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WE START ALL OUR MEETINGS WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
AND THEN LATER WE'LL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE.
PLEASE STAND. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE AGENDA WAS PUBLISHED TO THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE.
AND I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY REQUESTS FOR CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS.
AND WE'LL SET THE THE AGENDA WITH NO OBJECTIONS AS IT STANDS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE TWO SETS OF MINUTES? MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MR. SMITH. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION CARRIES THE MARCH 7TH AND MARCH 14TH MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
THAT BRINGS US TO SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS.
THERE WERE NO REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION THIS EVENING.
BUT WE DO HAVE SOME SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS TONIGHT.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND BEFORE WE GET INTO THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, I WANT TO SAY THAT DURING OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND INTERMISSION, THE FOLKS THAT MAYBE ARE WATCHING ONLINE, ARE THERE BE A SLIDE SHOW IN HERE THAT THE THE FOLKS THAT PLACE VERY WELL IN THE STATE WELDING CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH HIGH SCHOOL ARE GOING TO BE ON A SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION AS WELL AS THE LMMS LEADER IN ME LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL RECOGNITION AND USC AIKEN PACER LIFE PROGRAM.
SO YOU ALL CAN SEE THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
BUT WE DO HAVE TWO RECOGNITIONS TONIGHT THAT I BELIEVE MISS PICCOLINO IS GOING TO INTRODUCE THEM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN NUESSLE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD AND MR. LAURENCE, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT.
THE SUPPORT SRP PROVIDES TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH THEIR AFFINITY DEBIT CARD PROGRAM.
A PERCENTAGE OF EVERY TRANSACTION GOES TO SUPPORT OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM BEGAN HERE IN AIKEN COUNTY IN 2018, AND OVER THAT TIME PERIOD, OUR SCHOOLS HAVE EARNED MORE THAN $680,000 THROUGH AFFINITY DEBIT CARD PURCHASES.
THE WAY IT WORKS IS OUR HIGH SCHOOLS INVITE THEIR PARENTS, STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS TO SWITCH THEIR DEBIT CARD IF THEY ARE A SRP MEMBER OR NOT.
THEY CAN GET A FREE SRP AFFINITY DEBIT CARD AND A SMALL PERCENTAGE.
IS THAT CORRECT? $0.05 OF EVERY PURCHASE GOES TO THIS PROGRAM.
SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS, LIKE AIKEN SCHOLARS ACADEMY, OUR SMALLEST SCHOOL, HAS EARNED 3,500 OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROGRAM TO OUR LARGEST, WHO HAS RECEIVED THE CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $143,000.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE TO THE PODIUM MR. ERIC JENKINS. HE IS THE CEO OF SRP.
WITH HIM TONIGHT IS MARY THOMAS, WHO IS A BOARD MEMBER, YVONNE MEEKS, WHO IS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE, PATTY MCGRATH, WHO IS A MARKETING SPECIALIST, AND MATT HALTER, ALSO A MARKETING SPECIALIST.
OH, AND MRS. BRINKLEY, MELINDA BRINKLEY, PLEASE COME FORWARD AS WELL.
AND I WILL INVITE MR. JENKINS TO SHARE WITH YOU THE 2022 FISCAL EARNINGS.
AND HE'S GOT A VERY LARGE CHECK TO PRESENT.
WELL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.
I'LL BE SENSITIVE TO THE AGENDA, NOT TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME.
[00:10:02]
BUT SRP IS HONORED TO PARTNER DEEPLY WITH AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.THANK YOU FOR BEING THE INITIAL GROUP THAT HELPED START US OFF.
AS MANY OF YOU PROBABLY SAW, THE PROGRAM ITSELF WENT OVER $1 MILLION IN DONATIONS TO SCHOOLS THIS PAST FALL, AND WE ARE EAGERLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT NEXT MILLION DOLLAR MILESTONE HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND FOR AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THIS PAST YEAR, IT WAS $204,966.45 DONATED TO SCHOOLS.
THANK YOU, SIR. IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
[LAUGHTER] WE RECYCLE THEM. THANKS AGAIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
YEP. I HAD TO VERIFY THOSE NUMBERS WHEN THEY FIRST CAME IN.
BUT THANK YOU. IT IS JUST TREMENDOUS, THE SUPPORT YOU'VE GIVEN OUR SCHOOLS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT GROWING EVEN MORE.
ALL RIGHT. AND NEXT, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
EACH YEAR, MILLBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE AIKEN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT CONTEST AS A SCHOOL WIDE ARTS INITIATIVE.
IT'S LED BY THEIR ART TEACHER, MRS. SPACEK, WHO IS ALSO THE LEAD ELEMENTARY VISUAL ARTS TEACHER FOR THE DISTRICT.
THIS YEAR WE ARE PLEASED TO JOIN MILLBROOK AND MRS. SPACEK IN CELEBRATING FOURTH GRADE STUDENT LILY WELTY IN HER FIRST PLACE WIN FOR HER AGE GROUP LOCALLY AND AS THE FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE WINNER AT THE STATE LEVEL, SHE COMPETED AGAINST KIDS FROM 46 COUNTIES.
LILY IS DESCRIBED BY HER TEACHER, MRS. SPACEK IS WELL-ROUNDED, KIND, SMART AND CREATIVE.
IN ADDITION TO EARNING $50 AS A AS HER FIRST PLACE WIN LOCALLY, SHE ALSO WON $50 FOR WINNING AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND HER ART WAS PUBLISHED IN THE AIKEN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT CALENDAR.
LILY IS JOINED TONIGHT BY HER MOTHER, RACHEL, AND TEACHER DENISE SPACEK, AS WELL AS SONYA TERRY WITH THE AIKEN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THE LOCAL GROUP THAT SPONSORS THE CONTEST, AS WELL AS AGRICULTURAL MOBILE LABS AND EVEN A $2,500 SCHOLARSHIP TO A SENIOR PURSUING AG EDUCATION AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL.
WE INVITE YOU TO COME UP AND WE WOULD LOVE TO GET SOME PICTURES OF YOU ALONG WITH MRS. TERRY, YOUR TEACHER, AND YOUR MOM AS WELL.
CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU BACK AGAIN.
THANK YOU.THANK YOU. SHE'S GOT MY PHONE.
THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. TONIGHT.
AND PLEASE JOIN US DURING YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
FOR EVERYBODY WATCHING AT HOME TO HONOR OUR OTHER STUDENTS AND STAFF.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PICCOLINO.
[00:15:01]
WE HAVE.I'M TRYING TO THINK IF THAT WAS IT FOR SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
MR. LAURENCE WE DECIDED TO REINTRODUCE SOMETHING THAT WE USED TO DO A WHILE BACK AS FAR AS INVITE THE ADMINISTRATOR FROM A SCHOOL TO TALK ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL AND MR. LAURENCE IS GOING TO INVITE THAT PRINCIPAL UP AND INTRODUCE THEM.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AS MR. NUESSLE SAID, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD STARTED SPOTLIGHTING ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS AT EACH OF OUR MEETINGS, JUST GIVING OUR SCHOOLS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND SHARE SOME OF THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO TO REINTRODUCE THAT.
WE PROBABLY WAITED LONGER THAN WE SHOULD HAVE TO REINTRODUCE THIS, BUT WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE MISS ALISA HAMRICK FROM AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL WITH US TONIGHT TO SHARE SOME GREAT THINGS GOING ON AT AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRMAN NUESSLE AND THE BOARD MEMBERS AND MR. LAURENCE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
I WILL TELL YOU, THIS WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
SO WE ALWAYS SAY GIVE KIDS OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS AND THEY REALLY HAVE TO THINK.
AND WHEN YOU SAY SPOTLIGHT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL, IT IS A LITTLE BIT NERVE WRACKING BECAUSE YOU THINK, WHAT? WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY? I COULD SAY A LOT OF THINGS.
AM I GOING TO SAY THE RIGHT THING? I DON'T KNOW. BUT HERE'S WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU.
SO WE'LL GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE.
DO I HAVE A CLICKER? I'M SORRY.
I HAVE A CLICKER. PUSH THE UP BUTTON.
SO WITH THE CAMBRIDGE CURRICULUM, STUDENTS ARE PUSHED TO BE INQUISITIVE.
THEY'RE PUSHED TO WORK IN GROUPS.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE CAMBRIDGE PROGRAM IN HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR FIRST COHORT GRADUATED LAST YEAR AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE KEEP ADDING COURSE OFFERINGS.
SO WE HAVE A 11 CAMBRIDGE COURSES WHICH ARE TO EXPLAIN, IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOUR REGULAR CT AND HONORS COURSES WITH CAMBRIDGE AND WE'VE ADDED THIS YEAR, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING. I DIDN'T PUT IT UP HERE A FIRST LANGUAGE SPANISH CLASS.
AND SO THAT COURSE IS FOR STUDENTS WHO ALREADY SPEAK SPANISH.
SO THEY CAN GET THREE YEARS OF SPANISH.
BUT THEY START BASICALLY ON A LEVEL THREE HONORS COURSEWORK.
AND THEN WE HAVE NOW 16 AICE CLASSES AND SIX AP CLASSES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO A LOT OF ADVANCED COURSEWORK FOR OUR STUDENTS TO CHOOSE FROM.
THE CAMBRIDGE AICE COURSES ARE VERY SIMILAR TO AP CLASSES, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH AP OR IB.
THEY THEY CAN GET CREDIT FOR EXAM AT THE END, COLLEGE CREDIT FOR EXAM.
AND THEY REALLY DO HELP THE STUDENTS TO BE PREPARED FOR COLLEGE, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING FOR US.
THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDIES OUT THERE ABOUT HOW IT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE MUCH MORE THAN SOME OTHER PROGRAMS. AND WE HAVE IF YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM, 24% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN ONE OR MORE OF THOSE ADVANCED LEVEL CLASSES, JUST THE AICE CLASSES WE'RE NOT INCLUDING OR SORRY, WE DID INCLUDE. AP I'M SORRY.
MANY OF THEM ARE IN MULTIPLE CLASSES, BUT IF THEY JUST WANT TO TRY ONE, THAT IS OKAY.
AND THEN 71% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN ONE OR MORE CAMBRIDGE COURSES.
SO WE REALLY ARE TOUCHING ALMOST THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF STUDENTS.
THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT ARE NOT IN CAMBRIDGE COURSES.
WE HAD OUR FIRST GROUP OF STUDENTS, THAT COHORT GRADUATE LAST YEAR.
WE DID HAVE SOME EARNED THE CAMBRIDGE DIPLOMA, WHICH IS MUCH LIKE THE IB DIPLOMA THE YEAR BEFORE.
SO WHEN I SAY THAT WE'VE HAD 22 SINCE 2021, WE DID HAVE SOME EARN IT JUNIOR YEAR AND THEN SENIOR YEAR AND THEN WE HAVE 24 CANDIDATES THIS YEAR, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE 24 STUDENTS THAT ARE TRYING TO GET THAT DIPLOMA THIS YEAR BY THEIR SCORES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE CAMBRIDGE DIPLOMA PATHWAY LOOKS LIKE.
STUDENTS HAVE A LOT OF CHOICE.
THAT'S WHAT WE LOVED ABOUT IT, IS THAT IF THEY'RE NOT REALLY GOOD AT SCIENCES, THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE GOOD AT MATH AND SO THEY JUST HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM THAT CATEGORY. THE MATHS AND SCIENCES CATEGORY, THERE'S ONLY ONE REQUIRED COURSE AND THAT IS THE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND RESEARCH COURSE, WHICH IS OF COURSE A RESEARCH COURSE AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE STUDENTS.
SOME OTHER ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS WE HAVE.
WE LIKE CHOICE. YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY CHOICE.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US AT AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL.
[00:20:01]
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TOUCHING ALL STUDENTS AND NOT JUST OUR HIGH FLIERS AND NOT JUST OUR MIDDLE STUDENTS AND NOT THE ONES THAT STRUGGLE THE MOST.SO WE HAVE TEN CTE PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS AT THIS POINT.
THEY HAVE THEY CAN CHOOSE FROM TEN DIFFERENT PATHWAYS TO GET TO COMPLETE AND GET CERTIFICATES, AND THEY CAN GET CERTIFICATIONS IN AUTOMOTIVE AND THEY CAN GET CERTIFICATIONS IN CULINARY ARTS AND MANY OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND THAT THOSE ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMS. WE ALLOW ALL STUDENTS INTO THOSE PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY THAT FIRST YEAR.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DISTRICT PEOPLE, FOR GIVING US A DANCE TEACHER.
SO NEXT YEAR WE WILL HAVE A DANCE PROGRAM AND THAT WILL MAKE US THE ONLY PROGRAM, THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LOCAL AREA OTHER THAN DAVIDSON FINE ARTS MAGNET SCHOOL THAT OFFERS A FULL FINE ARTS PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE CHORUS, ORCHESTRA, BAND, ART, PAINTING, DRAWING, PHOTOGRAPHY, SCULPTING.
AND WE'LL HAVE DANCE AND WE HAVE CHORUS.
I THINK I SAID CHORUS AND THEATER.
I MAY HAVE LEFT SOMETHING OUT, BUT I DON'T THINK I DID.
SO THAT OFFERS OUR STUDENTS A LOT OF CHOICE AS WELL AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOPEFULLY HOOKING THOSE STUDENTS THAT MIGHT NOT BE SO ACADEMICALLY INCLINED, BUT THEY MIGHT BE ARTISTICALLY INCLINED AND WE'LL PULL THEM INTO THE ACADEMICS IN THAT WAY.
I THOUGHT I'D PUT IT ON THERE.
OUR ACADEMIC QUIZ BOWL WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP, THE AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP YESTERDAY, AND OUR M'AIKEN MAGIC ROBOTICS TEAM IS POISED TO ATTEND THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE STATE THAT IT'S IN, BUT I KNOW THEY'LL BE TRAVELING.
AND FIVE OF THE STUDENTS ON THAT TEAM ARE AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
IT IS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS, BUT THEY DO PRACTICE ON OUR CAMPUS.
AND WE STARTED EVERY HORNET INVOLVED INITIATIVE THIS YEAR WHERE WE'RE REQUIRING ALL STUDENTS TO BE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING, ENCOURAGING THEM TO BE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY WILL FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY AND IT CAN BE VERY SMALL.
IT COULD BE GOING TO A GAME, IT COULD BE IN A CLUB.
BUT WE HAVE ASKED THE STUDENTS TO TELL US HOW THEY'RE INVOLVED.
AND SO THIS IS A PROCESS OF GETTING THEM ALL TO RESPOND.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE THAT LIST TO THE COUNSELORS AND THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, AND THEY'RE MEETING WITH THOSE STUDENTS TO HOOK THEM UP WITH A TEAM OR A CLUB OR AN ORGANIZATION. I'VE GOTTEN EMAILS FROM STUDENTS ASKING ME, WHAT IS LACROSSE? THAT'S MY FAVORITE THING.
THEY DO THE SURVEY AND THEY SAY, WHAT IS LACROSSE? AND I SEND THEM A YOUTUBE VIDEO BECAUSE AT LEAST THEY'RE INTERESTED.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT SPORT OFTEN.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR GOLD CARD REWARDS PROGRAM, WHICH IS BUILDING CULTURE IN THE STUDENTS.
IT'S ENFORCING THE AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL LEARNER ATTRIBUTES, WHICH YOU'LL SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND ANOTHER GREAT SPIN OFF TO THAT IS THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS RUN THE STORE.
SO THEY'RE LEARNING THOSE WORKING SKILLS.
THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET ALONG THE BEST IN THAT STORE, BUT THEY'RE HAVING TO LEARN HOW TO WORK THOSE THINGS OUT AND TAKE INITIATIVE AND BE LEADERS IN THAT SCENARIO.
THOSE ARE OUR AIKEN HIGH LEARNER ATTRIBUTES THAT WE DO HAVE POSTED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL, AND WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE STUDENTS TO EXHIBIT THOSE BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE IF THEY ARE.
THE FIRST 5 OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY CAMBRIDGE ATTRIBUTES AND THE LAST TWO ARE ONES THAT ARE FACULTY AND STAFF ADDED TO THAT LIST BECAUSE THEY SPECIFICALLY THOUGHT THAT OUR STUDENTS NEEDED TO EXHIBIT THE ATTRIBUTES OF EXPRESSIVE AND DETERMINED AS WELL.
BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING ATHLETICALLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ATHLETICALLY, IF WE CAN GET THEM THERE, SOMETIMES WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING THEM IN THE CLASSROOM AS WELL.
AND THEN VERY LAST THING I HAVE FOR YOU IS OUR FACILITIES HIGHLIGHTS.
[00:25:05]
SO WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PERFORMANCES IN THERE TO SHOW THAT THE STUDENT BODY, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN THEATER, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN DANCE, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN BAND CHORUS. AND SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT OUTSIDE OF THE GYMNASIUM, WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT.BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY AND I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO ME.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, MS. HAMRICK. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE OFFICE OF THE BOARD CHAIR.
I JUST HAVE TWO REMINDERS TONIGHT.
ONE FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT RSVP'D, THE STARS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THURSDAY EVENING AT AIKEN HIGH, I BELIEVE SO SEE YOU THERE.
AND THEN THE SECOND IS JUST IN CASE.
IT'S DUE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
THAT BRINGS US TO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE IS PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS? MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MR. SMITH? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION CARRIES TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS.
NOW WE HAVE A SERIES OF SECOND READINGS OF POLICY, EITHER REVISIONS OR ADOPTIONS.
THE FIRST ONE IS SECOND READING OF POLICY ADA SCHOOL DISTRICT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
THAT'S A REVISION TO BRING US IN LINE WITH SOME CHANGES AT THE STATE LEVEL.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE ON SECOND READING THE REVISION TO POLICY ADA.
MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
HANKS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING SECOND READING OF THE REVISION OF POLICY ADA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION CARRIES THE REVISION OF POLICY ADA IS APPROVED.
THE NEXT IS A REVISION SECOND READING ALSO OF A REVISION TO POLICY GCC.
AND THIS ONE, JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, IS WHERE WE'RE ESSENTIALLY PAYING OUT.
AND THIS IS SECOND READING AT A STANDARD RATE OF $25 A DAY.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE ON SECOND READING THE CHANGES TO POLICY GCC? AND GDC EXCUSE ME.
MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON, IS THERE A SECOND.
SECOND. SECOND BY DR. HANKS ANY DISCUSSION ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ON SECOND READING THE CHANGES TO POLICY GCC AND POLICY GDC PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE CHANGES TO THOSE TWO POLICIES ARE APPROVED.
THIS IS SECOND READING AND THIS IS TO BRING US IN LINE WITH STATE LAW IN REGARDS TO THE 30 MINUTES OF UNENCUMBERED TIME, WHICH PRIMARILY WHICH FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ON SECOND READING TO ADOPT THE POLICY GCLE.
MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
SECOND BY MR. SMITH? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING POLICY GCLE ON SECOND READING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION CARRIES POLICY GCLE UNENCUMBERED TIME IS ADOPTED.
THE FIRST ONE IS RATIFICATION OF EXPULSIONS.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS A LIST OF EXPULSIONS THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO US THAT WE MUST RATIFY.
IS THERE A MOTION TO RATIFY THE LIST OF EXPULSIONS.
MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
SECOND. SECOND BY MR. SMITH? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? EXCUSE ME, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? AND THERE'S NO VOTE.
I'M GOING TO MESS UP ONCE EVERY NIGHT.
SO I WENT THROUGH A WHOLE MOTION WHEN I DIDN'T NEED TO.
[00:30:03]
AND SO THERE YOU GO.THAT'S MY MULLIGAN FOR THE NIGHT.
SO WE'VE GOT RATIFY AND THIS HAPPENED BEFORE.
WE'VE GOT SO WE'VE GOT THAT LIST OF EXPULSIONS.
EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE SECOND ONE AND I'LL PAUSE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THERE'S A PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE PUT THOSE OUT AT THIS TIME BEFORE THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. AND WE'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THOSE.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT? BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
BRADLEY. IT ENDED UP BEING A IT IS A PRIVATE ATTACHMENT ON THE AGENDA, WHICH I'M NOT SURE WHY.
MY INTERNET'S BEEN DOWN FOR ABOUT FOUR DAYS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR DELAYING THINGS.
THAT'S NO PROBLEM. SO AND JUST I WON'T DO SPECIFIC DATES, BUT JUST TO REVIEW, WE'LL HAVE TWO MEETINGS IN JULY, TWO MEETINGS IN AUGUST AS WELL AS SEPTEMBER.
OCTOBER 1ST MEETING IN NOVEMBER IS OUR TRADITION, ONE MEETING IN DECEMBER, WHICH IS OUR TRADITION, THEN TWO IN JANUARY, TWO IN FEBRUARY, TWO IN MARCH, 2 IN APRIL, ONE OF WHICH IS A BUDGET WORKSHOP, TWO IN MAY, AND THEN THEN ONE IN JUNE.
ON JUNE 11TH, THE ONE QUESTION I DID HAVE WAS AND IT'S A REALLY EASY ONE, IS JUST THE MEETING THAT'S ON THE LIST FOR OCTOBER 10TH, THAT IS DURING THE TWO WEEK INTERSESSION PERIOD.
AND I'M JUST DOUBLE CHECKING THAT Y'ALL HAVE EVERYBODY HERE FOR THE MEETING THAT YOU NEED.
YES. THAT'S FOR 12 MONTH EMPLOYEES.
OKAY, SO THAT'S THE NEXT ITEM ON THE CONSENT ITEMS IS AFTER THE PROPOSED SCHEDULED SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IS WE HAVE A LIST OF OUT-OF-DISTRICT TRANSFER REQUESTS OUT OF THE DISTRICT.
AND THEN FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH IS INTERESTING, BUT.
WE ALSO HAVE A LIST TO ADMIT SOME FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS.
AND THEN THE LAST CONSENT ITEM WE HAVE IS TO ADOPT 4K CURRICULUM FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
AND WE SAW THE PROPOSAL WAS TO SELECT.
THERE WAS TWO CHOICES, I BELIEVE BY APPROVED BY THE STATE AND THE SELECTION BY THE DISTRICT'S COMMITTEE IS TO SELECT THE PROGRAM FROM THE VENDOR CALLED FROG STREET. I DID HAVE JUST A COUPLE SIMPLE QUESTIONS.
SO WHOEVER WANTS TO SPEAK TO THAT WOULD COME FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S DR.
EDWARDS OR MS. LEOPARD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO, YEAH, AS FAR AS I'M JUST CURIOUS A LITTLE BIT.
SO WHAT IS OUR CURRENT CURRICULUM FOR? SO OUR CURRENT CURRICULUM IS BIG DAY FOR PRE-K AND IT IS OFFICIALLY RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
SO WE WERE GIVEN DIRECTIONS BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT WE HAD TO GET A NEW ONE.
OKAY. AND I WAS CORRECT THAT THERE WAS ONLY TWO CHOICES APPROVED BY THE STATE OR NO.
OKAY. I GOT DIRECTION FROM MS. REVELLI AND MR JEFFCOAT TO NARROW IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
AND BASED ON THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE LOOKING AT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND DATA, WE CHOSE THE TWO THAT WOULD BEST MEET OUR NEEDS AND WE PROVIDED FULL DISCLOSURE EXAMPLES.
THE WHOLE KITS, AND WE HAD THOSE GROUPS COME IN AND SHARE WITH ALL OF THE 4K TEACHERS.
YES. MY SIMPLE QUESTION IS, IS THERE A DIGITAL COMPONENT FOR IN-CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION? I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT USING CLASSROOM TIME TO PUT FORTH FOUR YEAR OLDS ON A COMPUTER, RIGHT?
[00:35:04]
NO, WE'RE NOT. SO THERE IS A DIGITAL COMPONENT THAT CAN BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM.IT IS FREE THE FIRST YEAR, BUT THEN IT HAS TO BE PAID FOR AFTER THAT.
BUT WE CURRENTLY ARE NOT USING ANY KIND OF CAI PROGRAM IN ANY OF OUR 4K CLASSROOMS. SO WE ARE NOT PUTTING FOUR YEAR OLDS ON THE COMPUTER DURING THE DAY.
OKAY. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A QUESTION FOR MS. LEOPARD WHILE SHE'S AT THE PODIUM? YES, SIR. DR.
BRADLEY, I'M GOING TO SHARE MY IGNORANCE OF CURRICULUM FOR THIS AGE GROUP.
I ASSUME THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF READING.
YES, SIR. IS IT PHONETICALLY BASED OR IS IT THE WHOLE WORD OR WHATEVER? IT'S A BALANCED READING PROGRAM.
IT'S ALL GROUNDED IN RESEARCH BASED FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS.
THE THING THAT'S CONFUSING ME IS, AGAIN, I'M SHOWING MY AGE, BUT FOR YEARS IT WAS EITHER PHONETICS, PHONICS OR WHAT USED TO BE KNOWN YEARS AGO AS WHOLE WORD OR SITE METHODS.
AND NOW I KEEP HEARING ABOUT A BLENDED PROGRAM.
BUT THIS ONE WOULD BE WOULD BE, I THINK YOU SAID BALANCED, RATHER.
IT ALSO BRINGS IN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, WHICH WE GREATLY NEED IN 4K.
SO IT HAS ALL OF IT'S BALANCE.
IT'S A BALANCED LITERACY PROGRAM CURRICULUM.
SO A YEAR OR TWO DOWN THE ROAD, A KID OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SOUND OUT WORDS.
ABSOLUTELY. MOST OF OUR A LOT OF OUR FOUR YEAR OLDS CAN ALREADY DO THAT WITH OUR CURRENT CURRICULUM.
I KEEP HEARING COMPLAINTS THAT WE'RE NOT TEACHING PHONICS IN SCHOOLS, AND I JUST WANTED TO BE IN A POSITION TO COMMENT, SOMEWHAT INFORMED ABOUT THAT. I KNOW THAT IN 4K THEY ARE TEACHING IT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. AT LEAST THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS OF MISS LEOPARD? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING UP AND ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE THE SEVEN CONSENT ITEMS THAT I JUMPED THE GUN ON THE FIRST ONE, BUT WE HAVE SEVEN CONSENT ITEMS THAT WE ALL VOTE ON AT ONCE THAT WE'VE OUTLINED.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SEVEN CONSENT ITEMS. MOVED BY MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY MR. SILAS. ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SEVEN CONSENT ITEMS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE SEVEN CONSENT ITEMS AS PRESENTED? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION CARRIES THE SEVEN CONSENT ITEMS ARE APPROVED.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE SEVERAL INFORMATIONAL UPDATES THIS EVENING IN THE FIRST OF WHICH IS A PRESENTATION ABOUT SUMMIT FROM MISS KOLMAR.
BUT DID YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE MISS KOLMAR? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. WHAT I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO DO IS INTRODUCE MR. BERT POSTELL, OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR HIGH SCHOOLS.
HE'S GOING TO SAY A LITTLE BIT AND THEN INTRODUCE MISS KOLMAR.
THANK YOU, MR. LAURENCE. MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT TO BRING TO YOU A PRESENTATION ABOUT SUMMIT.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND REAL QUICK ABOUT IT.
FIVE YEARS AGO, MISS KOLMAR WAS RESEARCHING SOLUTIONS TO A PROBLEM SHE HAD IDENTIFIED, WHICH WAS THAT WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A THING IN PLACE TO HELP STUDENTS WHO FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND TO PREVENT THEM FROM DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL IN THEIR FINAL YEARS.
SO WITH PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE, SHE RESEARCHED THAT.
SHE APPLIED FOR A GRANT AND WAS WAS AWARDED A MAJOR GRANT AWARD TO BRING A PROGRAM TO THE DISTRICT, WHICH WAS CALLED SUMMIT SERVED STUDENTS AT THREE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS.
SO SHE'LL BE DOING THAT AS WELL, GETTING MORE NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR HERSELF AND FOR AIKEN COUNTY.
SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MISS KOLMAR TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A QUICK VIDEO FROM MY STUDENTS.
[00:40:06]
IS A PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG ADULTS TO LEARN AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS IN LIFE.AND IT'S A VERY SIMPLE PROGRAM WHERE WE ONLY HAVE 1 OR 2 CLASSES AT A TIME AND WE GET ALL THE ADDITIONAL HELP THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO GET ALL OF THE CREDITS THAT WE NEED TO ACQUIRE OUR GRADUATION.
I LIKE THE SUMMIT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS EASY TO FOCUS ON YOUR COURSES AHEAD OF YOU.
YOU TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME AND THEY ARE HELPFUL IN GETTING YOU ON TRACK AND KEEP YOU ON TRACK.
AND IF YOU NEED HELP, THEY'RE MORE THAN GLAD TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.
SO IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO THINKS THAT IF YOU'RE GETTING STRESSED OUT IN SCHOOL ABOUT HAVING TO DO 7 OR 8 DIFFERENT CLASSES AT ONCE, AND YOU'RE A PERSON WHO WORKS A BIT SLOWER THAN EVERYONE, THEN SUMMIT'S THE PROGRAM FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE ABLE TO WORK AT YOUR OWN PACE AND BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON ONE COURSE AT A TIME. THE WAY SUMMIT IS SET UP, YOU HAVE TWO CLASSES PER MONTH.
SO AS IN REGULAR SCHOOL, THEY COULD THROW IN PILES OF WORK ON YOU.
EVERY WEEK OR SO YOU'RE DOING TESTS EVERY FRIDAY OR SO.
SUMMIT YOU'RE WORKING ON ONE PROGRAM FOR A MONTH.
YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO ANYTHING YOU NEED TO DO.
SUMMIT IS WORKING FOR ME BECAUSE THERE IS LESS THERE'S LESS OF A WORKLOAD THAN YOU WOULD HAVE IN A NORMAL SCHOOLING ENVIRONMENT.
I STARTED COMING TO SUMMIT, BUT I STARTED DOING WORK, BUT I STARTED SLACKING BACK.
BUT MOST OF THE TEACHERS STARTED HELPING ME, LIKE MADE ME REALIZE I NEED TO START DOING SCHOOLWORK.
THE ATMOSPHERE IN SUMMIT IS MORE OF A FAMILY TYPE ATMOSPHERE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND SUMMIT, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HARD TIME BEING IN A REGULAR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A REALLY SMALL CLASS AND YOU DON'T HAVE AS MANY CLASSES TO WORK ON AT ONCE.
YES, I WOULD RECOMMEND SUMMIT TO ANY OF MY FRIENDS WHO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T FOCUS OR THEY JUST FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE OR THEY CAN'T OR THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED A LITTLE EXTRA HELP ON CERTAIN SUBJECTS.
I WOULDN'T BE GRADUATING THIS YEAR ON TIME IF I WOULDN'T HAVE COME TO SUMMIT.
SO THAT IS THE SUMMIT STUDENTS.
SUMMIT IS WE DO NON TRADITIONAL HOURS AND SO I KNOW THEY'RE WATCHING ME LIVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY'VE ALL TEXTED AND TOLD ME SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT VIDEO.
AND THAT WAS A ONE TAKE VIDEO THAT WAS ME.
AND THAT IS WHAT SUMMIT IS TO YOU.
EVERY ONE OF THEM WERE ON THE VERGE OF EITHER DROPPING OUT OR HAVING TO EXTEND A TWO YEARS.
AND THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SUMMIT.
WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BECAUSE WHEN I WAS AT AIKEN HIGH AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HAD A MEETING WITH A STUDENT AND I COULDN'T CREATE A GOOD PATHWAY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GRADUATE ON TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS JUST TOO MANY OF THEIR OWN EITHER PERSONAL BARRIERS, THEY NEEDED MORE CREDITS.
THEY HAD A LIFE CIRCUMSTANCE GOING ON AND TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL WAS NOT WORKING FOR THEM.
[00:45:02]
AND SO, LIKE MR. POSTELL SAID, THIS HAS BEEN A FIVE YEAR JOURNEY TO GET SUMMIT TO WHERE IT IS NOW.SO SUMMIT IS CONSIDERED A NONTRADITIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ONES WHO HAVE BEEN ENROLLED AT LEAST ONE YEAR.
LIKE SOME OF MY KIDS SAID, THEY CAN'T FOCUS IN THAT CLASSROOM.
SO SUMMIT WAS BUILT BASICALLY ON THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO GIVE THE KIDS ACCOUNTABILITY, FLEXIBILITY, AND THEN WE NEED TO BE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM SO WE GIVE THEM ACCOUNTABILITY SO THAT THEY CAN REACH THAT ON TIME GRADUATION, WE GIVE THEM FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE WE ALLOW THEM TO COME AT NONTRADITIONAL HOURS AND BUILD A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SCHEDULE THAT WORKS FOR WHAT THEY NEED.
LIKE THE STUDENTS SAY THEY DON'T WORK ON A BUNCH OF CLASSES AT ONCE.
THEY WORK ON 1 TO 2 CLASSES AT A TIME.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE THAT VERY ACCELERATED GRADUATE SCHOOL WHERE YOU'RE JUST REALLY SUPER FOCUSING ON ONE CLASS AT A TIME, BUT YOU GET THROUGH THAT AND THEN THEY GET TO MOVE ON TO THEIR NEXT COURSE. SO MOST OF MY KIDS HAVE TO WORK FULL TIME.
SO RIGHT NOW, STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, I TAKE STUDENTS WHO ARE OFF GRADE LEVEL, STUDENTS WHO ARE OVER AGE FOR THEIR GRADE LEVEL, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE NO LONGER COMFORTABLE IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THEIR PEERS.
THOSE WHO'VE HAD A LACK OF INTEREST OR MOTIVATION IN ACADEMIC WORK BECAUSE OF THE STUFF THAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A CONNECTION WITH US WITH SUMMIT, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP.
AND THEN I TAKE ONES THAT HAVE FAMILY OBLIGATIONS, WORK OBLIGATIONS, MEDICAL.
I HAVE STUDENTS WHO OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, I HAVE STUDENTS WHOSE PARENTS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND THEY HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE PRIMARY CARE PEOPLE IN THEIR HOUSE TO HELP THEIR PARENT GET THROUGH CANCER AND CHEMO.
I HAVE STUDENTS WHO I RECENTLY TOOK IN A STUDENT WHOSE MOTHER WAS IN A HORRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT AND IS NOW HAVING TO GO THROUGH INTENSIVE PHYSICAL THERAPY.
SO SOMETIMES IT'S THOSE KIDS, SOME OF THEM ARE OFF GRADE LEVEL, SOME OF MY BABIES, AS I CALL THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY MESSED UP A LITTLE BIT THEIR NINTH OR 10TH GRADE YEAR GOT OFF GRADE LEVEL AND COULD NEVER CATCH BACK UP AND THEN GOT DISCOURAGED BECAUSE THEY GOT TO THAT FOURTH YEAR AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH MY GOODNESS, I CAN'T DO THIS MANY CREDITS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE YOU DROP OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU THAT DIPLOMA AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT TOGETHER.
BECAUSE MY PHILOSOPHY THROUGH ALL OF THIS IS AS TEENAGERS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I KNOW I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING AS A TEENAGER, BUT WE DON'T NEED THAT TEENAGE YEAR TO DEFINE WHAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE. AND A LOT OF TIMES IF WE DON'T GIVE THESE KIDS A DIFFERENT PATHWAY, THEN WHAT THEY PICKED OR WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM WHEN THEY WERE 15 OR 16 DEFINES WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN GET A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, WHICH DEFINES WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE WHEN THEY'RE 30, 40 AND 50.
AND WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO REWRITE WHAT THAT PATHWAY IS.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TODAY IS WE WANT TO LOOK AT TRYING TO EXPAND SUMMIT.
RIGHT NOW I AM ONLY FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT, SO I'VE BEEN OPERATING SUMMIT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS UNDER AN EEDA GRANT FROM THE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT. AND THAT GIVES ME VERY LIMITED ABILITY.
I CAN ONLY WORK WITH THREE HIGH SCHOOLS.
I CAN ONLY WORK WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STUDENTS.
I CAN'T HELP EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO INCREASE SUMMIT, WHICH IS WHAT I'M HERE FOR TONIGHT TO TWO LEVELS THE LEVEL ONE SUPPORT IS HELPING STUDENTS IN THEIR NINTH OR 10TH GRADE YEAR GET BACK ON TRACK.
AND THEN LEVEL TWO IS WHAT I'VE BEEN CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
[00:50:01]
ALL OF THIS YOU GUYS HAVE IN YOUR FOLDER.BUT THE PROPOSAL WITH THE LEVEL ONE IS THAT WE'RE TAKING THOSE KIDS.
I'M GOING TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY I WANT TO GET MYSELF OUT OF A JOB.
RIGHT? I WANT TO HELP THOSE KIDS AS SOON AS THEY START TO GET OFF TRACK.
SO THOSE ONES THAT IN THEIR NINTH, YOU KNOW, AFTER THEY'VE HIT THEIR NINTH GRADE YEAR AND THEY WEREN'T SUCCESSFUL, I WANT TO COME IN WITH A LEVEL ONE PROGRAM AND START WORKING WITH THEM THEIR SECOND YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, TRYING TO HELP THEM, GIVE THEM THEIR SKILLS, FIGURE OUT WHY THEY WEREN'T SUCCESSFUL THAT FIRST YEAR AND GET THEM BACK ON TRACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND THESE WOULD BE HELPING KIDS AT DIFFERENT REMOTE SITES EARNING 1 TO 4 CREDITS.
BUT THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN OVERALL AS A DISTRICT.
SO THEY'RE IN THEIR SECOND YEAR, STILL CLASSIFIED AS A NINTH GRADE.
THERE IS 65 STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT ARE IN THEIR THIRD TIME GOING THROUGH NINTH GRADE.
AND THERE IS FOUR IN OUR DISTRICT WHO IS THIS IS THEIR FOURTH YEAR IN NINTH GRADE.
FOR 10TH GRADERS WE HAVE 195 WHO SHOULD BE JUNIORS BUT ARE STILL QUALIFYING AS A 10TH GRADER.
AND THEY HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING IN.
SO THE DATA SPEAKS TO THEMSELVES THAT THIS IS WHAT LEVEL ONE COULD HELP.
LEVEL TWO. THAT WOULD BE WHAT I CONSIDER FULL TIME SUPPORT.
THESE KIDS DO NOT GO TO A REGULAR SCHOOL.
THESE ARE LIKE MY BABIES THAT I HAVE NOW.
THEY COME WITH ME AND THEY WORK WITH ME AND MY STAFF.
I CAN TELL YOU, I'M THE MAMA BEAR.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER.
AND THEY MEET WITH ME WEEKLY AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT IT.
THERE'S FIVE 11TH GRADERS WHO ARE ON THEIR FIFTH YEAR.
BUT THIS WAS THE DATA PULLED AT THE END OF JANUARY.
BUT THEN I THOUGHT, GOSH, I HATE TO SAY THAT NUMBER I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE HIGHER.
AND THEN I LOOKED BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST ACROSS OUR DISTRICT 60 STUDENTS BETWEEN AUGUST AND JANUARY THAT WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED FOR SUMMIT, THAT HAVE ALREADY DROPPED OUT OR GONE TO ADULT ED. SO BETWEEN AUGUST AND JANUARY, 60 STUDENTS DECIDED THAT THEY COULDN'T END UP STAYING IN THAT HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADUATING. SO NOW IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUMMIT.
OVERALL, 740 STUDENTS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT WOULD BENEFIT FROM A PROGRAM LIKE SUMMIT.
AND I WANT TO SAY IT'S VERY CRUCIAL THAT I UNDERSTAND THIS 740 THAT WE IDENTIFIED THROUGH DATA.
BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE, LIKE MY STUDENTS WHO MAYBE HAD A PARENT WHO HAD CANCER OR SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE THAT COULDN'T MAKE THEM CONTINUE TO GO TO A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL.
THEY'RE NOT IDENTIFIED BY DATA.
THEY'RE IDENTIFIED BY THEIR SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
SO 740 OF THEM ARE JUST IDENTIFIED BECAUSE THEY'RE OFF GRADE LEVEL.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS. YOU GUYS HAVE A STATISTICS SHEET.
[00:55:02]
THIS IS THE BENEFITS THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN ALREADY FROM SUMMIT FROM THE LAST THREE YEARS.WE'VE SEEN A GRADUATION INCREASE AT THE SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE BEEN AT.
STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN SUMMIT ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
3.7% OF AIKEN HIGH IN SOUTH AIKEN GRADUATION RATE FOR 2021 WERE BASED OFF OF SUMMIT KIDS.
THIS ONE TOO, JUST REALLY QUICKLY.
BUT FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THEY ACTUALLY NEED SIX CREDITS.
AND SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT A SUMMIT LEVEL ONE MODEL IN THOSE SCHOOLS WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE KIDS ALSO FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL OF GETTING THEM BACK IN TRACK.
SO THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED A 10TH GRADER, BUT THEY'RE CONSIDERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OFF TRACK BECAUSE THEY ONLY HAVE SIX CREDITS INSTEAD OF THE SEVEN THAT THEY NEED. AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT SUMMIT WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP WITH ROUGHLY, I THINK IT'S LIKE 160 STUDENTS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP THEM GET THEM BACK ON TRACK FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL.
SO WHAT I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT IS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS PROGRAM DISTRICT WIDE.
AND THAT MODEL WOULD LOOK LIKE WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW WITH MY LEVEL TWOS BEING ABLE TO EXPAND IT SO THAT I CAN SERVE STUDENTS FROM ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND AS WELL AS EXPANDING IT TO LEVEL ONE TO HELP THOSE HIGH SCHOOLS AND GIVING THEM MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THOSE STUDENTS BACK ON TRACK QUICKER AND SO THAT THEY STAY ENGAGED AT THEIR HOME SCHOOL AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN STOP THESE PATTERNS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
AND JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, THIS IS ALSO ALL IN THAT PROGRAM DESIGN HANDOUT THAT I GAVE.
SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO ASK.
BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO SERVE MORE STUDENTS AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT FLEXIBILITY.
LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF MY SUMMIT STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS THAT JUST BECAUSE OF LIFE CAN'T COME TO SCHOOL DURING THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DAY DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STILL EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
THESE ARE THE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THIS DISTRICT.
ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GRADUATE.
NOW, THEY ARE ALL NOW BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE.
BUT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, ALL OF MY GRADUATES HAVE BEEN FROM SOUTH AIKEN AND AIKEN HIGH.
MR. SILAS AND THEN MR. BROOME. BUT MR. SILAS FIRST.
BUT SINCE YOUR STUDENTS ARE LISTENING, HOPEFULLY THEY STILL ARE.
AND ALSO THEY SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR NOT GIVING UP ON THEIR EDUCATION.
RIGHT. AND DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.
AND THEN SECONDLY, IT'S JUST FANTASTIC THAT YOU IDENTIFIED A NEED AND THEN A SOLUTION.
THANK YOU. MR. BROOME. FIRST OFF, SAY I LOVE THIS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
THAT KIND OF STUFF BRINGS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT WHEN I SEE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS.
AND I GUESS THE QUESTION IS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DISCIPLINE TYPE ISSUES, BUT YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT KIDS MOSTLY WITH THAT TYPE OF ISSUE AS MUCH AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD.
I WILL SAY THAT I AM I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS REAL WOOD, KNOCK ON WOOD.
I DON'T HAVE DISCIPLINE ISSUES IN SUMMIT.
THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE FOR AN EDUCATION.
AND SOME OF THEM MIGHT HAVE MADE A POOR CHOICE, WHICH MAKES THEM A GOOD SUMMIT CANDIDATE.
BUT THEY'RE NOW TRYING TO FIX THOSE CHOICES AND THAT'S WHAT'S MAKING THEM SUCCESSFUL.
[01:00:08]
DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL AND THEY'RE COMING INTO SUMMIT.SO THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE A WILL.
THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE A WILL TO WANT TO LEARN AND SEE THE BENEFIT OF LEARNING AND GETTING THAT DIPLOMA BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY IN THIS PROGRAM THEY HAVE TO WANT TO BE THERE.
THERE'S NOT A TOOL TO MAKE THEM BE THERE, I GUESS IS WHY I ASK THE FIRST QUESTION.
BUT I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL.
BRADLEY. I'M GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION NOT BECAUSE THIS IS SUMMIT, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ASKED AT EVERY NEW PROGRAM THAT WE TALK ABOUT. WHAT KIND OF EVALUATION DO WE HAVE BUILT INTO THIS PROGRAM TO TELL US EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHAT BENEFITS ARE? I MEAN, I REALIZE THE KIDS ARE GETTING DIPLOMAS, BUT ARE THEY LEARNING ANYTHING IN THE PROCESS OF DOING WHATEVER IT IS THAT HAPPENS TO THEM IN THIS PROGRAM? SO I WILL SAY THAT WE USED A SOUTH CAROLINA APPROVED CURRICULUM.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO MEET THE SAME STATE STANDARDS TO EARN THAT CREDIT.
AND THEN AS PART OF THE GRANT IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY, I MEAN, I, HAVE A WHOLE REPORT THAT I FILL OUT THAT FOR GRANTS THAT INCLUDES THEIR ATTENDANCE. YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES WE MEET WITH THEM, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SIDE BENEFITS THAT WE INCLUDE, WHICH IS A LOT OF COUNSELING AND A LOT OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT WE GIVE THEM.
BUT THEN WE ALSO MONITOR THEIR CREDITS THAT THEY EARN.
SO THAT IS OUR OVERALL GOAL IN SUMMIT.
WE DON'T DO ANY KIND OF STANDARDIZED ACHIEVEMENT TESTING WITH THE STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM.
I MEAN, WE DO IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON'T DO AN ASSESSMENT WHEN THEY GO IN THE PROGRAM AND THEN AFTER COMPLETING THE PROGRAM, DO ANOTHER ASSESSMENT TO SEE DOCUMENT THE FACT THAT THEY'VE MADE THIS AMOUNT OF GROWTH.
IT'S A TEACHER MADE DEVICE AND THAT SORT OF THING.
YES. BUT NO NATIONALLY NORMED, RECOGNIZED ACHIEVEMENT TESTING.
WE DON'T DO THAT IN JUST ABOUT ANY PROGRAM OF OURS.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GLARING WEAKNESS.
WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHETHER THE KIDS ARE LEARNING ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
THANK YOU. BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT DOING ANY REAL WHAT I CALL REAL ACHIEVEMENT ASSESSMENT. WE'RE USING STATE MADE TESTS.
WE'RE NOT USING NATIONAL TEST TO ANY GREAT DEGREE.
BUT I DO THINK, PARTICULARLY SINCE YOU LIKE SO MANY OTHERS BEFORE YOU COME AND PROPOSING ADDITIONS TO THE BUDGET, REALLY WE GOT TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO DO WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO.
AND OF COURSE THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY IS FOR, IS TO PROVIDE A BETTER EDUCATION FOR THE KIDS.
BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE'VE GOT THAT'S WORKING AND WHAT WE'VE GOT THAT'S NOT WORKING OR NOT WHICH ONES WORKING THE BEST, BECAUSE WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE COMPETING FOR FUNDS, YOU KNOW, AND IN CONCEPT, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IS GOOD.
YOU KNOW, THE CONCEPT IS GREAT.
IT'S I JUST HAVING HAD TO DO THIS YEARS AGO WHEN MONEY WAS NOT AS PLENTIFUL AS IT IS NOW, WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR THE DOLLAR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T DO EVERYTHING WE WANTED TO DO AND WE HAD TO HAVE SOME WAY OF SELECTING THIS PROGRAM OVER ANOTHER OR THE OTHER OVER YOU OR WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW, I SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT BLOCK SCHEDULING.
[01:05:04]
CHANGE IN THE WAY WE SCHEDULE.BUT RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO THAT.
I JUST TO SPEAK ON A DATA POINT, ONE OF THE THINGS IS MY DATA POINT IS GRADUATION RATE.
AND SO BY BEING ABLE TO FUND THIS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AS A GRANT, I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO SHOW THE IMPACT BEFORE WE DECIDED TO GO INTO A BIGGER PROGRAM OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROGRAM WOULD ACTUALLY BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND I CAN SAY WITH THAT RAISE IN 3.7% OF THE GRADUATION RATE, THE MAJORITY OF MY KIDS THAT I TAKE IN WOULD ACTUALLY BE A HIT OFF OF ANY HIGH SCHOOL'S GRADUATION RATE.
THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO GRADUATE THAT YEAR.
NOT TO BELABOR THIS, I APOLOGIZE FOR GOING ON.
BUT TEACHERS, I LIVED WITH A TEACHER FOR A LONG TIME AND I KNOW THAT HER STANDARDS VARIED A LITTLE BIT BASED ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDENT AND SO FORTH AND SO FORTH.
AND SHE'S TEACHING [INAUDIBLE] ENGLISH.
IT WAS AN EIGHTH GRADE READING LEVEL.
YOU HAD TO HAVE AT LEAST AN EIGHTH GRADE READING LEVEL TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE THAT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO TONIGHT.
AND SO I DON'T WANT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST TEACHER JUDGMENT.
I WANT SOMETHING THAT'S COLD, HARD, OBJECTIVE DATA.
SO THE GRANT ONLY ALLOWED YOU THREE HIGH SCHOOLS AND NO MORE THAN 40 STUDENTS.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT OR THINKING IF THIS IS DISTRICT FUNDED AND WE OPEN THIS UP TO ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS, WHAT DOES THAT NUMBER OF STUDENTS LOOK LIKE AND WHERE DOES THE PERSONNEL COME FROM? OKAY. GOTCHA. YES.
WELL, WAIT A SECOND. I GOT YOU WHEN I FIGURE OUT THE DIRECTION.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THE FIRST YEAR.
RIGHT NOW, LIKE I SAID, I HAVE 39 KIDS AND CURRENTLY IN SUMMIT I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND LEVEL 2 TO 90 STUDENTS BETWEEN 75 AND 90 WHERE I CAN HIT STUDENTS FROM EVERY SCHOOL FOR THE LEVEL TWO.
SO THOSE ARE THE KIDS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE FULL TIME SUPPORT FROM.
AND THEN WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO FOR THE LEVEL ONE STUDENTS IS IDEALLY AND I HAVE BIG HOPES.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'M A BIG DREAMER ANY TIME I PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE.
BUT I WOULD THINK THAT WITH THE FIRST YEAR, I COULD AT LEAST HELP 250 STUDENTS BECAUSE I HAVE THE IDEA OF DOING THE REMOTE MODELS AND BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE SCHOOLS. IF YOU GUYS LOOK AT THE GRAPHS ABOUT THE ONES WITH THE REPEATING NINTH GRADERS, THERE ARE SOME HIGH SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT HAVE A MUCH MORE NEED.
IT'S IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BIG GOAL, WHAT'S THE POINT? MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON.
GOOD EVENING. I AM A SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER ASK AND A SHOUT OUT TO JASON CRANE. HERE IT GOES.
MR. TRAXLER. HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT OUR BUDGET AND IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR US TO FUND YEAR AFTER YEAR? A REOCCURRING COST? BEFORE MR. TRAXLER GETS UP THERE I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YES, THE REASON THAT THAT WE'RE SPEAKING TO YOU TONIGHT IS THAT WE DO ANTICIPATE INCLUDING THIS IN OUR BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, BECAUSE DURING THE GRANT PERIOD, WE SEE STUDENTS WHO STATISTICALLY MIGHT NOT HAVE GRADUATE, GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO WE'VE SEEN GOOD RESULTS.
WE MAY HAVE SOME OTHER OTHER OPTIONS FOR FUNDING AS WELL, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE.
BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE IT IN OUR BUDGET RECOMMENDATION.
[01:10:02]
YES, MA'AM. SO AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE A BUDGET WORK STUDY ON APRIL 11TH AND WE'LL TOUCH A LITTLE MORE ON THIS.MR. LAURENCE MENTIONED THAT IT IS A PRIORITY.
WE HAVE A COST ESTIMATE, BUT I'D LIKE TO WAIT AND LOOK AT SOME SCENARIOS BEFORE WE GET TO THAT APRIL 11TH MEETING, IF THE BOARD DOESN'T MIND.
MR. TRAXLER IT WOULD BE A SEPARATE LINE ITEM ON WHAT'S PRESENTED IN THE BUDGET, RIGHT? YES, SIR, WE WOULD IDENTIFY THAT.
THANK YOU, MISS YES, SIR. I REALLY APPRECIATE I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO DR.
BRADLEY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT THEY'RE GETTING IN IS GOING.
I'M. I'M HEARING HAVE. AND NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN UTILIZED.
WELL, END OF COURSE, TESTING IS A STATE REQUIREMENT.
SO IF MY STUDENTS HAVE TO EARN A CREDIT, SAY US HISTORY.
US HISTORY HAS A STATE END OF COURSE TEST.
IF I HAVE ANY STUDENTS WHO NEED TO EARN A US HISTORY CREDIT, THEY TAKE THE SAME EOC AS ANYBODY ELSE.
I WILL ACTUALLY SAY MOST OF MY STUDENTS BECAUSE MY THEIR ASSESSMENTS ARE ACTUALLY COMPUTER ASSESSMENTS THAT WE OF COURSE, WE PROCTOR AND MONITOR THEM WHY THEY TAKE IT.
BUT I'LL BE HONEST, AS A FORMER MATH TEACHER, SOME OF THE STUFF THAT MY KIDS IN SUMMIT HAVE TO DO FOR MATH AND WE HAVE TO TEACH THEM TO DO FOR MATH IS HARDER THAN I TAUGHT WHEN I WAS IN THE CLASSROOM.
SO ACTUALLY I WILL SAY THAT NONE OF MY CURRICULUM IS ACTUALLY TEACHER MADE.
IT IS ALL MADE BY EDMENTUM OR APEX.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. BRADLEY WAS SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, TEACHERS CAN SOMETIMES MAKE AN ASSESSMENT EASIER TO TRY TO HELP SOMEONE.
YEAH. IS THERE AN ATTENDANCE COMPONENT? THERE IS.
AND SO FOR MY LEVEL TWO STUDENTS, ATTENDANCE IS BASED ON YOUR NEED.
AND THEN BASICALLY THEIR ATTENDANCE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE I HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX HERE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A VIRTUAL STUDENT.
I REQUIRE THEM TO ATTEND THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT THEY NEED SUPPORT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOU COME IN AND YOU NEED TO GET NINE CREDITS IN ONE YEAR.
NOW, IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING, THEN YOU NOW HAVE TO COME NINE HOURS A WEEK.
IF YOU'RE REALLY STRUGGLING, YOU COME 12.
AND THEN LET'S BE HONEST, BECAUSE I LOVE MY BABY.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE NOT DOING WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, THEN YOU COME AND HANG OUT WITH ME FOR A SATURDAY FROM 8 TO 2 BECAUSE I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE WORK. BUT YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HAS TO DO THE WORK.
AND I CAN PROMISE YOU NOT MANY KIDS WANT TO HANG OUT WITH ME AT 8 A.M.
BUT YOUR ATTENDANCE HOURS DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON AND HOW MUCH YOU SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED.
[01:15:03]
AND WE BASE IT OFF OF WHAT EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS.IT'S ALL ABOUT FLEXIBILITY AND MEETING THAT STUDENT WITH WHERE THEY'RE AT.
LAST COMMENT. WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I TOOK FOUR AND A HALF CREDITS EACH EACH YEAR.
IT'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT I COULD HAVE GOTTEN NINE CREDITS IN ONE YEAR.
I MEAN, I'M NOT EXACTLY A STUPID PERSON.
I STUDIED HARD TO GET, YOU KNOW, GET THROUGH FOUR THE HALF WAS BAND.
SO LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT FOUR.
ANY IF THE COURSE HAS REAL SUBSTANCE, HOW CAN YOU GET NINE CREDITS IN ONE YEAR? THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY TO STUDY THE WAY I HAD TO STUDY TO GET THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
SO IN THE CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL SETTING, THEY ARE DOING SEVEN CREDITS A YEAR.
BUT THEY HAVE TO DO THEY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO ALL SEVEN CLASSES AT ONCE.
THE WAY SUMMIT IS DESIGNED IS THAT THEY ARE WORKING ONLY ON 1 OR 2 CLASSES AT A TIME.
SO EVERY DAY YOU'RE SPENDING 5 TO 6 HOURS JUST ON ENGLISH.
AND SO INSTEAD OF DIVIDING THAT TIME THROUGH HAVING TO CONCENTRATE ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AT ONCE, THE BEAUTY OF SUMMIT IS THAT THESE KIDS ONLY HAVE TO HARD CORE DIVE INTO WORKING ON ONE SUBJECT, SOMETIMES TWO SUBJECTS AT A TIME, AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO GET MORE THAN THE TRADITIONAL AMOUNT OF CREDITS IN A YEAR. WELL, I MEAN, WHETHER YOU TAKE WHETHER YOU ONLY STUDY ENGLISH FIVE, SIX HOURS A DAY.
I MEAN, IT WAS SO MANY HOURS OF ENGLISH AND IT DIDN'T MATTER WHEN YOU TOOK THEM.
WELL, I MEAN, IT DOES MATTER A LOT.
THE SEQUENCE IN WHICH YOU TAKE THEM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOSING TIME ON TASK.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH TIME ON TASK, TIME TO DO NINE CREDITS IN A YEAR.
AND THAT'S THE CREDITS OR A LOT OF THESE WE DIDN'T TAKE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THE CURRICULUM NOW THAT WEREN'T THERE WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL SCIENCE, MATH, ENGLISH, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, HISTORY. THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT EVERY YEAR.
VOCATIONAL KIDS BROKE OFF AND AND DID SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.
WELL, THE I MEAN, IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROPOSAL COME BACK TO US, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT THEN.
FROM A DECISION STANDPOINT, IT'S IN AN APRIL BUDGET MEETING OR SUBSEQUENT BUDGET MEETINGS.
MY QUESTION, MISS KOLMAR, IS JUST AND I DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT TERM TO USE IT.
SO YOU'RE IDENTIFYING KIDS THAT MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD WOULD HAVE DROPPED OUT, NOT GRADUATED.
WHAT'S THE CONVERSION RATE OR THE SUCCESS RATE AS FAR AS YOU GET HALF OF THEM THROUGH 75% OF THEM THROUGH WHAT'S THE? 95%. OKAY.
OF THE KIDS SO FAR THAT I'VE TAKEN IN.
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
THANK YOU, MISS KOLMAR. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS DR.
MURPHY IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH FOUR CONSTRUCTION UPDATES.
HERE. GOOD EVENING MR. NUESSLE, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. LAURENCE. GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN.
I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE TO PRESENT THE LATEST ON THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AIKEN HIGH ALREADY THIS EVENING.
AND SO JUST WANTED TO GO BACK AND TO REITERATE SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS WE'VE MADE THERE.
THE BIGGEST CONCERN I WILL SHARE WITH YOU ALL IS THE WEATHER.
WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT SITE WORK AND OUTSIDE WORK, THE RAIN HAS BEEN A GRAVE HINDRANCE TO US.
[01:20:05]
AND SO WE FOCUS A LOT ON THE INSIDE WHEN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS OCCUR.AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, CONSTRUCTION IS LIMITED.
BUT AGAIN, THE SITE WORK IS CAUSING SOME OF OUR DELAYS.
BUT WE'RE ABLE TO AGAIN FOCUS MORE ON THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.
AND THE IN-WALL ROOFING IS CONTINUING AS TO PROGRESS, I'M SORRY, AND OSF ABOVE THE CEILING INSPECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 25TH.
SO THE $16 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IS WITHIN BUDGET AND IS CONTINUING ON SCHEDULE AND DUE FOR A COMPLETION OF SEPTEMBER OF 23 . OVER AT HAMMOND HILL.
THE CAFETERIA AGAIN, THE SITE IS STARTING TO DRY OUT.
AND SO WE STILL SEE THIS NOTE ON ALL OF MY CONSTRUCTION NOTES.
IT'S ABOUT THE ACTUAL SITE WORK ITSELF.
BUT WE HAVE COMPLETED THE EXISTING ASPHALT DRIVEWAY TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE KINDERGARTEN WING.
SO WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
CONSTRUCTION IS CONTINUING AT A STEADY PACE.
EXTERIOR VENEER AND OPENINGS ARE 98% COMPLETE.
THE ROOFING IS CONTINUING AT APPROXIMATELY 90% AS WELL.
INSIDE THE CEILING GRID, DRYWALL, FRAMING, PRIME AND PAINTING ARE CONTINUING.
HERE YOU HAVE ON THE LEFT, THAT'S THE DINING AREA ON THE RIGHT, THAT'S THE MEDIA CENTER.
AND THESE PICTURES ARE APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS OLD.
SO WE ARE MAKING SOME PROGRESS THERE AS WELL.
AND THIS 44 MILLION PROJECT IS WITHIN BUDGET AND WE'RE STILL ON TRACK FOR A SUMMER COMPLETION.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WAGNER-SALLEY AGAIN, THE SAME COMMENT ABOUT THE SITE WORK CONTINUING.
THIS $50 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IS SET TO BE COMPLETED JULY 1ST OF 2024.
ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE. MR. SMITH.
YEAH, BASICALLY IT'S THE DRY OUT PERIOD.
I MEAN, SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE ASPHALT LAID AND CURBING IS IN PLACE.
IS WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BEING BUILT TO HOUSE A MAXIMUM OF 350 STUDENTS, BUT IT SHOULD BE OPENING WITH THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT AROUND 230.
ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.
WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER ITEM AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. SILAS. YEAH.
I THINK LAST WEEK THEY DELIVERED A $500 CHECK TO ALL AREA THREE SCHOOLS.
I THINK THAT'S ABOUT NINE SCHOOLS, I BELIEVE.
AND SECOND YEAR THAT THEY'VE DONE THAT.
[01:25:01]
SO WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.AND JUST ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF A COMMUNITY PARTNER THERE IN AREA THREE.
IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH MR. SILAS. IT'S BEEN A GREAT THING THAT'S COME FROM THE STAR LODGE THERE IN GRANITEVILLE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLIMENT MR. DONNIE BOWERS, WHO HAS BEEN THE LIAISON BETWEEN STAR LODGE AND GETTING THIS THIS MONEY TO OUR SCHOOL.
HE HAS BEEN VERY LOYAL AND WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY TO GET THIS DONE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BOWERS. ALL RIGHT.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
VERY BRIEFLY, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS WEEK IS A CELEBRATION WEEK FOR US AND FOR STAFF MEMBERS IN AIKEN COUNTY.
THURSDAY EVENING WILL BE RECOGNIZING OUR STARS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
AND AT THAT EVENT, WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING OUR NEW TEACHER OF THE YEAR, OUR GEM GIVING EVEN MORE WINNER OUR FIRST YEAR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO LET OUR STARS SHINE AS WE DO EVERY YEAR.
SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. LAURENCE.
WE DO NEED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT, SO WE WILL NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO AN ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS IN SUCH ORDER AS THE BOARD DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
WE HAVE ONE STUDENT MATTER, WHICH IS A STUDENT APPEAL FROM AREA ONE, AND FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING, THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION TO ANNOUNCE THE MATTERS CONSIDERED AND TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE STUDENT APPEAL? MOVE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MR. SMITH. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. MOTION CARRIES.
[02:06:00]
WE HAVE FINISHED OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE NEED A MOTION TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ENTER REGULAR SESSION[02:06:10]
TO DEAL WITH ANY ACTION ON THE STUDENT APPEAL, WE HEARD.[02:06:16]
MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON MOVES TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ENTER REGULAR SESSION.[02:06:20]
IS THERE A SECOND?[02:06:21]
SECOND. HEARD SECOND BY DR.[02:06:23]
HANKS. ANY DISCUSSION?[02:06:25]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.[02:06:27]
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION CARRIES.WE ARE IN A REGULAR SESSION WHILE IN REGULAR.
IS THERE A MOTION IN REGARDS TO THE STUDENT APPEAL FROM AREA ONE? YES, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO UPHOLD THE DISTRICT RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPULSION.
SECOND. THERE IS A MOTION BY MR. SILAS AND SECONDED BY MR. SMITH TO UPHOLD THE DISTRICT RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPULSION FOR THAT IN REFERENCE TO THAT STUDENT APPEAL.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF UPHOLDING THE DISTRICT RECOMMENDATION OF EXPULSION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION CARRIES.
MOVE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON SECOND BY MR. SMITH. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.