[00:05:06] GOOD EVENING. IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICY B, D AND IN THE ABSENCE OF OUR CHAIR AND VICE [00:05:12] CHAIR AS SUPERINTENDENT, I CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAY 14TH, 2024 MEETING TO ORDER. OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPOINT A TEMPORARY CHAIR FOR THE DURATION OF THIS MEETING. SO MOVED. SO MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON SECOND AND SECONDED BY MISS TYLER. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN. OH, WE NEED TO WE NEED A PERSON. OH, I NOMINATE DOCTOR BRADLEY. OKAY. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO TO NAME DOCTOR BRADLEY THE TEMPORARY CHAIR FOR THIS MEETING. MISS TYLER, ARE YOU GOOD? GOOD WITH THAT FOR YOUR SECOND? YES. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THAT CARRIES DOCTOR BRADLEY. YOU HAVE THE GAVEL. I GUESS I BETTER MOVE DOWN. WHICH ONE OF THESE IS THE CHAIRMAN? THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE. TEAM. WE BEGIN OUR MEETINGS WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE. SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. AND THEN WE'LL STAND AND SAY THE PLEDGE. OKAY. THANK YOU. 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 HAS BEEN CIRCULATED, AND NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN OFFERED. SO WE WILL DECLARE THE AGENDA APPROVED AND MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES. WE HAVE THREE SETS OF MINUTES REQUIRING APPROVAL OF THIS EVENING. THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF APRIL 16TH, 2020 FOR A REGULAR MEETING OF 20TH APRIL 2324 AND THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF MAY 6TH. SO LET'S TAKE THESE ONE AT A TIME. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES, OR IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. SO MOVED FOR THE MINUTES OF APRIL 16TH. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MISS TYLER, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 23RD. MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON. SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MR. SILAS. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S EVERYONE. AND FINALLY, THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF MAY 6TH. MOVED BY MR. RHINEHART-JACKSON. SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MR. DOCTOR HANKS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR NOW AGENDA. FOLLOWING THAT IS THE PEP TEACHER GRANT CHECK PRESENTATION. MISS MARY MARY GLENN PICCOLINO WILL COME UP AND TALK TO US ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. CHAIR. DOCTOR BRADLEY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MR. JOHN HUTCHINS, WHO IS A BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIR OF THE GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION PARTNERS OF AIKEN COUNTY. I BELIEVE THAT THE CHAIR, MISS NANCY MARX, IS ALSO HERE. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THEM. THEY WOULD THEY'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE SOME TEACHER GRANT RECIPIENTS. SINCE WE DO HAVE A CHECK, MR. LAURENCE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME DOWN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT LAURENCE STAFF. COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOHN HUTCHINS. I SERVE AS THE GRANT COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC EDUCATION PARTNERS. AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND OTHER GENEROUS DONORS, IT'S MY HONOR THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED A CLASSROOM INNOVATION GRANT FOR THE SPRING 2024 CYCLE. [00:10:03] THROUGH THIS AWARD OF THE. THROUGH THE AWARD OF THIS GRANT, PEP HOPES TO PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT WILL HAVE MAXIMUM STUDENT IMPACT. OUR GOAL IS TO SUPPORT TEACHERS BY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO BE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE. THE GRANT AWARDEES FROM AIKEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE EMILY LOZIER AND AMANDA OVENSHINE. BUSBY ELEMENTARY, TAMI SCHWARTZ AND AMANDA WINGARD, BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TERESA REEVES, EAST AIKEN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS ERIN JUNKIN, TRACY ROSENBACH FROM GRANITEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MARSHA PEACOCK, FROM HAMMOND HILL ELEMENTARY. MEREDITH. LEPARD. WENDY SHILLING. LESLIE BULLINGTON AND JESSICA REYNOLDS. AND FROM KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL. BRANDI HARLEY AND STEPHANIE PRANDI. AND LASTLY, FROM LANGLEY. BATH. CLEARWATER MIDDLE SCHOOL. TRINA. STIDHAM. SO IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,146.39. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ON THE SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2425 BUDGET. AND THIS IS A HEARING FOR A COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET ONLY. BUDGET ISSUES ONLY. SO ARE THERE ANY PERSONS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET? IF SO, WE HAVE A MICROPHONE OVER THERE OR YOU CAN. GOOD EVENING. IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND. YES, SIR. MY NAME IS DAVE POLLEN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE. CAMERON NUSSLE IS MY ELECTED BOARD TRUSTEE. GOOD EVENING. SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD MEMBERS SPECIAL STAFF. WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET THERE IS A LINE ITEM IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT I HAVE QUERIED WHETHER OR NOT THIS WOULD REQUIRE A BUDGET INCLUSION. DURING THE LAST BOARD MEETING. IT WAS SPECIFICALLY ASKED BY A TRUSTEE WHETHER OR NOT A POSITION WOULD BE CREATED IN ORDER TO TAKE LEADERSHIP IN THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING FOR ALL STAFF. THAT POSITION MAY COME FROM WITHIN THE HOUSE, BUT IF IT'S A LEADERSHIP POSITION, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED WHETHER IT IS PAID FOR SEPARATELY OR WHETHER IT IS INCLUDED IN A PERSON'S OFFICIAL DUTY AND THEREFORE DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY BUDGET SPECIFICITY. THE OTHER ITEM ON THE BUDGET IS THAT YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN, UPDATE TWO INCLUDES A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM, AND THAT WOULD BE SECTION 11.1 .3.1, WHICH CALLS FOR AN EQUITY AUDIT TO BE CONDUCTED BY AN OUTSIDE SOURCE. NOW, ONE WOULD ASSUME THAT AN OUTSIDE SOURCE IS NOT WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THEREFORE IF THEY ARE GOING TO PERFORM THAT, THEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE CONTRACTED. AND IF THEY ARE CONTRACTED, UNLESS THEY PERFORM THIS FOR FREE, THEN THE DISTRICT WOULD MOST LIKELY PAY FOR THAT EQUITY AUDIT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE TWO ITEMS. DOES THE BUDGET INCLUDE ANYTHING REGARDING A LEADERSHIP POSITION FOR DEI TRAINING FOR ALL STAFF? AND NUMBER TWO, DOES THE EQUITY AUDIT FIND A PLACE WITHIN THE BUDGET FOR MONIES THAT THE TAXPAYERS PROVIDE FOR THIS NEXT BUDGET? I'M GOING TO ASK MR. LAURENCE TO CALL ON A MEMBER OF YOUR STAFF TO ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN. CERTAINLY. I DON'T KNOW THAT THOSE ARE SPECIFICALLY IN THE BUDGET. I KNOW, I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOME THINGS THAT WERE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN. BUT IS ANY OF THAT SPECIFICALLY IN THE BUDGET? NO. MR. TRAXLER SAYS NO, SIR. SO ARE WE TO ASSUME THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF BEING PLANNED FOR, AND THAT WHEN, IF AND WHEN THE PLAN IS APPROVED, THAT MONIES WILL BE IN FACT ALLOCATED AND IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET? [00:15:08] I CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW POSITIONS ARE GOING TO BE FILLED UNLESS THE BOARD APPROVES THOSE POSITIONS. IF AN FTE DOESN'T ALREADY EXIST OR SOMETHING, THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE AN FTE TO TO TO FILL IT. SO MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE STAFF ALREADY PRESENT FOR THAT, OR TO GET A VOLUNTEER AGENCY TO DO THIS. NOW, AS FAR AS AS FAR AS THE AUDIT IS CONCERNED IT WOULD DEPEND ON I MEAN, THERE'S THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BUDGET THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT AT THIS POINT. WELL, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, THE SHORT ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS, NO, WE'RE NOT IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET. NOW, I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE COMMITTEE ACTUALLY STRUCK AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT TO DO THE AUDIT, AND THAT WAS MY ERROR. AND I WAS BROUGHT UP AND I ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED MR.. PAUL. MR.. PAUL. THANK YOU. PAUL. JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO. AND THAT CORRECTION WAS GOING TO BE MADE. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE'VE NOT MADE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR STRATEGIC PLAN TO THE BOARD OR TO CABINET ADDING FTE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA AT ALL. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MINOLFO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE BUDGET THAT THEY'D LIKE TO QUESTION OR COMMENT ON? GOING ONCE. OKAY. AND WE'LL VOTE ON THIS. WE'LL WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON THIS AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, WHICH IS ON THE 28TH, I BELIEVE. YES, SIR. 28TH OF MAY. NOW WE'LL RETURN TO THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICES PLAN. THIS IS A ANOTHER ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON. SO WE'LL OPEN THE MIC. TO ANYONE WHO WISHES TO TALK ABOUT THIS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REQUIRED IN THE ESSER FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED. AND BASICALLY IT'S A LITTLE BIT REDUNDANT IN THAT WE'VE DONE THIS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING REALLY NEW THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION'S POINT OF VIEW. BUT IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE ESSER FUNDS, WHICH ARE GOING AWAY PRETTY RAPIDLY, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE. ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. WE HAVE SEVERAL REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THE FIRST IS JOSH BOROWSKI, WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT ATHLETIC TRAINERS THEIR ALTERNATE COVERAGE MODEL AND EFFECT ON THE BUDGET. I'M SORRY. GLAD TO BE BACK. THANK YOU, DOCTOR BRADLEY. SO AFTER THE SPIRITED DISCUSSION AFTER THE LAST BOARD MEETING I WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WITH SOME WITH SOME ASSISTANCE AND IN FRONT OF YOU. IF IT COMES UP TO DISCUSSION AGAIN AFTER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION YOU HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION THAT MAY HELP WITH A DIFFERENT PLAN THAT COULD HELP US TO TO MAKE THE CURRENT PLAN OF ATHLETIC COVERAGE OBSOLETE. SO WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU IS A321 COVERAGE PLAN. WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IS INITIALLY, THE BUDGET REQUIREMENT WAS $640,000. TO GO TOWARDS THAT FOR SALARIES. AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IS COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT SHAVES ALMOST OVER $300,000 OFF, PROBABLY ASKING, HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? IT TOOK SOME GROUNDWORK TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THESE ATHLETIC TRAINERS EXIST TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CLINICAL CARE AND ONE EVENING A WEEK COVERAGE FOR SPORTS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS ON CAMPUS I HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL THAT THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM AS AN ALTERNATE WORK SCHEDULE. AND SO IT PROVIDES A CONSISTENT COVERAGE OF CARE BECAUSE WHAT IS LACKING IS STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS. A LOT OF TIMES TO A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. A LOT OF TIMES THE ATHLETIC TRAINER IS THE ONLY PERSON THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO. SO THEREFORE, THIS COULD BE SOMEBODY THAT'S ON CAMPUS THREE DAYS A WEEK. [00:20:05] AND IF YOU CAN LOOK, ALL THE NUMBERS ARE BROKEN DOWN. SO WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATE PLAN TO WHERE THE ONLY ADDED EXPENDITURE THIS YEAR WOULD BE $295. $295,145. THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE. THAT'S NOT THE GOLD STANDARD. THAT'S NOT THE STANDARD OF COVERAGE. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BETTER THAN WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE. SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE PUT TOGETHER TONIGHT FOR YOU TO LOOK AT. SO IF THIS WERE BROUGHT UP AGAIN YOU WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. AND THEN ALSO TOO, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF. SO I HAVE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS, PERCENTAGE OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS. MIDLAND VALLEY IS AT 32%. SOUTH AIKEN IS AT 42%. AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL IS AT 41%. AND THIS ALSO ACCOUNTS FOR STUDENTS THAT PLAY TWO SPORTS. SO THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THAT. SO A STUDENT IS NOT COUNTED TWICE. SO WITHOUT DIGGING ANY FURTHER THAT'S A RATHER LARGE PERCENTAGE THAT THIS WOULD AFFECT. AND SO THIS PLAN WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT ON THAT. AND I THINK THAT ONE THING IS, IS SOMETIMES WE PIT EDUCATION AGAINST ATHLETICS AND THEIR SUBSTANTIAL DATA THAT SAYS THAT STUDENTS PERFORM QUITE WELL WHEN THEY PLAY A SPORT. LESS LIKELY TO DROP OUT. THEY HAVE OVERALL HIGHER CUMULATIVE GPAS WHEN THEY PARTICIPATE, AND THEY PROVIDE WORK SKILLS TO BE HIRED AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. SO I THINK THAT BY BY SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE FROM HERE TO GIVE TO THIS WHEN IT'S AN ENRICHMENT FOR THE STUDENT. THIS IS MY OPINION, BUT I THINK WE CAN FIND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD PROBABLY AGREE WITH THAT. AND THERE'S LOTS OF DATA THAT SUGGESTS THAT AS WELL. SO IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO COME UP AGAIN TONIGHT IN DISCUSSION, WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATE PLAN THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A PLOY TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING. THIS THIS COULD ACTUALLY WE COULD MAKE THIS WORK FOR NEXT YEAR AND ACTUALLY SEE SOME RETURN AND SEE IF WE CAN IMPROVE WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PINSKY. THE NEXT PERSON DESIRING TO SPEAK IS DAVE POLLEN. WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN? UPDATE NUMBER TWO. DIE TRAINING GOAL THREE. AGAIN. GOOD EVENING. ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF. AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE BOARD DISCUSS IN PUBLIC UPDATE TWO TO YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO PRESENTATION OF ANY DETAILS OR OF ANY CHANGES, OF COURSE. THE CHIEF OF HR AND ADMIN AND THE SUPERINTENDENT BOTH CLAIMED THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY CHANGE IN THERE. BUT YET THE BOARD MEMBERS FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE DETAILS. AND SO, THROUGH A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST ON MY, OF MY OWN AND THE COOPERATION OF THE CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATION, WE WERE ABLE TO AT LEAST SHARE ONE SET OF THAT 30 PAGE FOIA RESULT. AND IT DOES IN FACT SHOW THAT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ARE REQUESTED AND THAT THE EQUITY AUDIT, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT NOW BE A MOOT POINT, WAS REQUESTED. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE NEED SOME TRANSPARENCY, WE NEED SOME DETAIL. WE NEED THE BOARD TO COME THROUGH WITH MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THIS UPDATE. THE PREVIOUS STRATEGIC PLAN WAS ALL ABOUT IMPROVING QUALITY AND SCHOLARSHIP, AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS STRATEGIC PLAN IS ABOUT. THIS STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUSES ON THE WORDS DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION NO LESS THAN 30 TIMES IN THIS DOCUMENT. AND SO THE BOARD IS QUITE HYPOCRITICAL WHEN IT INSISTS ON USING THESE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE ELUSIVE SUBJECTIVE IDEAS OF A CULTURE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. BECAUSE IT'S PURELY SUBJECTIVE, IT HAS NO BASIS IN DATA OR SCIENTIFIC CONCRETE PHYSICAL, FACTUAL EVIDENCE. OKAY. AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW SUPERINTENDENT COMING IN. WHO SUPPORTS THAT? WHOSE OWN RESUME INCLUDES REFERENCES TO WORK IN THE DEI FIELD. OKAY. AND WE KNOW THAT YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS MISS JENNIFER HART AND MR. CARL WHITE AND THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, DOCTOR MURPHY, ALL ARE LEADERS ON THE ACTION COMMITTEE AND ARE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE TWO. SO I WONDER IF THE BOARD HAS NOW, AFTER LISTENING TO ME TALK TO YOU ABOUT THESE THREE WORDS AND WHAT THEY MEAN, ARE YOU COMING TO MORE OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACT THAT UNLESS YOU KNOW HOW DIVERSITY IS DEFINED BY THOSE WHO ARE USING IT IN THE DEI ASPECT, WHICH YOU WE'VE SEEN AT CLEMSON, WE'VE SEEN IT AT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH [00:25:03] CAROLINA, COLUMBIA. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WORD MEANS NOW, HOW THEY INTEND IT TO MEAN? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE WORD INCLUSION MEANS? AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE WORD EQUITY MEANS? BECAUSE YOU SEEM TO BE TRAVELING ALONG ON THIS IDEA OF DIVERSITY. EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS A CULTURE. THAT'S JUST HOW SOME KIND OF TRANSFORM EVERYBODY INTO GETTING ALONG. AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE MORE NUMBERS THAT ARE MORE EQUAL, AND EQUITY IS GOING TO MAKE EVERYTHING FAIR. THAT'S NOT HOW IT IS DEFINED. AND YOU ARE BEING DECEPTIVE WHEN YOU TRY AND CHANGE THE DEFINITIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN YOUR ACTION NOTES, YOU HAVE PHRASES LIKE THIS EVERY STUDENT GETS WHAT THEY NEED. CARL WHITE DEI SPECIFICALLY CAUSED AN UPROAR. IN GENERAL. YOU WANT TO MAKE IT NICE. DIVERSITY EQUALS MUTUAL RESPECT. EQUITY EQUALS FAIRNESS. INCLUSION EQUALS A SENSE OF BELONGING. THIS IS MISREPRESENTING WHAT THESE WORDS MEAN. DIVERSITY IS A RACIALLY CHARGED CATEGORIZATION THAT WANTS TO COUNT RACIAL NUMBERS. AND IF WE WERE TO USE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING, WE COULD START RIGHT HERE WITH THIS BOARD AND IN THIS ROOM. NOW, MAYBE YOU CAN SEE HOW LUDICROUS AND RIDICULOUS THAT IS, AND HOW IT TAKES US BACK TO A DIVISIVE PERIOD RATHER THAN AN INCLUSIVE PERIOD. IF YOU WANT TO USE INCLUSIVE. INCLUSIVE MEANS PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR CHARACTER AND THEIR ACTIONS, NOT ON WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. OKAY, BUT YOU'RE LEADING US DOWN A FALSE PATH AND YOU ARE PRESENTING THIS IDEA OF DEI TRAINING FOR ALL STAFF AS THOUGH IT'S SOMETHING LEGITIMATE, IT'S PURELY SUBJECTIVE. IT'S AN IDEOLOGY. IT HAS NO GROUNDING IN DATA WHATSOEVER. YOU'RE MISREPRESENTING IT. THOSE OF YOU WHO SUPPORT IT, AND WE CAN'T REALLY FIND OUT WHO SUPPORTS IT AND WHO DOESN'T SUPPORT IT, BECAUSE YOU NEVER ANSWER THAT, AND YOU NEVER PRESENT ANYTHING ON YOUR WEBSITE ABOUT WHO SUPPORTS IT OR EXPLAIN IT, OR ANY OF THE POSITIONS THAT ANY OF THE TRUSTEES HAVE. SO YOU'RE MISLEADING US, THE PUBLIC, BY NOT GIVING US YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS IS. I'VE ALREADY ASKED YOU ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO SIT THROUGH DEI TRAINING. NOBODY HAS A CLUE. NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA. YOU'RE ALL GOING TO GET CALLED OUT ON MICROAGGRESSIONS. YOU'RE ALL GOING TO GET CALLED OUT ON IMPLICIT BIAS. AND UNLESS YOU SPEAK TRUTH TO YOUR DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL BE MISREPRESENTING US AND YOU WILL BE MISREPRESENTING YOURSELVES. AND THAT IS FRAUDULENT, AND IT IS NOT FAIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THE NEXT PERSON WISHING TO SPEAK IS PAULETTE BUFORD, WHO AGAIN WISHED TO SPEAK WITH DEI. TRAINING FOR ALL STAFF. MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. THE SCHOOL BOARD KNOW WHAT DEI REALLY IS. AND ONCE AGAIN, AS THE WORD HAS BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT, DECEPTIVE. WHILE YOU'RE DECEIVING PARENTS OF WHAT IS BEING DONE IN THE SCHOOL, DIE IS ABOUT POLITICS AND NOT TEACHING CHILDREN TO FUNCTION IN THE CITY, STATE, NATION, OR WORLD. WE ALREADY DOWNPLAY THE GRADE SYSTEM WHERE F IS NOW AND CHILDREN CAN'T WRITE THEIR NAMES. THEY PRINT. MATH IS OUT OF THE QUESTION. COLLEGE IS NOT EXPECTING ACCEPTING STUDENTS, NOT BY S.A.T. SCORES, BY THE SCHOOLS THEY ATTENDED. THIS IS NOT WHAT PARENTS ARE GETTING FROM EDUCATION OR WHO ARE WISE IN THEIR OWN EYES. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND STATED BY OBAMA. YET OUR CHILDREN ARE TWO YEARS BEHIND IN SCHOOL. AND DON'T FORGET WHEN THE AIR FORCE CAME A YEAR AGO. THEY STATED THEY CAN'T GET RECRUITS BECAUSE STUDENTS CAN'T DO MATH. LAW SCHOOL IS NOW A JOKE. WHAT IS REALLY ABOUT AND WHAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MEN OR BOYS. WHO WANTS TO BE GIRLS OR LADIES? GOING INTO THE LOCKER ROOM. SHOWERS, BATHROOMS. PLAYING ON GIRLS. SPORTS. TRANSGENDERISM. LGBT Q USING PRONOUNS INSTEAD OF HE OR SHE. TEACHERS TEACHING CHILDREN TO KEEP THINGS SECRET FROM THEIR PARENTS. AREN'T YOU SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS? DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. YOU ARE MALE AND FEMALE. DIFFERENT SHADE OF COLOR. DO YOU NOT RESPECT ONE ANOTHER? YOU HAVE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY, LIVING, AGE. YOU EVEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ELECTED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. DIVERSITY IS ALL AROUND US. ONLY POLITICS WON'T. SEGREGATION, MARXISM AND SOCIALISM. ALL OF US HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GOOD IN LIFE. MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SAY SO. A GOVERNMENT FUNDING WILL BE WITHHOLD IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY TO THEIR DEMANDS. [00:30:05] WHY CONTINUE TO GET CITIZEN TAX MONEY IF YOU'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT? WE SHOULD HAVE MORALS, DECENCY AND MOST OF ALL, COMMON SENSE. WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN AND EDUCATING THEM IN POLITICAL CORRECTNESS? THIS IS NOT RIGHT. AND IF YOU VOTE ON SOMETHING AND DON'T KNOW THE TRUE MEANING OF IT, THEN YOU ARE WRONG. ALSO. THIRD PERSON WISHING TO SPEAK THIS EVENING IS JOHN MALLORY, WHOSE TOPIC IS THE STRATEGIC PLAN. UPDATE TWO. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, AND GOOD EVENING FROM AIKEN COUNTY. AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLANS AND THE ACTION COMMITTEE NOTES THAT WE HAD ADDRESSED LAST BOARD MEETING AND HOW IT WAS CRAFTED AND WHY WE SHOULD BE AGAINST THIS AND NOT APPROVE IT. WHAT I'D LIKE TO BRING BEFORE THE FLOOR IS NOTHING BUT FACTS AND EVIDENCE AND RECAPPING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WENT OVER REAL QUICK. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS DISTURBING TO ME THAT STOOD OUT, NOT JUST THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION DEI LITTERED ALL THROUGH THE STRATEGIC DOCUMENT, BUT THE TARGETING OF HBCUS, HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND MINORITIES SPECIFICALLY IN THOSE ACTION COMMITTEE NOTES. IT SAYS, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MINORITY CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS AT ALL LEVELS. WHAT IS THAT? THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY VAGUE. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME THAT WE'RE SINGLING OUT PEOPLE INSTEAD OF SINGLING OUT SOMEBODY'S PERFORMANCE OR THEM TRYING TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES IN SCHOOL. SO AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS REFERENCING AND SOURCES GOES BACK TO BILL AND MELINDA GATES. THE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PLAN, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, WHICH IS THE SAME AS CRITICAL RACE THEORY, SAME CONCEPTS ADVOCATING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. AND LASTLY, THE CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE IN NIH REFERENCING TWO YEAR OLD SOURCE DOCUMENT. SO CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE, CTS AND NIH REFERENCING. IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TURNING IN THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS INTO CLINICAL AND MEDICAL CENTERS INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, ACADEMIA AND PUSHING KIDS FORWARD TOWARDS THEIR GOALS. DOCTOR CHRISTINA, SHE WAS ONE OF THE REFERENCED SOURCES IN THAT STRATEGIC PLAN. IT TALKS ABOUT CENTERS FOR CENTERS FOR EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY WORKING TOWARDS DISMANTLING RACISM, GENDERISM, SEXISM AND ALL THE OTHER ISMS. I MEAN, AGAIN, I HAVE TO POSE THIS QUESTION TO THE BOARD AND TO THE COUNTY MOMS AND DADS, YOU KNOW, IS THAT WHAT AIKEN COUNTY IS ALL ABOUT? ARE WE ABOUT DISMANTLING RACISM, OR IS OUR COUNTY? IS OUR STATE, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY RACIST OR ARE WE TARGETING, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN GENDERS? I THINK NOT. SO I'D LIKE TO ALSO POSE A QUESTION TO THE BOARD. YOU KNOW, WHAT IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT? DOES ANYBODY ON THE BOARD KNOWS WHAT A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT IS AND WHAT IT MEANS? SO FROM WHAT A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT IS A CONCEPT THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN OBJECTIVE REALITY. THAT BASICALLY MEANS IT'S HUMAN INTERACTION. SOCIAL CONSTRUCTS SUCH AS RACE, CLASS, ADOLESCENCE, A MATTER OF SUBJECTIVITY. SO IF YOU KIND OF GO LOOK AT THE THE SPECIFICS IN THE THE ACTION COMMITTEE NOTES AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU'RE WE'RE BASING THIS ENTIRE PLAN OFF NO TANGIBLE SOLUTIONS ALL BASED IN SUBJECTIVITY. SO I'D LIKE TO BRING UP SOMETHING CONSIDERING AND TALKING ABOUT DECEPTION AND FRAUD. AND TWO OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF FRAUD IS DISGUISING THE OBJECTIVE. AND ANOTHER ONE IS ALSO PLAYING ON A VICTIM'S STUPIDITY AND CARELESSNESS AND AND THEM NOT KNOWING WHAT, WHAT THE PLAN IS ALL ABOUT. SO AGAIN, WE'RE AWARE FROM LAST MEETING THAT A FEW BOARD MEMBERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THOSE SPECIFIC NOTES TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN. AGAIN, DEI REFERENCING NOT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY, AND 100% OF WHAT DIE IS IS MARXIST. 100% OF IT. AND YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU COULD SAY, [00:35:05] WELL, WE'RE CONSERVATIVE AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A GOOD COUNTY. WE DON'T ALLOW THAT STUFF HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT. IT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU CAN NAME YOUR TITLE ALL DAY LONG. BUT THE FACT IS THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS. EVEN WHEN THEY SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT MEANS. IT'S IT'S MEANS WE'RE TO BE DIVERSE. WELL, I'D LIKE TO REFERENCE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT IS THE ROOTS OF DEI AND MARXIST TERMINOLOGY. ONE OF THEM IS SAUL ALINSKY. HE'S AN AUTHOR OF RULES FOR RADICALS AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS AND ALIGN TO SOCIALISM, MARXISM AND COMMUNISM, STATES HE WHO CONTROLS THE LANGUAGE CONTROLS THE MASSES. BELLA DODD SHE WAS A TEACHER AND LAWYER AND UNION ACTIVIST. ACTIVISTS AND MEMBERS OF COMMUNIST PARTY USA. SHE TESTIFIED ON THE HOUSE UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN 1953. THERE ARE TWO PHASES OF LIFE THAT COMMUNISTS TAKE OVER. ONE IS CONTROL OF THE MONEY AND TWO IS OVER THE WORDS AND LANGUAGE. THEY ARE FAST. TAKING TIME IS RUNNING OUT. SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE WRAP UP. THANK YOU. THEY ARE FAST TAKING OVER ALL THE NICE WORDS AND ALL THE NICE LANGUAGE OF THE CHRISTIAN WORLD, AND THEY ARE TAKING THEMSELVES AND GIVING THEM NEW CONNOTATION SO THAT WHEN THEY TALK TO THE WORLD, THEY ARE SAYING ONE THING WHICH IS UNDERSTOOD BY THEIR FOLLOWERS. BUT TO OUR EARS IT SOUNDS LIKE THE THINGS WHICH WE SHOULD BE SAYING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING. MR. PICCOLINO, WE'LL CALL ON YOU AGAIN TO INTRODUCE THOSE. THANK YOU, DOCTOR BRADLEY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN ME DOWN HERE. WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING. ONE STUDENT AND ONE STAFF MEMBER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DOCTOR CHRISTINE PALLADINO, THE AIKEN COUNTY CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER'S PROJECT LEAD THE WAY BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM, TEACHER TOOK A NUMBER OF FUTURE STUDENT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO HOST THE STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE HELD IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA IN MARCH. THE CAREER CENTER STUDENTS PERFORMED EXTREMELY WELL, AS THEY ALWAYS DO. CAREER CENTER STUDENTS PLACED IN THE TOP FIVE FOR MEDICAL INNOVATIONS, IN THE TOP THREE FOR NUTRITION. AND AUBREY JOHNSON, WHO'S JOINED US HERE THIS EVENING, WON FIRST PLACE FOR MICROBIOLOGY. AUBREY, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? AUBREY HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED HER UNDERSTANDING OF ALLIED HEALTH STATISTICS SUCH AS HOSPITAL CENSUS OCCUPANCY AND LENGTH OF STAY. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY AND THE ABILITY TO IDENTIFY DISEASES, GERMS AND DISORDERS WHICH CAUSE DISRUPTION TO THE HUMAN BODY. SHE IS JOINED TONIGHT BY DOCTOR PALLADINO, HER TEACHER, AS WELL AS THE CAREER CENTERS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. SUMI AND MARK JOHNSON AND HER MOM, MRS. VON VANDELLA. YES. WOULD YOU PLEASE ALL COME FORWARD? I WOULD LOVE TO GET A PICTURE OF YOU WITH THE BOARD. HOW MANY? THANK YOU. OPREA IS PREPARING FOR A CERTIFICATION THAT'S COMING UP IN THE COMING DAYS TO BE A LAB TECH. AND SHE ALSO AFTER SHE BECOMES A LAB TECH, [00:40:03] SHE ULTIMATELY WANTS TO BECOME A PATHOLOGIST. WE ARE SUPER PROUD OF HER AND THANK HER FOR COMING TO CELEBRATE WITH US THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. THIS ONE IS NOT GOING TO WORK FOR US TONIGHT. THAT'S OKAY. ANGIE GRAY OF AIKEN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL WAS NAMED THE LIBRARY PARAPROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR BY SCARSDALE, WHICH IS THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS. THE LIBRARY PARAPROFESSIONAL AWARD RECOGNIZES THE EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE OF A PARAPROFESSIONAL WHO DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE SCHOOL LIBRARY PROFESSION, EITHER AT THE BUILDING OR DISTRICT LEVEL. MRS. GRAY OPERATES ALL FACETS OF THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF AIKEN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL'S LIBRARY, WHICH ENABLES THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN TO FOCUS ON LONG TERM PLANNING AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. IN FACT, SHE AND THE SCHOOL'S LIBRARIAN HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR A DECADE NOW. MRS. GRAY HAS BEEN AN EMPLOYEE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING THOSE LAST TEN YEARS. SHE'S A MEMBER OF AND SERVES ON THE BOARD REPRESENTING PARAPROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. SHE ATTENDS THE CONFERENCE EACH YEAR AND IS CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN THE CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL FAVORITES PROGRAM. MRS. GRAY IS A DEDICATED COLLEAGUE WHO CONTINUOUSLY DEMONSTRATES PROFESSIONALISM, A SENSE OF COMMITMENT, AND PERSONAL STRENGTH. MRS. GREG, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? AND SHE, OF COURSE, HAS A TEAM OF SUPPORTERS WITH HER TONIGHT. I'LL BEGIN WITH THE LIBRARIAN OR MEDIA SPECIALIST THAT SHE HAS SERVED ALONGSIDE FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, AND THAT IS MISS CHERYL CURTIS. SHE IS ALSO JOINED BY HER HUSBAND, KEN GRAY. AIKEN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL, DENISE MCRAE, AND AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, ALICIA KINARD, AS WELL AS ONE OF HER GOOD TEACHER FRIENDS AT THE SCHOOL, MISS JESSICA GOSS. YES, YES. ALL RIGHT. ALL SMILES RIGHT HERE. PERFECT. THANK YOU. LET ME GET ONE. OKAY. EXCELLENT. OH, THERE IT GOES. THANK YOU. NOT MUCH HERE. YOU CAN HAVE IT. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS OFFICER. BOARD CHAIRMAN. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. WE NOW COME TO THE ITEMS WHICH ARE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. THE FIRST IS PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS. THIS IS A LIST OF PERSONNEL WHO ARE BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION FOR BOARD APPROVAL. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. MOVED TO ACCEPT THE PRESENTED PERSONNEL FOR EMPLOYMENT. IS THERE A SECOND? DOCTOR HANKS SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S UNANIMOUS. NEXT ITEM IS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. A POINT OF SALE SYSTEM FOR CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM. ESSENTIALLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS SORT OF LIKE A NEW SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS IN THE PURCHASING OF OF FOOD ITEMS AND SO FORTH. WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE. ACQUISITION OF THIS NEW SYSTEM. MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON. IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MR. SILAS? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. [00:45:01] AGAIN? THAT'S UNANIMOUS. WE HAVE SOME WELL, WE'RE HAVING A SECOND READING ON THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT. WE THIS IS A SECOND READING. IS THERE A MOTION? MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON. IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MISS TYLER? ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE AN ITEM. WE ARE SORT OF BEING FLOODED WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO APPEAL ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PLACEMENTS, AND I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD NOT BE MORE EFFICIENT AS A BOARD, IF WE WOULD HEAR THOSE ON THE RECORD ONLY AND NOT REQUIRE PARENTAL APPEARANCE WITH THE CHILD? I THINK THAT'S LEGAL, AND IT WOULD CUT DOWN A LOT OF HEARINGS. DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M PROPOSING? I DON'T. WE CAN. HAVE A HEARING ON THE RECORD. IN OTHER WORDS, WE LOOK AT THE STUFF WE GET, YOU KNOW, A STACK OF PAPER ABOUT THAT THICK ON EVERY CHILD THAT HAS HIS ACADEMIC RECORD, HIS ATTENDANCE RECORD, HIS DISCIPLINE RECORD, WHAT HE DID, WHAT WHAT HIS YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY OF WHAT HAPPENED, ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS. WE EVEN GET AUDIO. COPIES OF THE HEARING THAT THE HEARING OFFICER HOLDS WITH THE PARENTS AND THAT CHILD, AND SPOKEN WITH SOME OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT HERE. THINKING THAT WE COULD FACILITATE THIS THING JUST BY EXAMINING THE DOCUMENTATION THAT'S FORWARDED TO US. AND IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, WE COULD TAKE AN ACTION ON ON THE RECORD. IF SOMEBODY FELT THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS NECESSARY, WE COULD THEN, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING FURTHER. THEM. BUT BUT MERELY WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT WE TRY TO HAVE THE HEARING BASED ON THE RECORD, RATHER THAN ON HAVING A PERSONAL APPEAL. MR. SILAS WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS THEN, IF, SAY, WE GOT THIS TO REVIEW AND MAYBE I WANTED TO QUESTION THE ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT. WELL, LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHY WAS IT NOT AN EXPULSION? I MEAN, WOULD WE THEN SINGLE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, THOSE OUT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION? RIGHT. SO SO WE WOULD REQUEST. WELL, THE WAY WHAT WE RARELY QUESTION WHY THE PERSON WASN'T RECOMMENDED FOR EXPULSION. IT'S ALWAYS THE OTHER WAY AROUND. RIGHT. AND MY THOUGHTS WERE THAT THEY HAD THE HEARING. THEY'VE BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR EXPULSION. THEY APPEAR BEFORE THE HEARING OFFICER. THE HEARING OFFICER MAKES A RULING. BUT MOST OF THE TIME, A LOT OF THE TIME THAT RULING HAS BEEN TO NOT EXPEL THE CHILD, BUT TO SEND THEM TO THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME. THEN WE HAVE AN APPEAL, PARENTAL APPEAL, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEIR CHILD TO THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL. SO ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT IN WE COULD WE COULD ASK THEM TO WRITE THEIR REASONING AND PRESENT IT TO US IN WRITING, ALONG WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTATION, EVERYTHING THAT THE HEARING OFFICER HAS SEEN AND HEARD AND THE RECORDINGS OF THAT HEARING AND AND SO FORTH, AND JUST AVOID HAVING TO END IN PERSON, FACE TO FACE HEARING WHERE THE DISTRICT COURT. I'M SORRY, THE DISTRICT. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS. QUESTION. TWO PEOPLE, DID YOU WANT TO DIRECT IT? I GUESS, MR. LAURENCE. AND THEN HE CAN CALL ON ANYBODY HE WANTS TO. SO I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE. AND DOCTOR MURPHY MAY WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT AS WELL, BUT I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING DOCTOR BRADLEY SAY IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO AN APPEAL OF AN EXPULSION, NOTHING WOULD NOTHING WOULD CHANGE THE THE STUDENT AND PARENTS WOULD COME AND AND APPEAL TO THE BOARD AND, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION FROM THE, FROM THE PREVIOUS HEARING AND, [00:50:04] AND THE BOARD WOULD ASK QUESTIONS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. BUT IN THE CASE OF AN ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT I MEAN, WE HAVE THE RECORD, WE HAVE THE RECORDING OF THE HEARING. WE HAVE THE RECORD OF EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED FROM THE SCHOOL THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATION, THROUGH THE HEARING AND THEN EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO THE BOARD IN AN APPEAL THAT THE BOARD COULD, COULD TAKE THAT THAT PAPER RECORD AND MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THAT. I THINK TO ME THAT THAT WOULD BE EFFICIENT AND MAKE SENSE. OKAY. SO JUST FOR MY CLARIFICATION. SO A PARENT, A STUDENT IS ISSUED SEALED. A PARENT WANTS TO APPEAL. WE TAKE THE PACKET THAT THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. TAKE THE RECORD THAT WE NORMALLY GET ALONG WITH A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM THE PARENT FOR THE APPEAL. AND SO WE'RE WE'RE NO LONGER SEEING WE'RE NO LONGER SEEING ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT APPEALS, JUST EXPOSURES. IS THAT IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? YES. YES. OKAY. OKAY. WELL MY UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE IT'S STILL A HEARING. YOU STILL SEE IT? IT'S JUST A HEARING THAT, I MEAN, IT'S STILL AN APPEAL AND YOU'RE STILL ACTING ON THE APPEAL. BUT RATHER THAN HAVING THE PARENT AND THE STUDENT COME BEFORE YOU, JUST THE DOCUMENTATION OF IT COMES BEFORE YOU. AND I BELIEVE DOCTOR BRADLEY IS ALSO ASKING FOR THE ONES FOR THE ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT TO SEAL. THOSE ARE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE APPEALS YOU ALL ARE HEARING, AND IT WILL BE MOST BE MORE EXPEDITIOUS IF YOU DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE ACTUAL IN-PERSON HEARING AS OPPOSED TO APPEAL THE RECORD. SO WE HAVE NO OBJECTION. DOCTOR HAIRSTON I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN CLARIFIED, BUT I DO KNOW THAT A LOT OF BOARDS DO APPOINT A RECORD FOR THE ENTIRE PROCESS, AND THEY NEVER SIT DOWN WITH THE STUDENT AND THE PARENT IN FRONT OF THEM. SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS FOR THE EXPULSION HEARINGS OR RECOMMENDATIONS, WE WILL DO THE SIT DOWN. BUT FOR THE APPEALS TO SEAL, WHICH WE RARELY EVER, EVER, EVER OVERTURNED. WE WILL LOOK AT THE RECORD AND MAKE A DECISION FROM THE RECORD. YES. UNDERSTOOD. MR. SILAS, I THINK I COULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU. IN 98.7% OF THE TIME, OR BETTER, IT'S. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN AN OCCASION, I THINK, WHERE THE BOARD HAS OVERTURNED ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT AND WENT BACK TO EXPULSION. SO I THINK THAT THAT OPTION STILL NEEDS TO BE OR THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE A PATH FOR THAT. IF THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENT WITH THE DECISION FOR ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WOULD BE. I HAVE REALLY TWO QUESTIONS. FIRST, AND I COULD BE WRONG ON THIS, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE MAJORITY OF APPEALS WE HEAR FOR ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT INITIALLY WERE EXPULSIONS. WHEN THEY COME OUT OF THE BUILDING AND THEY WERE CUT BACK TO ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT WHEN THEY GOT HERE. SO ARE WE SUGGESTING THAT THESE. THESE ARE THE ONES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? DOCTOR BRADLEY. AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS SAW IS GOING TO COME INTO PLAY IF IT PASSES IN THE BUDGET INTO THIS PROCESS. NOW HOW IS THAT GOING TO COME INTO PLAY. IS ARE WE. GOING TO BE IN THE PROCESS OF SAW VERSUS AN ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT, OR WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO WITHOUT ONE ON ONE MEETINGS? WELL SAW ESSENTIALLY IS IS THE ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT. IT'S JUST IT'S JUST MORE OPTIONS FOR THE FOR THE HEARING OFFICER TO TO USE IN DETERMINING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT STUDENT. AND I WILL MAKE ONE THIRD COMMENT ON IT. AND I'M NOT SAYING I'M OPPOSED TO IT. A THIRD COMMENT IS WE DO SEE A GREAT NUMBER OF APPEALS CANCELED AT THE LAST MINUTE, BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT WHEN PEOPLE GO INTO THIS PROCESS, WHEN THEY SEE THAT IT'S TIME FOR THE RUBBER TO HIT THE ROAD, THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT. SO THAT'S SOMETHING ALSO TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS. I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO TO HAVE A REVIEW OF THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE HEARING OFFICER, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN SHOWN LENIENCY. I MEAN, IT WAS AN EXPULSION RECOMMENDATION. THE BOARD COULD EXPEL THE CHILD. THAT MEANS HE'S OUT OF SCHOOL FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. THE HEARING OFFICER CHANGES THE [00:55:04] PUNISHMENT FROM EXPULSION TO A SEALED PLACEMENT, WHICH IS THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PLACEMENT. WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT WE NOT. HAVE A A 30 TO 45 MINUTE HEARING INVOLVING THE STUDENT AND THE PARENT AND THE BOARD FOR EACH ONE OF THESE, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S MOST OF THEM DO NOT CHANGE. THE ONES THAT WERE CHANGED WERE CHANGED ONLY A POINT OF LEGALITY, I THINK, ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PROVE OR NOT PROVE A SPECIFIC ACTION. BUT ROUTINELY, I THINK IT'S JUST IT'S BECOME A MATTER OF FORM. NEVERTHELESS, IF WE FOUND SOMETHING THAT WE FELT LIKE WAS AMISS OR THAT NEEDED TO BE FAIRLY CLARIFIED OR ACTED ON, WE COULD DO THAT. THAT'S THE THAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD WOULD STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE THE CASE AND THE VOTE ON IT. IT'S NOT A SKIPPING THE BOARD REVIEW. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SIMPLIFYING IT TO A PAPER AUDIO TRANSLATION TRANSACTION AS OPPOSED TO LIVE IN PERSON. MR. RHINEHART-JACKSON. WELL, PARENTS STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO REQUEST TO APPEAR IN FRONT OF THE BOARD. OR WILL IT JUST BE AUTOMATIC PAPER REVIEW FOR FOR. MY MY SUGGESTION FOR THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PLACEMENT. THEY WOULD NOT APPEAR FOR EXPULSIONS. THEY DEFINITELY WOULD. FOR OTHER QUESTIONS. HAS THERE BEEN A MOTION? YES. YES, THERE WAS A MOTION. OKAY. THE MOTION WAS TO APPROVE WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE. IF WE WANT TO DO WHAT I'M SUGGESTING, IT WILL NEED A MOTION TO AMEND THE EARLIER MOTION, WHICH I'LL MAKE. I'LL MAKE THAT AS A MOTION. I MOVE THAT THE TEXT, THE CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT, BE REVISED TO MAKE APPEALS TO THE BOARD OF OF OF ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT, AND WOULD BE DONE ON THE BASIS OF THE RECORD ONLY BEGINNING WITH THE NEXT THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. SECOND. SO WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. NOW DISCUSSION. WELL, WE'LL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S EVERYONE. THAT'S UNANIMOUS. NOW WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS TO ADOPT THE. THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE IN THE PAST. AND THAT WOULD, OF COURSE, INCLUDE THESE. THIS ONE. SO ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE DISCIPLINE CODE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S UNANIMOUS. OKAY. THANK YOU. UPDATE ON RETURN TO INPUT. WE'VE DONE THAT. WE'VE GOT THE VOTE ON IT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WE HAD THE HEARING ON THE DATE OF RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICES PLAN, AND WE NOW NEED TO APPROVE THAT. SO I'M ASKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICES PLAN. MOTION. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE UPDATE TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND. BY DOCTOR HANKS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S FIVE. AND ONE INDISPOSED. WE NOW COME TO THE CONSENT ITEMS. THESE ARE A GROUP OF ITEMS THAT WE WILL GO THROUGH ONE BY ONE, BUT THEY'LL BE VOTED ON AS A GROUP UNLESS THERE'S A NEED TO SEPARATE ONE OUT. THE FIRST ITEM IS A RATIFICATION OF EXPULSIONS. THIS IS A LIST OF STUDENTS WHO'VE BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR EXPULSION AND DID NOT APPEAL. SO WE HAVE TO VOTE TO MAKE THE APPEAL OFFICIAL. THE SECOND IS THE REQUEST TO ADMIT FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT. THE THIRD IS AN OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFER REQUEST. THESE ARE TRANSFERS OUT. THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE REQUESTING TO ATTEND ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LEAVE OURS. THE NEXT ONE IS THE OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFER REQUEST. THESE ARE STUDENTS WISHING TO LEAVE ANOTHER DISTRICT AND COME INTO OURS. [01:00:02] NUMBER FIVE IS A AWARDING OF A HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT WITH HONORS. WAITING FOR THE GATE AIKEN COUNTY GATEWAY SUMMER PROGRAM. THE STATE HAS PUBLISHED STANDARDS THAT THE PROGRAM HAS TO MEET. THE DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE THAT OUR PROGRAM MEETS THAT THOSE STANDARDS, AND THIS IS TO GIVE THE DISTRICT PERMISSION TO AWARD HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS WITH HONORS FOR THOSE COURSES. SUBMISSION OF THE DISTINGUISHED ARTS PROGRAM. 2425 ARTS CURRICULA INNOVATION GRANT. EAST AIKEN IS ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO SUBMIT AN $18,000 GRANT FOR FUNDS TO USE IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL ARTS PROGRAM. LIKEWISE, NUMBER SEVEN IS A SUBMISSION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION. ARTS IN THE BASIC CURRICULUM GRANT APPLICATION BY EAST AIKEN. AND THIS IS A $15,000 GRANT. NUMBER EIGHT IS THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYEE AND WORKFORCE WISHING TO DONATE TO AIKEN COUNTY CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, A $4,000 DONATION THAT WOULD BE USED TO PURCHASE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES FOR STUDENTS. NUMBER NINE IS THE PURCHASE OF PORTABLE BLEACHERS AT THE HIGHLAND SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL. THERE'S BEEN A BID, AND THE LOW BID IS $475,230. NUMBER TEN IS THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS DRAWING BUDGET FOR THE NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELDS. PHASE FOUR FROM MACMILLAN. AND SMITH ARCHITECTS AND H.D. REYNOLDS, COMPANY. DOCTOR MURPHY, DID YOU ALL NEED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON THIS? GOOD EVENING, SIR. ONCE AGAIN. WE PRESENTED OUR DESIGN DOCUMENTS BACK IN JANUARY ON THE 23RD, AND THERE ARE NO SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES. SO WE DID HAVE YOU DO HAVE A DRAWING THERE? SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I ALSO HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AS WELL AS ARCHITECTURAL FIRM HERE STANDING BY. THANK YOU. AND IF I COULD ONE QUICK CORRECTION ON THE BLEACHERS. IT WAS 45,000, NOT 450. WE DIDN'T WANT TO. WELL, THAT'S A NICE CORRECTION. YEAH, I THINK I WROTE DOWN MY MISTAKE. PROBABLY. ALL RIGHT. APPRECIATE THE CORRECTION. THE PEOPLE WE WERE BUYING FROM PROBABLY DON'T, BUT. WELL, THAT'S ALL OF THOSE. WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL TEN OF THESE AND MOVE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON. ANY DISCUSSION? SECOND BY FOR MR. DOCTOR HANKS ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. THESE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE PRESENTED JUST FOR INFORMATION, AND WE DO NOT REQUIRE ANY BOARD ACTION. THE FIRST IS FACILITY CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT QUARTERLY CHANGE ORDER NOTIFICATION FROM DOCTOR MURPHY. GOOD EVENING. ONCE AGAIN, THIS FIRST ITEM IS JUST A QUARTERLY REPORT THAT WE SUBMIT TO YOU ALL. THIS IS A AN ALLOWANCE RETURN TO US BASICALLY $717 FOR UNUSED ALLOWANCE FOR THAT PAINTING PROJECT. ANY QUESTIONS? NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSTRUCTION STATUS REPORT OF THE WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH SCHOOL. NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. DOCTOR. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN. JUST VERY PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE WAGENER-SALLEY HIGH PROJECT. BEEN ON THE GROUND A COUPLE OF TIMES OUT THERE, AND IT IS PROCEEDING. IT IS A GRANDIOSE STRUCTURE. I MEAN, IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE ONCE YOU GET IN, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GIVING YOU ALL A TOUR IN THE COMING MONTHS RIGHT NOW. PAINTING CONTINUES. VERTICAL GUTTERS ARE BEING INSTALLED, WE'RE TRIMMING OUT THE ROOF, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE'RE OFFICIALLY DRIED IN. AND SO NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE COURTYARD AREA INSTALLING SIDEWALKS. QUESTIONS? COMMENT. WELL, INSIDE WE'RE PULLING CABLE WIRES AS WELL AS WE'RE INSTALLING CEILING GRID IN THE INTERIOR AREAS OF THE BUILDING ITSELF. HERE YOU CAN SEE THE INSTALLATION OF THE WINDOW GLASS AND FRAMES. AND HERE'S A SHOT. INTERIOR SHOTS ON THE ACTUAL INTERIOR ROOF BEING INSTALLED. YES, SIR. COULD YOU REMIND US AGAIN OF THE TIMETABLE? I SEEM TO REMEMBER WE HAD GOTTEN DELAYED SOMEWHAT. [01:05:01] I'M ASSUMING YOU HAVEN'T MADE UP TIME. ARE WE STILL LOOKING LIKE A DECEMBER OR OVER THE HOLIDAY MOVE IN? WE'RE THINKING WE'RE THE TARGET IS FALL BREAK, BUT TECHNICALLY, IT'S ACTUALLY TWO WEEKS AFTER FALL BREAK. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE. CAN WE MAKE UP SOME TIME OVER THE SUMMER? WEATHER HAS NOT BEEN THE MOST ACCOMMODATING AT THIS POINT. THE ITEM THAT WAS DELAYING US WAS AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH, BUT WE HAVE PROCURED IT ALREADY, SO WE'RE NO LONGER BEING HELD BACK BY ANY, ANY ITEM THAT WE HAVE. IT'S JUST THE UNFORESEEABLE RIGHT NOW. OKAY. SO A POSSIBLE MOVE IN DURING FALL BREAK. BUT NO, THAT'S OUR TARGET. WE'RE HOPEFUL. BUT I WOULDN'T PUT IT OUT. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU, DOCTOR MURPHY. ALL RIGHT. THIRD ITEM IS A MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING IN FEBRUARY 29TH, 2024. YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL GET MR. TRAXLER UP AND HAVE THEM ANSWER THEM. SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. THANK YOU. WE'LL NEXT MOVE TO THE INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS. ITEMS. WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT BY DOCTOR PATRICIA HANKS. I WILL MAKE THIS AS SHORT AND AS SWEET AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT I DON'T NEED AN ENTIRE BOX OF TISSUES. I NEED TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL NOT BE SEEKING REELECTION FOR THE UPCOMING TERM. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD AND TO MEET AND WORK WITH ALL OF YOU. FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT LAURENCE, THE ENTIRE DISTRICT STAFF, MY CONSTITUENTS WHO VOTED ME IN. I SAY THANK YOU. I CAN SAY, REST ASSURED THAT EVEN THOUGH MY TERM WILL BE EXPIRING IN A FEW MONTHS, I WILL REMAIN A STRONG, ABSOLUTE ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FOR THE STUDENTS OF AIKEN COUNTY. WELL, IT'S A SAD ANNOUNCEMENT NOT KNOWING WHO IS GOING TO RUN TO TAKE YOUR PLACE. MEANING NO UNKINDNESS TO THEM. PATRICIA'S GOING TO BE A HARD PERSON TO REPLACE. SHE'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT BOARD MEMBER FAR EXCEEDING WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A NEWBIE. SO IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU. MISSION. THANK YOU. DOCTOR. THE NEXT ITEM IS MINE, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH MR. NELSON. APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD. MR. LARRY NELSON, WHO'S SITTING BACK THERE IN THE AUDIENCE, APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD. I THINK IT WAS THE LAST REGULAR MEETING AND MADE A REQUEST THAT WE NAMED THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AT SOUTH AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL AFTER THE FORMER PRINCIPAL, MR. JIM DORSEY. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO INDULGE ME JUST A FEW MINUTES. I CAME TO AIKEN COUNTY IN 1969 AS A 27 YEAR OLD WHO HAD HAD A LOT OF EDUCATION AND NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, AND I HAD THE PLEASURE. OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CABINET, AND IT CONSISTED OF FOUR AREA SUPERINTENDENTS, THE SUPERINTENDENT IN ME. AND, YOU KNOW, I STOOD OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE WAS PROBABLY 50, YOU KNOW, 50 TO 60 YEARS OLD AND HAD MANY, MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. BUT IT WAS A THE REASON I GOT THERE IT'S BECAUSE I HAD SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE. I CAME TO DO SPECIAL EDUCATION AND NOBODY KNEW ANYTHING MUCH ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION IN THOSE DAYS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT REQUIRED PART OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. BUT ANYWAY. AND I LOVE TO SIT AND LISTEN TO THESE GUYS TALK. AND ONE THING THAT STUCK WITH ME IS THAT THEY REFERRED TO PEOPLE WHO THEY CONSIDERED TO BE EXCELLENT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. AS A SCHOOL MAN, THAT HE WAS A GOOD SCHOOL MAN, A GREAT SCHOOL MAN. A LITTLE LATER ON, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I DIDN'T ASK FOR. I WAS CALLED IN ONE MORNING, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT INFORMED ME THAT I WAS NO LONGER GOING TO BE WORKING WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SO FORTH, THAT I WAS GOING TO BE THE AREA SUPERINTENDENT FOR EVERYONE. AND AT THAT TIME, THAT CONSISTED OF 11 SCHOOLS AND ONE THIRD OF THE DISTRICT'S STUDENT POPULATION. AND TO SAY I WAS A LITTLE BIT SHOCKED WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND THE FIRST THING I DID AFTER THAT ANNOUNCEMENT WAS I GOT IN MY CAR AND I WENT TO SOUTH AIKEN AND I SAT DOWN WITH JIM DORSEY, AND I SAID, JIM, TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO KNOW. [01:10:05] HE DID THAT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. HE WAS GRACIOUS, TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING EVEN THOUGH I WAS HIS BOSS. I'M SORRY I GET A LITTLE EMOTIONAL MOMENTS LIKE THIS. HE WAS THE FIRST PRINCIPAL AT SOUTH AIKEN. SOUTH AIKEN WAS OPENED IN AN. NIGHT 1980, AND. IT GOT OFF TO A GOOD START BECAUSE HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE WAS A GREAT LEADER, AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER. JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY LIKED HIM. AND I SAY JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY BECAUSE HE WAS A HARD MAN. I MEAN, HE HE WAS FAIR, BUT HE BELIEVED IT WAS RIGHT AND IT WAS WRONG. AND IF HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, IT WAS GOING TO BE RIGHT. THAT'S THE WAY HE RAISED HIS CHILDREN, AND THAT'S THE WAY HE TOOK CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT AIKEN ON SOUTH AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S THE WAY HE DEALT WITH HIS FACULTY. IT'S THE WAY HE DEALT WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY. HE RARELY, RARELY EVER SAW HIM SITTING DOWN. I WOULD GO OVER THERE LATE IN THE AFTERNOONS TO TAKE CARE OF SOME BUSINESS OR SOMETHING, AND I'D HAVE TO GO LOOK FOR HIM. AND I'D ALWAYS FOUND HIM IN THE GYM, MOPPING THE FLOOR, YOU KNOW? THAT WAS THE KIND OF MAN HE WAS. HE WOULDN'T. HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THAT SCHOOL. HE LOVED THAT SCHOOL. BEFORE GOING TO SOUTH AIKEN, HE WAS THE PRINCIPAL OF AIKEN JUNIOR HIGH. AND BEFORE THAT, HE WAS A TEACHER AND A COACH, AND AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IF WE WANTED TO HONOR HIM TO. YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HONORING PEOPLE BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S GOT A FAVORITE. I'VE GOT A TEACHER. I HAD A TEACHER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT I THINK ABOUT JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY. SHE DIED RECENTLY, BUT I STILL, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT HER EVERY DAY, JUST ABOUT BECAUSE SHE WAS SUCH A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE. AND I'M SURE THAT THAT'S THE CASE WITH MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT DORSEY, THE STUDENTS THAT HE HAD AT SOUTH AIKEN AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR HIM. YOU SAW AT THAT MEETING THE STACK OF COMMENTS AND SO FORTH THAT WERE MADE ABOUT HIM THAT MR. NELSON COLLECTED FROM THE FUNERAL HOME ON THE FUNERAL HOME'S WEBSITE. THE HANG UP IS THAT THERE'S A CLAUSE IN THE POLICY THAT REQUIRES A PERSON TO BE DEAD THREE YEARS BEFORE WE CAN HONOR THEM. AND WHAT I'M ASKING TONIGHT IS THAT WE SUSPEND THAT POLICY JUST FOR THIS ONE ACTION. AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND HONOR THE MAN. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT THIS TO HAPPEN. MR. NELSON'S REPRESENTED THEM. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS AND PEOPLE CONTACT ME REQUESTING THAT IT BE DONE. I THINK THAT THE THREE YEARS I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S THERE, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING, BUT IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ACTING IMPULSIVELY AND WE'RE NOT JUST SINGLING OUT SOMEBODY THAT'S POPULAR TODAY BUT WILL BE GONE TOMORROW. BUT BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE GONE. YOU KNOW, WE ONLY EXIST AS LONG AS PEOPLE REMEMBER US. YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHEN WE DIE OR OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT YOU WERE THERE. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE. YOU. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR, JIM, IS THAT HE WAS COACH. HE COACHED FOOTBALL. HE LOVED IT. I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO HONOR HIM, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT BECAUSE HE WAS A COACH. I'M SUGGESTING IT BECAUSE HE WAS A GREAT SCHOOL MAN AND A GREAT HUMAN BEING. SO I I'M MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SUSPEND THE POLICY REQUIRING THE THREE YEARS AND BE SATISFIED WITH THE CLOSE TO ONE THAT HE'S BEEN DEAD AND AGREED TO NAME THE. FOOTBALL STADIUM AT SOUTH AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL AFTER HIM. THIS HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY EVEN DONE WITHOUT THE BOARD ACTION. [01:15:01] BUT BUT I KNOW THAT WE'VE NAMED BUILDINGS. THE JAMES OK TAYLOR GYMNASIUM WAS NAMED AFTER FINE, WONDERFUL SCHOOL PERSON THAT I COULDN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT. AND THE FOOTBALL FIELD AT MIDLAND VALLEY IS NAMED AFTER L.L. WILLIS, WHO AGAIN WAS A LEGEND IN THE SCHOOL WORK IN THE VALLEY. SO WE HAVE A TRADITION OF HONORING PEOPLE WHO MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND THAT'S WHY I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE DO THAT FOR JAMES DORSEY. SO I PUT THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION. I'LL SECOND THAT. SECOND, BY MR. SILAS, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S FOUR OPPOSED. ABSTAINING. TWO ABSTENTIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MY BEHAVIOR. WE WILL NEED A SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE OF SOME UPCOMING EVENTS. THIS THURSDAY, MAY 16TH, WE'VE GOT THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR AIKEN COUNTY CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER. THAT'S AT 4:00 ON THE CAMPUS OF AIKEN TECHNICAL COLLEGE. SO THIS HAS BEEN SOME TIME COMING, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO TO GET THAT PROCESS STARTED. WE ALSO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE PENNY SALES TAX. AND WE HAD OUR FIRST ONE LAST NIGHT AT NORTH AUGUSTA MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIS THURSDAY AT 6:00, WE'LL BE AT SILVER BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL. NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 21ST, WILL BE AT LBCC MIDDLE SCHOOL AND AT SOUTH AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL ON THURSDAY, MAY 23RD. SO WE ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU, AND WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND PROVIDE INPUT, MAKE SUGGESTIONS ON THE DIRECTION THAT WE THAT THAT BALLOT SHOULD TAKE FOR THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. OKAY. WE WILL NEED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING. FOR THE PURPOSES OF AS SOON AS I FIND MY PAPER. HERE WE HAVE CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS. IN SUCH ORDER THE BOARD DEEMS APPROPRIATE. STUDENT MATTERS. WE HAVE NO. THAT'S CANCELED. WE HAD A STUDENT APPEAL, BUT IT'S BEEN WITHDRAWN. EMPLOYMENT MATTERS. WE HAVE A BREACH OF. WELL, WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR EMPLOYMENT MATTERS HEARING ON AN EMPLOYEE. ISSUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFER. AND THEN WE HAVE A CONTRACTUAL DISCUSSION OF A PROPERTY MATTER INVOLVING ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS. IS THERE A MOTION THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? MOVE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON. IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MISS TYLER? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES. EVERYBODY. [02:12:31] ANY DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. [02:12:35] WE'RE NOW BACK IN REGULAR SESSION. [02:12:38] WHILE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WE HEARD AN EMPLOYMENT MATTER INVOLVING BREACH OF [02:12:44] CONTRACT. IS THERE A MOTION? [02:12:47] I MOVE THAT WE DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE STATE BOARD OF [02:12:51] EDUCATION REGARDING EMPLOYEE A AND EMPLOYEE B'S BREACH OF CONTRACT? [02:12:56] IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. [02:12:58] SECOND. BY DOCTOR HANKS. [02:13:01] ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. [02:13:05] IT'S EVERYBODY. NEXT ONE WAS ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT. [02:13:09] NEW ELLINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. IS THERE A MOTION? SO I AGREE WITH THE DISTRICT'S ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT. RECOMMENDATION FOR ADMINISTRATOR. SECOND. SECOND. MISS TYLER, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S EVERYBODY. WE ALSO RECEIVED A SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT. NORTH AUGUSTA ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL. IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE DISTRICT'S RECOMMENDATION. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION BY MISS TYLER AND A SECOND BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON TO ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATOR'S RECOMMENDATION. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. AGAIN? THAT'S EVERYONE. WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT A PROPERTY MATTER. NO ACTIONS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME. DO WE HAVE. DO WE NEED TO TAKE NO ACTION NECESSARY ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFER? YES, SIR. WE DID DISCUSS THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFER, BUT NO ACTION IS NECESSARY THERE. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON, SECOND BY MISS TYLER. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. WE STAND ADJOURNED. WELL, WELL. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.