE CSRA, TO PUT OUR STUDENTS TO WORK WITH THE SKILLS THAT THEY REQUIRE.
TO DATE, AND WE ONLY WE BROUGHT THIS PROGRAM TO THE DISTRICT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
WE HAVE 63 CERTIFIED STUDENTS THAT ARE CERTIFIED DELL TECHNICIANS.
WE'VE REPAIRED MORE THAN 520 COMPUTERS ON THE MAJORITY OF THEM IN THE NORTH AUGUSTA AREA.
OKAY. AND OH GO BACK ONE SLIDE.
I'M SORRY, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, WE WERE THE FIRST DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, NOT ONLY THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WE WERE ALSO THE FIRST DISTRICT IN THE CSRA TO BRING THIS PROGRAM TO THIS AREA.
RICHMOND COUNTY, COLUMBIA COUNTY HAVE BEEN CALLING ME.
I DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I TAKE PRIDE IN BEING THE FIRST.
OKAY, BECAUSE I THINK OUR STUDENTS DESERVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AIKEN COUNTY, CURRENTLY THIS YEAR WE HAVE FOUR SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE.
AIKEN HIGH, NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH, RIDGE SPRING-MONETTA HIGH SCHOOL AND WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
I'LL LET MS. O'ROUKRE TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE STUDENT IMPACT.
WELL, THANK YOU. SO THE STUDENT IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM, I MY BACKGROUND IS I WORKED FOR DELL FOR TEN YEARS, SO I HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH THE COMPANY AND THEN LEFT DELL TO FOLLOW THE ARMY AND ENDED UP HERE AND STARTED SUBSTITUTE TEACHING.
AND NOW I'M A TEACHER. INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS ARE KEY TO GETTING ANY JOB IN ANY TECHNOLOGY.
IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT HAVING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AS IT IS HAVING THESE CERTIFICATIONS.
SO THROUGHOUT THE THREE, 2 TO 3 YEARS THAT THEY'RE IN THE PROGRAM, THEY'LL EARN INITIALLY.
SO NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL, I STARTED WITH 28 STUDENTS.
[00:50:08]
SCHOOL. SO THEY ALL HAVE THEIR DELL CERTIFICATION.SO THEY ARE READY TO WORK WHEN THEY GRADUATE.
I HAVE FIVE STUDENTS GRADUATING NEXT WEEK.
THREE OF THEM ARE GOING TO COLLEGE TO MAJOR IN TECHNOLOGY DEGREES.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY USEFUL FOR THEM.
THEY'RE GETTING HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM.
I LOVE THAT THIS CLASS IS NOT JUST FOR THE KIDS THAT TAKE THE AP CLASSES.
ANY KID CAN COME IN AND LEARN HOW TO REPAIR A LAPTOP.
IF THEY DON'T GO INTO TECHNOLOGY, THAT'S FINE.
THEY AT LEAST GET THE CONFIDENCE TO KNOW, HEY, I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX SOMETHING.
I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO SOMETHING ON MYSELF BY MYSELF.
THEY'RE COMPLETING THE ACTUAL REPAIRS.
SO NEXT YEAR, THIS WILL BE THE ONLY CLASS I'M TEACHING.
I'LL HAVE FIVE FULL SECTIONS WITH OVER 130 STUDENTS IN NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL TAKING THIS COURSE.
STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS VISION OF HAVING A STUDENT LED HELP DESK IN THE SCHOOL.
SO BY WHEN WE START SCHOOL IN AUGUST, WE WILL HAVE STUDENTS AVAILABLE THAT CAN GO HELP A STUDENT, A TEACHER, TROUBLESHOOT SOMETHING, OR THEY'RE THERE TO HELP A STUDENT, THEIR COMPUTER BLACKS OUT ON THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF A TEST.
EVEN WHEN THE TECHNICIANS ARE HAVING TO DO OTHER THINGS.
THEY'RE WORKING RIGHT BESIDE THE TECHNICIAN.
SO THEY'RE GETTING THAT EXPERIENCE.
THEY'RE SEEING WHAT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF SOMEBODY DOING THAT JOB IS LIKE.
THEY GET TO FILL THEIR RESUME BEFORE THEY GRADUATE.
BUT THEY CAN SAY, I HAVE THIS MANY HOURS OF WORKING IN A HELPDESK ENVIRONMENT.
THEY GET THEY HAVE REFERENCES AND AND SOMETHING MORE THAN I JUST GOT MY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
MM. AS MS. O'ROURKE JUST MENTIONED, THE SCHOOL IMPACT YOUR REDUCING REPAIR TIME.
TEACHERS. THIS IS THE IMPACT RIGHT HERE.
IF YOU LOOK, TECHNICIANS CAN WORK ON TO THE LARGER JOBS AND MORE COMPLEX JOBS WHILE THE STUDENTS CAN TAKE CARE OF THE BASIC REPAIRS, THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY, YOU KNOW, ENSURING THAT ALL THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS HAVE WORKING DEVICES IN THEIR HANDS AT ALL TIMES.
IT'S A WIN WIN SITUATION FOR STUDENTS.
STUDENTS NEED A CAREER READINESS SKILLS.
SCHOOLS NEED ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
AND STUDENT TECH CREW DELIVERS THAT.
SO IT'S A WIN WIN FOR EVERYONE.
SO EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A TEACHER IN PLACE, SOUTHLAKE IN CIVIL BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DON PENCILLE AND MICHELLE EVERHART TO LOOK AT SUMMER PROGRAMS. WE ALSO WANT TO WORK WITH OUR EXTERNAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH THE CHAMBER, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY FOLKS.
RHINEHART-JACKSON. GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING. FIRST OF ALL, I LIKE TO COMMEND THE CAREER CENTER.
I AM A FAN AND I APPLAUD THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.
AND I APPLAUD THE STUDENTS BECAUSE NOT EVERY GRADUATING SENIOR IS COLLEGE MINDED.
AND I AM JUST BEYOND GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THE CAREER CENTER TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, GIVE BACK AND WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE. SO I APPLAUD YOU.
[00:55:03]
OFFERED AT MIDLAND VALLEY ON CIVIL BLUFF AND SOUTH AIKEN, WHICH ARE ROUND OUT ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.MR. LOTT, YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE.
YOU KNOW WHAT AN ADVOCATE I AM OF THIS PROGRAM.
CONTINUE TO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE CALLS TO THOSE OTHER PEOPLE.
LET US BASK IN THIS FOR A LITTLE BIT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND EVEN THE THE THE COORDINATION AND THE WORK WITH THE NORTH AUGUSTA CHAMBER.
THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
I DON'T HAVE ANY REQUESTS FOR INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS, FOR AGENDA ITEMS OR CORRESPONDENCE OR COMMITTEE REPORTS. OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT, MR. LAWRENCE. I'M SORRY.
YOU GOT TO STICK IT UP QUICK, JASON.
I APOLOGIZE. A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD ME IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY.
THANK YOU, THOUGH. I APPRECIATE IT.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE HISTORY ON THAT SOMETIME.
MR. LAWRENCE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
JUST VERY BRIEFLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE AGAIN OUR RETIREES, WHO WE RECOGNIZED LAST NIGHT AT A VERY NICE BANQUET THAT WAS WELL ATTENDED.
AND AND I FELT LIKE WAS VERY NICE.
NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE A BUSY SCHEDULE OF RECOGNITIONS FOR OUR GRADUATES AS WE BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY EVENING WITH A COMPLETER CEREMONY FOR CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS AND THEN THE AIKEN SCHOLARS ACADEMY GRADUATION.
AND THEN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, THE OTHER SEVEN HIGH SCHOOLS GRADUATING.
SO GET SOME GET SOME REST OVER THE WEEKEND BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN.
WE'VE GOT WE'RE GETTING THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
WE WILL NEED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING.
STUDENT APPEAL ADMISSION OF A TRANSFER STUDENT TAKING COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EMPLOYMENT MATTER, EMPLOYEE CONTRACT MATTER, OPERATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES MATTER AND LEGAL ADVICE ON BOARD POLICIES GCC, GDC AND A ADVICE ON STUDENT APPEALS.
MOVE BY MS.. RHINEHART-JACKSON, SECONDED BY MR. CRANE. ALL IN FAVOR.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. WE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IF WE CAN DO THAT QUICKLY, WE'LL GET OUT QUICKER.
[01:00:37]
SECOND DR.ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE'RE BACK IN REGULAR SESSION.
WHILE IN THE REGULAR SESSION, WE HEARD A FEW, MAYBE THREE.
IS THERE A MOTION? MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE UPHOLD THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPULSION AND REQUIRE THE STUDENT TO BEGIN THE NEXT ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR AT CIL.
ANY DISCUSSION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.
THE MOTION TO UPHOLD THE EXPULSION IS PASSED.
THE SECOND ITEM WAS THE ADMISSION OF A TRANSFER STUDENT AT AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
UM. MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE ALSO, IN THIS CASE, TAKE THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION AND NOT ALLOW THE ADMISSION OF THE STUDENT INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.