[00:04:55]
[00:05:03]
WE WILL CALL THE FEBRUARY 13TH MEETING OF THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ORDER.WE BEGIN ALL OUR MEETINGS WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
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.
AND IF WE WILL, WE WILL ACCEPT APPROVE THE AGENDA WITHOUT OBJECTIONS.
WE HAVE FOUR SETS OF MINUTES FOR APPROVAL THIS EVENING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
AND THERE WERE, DIFFERENT ATTENDEES AT EACH ONE.
SO, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE ONE BY ONE.
THE FIRST ONE IS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF JANUARY 16TH? SO MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY DOCTOR BRADLEY.
SO, MR. BROOME, DO YOU ABSTAIN? THAT'S THE ONE I MISSED.
YEP. AND THEN, THE NEXT IS THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF JANUARY 17TH.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE MINUTES? MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? SECONDED BY MR. SILAS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 17TH MEETING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOTION CARRIES. THOSE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
THIRD, WE HAVE THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF JANUARY 18TH.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE MINUTES? MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
IS THERE A SECOND?SECOND BY DR.
BRADLEY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 18TH MEETING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 23RD.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE MINUTES MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON? IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY DOCTOR BRADLEY.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THESE MINUTES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
EIGHT IN FAVOR AND ONE ABSTAINING.
THAT TAKES CARE OF THE MINUTES OF ALL THOSE MEETINGS WE RACKED UP.
THAT LEADS US TO OUR, EXCUSE ME.
I HAD NOTHING PREPARED FOR OFFICE OF BOARD CHAIRMAN, WHICH LEADS US DIRECTLY INTO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. SO, THERE WAS A LIST OF PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL THAT WAS SCREENED BY HR AND APPROVED BY ADMINISTRATION FOR OUR APPROVAL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LIST OF PERSONNEL IMPROVEMENTS APPOINTMENTS MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MISS TYLER.
THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT, THERE IS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL THAT CAME BACK FOR A WEBSITE DESIGN AND HOSTING SERVICES.
AND IF YOU LOOK JUST FOR LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, THERE WAS KIND OF IN MY MIND, AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE COMPANY THAT WE USE FOR WEB HOSTING WAS NO LONGER GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
AND THERE ARE SOME ENHANCEMENTS AS WELL TO OUR WEB PAGE THAT ARE NEEDED FROM AN ADA PERSPECTIVE.
AND YOU SEE THE NUMBERS ON THAT DOCUMENT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS MOVE BY MS. RHINEHART-JACKSON? IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MR. MOULTON? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE RFP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ON WEBSITE DESIGN AND HOSTING SERVICES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[00:10:02]
THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.THE NEXT ITEM IS AN UPDATE TO THE FIVE-YEAR FACILITY PLAN.
AND AS YOU SAW IN THE READ AHEAD, THERE ARE CHANGES.
DR. MURPHY, GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN. BOARD MEMBERS, MR. TRAXLER AND MR. LAURENCE IS WATCHING ON THE INTERNET.
YOU KIND OF STOLE MY THUNDER THERE.
THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICY FB, IN WHICH WE PRESENT THIS PLAN EVERY YEAR.
AND THE FIRST SLIDE, I'LL TRY TO ANNOTATE MAJOR CHANGES AS WE GO ALONG.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, OUR SUPPORT WILL GO TO WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS A PART OF OUR ORIGINAL PLAN TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU CAN SEE A SINGLE LINE THROUGH AIKEN INTERMEDIATE AND NORTH AUGUSTA MIDDLE.
AND SO, WE WON'T DO CYCLIC PAINTING FOR THOSE SITES AT THIS TIME.
NEW ELLINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM THAT WILL BE COMPLETED THIS SUMMER.
ANY QUESTIONS? MR. SMITH. SURE. I'VE.
LET ME JUST GET YOU, IF YOU WILL, TO REFRESH ME.
BECAUSE I THOUGHT CLEARWATER WAS GOING TO HAVE SOME PAINTING DONE AS WELL.
THAT'S STILL IN THE PLAN BECAUSE IT'S NOT LISTED ON THERE.
WE CAN FUND THAT WITH OUR PAINTING BUDGET NOW.
WE HAVE. WE BROUGHT ON A PAINTER RIGHT NOW.
SO, THE CLEARWATER PROJECT IS GOING TO BE DONE FAIRLY SOON.
THIS IS MY SUMMER MAINTENANCE PLAN.
WE WILL COMPLETE JD LEVER AS WELL AS BIRD PAINTING, BIRD, GLOVERSVILLE AND CHUCKLE CREEK.
THE REST OF THE BUDGETS ARE CARRY-OVER.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T REALLY BRIEF THEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.
A MAJOR CHANGE WE HAVE HERE IS FOR 20.
2526 AND I'M GOING TO READ THIS.
THIS IS WHAT WAS IN YOUR PURPLE FOLDER.
ONE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE RELATES TO 2526 SPENDING.
SO, WITH THAT $10 MILLION, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT PACKAGE COMPLETELY.
QUESTIONS. YES, SIR, MR. SILAS. DOCTOR MURPHY, JUST TIMETABLE.
IF THIS WERE TO BE APPROVED AS PROPOSED FOR THE COMPLETION OF THOSE ATHLETIC FACILITIES AT WAGNER, WOULD THAT BE THE 6? THIS IS FOR 25-26.
SO, WE'RE DOING SOME DRAINING WORK, SOME RETAINING WALL WORK.
SO, AND I'VE NOT BEEN OUT TO THE SITE, BUT I'M HEARING THAT THE GRADING AND GENERAL SITE WORK IS BEING DONE OR HAS BEEN DONE NOW FOR THE BASEBALL SOFTBALL FIELDS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT.
SO, I GUESS THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT YOU'VE.
YES, SIR. IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE PLAN.
AND SO, THE MORE WE CAN DO UP FRONT, THE LESS MONEY WE'LL NEED ON THE BACK END.
[00:15:04]
SO, IT WOULD NOT BE COMPLETED FOR THEIR SPRING.COMPETITION OR SPRING SEASON OF 26.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST IT'S SO FAR OUT WHEN THE PROJECTIONS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT FUNDING CYCLES.
MURPHY, JUST TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT COMPLETES THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON THAT HIGH SCHOOL, THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST TRANCHE OF MONEY THAT WE WOULD NEED TO COMPLETE THAT FINAL PROJECT IN AREA FOUR.
GOTCHA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON 25-26 PROJECTS? AND WHEN WE GO TO 26-27 AGAIN, THIS IS IT'S A PROJECTION.
SO, THAT'S A PARTIAL FLOORING FROM MIDLAND VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
AGAIN, BOND SUPPORT HERE GOES TO HIGHLAND SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.
AND IN 28-29, HIGHLAND SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.
WE'RE, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PREDICTING THAT PROJECT COSTING ABOUT TWO $26.5 MILLION.
MURPHY, BUT THE, IS THERE A LOT OF SITE PREP? SO, THAT'S AN INTERESTING PIECE OF PROPERTY, RIGHT? IS MOST OF THE SITE PREP DONE FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, OR IS THERE A LOT OF SITE PREP TO DO FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? NO. SO, WE WERE ABLE TO GET AS MUCH OF THE COMMON SPACES ARE DONE NOW AND THE SITE PREP IS PRETTY MUCH DONE.
SO, WE LEFT IT TO WHERE IT WOULD BE PRESENTABLE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
UNTIL WE GO TO THAT, TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR MURPHY ON THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN? THANK YOU. SO NOT HEARING ANY QUESTIONS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FIVE-YEAR FACILITY PLAN SO MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY DR.
HANKS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE FIVE-YEAR FACILITY PLAN, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.
THAT'S ALL THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS WE HAVE.
AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT ITEMS. AND CONSENT ITEMS ARE THOSE THAT WE CAN DISCUSS INDIVIDUALLY BUT WILL BE VOTED ON AS A GROUP UNLESS WE TAKE SOME SPECIFIC ACTION.
THE FIRST OF WHICH IS WE HAVE A LIST OF EXPULSIONS THAT WERE NOT APPEALED THAT WE MUST RATIFY.
SECOND IS A LIST OF TRANSFERS OUT OF THE DISTRICT.
FOR WHATEVER REASON, PEOPLE LIVING IN AIKEN COUNTY WANTING TO TEN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THIRD. AND THAT'S FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR STILL.
AND THEN THE SAME FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
AND LASTLY, NUMBER FOUR IN CONSENT ITEMS. THE NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR PROGRAM HAS BEEN AWARDED A $3,000 FIDELITY CHARITABLE DONOR ADVISED FUND GRANT, AND THOSE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE STUDENT TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SOME OF THEIR PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FOUR CONSENT ITEMS AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MISS TYLER.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE FOUR CONSENT ITEMS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES.
WE'LL MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEMS WHICH DON'T REQUIRE ANY BOARD ACTION.
THE FIRST FOR SEVERAL OF THESE.
WELL, EXCUSE ME, ALL THREE OF THESE, ARE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD REPORTS.
AND MR. TRAXLER IS HERE WITH US.
BUT THE THREE REPORTS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO US IN ADVANCE WERE THE FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT QUARTERLY CHANGE ORDER NOTIFICATION, WHICH THERE WERE TWO ITEMS ON THERE. PRETTY SMALL.
[00:20:05]
DOES ANYONE ON THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE THREE REPORTS? OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON THEN TO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER ITEMS. THE FIRST OF WHICH, IS FROM MR. MOULTON, WHO WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH US POLICY.CASEY. TRIPLE A STUDENT COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
THANK YOU. YEP. THANK YOU., CHAIR.
WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF SHEPHERD BLOOD CENTER HERE TONIGHT.
AND HONESTLY, THAT'S WHERE I GOT IT, YOU KNOW, GOT IT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
BOTTOM LINE, THE CURRENT POLICY, WHICH IS KCAA, IT REFERS TO, WE'RE GOING TO I WAS GOING TO RECOMMEND WE LEAVE, REDCROSS AND SHEPHERD IN THERE.
THE ONLY PART THAT REALLY CHANGES.
AND I'LL TALK TO, TO YOU ABOUT THAT.
AND THE ONLY OTHER TWO CHANGES.
ONE WAS TO PROVIDE TRAINED STAFF TO COLLECT BLOOD IF NEEDED, AND HANDLE ISSUES SUCH AS FIRST AID AND THE WAY IT READ BEFORE OR THE WAY IT READS NOW CURRENTLY IS THAT A NURSE HAS TO BE PRESENT, AND THAT JUST SIMPLY IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE, NOR ARE THEY AS WELL TRAINED AS THE STAFF THAT COMES WITH THE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BLOODMOBILE.
I THINK IN THE PAST, SHEPHERD PROVIDES A GRANT.
AND AND SO THERE'S A MONETARY REWARD FOR, FOR BLOOD DONATIONS AT A SCHOOL.
I DON'T THINK RED CROSS DOES THAT.
BUT WE'VE BEEN ALTERNATING BETWEEN THE TWO.
THE ONLY THING THIS IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, THAT FORM HAS TO BE COMPLETED FOR THAT GRANT TO TAKE PLACE, AND THAT'S NOT IN THERE RIGHT NOW. OKAY.
OTHER OTHER THAN THAT, I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE NOTES.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY CHANGES NEEDED THERE.
AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING IS THE WAY IT'S WORDED NOW, IT JUST SAYS HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND SO I DON'T THINK IT'S LIMITED TO HIGH SCHOOLS.
I THINK THE INTENT WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN WAS TO LIMIT IT TO HIGH SCHOOLS FOR THE STUDENTS TO DONATE.
JUST WANTED TO RECOMMEND WE MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
MAKE. I'LL MAKE IT A MOTION IF I NEED TO.
YEAH. SO OF COURSE, THE, WHY DON'T WE DO? AND ONE THING I'LL SAY, UNLESS I'M, I'M JUST MISTAKEN.
SO, WE'LL STILL NEED WE'LL NEED TO.
PER WHAT YOU ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE CHANGES THAT YOU JUST SUGGESTED.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL PUT IT ON THE FLOOR THEN.
FOR ALL OF US, I'LL JUST MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE DO EXACTLY WHAT, MR. NESTLE SAID, AND THAT IS THAT WE ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE POLICY AS WE DISCUSSED.
SECOND. SO, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY MR. MOULTON, SECONDED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON FOR THE DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO REVISE POLICY KCAA WITH THE CHANGES THAT WERE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING LOWERING THE DONOR AGE TO 16, NOT REQUIRING AN RN, WHICH IS NOT REQUIRED, AND SOME OTHER CHANGES.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION, TO REVISE THE POLICY TO PRESENT FOR FIRST READING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[00:25:08]
THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.MISS TYLER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, MR. LAURENCE, WHO'S WATCHING ONLINE.
AND MR. TRAXLER, THIS IS SIMPLY A PLEA FOR BETTER TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR BUSBY ELEMENTARY, CORBETT MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE'S BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE OF INADEQUATE BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW.
THE ONGOING ISSUE CAUSES STUDENTS TO MISS MOST OF THEIR FIRST PERIOD CLASS IN THE MORNING.
SO, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE MISSING THE MAJORITY OF THEIR FIRST PERIODS, THEY'RE STILL BEING GRADED AS IF THEY'RE GETTING A FULL PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION. AND THAT CAN BE CHALLENGING SOMEWHAT.
SO, A FEW OTHER ADVERSE RESULTS OF THE INSUFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION PLAN WORTH MENTIONING ARE SOME KIDS RELY ON OUR SCHOOL BREAKFAST, BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR LATE ARRIVAL, THEY'RE ONLY ABLE TO GRAB LIKE MAYBE A CHEESE STICK AND EAT IT ON THE WAY TO CLASS.
SO, STUDENTS HAVE MISSED FIELD TRIPS.
SO, FIELD TRIPS ARE BEING CANCELED, ATHLETIC GAMES ARE BEING FORFEITED BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION TO AWAY GAMES, AND SOME OF THE KIDS ARE MISSING EVEN THEIR LITTLE LEAGUE PRACTICES AND GAMES BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL AT SCHOOL AWAITING A BUS TO COME AND PICK THEM UP WHILE THEIR TEAMMATES ARE PRACTICING.
SO, ON AVERAGE, THERE ARE ABOUT 90 KIDS THAT WAIT PATIENTLY IN THE CAFETERIA AND SOME OF THE CLASSROOMS FOR THE LATE BUS WHILE THE STAFF ENGAGES THEM IN HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND GAMES.
SO, THE CONTINUED PROCLAMATION IS THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE CONCESSIONS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS MADE TO ATTRACT BUS DRIVERS, SUCH AS RAISING THE HOURLY RATE AND OFFERING A SIGNING BONUS, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL, WHICH FORCES US TO TO GET CREATIVE IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST ACCEPT IT AND THEN ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE THE WAY THAT IT IS GOING.
SO, I WITNESSED THE SELFLESS COMMITMENT OF OUR ADMINISTRATION, THEIR STAFF AND THE BUS DRIVERS.
AND SOME DAYS THEY'RE THERE TO LIKE 7:00 PM TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS BOARDED A BUS TO GO HOME, LITERALLY CARRYING SOME KINDERGARTEN KIDS TO THE BUS BECAUSE THEY FALLEN ASLEEP, BECAUSE AFTER AN EXHAUSTING DAY, IT'S NOW 5:30 OR 6:00.
SO, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, A COUPLE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT DO HAVE CDLS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE AIRBRAKE PORTION OF IT VOLUNTEERED TO RUN A SHORTER ROUTE.
I WAS TOLD THAT THE DISTRICT HAD SOME SMALLER BUSSES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE CDL AND THAT THEY WOULD BE DROPPED OFF DOWN THERE SO THAT THE WILLING STAFF COULD ASSIST IN THAT MANNER.
AND OF COURSE, THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
SO, WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS, BUT I KNOW THAT DOING NOTHING IS DEFINITELY NOT AN OPTION ANYMORE.
MAYBE CONSIDER STAGGERING SOME SCHEDULED ROUTES SO THAT SOME KIDS CAN ARRIVE EARLIER.
LET'S AT LEAST REVERSE THE ROUTE SO THAT THE SAME KIDS ARE NOT LATE EVERY DAY IN THE EVENING.
MAYBE RUN THE SHORT ROUTES FIRST.
THAT WAY THE KIDS ARE NOT AT THE SCHOOL AS LONG.
OR MAYBE THE ANSWER IS TO CONSIDER A SEPARATE TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR FOR THAT WAGNER AREA.
[00:30:01]
SO THAT'S JUST TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ATTENTION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE AREA.I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST A LATE BUS ANYMORE.
IT'S HINDERING A STUDENT'S ABILITY TO EXPERIENCE THAT FIELD TRIP.
IT'S RESTRICTING THAT THEIR PRIVILEGE TO COMPETE ATHLETICALLY AS OTHER STUDENTS DO.
IT'S NOT JUST THE LATE BUS ANYMORE.
THANK YOU, MISS TYLER. DID ANYONE ON THE BOARD.
SO THIS IS LIKE ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEM.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD, MR. SMITH? NO, NO, NO, NO, I'M JUST.
OKAY. MR. BROOME AND MISS TYLER, YOU MAY, IS WE OFFERED AS A DISTRICT TRAINING TO TRY TO TRAIN BUS DRIVERS.
YOU SAID YOU MENTIONED SOME DIDN'T HAVE THE AIRBRAKE IS THAT THEY HAVE CDL.
JUST DON'T HAVE THE AIR BRAKE.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED EVEN AND EVEN TAKING THAT PORTION OF IT.
BUT THE FACT THAT THEY COULD ASSIST IN DOING SOME SHORT ROUTES AND THEY'RE WILLING TO I MEAN, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS IS CONTRACT DRIVERS OR I MEAN, I'M JUST THROWING OUT THINGS.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW WE DID THE SIGN ON BONUS.
WE'VE DONE SOME SIGNIFICANT RAISES ON BUS DRIVERS.
AND YOU HAVEN'T SEEN REALLY ANY IMPROVEMENT IN THE AREA FROM ANY OF THAT.
BUT, DOCTOR MURPHY, SINCE THAT'S YOUR DEPARTMENT, DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC ANSWERS FOR SOME OF MR. BLOOM'S PREVIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAINING PROGRAM? THERE WAS A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THERE, BUT.
IT IS DEFINITELY UNFORTUNATE WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.
WE HAVE TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE TRIED THE SIGNING BONUS TO ATTRACT.
WE WERE TOLD BY SOME DRIVERS THAT WOULD GET THEM BACK FROM NEIGHBORING LEXINGTON COUNTY.
IT DIDN'T WORK. WE TRIED RAISING THE HOURLY.
NOW THERE IS A QUARTERLY BONUS THAT WE'RE OFFERING THOSE THAT COME BACK.
AND WE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.
THAT WE, AS OF THURSDAY, WE'VE PURCHASED 215 PASSENGER BUSSES.
AND SO, THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THE TRAINING AND AS OF THE 14TH.
SO TOMORROW I CAN'T FORGET THAT.
TOMORROW WILL BE A DRIVER WILL BE ON BOARD.
SO, WE HAVE ONE DRIVER COMING ON BOARD TOMORROW.
SO, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I TALKED TO MR. MATTHEWS ABOUT IT.
SO, WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT TO HAVE THAT ONE DRIVER.
BUT IT TOOK A LOT TO GET THAT PERSON THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
AND SO, WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH.
NOT SURE IF ANY AGENCY WILL BE WILLING TO DO A AS NEEDED BASIS.
RIGHT. AND I KNOW AND YOU HELP ME OUT.
AS I KNOW, ON THE CDL, YOU HAVE A PASSENGER ENDORSEMENT, WHICH THEN YOU CAN GET A SCHOOL BUS ENDORSEMENT. THEN ON TOP OF THAT, AIKEN COUNTY HAS THEIR OWN TRAINING.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE A CDL WITH A SCHOOL BUS ENDORSEMENT, CORRECT? YES, SIR. SOME BEHIND THE WHEEL TRAINING THEY HAVE TO DO FOR US AS WELL.
THANK YOU. YES, IT'S A PROCESS BECAUSE AGAIN, I SAY THIS A LOT IN PUBLIC.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR ONE JOBS THAT HAS ZERO DEFECT DAY.
WELL, I DID GET MY SCHOOL BUS ENDORSEMENT, BUT I DON'T WANT A SCHOOL BUS DRIVING JOB.
RIGHT. SO THE HIGH SCHOOL IS DOWN TO VERY MINIMUM DISRUPTION.
I THINK HE WAS SAYING IT WAS ONE, MAYBE EVEN TWO AT THE MOST STUDENTS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SHE'S REPORTING, WITH MINOR MODIFICATIONS.
SHE'S ABLE TO MAKE SURE THOSE KIDS ARE NOT MISSING INSTRUCTION.
SO THE BULK OF OUR ISSUE WAS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND THEN WE STARTED TO LOOK AT POTENTIALLY STAGGERING THE START TIMES IN ORDER TO, TO DO THAT.
[00:35:06]
OF COURSE, WITH THOSE ROUTES IN WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH, THERE'S SUCH RURAL ROUTES THAT WE ACTUALLY COMBINE THEM ALL.SO STAGGERING WOULD MEAN TWO ROUTES INSTEAD OF ONE ROUTE GOING TO GET ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH.
IT WILL BE A ROUTE OUT TO GET ELEMENTARY, BRING THEM BACK A ROUTE OUT TO GET MIDDLE AND HIGH, BRING THEM BACK AND KEEP IT IN MIND THAT OUR DRIVERS ARE ALREADY DRIVING 3 OR 4 ROUTES DURING THE COURSE OF A DAY.
WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO MITIGATE THEIR EXPOSURE TO TIME ON THE ROAD, BECAUSE FATIGUE IS REAL, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE JUST OVERLY TIRED.
AND WHAT ABOUT BREAKFAST? WHAT ARE I DON'T WANT ANY KID EATING A CHEESE STICK AND THEN EXPECTED TO SIT IN THE CLASSROOM UNTIL LUNCHTIME AND FOCUS.
SO ANY IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN, AT LEAST GET THEM AN ADEQUATE BREAKFAST? THEY CAN. THEY CAN HAVE BREAKFAST.
I MEAN, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE.
AND THEY COULD SIT AT THE BACK.
BUT NO, I WASN'T AWARE THAT THE STUDENT WASN'T EATING THAT.
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
SO JUST ONE QUESTION, DOCTOR MURPHY.
WERE YOU AWARE THAT THE FIELD TRIP WAS CANCELED? THE EIGHTH GRADE FIELD TRIP? YES, MA'AM. I MEAN, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT? I MEAN, AND I KNOW THAT, FUNDING IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE, BUT IT'S NOT FAIR.
YOU HAVE FIVE, RIGHT? AND SO IF THEY'RE DOING THREE ROUTES IN THE MORNING, EXPECTED TO TAKE A FIELD TRIP TO MAYBE RICHLAND COUNTY OR UP IN COLUMBIA OR SOMETHING, COME BACK AND THEN DO THREE ROCKS IN THE EVENING AGAIN.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HAVING TO MAKE THOSE CALLS IN SOME AREAS IN SOME CASES.
THE OTHER DAY WE HAD A SNAFU WITH THE, WITH A FIELD TRIP.
UPON INVESTIGATION, THERE WERE ACTUALLY FOUR FIELD TRIPS SCHEDULED THAT DAY.
AND YOU'RE TALKING FIVE DRIVERS FOR FIELD TRIPS THERE.
AND SO IT WAS JUST A CONFUSION WITH THE WITH THE COORDINATION OF THE FIELD TRIP.
AND WE RECEIVED A GRAND TOTAL OF ONE APPLICANT.
SO IT'S, IT'S IT'S IT'S HARD TO TO FILL THOSE SKILLED POSITIONS IN THE RURAL AREAS.
NOT HEARING ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
AND THAT THAT BRINGS US TO, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE.
MR. TRAXLER, YOU'RE SITTING IN THE CHAIR.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SHARE? JUST JUST ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION.
WE DID HAVE THE RIBBON CUTTING LAST WEEK AT HIGHLAND SPRINGS MIDDLE, SO THAT WAS A NICE EVENT.
WE WERE ABLE TO HONOR THAT FACILITY, BUT OTHERWISE, I, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY NOTES AT MR. LAURENCE HAS.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULAR SESSION.
FOR THE MOMENT, WE ARE IN NEED OF AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO WE WILL NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS IN SUCH ORDER AS THE BOARD DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
UNDER EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE CONTRACTUAL MATTER, BREACH OF CONTRACT, EMPLOYEE MATTER POSITION, RECLASSIFICATION AND DISCUSSION IN REGARD TO IN-HOUSE COUNSEL UNDER CONTRACTUAL MATTERS, WE HAVE A CONTRACTUAL MATTER, REGARDING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THEN UNDER LEGAL MATTERS, LEGAL ADVICE CONCERNING POLICY.
F SO FOLLOWING THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION TO ANNOUNCE THE MATTERS CONSIDERED AND TAKE ANY ACTIONS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY. IS THERE A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THIS PURPOSE? MOVE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY DOCTOR HANKS? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR FOR ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THESE PURPOSES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[00:40:01]
THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.WE WILL BEGIN IN THE CABINET ROOM IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES OR LESS.
[02:24:03]
MOVEMENTS. RHINEHART-JACKSON.[02:24:05]
SECONDED BY MISS TYLER.[02:24:06]
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF EXITING EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ENTERING REGULAR SESSION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.[02:24:14]
THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR.[02:24:15]
MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE IN REGULAR SESSION.[02:24:17]
WHILE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HEARD TWO TWO STUDENT MATTERS, BOTH STUDENT APPEALS.[02:24:23]
WE HEARD STUDENT APPEAL B FROM AREA ONE.[02:24:29]
IS THERE A MOTION IN REGARDS TO STUDENT APPEAL B FROM AREA ONE?[02:24:36]
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD MOVE TO UPHOLD THE DISTRICT'S RECOMMENDATION.[02:24:41]
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY MR.[02:24:42]
SILAS, SECONDED BY.[02:24:44]
SECONDED BY DOCTOR BRADLEY TO UPHOLD THE DISTRICT'S RECOMMENDATION IN REGARDS TO STUDENT APPEAL.[02:24:49]
B BRAVO FROM AREA ONE.[02:24:52]
ANY DISCUSSION?[02:24:55]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.[02:24:59]
THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.[02:25:02]
THEN WE HEARD STUDENT APPEAL A ALPHA FROM AREA TWO.[02:25:06]
IS THERE A MOTION IN REGARDS TO STUDENT APPEAL?[02:25:09]
A. THE ADMINISTRATION.[02:25:19]
SECOND. SO THERE'S A MOTION.[02:25:20]
DOCTOR BRADLEY MADE A MOTION, AND MR. MOULTON SECONDED TO UPHOLD THE DISTRICT'S RECOMMENDATION IN REGARDS TO STUDENT APPEAL.B ANY DISCUSSION? SORRY, I SAID IT BOTH WAYS, DIDN'T I? THE DOCTOR BRADLEY MADE THE MOTION, AND MR. MOULTON SECONDED IT TO UPHOLD THE DISTRICT'S RECOMMENDATION IN REGARDS TO STUDENT APPEAL.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S EIGHT IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S ONE MOTION CARRIES, 8 TO 1.
NEXT, UNDER EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, WE COVERED AN EMPLOYEE CONTRACTUAL MATTER, A BREACH OF CONTRACT.
IS THERE A MOTION IN REGARDS TO THAT BREACH OF CONTRACT? I MOVE THAT WE DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING EMPLOYEES A, B, C AND D'S BREACH OF CONTRACT.
IS THERE IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SO THE MOTION MADE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON, SECONDED BY MISS TYLER, TO TO REPORT THE BREACH OF CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYEES A, B, C AND D.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.
THERE WAS NO ACTION NECESSARY ON AN EMPLOYEE MATTER REGARDING TO A POSITION RECLASSIFICATION.
THERE WAS NO ACTION NECESSARY FOR ON THE DISCUSSION IN REGARDS TO IN-HOUSE COUNSEL.
THERE WAS NO ACTION NECESSARY UNDER CONTRACTUAL MATTERS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT.
SO MOVED. MOVE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MISS TYLER.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
YES, SIR.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.