[00:05:10]
[00:05:13]
WE WILL CALL THE AUGUST 15TH MEETING OF THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TO ORDER.WE BEGIN ALL OUR MEETINGS WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
OKAY. SO AS THE AGENDA INDICATES, OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE HERE TONIGHT IS A REVIEW OF SECURITY PLANS IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. BUT WE DID HAVE WE NEEDED TO DO JUST SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS OR SOME INFORMATION SHARING FIRST WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS UPDATE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I HAVE A LETTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ TO ALL OF YOU.
THERE'S AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR.
SERVING AS SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAS BEEN MY GREAT PLEASURE.
RETIREMENT WILL MARK THE END OF MY 38 YEAR CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND I JOINED MY WIFE, TERRI, DAUGHTERS SARAH AND SIDNEY, AND OUR EXTENDED FAMILY IN EXCITEMENT TO FULLY ENJOY WITH THEM THE NEXT CHAPTER.
WITH RESPECT FOR THE BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY, I'M MAKING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOW TO ENSURE THERE IS AMPLE TIME TO SELECT THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT AND THAT A SMOOTH TRANSITION PLAN CAN BE PUT INTO PLACE.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT MY WORK AS SUPERINTENDENT IS NOT FINISHED.
OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY DESERVE STATE OF THE ART EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, AND I'M PROUD TO SEE THOSE BEING CONSTRUCTED ACROSS OUR COUNTY, THANKS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
THIS SCHOOL YEAR WILL SEE THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND THE START OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW AIKEN COUNTY CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER ON THE CAMPUS OF AIKEN TECHNICAL COLLEGE.
IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE MADE SECURITY UPGRADES TO BUILDINGS, ADDED EQUIPMENT AND STAFF, AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BOTH PREVENT AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES. MOVING FORWARD, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO SECURE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, UPGRADE FACILITIES TO MAXIMIZE SECURITY AND PRACTICE OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES.
I WILL MISS BEING PART OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR STAFF IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO CONTINUE THE POSITIVE WORK WE ARE DOING . WITH GREAT JOY FOR MY YEARS IN AIKEN COUNTY.
WE'RE SADDENED TO RECEIVE THIS NEWS.
CERTAINLY RESPECT YOUR DECISION.
SUPERINTENDENT LAURENCE HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING A VERY CHALLENGING TIME THAT HE'S BEEN SUPERINTENDENT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
[00:10:02]
UM, I THINK I WANT IF YOU COULD ALL JUST PLEASE JOIN ME BRIEFLY, AND I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR YOUR 25 YEARS IN AIKEN COUNTY IN THESE LAST FOR WHAT WILL BE FIVE YEARS, I BELIEVE, AS SUPERINTENDENT.AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] JUST FOR THE THE BOARD JUST TO KNOW.
AND YEAH, AND THAT'S ALSO MY REMINDER THAT WE HAVE A LOT WORK TO DO DURING THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US KNOW.
THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS, BUT WE'LL NEED TO PLACE ACCEPT IT, SO TO SPEAK, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO PLACE THAT ON THE AGENDA AND VOTE ON IT, SO TO SPEAK. AND AND WE CERTAINLY WE WILL DO THAT NEXT WEEK, BUT I WILL AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR FOR FOLKS TO MAKE COMMENTS WHEN WE DO THAT.
SO ANYBODY GOT A COMMENT? YES, SIR. MR. BROOME KING AND I ARE SAME AGE, AND HE OBVIOUSLY PLANNED HIS FUTURE OUT BETTER THAN I DID BECAUSE I STILL GOT KIDS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
SO WHILE HE'S RETIRED, I'LL PROBABLY WORK, NOT FIRE.
WELL, MR. SMITH, GO AHEAD. KING I APPRECIATE YOU.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE YEARS WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CANDIDNESS, YOUR HONESTY AND YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
AND I, FOR ONE, AM GOING TO MISS YOU GREATLY.
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB FOR AIKEN COUNTY.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING US THROUGH THOSE TOUGH YEARS.
THANK YOU. OKAY, MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
THANK YOU. AND FOR THOSE WE WILL GET TO TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
AND CERTAINLY WE WELCOME COMMENTS FROM EVERYBODY.
UM, WITH THAT, WE DO NEED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT FOR TWO ITEMS. WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS SECURITY PLANS AND THEN WE HAVE A CONTRACTUAL MATTER TO CONSIDER AFTER THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION? MADE A MOTION MADE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. MOTION CARRIES.
WE WILL ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO JUST TAKE A SHORT FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL START EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[02:45:41]
ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE CONCLUDED EXECUTIVE SESSION.[02:45:46]
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION?[02:45:49]
MOVE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.[02:45:50]
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY DR.[02:45:52]
BRADLEY. ANY DISCUSSION?[02:45:53]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF RETURNING THE REGULAR SESSION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.[02:45:57]
THAT'S UNANIMOUS FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE STILL HERE.[02:46:00]
MOTION PASSES. WE ARE IN REGULAR SESSION WHILE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.[02:46:03]
WE DID DISCUSS SECURITY PLANS AND A CONTRACTUAL MATTER REGARDING LEGAL SERVICES.[02:46:09]
CURRENTLY TONIGHT, THOSE TWO ITEMS DON'T REQUIRE ANY BOARD ACTION.[02:46:15]
SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN?[02:46:20]
I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN FROM DR.[02:46:21]
BRADLEY, SECONDED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.[02:46:23]
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.[02:46:26]
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. WE STAND ADJOURNED.[02:46:28]
THANK YOU.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.