Jun 11, 2024 061124 AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

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OKAY. IT IS 6:00. WE'LL CALL THE JUNE 11TH REGULAR MEETING OF AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF

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PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. 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 FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING WAS PUBLISHED TO THE BOARD IN THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE.

I DO HAVE A MOTION. I'M MAKING A MOTION TO MAKE ONE CHANGE TO THE AGENDA.

SO I MOVE THAT WE CHANGE THE AGENDA.

SUCH FOR ITEM INDIVIDUAL ITEM A1, THAT LINE ITEM NUMBER NINE ON THAT ATTACHMENT BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY AS INDIVIDUAL ITEM A7.

THAT'S MY MOTION. SECOND.

MOTION BY MR. NUESSLE.

THAT'S WEIRD. SAYING IT. MOTION BY MYSELF.

SECONDED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON TO SEPARATE LINE ITEM NUMBER NINE FROM ATTACHMENT A1, AND TO CONSIDER THAT SEPARATELY AS INDIVIDUAL ITEM A7.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE AGENDA IS CHANGED.

IF THERE ARE NO OTHER OBJECTIONS OR CHANGES SUGGESTED, WE WILL ADOPT THE AGENDA AS WE HAVE IT NOW.

OKAY, SO IT IS. APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES FROM THE MAY 28TH REGULAR MEETING FROM THIS YEAR.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE MINUTES? MOVED BY RHINEHART-JACKSON.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MR. MOULTON? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 28TH REGULAR MEETING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR.

NO. OKAY, THAT'S EIGHT IN FAVOR.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THAT'S ONE OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES 8 TO 1.

THAT LEADS US TO SOME SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS.

WHO'S GOING TO INTRODUCE THAT? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN NESTLE.

MR. LAWRENCE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD, IN MARCH, YOU, OUR SCHOOL BOARD, CHANGED THE POLICY ALLOWING VISITS FROM NONPROFIT BLOOD DONATION ORGANIZATIONS TO SCHOOLS.

THIS REDUCED THE DONOR AGE FROM 17 TO 16 WITH PARENTAL CONSENT, AND REMOVED THE CAP ON THE NUMBER OF VISITS FROM BLOODMOBILES TO OUR SCHOOLS, WHICH ALLOWED PRINCIPALS TO INVITE THEM ONTO THEIR CAMPUSES AT THEIR DISCRETION.

HERE, TO SHARE HIS APPRECIATION FOR THAT DECISION, AND TO REWARD THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN BLOOD DRIVES WITH A DONATION FOR EVERY DONOR IS SHEPHERD COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER CEO BENJAMIN PRIJATEL.

I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. PRIJATEL AT THIS TIME, AND I BELIEVE HE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A CHECK. MR.. LAURENCE, THANK YOU.

YES YOU ARE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JUST GIVING ME A MINUTE OR TWO TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING.

YOU MAY HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN THAT SHEPHERD COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER ISSUED AN EMERGENCY APPEAL OVER THE WEEKEND FOR BLOOD DONATIONS DUE TO THE CRITICAL BLOOD SUPPLY IN THE COMMUNITY. SUMMER IS A CHALLENGING TIME FOR FOR BLOOD CENTERS, AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS BEHIND THAT IS BECAUSE ABOUT 20% OF THE BLOOD THAT WE COLLECT COMES FROM TEENAGERS, AND OF COURSE, 100% OF THE BLOOD THAT SHEPHERD COLLECTS STAYS RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND GOES TO

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I'M FORTUNATE TONIGHT TO BE JOINED BY SOME OF OUR STAFF FROM SHEPHERD AND ALSO KAREN FIERY, A MEMBER OF THE SHEPHERD BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT BUSBEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE'S ONE OF OUR FIERCE ADVOCATES FOR BLOOD DONATION.

BOTH OF HIS PARENTS RECEIVED BLOOD PRODUCTS AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN THEIR LIFE.

MISS FIERY WITNESSED THE LIFE SAVING POWER THAT DONATED BLOOD HAD ON HER MOTHER'S LIFE, AND IN THE CASE OF HER FATHER, SHE'S ALSO EXPERIENCED THE LIFE SUSTAINING POWER OF BLOOD. YOU KNOW, BLOOD OFTEN PROVIDES COMFORT, HOPE AND TIME FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, EVEN WHEN THE OUTCOME ISN'T WHAT WE MAY HAVE WANTED.

EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BLOOD DONATION IS CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. SHEPHERDS HIGH SCHOOL HEROES PROGRAM AIMS TO REWARD YOUNG BLOOD DONORS FOR THEIR SELFLESS GIFTS TO HELP LOCAL PATIENTS IN AIKEN COUNTY.

NEARLY 500 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED AT BLOOD DRIVES HOSTED BY THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS TONIGHT.

BASED ON THOSE ACHIEVEMENTS.

SHEPHERD IS HERE TO PRESENT A CHECK TO THE AIKEN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR $9,340.

AND LASTLY, AS MISS PICCOLINO MENTIONED, BECAUSE OF RECENT ACTION TAKEN BY THIS BOARD TO UPDATE ITS POLICY ON BLOOD DONATION, WE EXPECT TO SEE A HUGE INCREASE NEXT YEAR.

WE'D LOVE TO ADD A ZERO TO THIS NUMBER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL GET THERE, BUT I THINK WE CAN DOUBLE IT NEXT YEAR.

I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR LAURENCE, DOCTOR MINOLFO, THE BOARD, AND ESPECIALLY BARRY MOULTON, WHO HELPED CHAMPION THE PASSAGE OF THIS CHANGE YOUR ACTION ON THIS POLICY WILL SAVE LIVES HERE IN AIKEN COUNTY AND IN THE CSRA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YEAH, SURE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY. THAT BRINGS US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

THAT BRINGS US TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

NO ONE SIGNED UP BEFORE TODAY FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, BUT WE HAD THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP HERE AT THE MEETING.

THE FIRST OF WHICH IS MISS STEPHANIE THRELKELD.

I'M SORRY. THAT'S FINE.

SO MR. THRELKELD SAID, CAN MISS CRAPS GO FIRST? SO, MISS KIMBERLY CRAPS WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE SCHOFIELD BAND ROOM.

OH. THANK YOU. I'LL DO THE BEST.

I'M KIM CRAPS. I'M THE AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL BAND BOOSTER SECRETARY.

AND I'M A PARENT OF TWO KIDS WHO ATTENDED MILLBROOK ELEMENTARY AND WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED REZONING THE FIRST YEAR AT EHS SCHOFIELD AND AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THE BAND PROGRAM AT AIS AND SCHOFIELD HAS BEEN THE SAVING GRACE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR OUR KIDS, DESPITE ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS GOING ON LIKE REZONING AND COVID.

AND THE LEAST OF MY SAFETY CONCERNS FOR MY KIDS AT ISE OR SCHOFIELD HAS BEEN THEM ATTENDING BAND. AND SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE ATTENDED THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS AND ARE NOW AND HAVE BEEN IN THE MARCHING BAND PROGRAM AT AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL. SO I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN ONE OF THE OTHER BAND BOOSTERS REACHED OUT TO ME AND SHARED THAT THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS ONGOING BETWEEN THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT SCHOFIELD AND MISTER PODA, THE NEW BAND DIRECTOR.

THAT ITEMS WERE BEING DISCUSSED TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE BAND, THE BAND PRACTICE ROOM THAT WAS DESIGNED AS A BAND ROOM, APPROPRIATELY ACOUSTICALLY DESIGNED WITH SOUND SUPPRESSION AND AND IN PRACTICE ROOMS, AND MISS THRELKELD WILL GO INTO DETAIL.

MORE ON THAT. BUT SO. THEY CAUGHT ME ON A FRIDAY AND I REACHED OUT TO TRY TO CONTACT OTHER FOLKS IMPACTED AT SCHOFIELD.

AND I WAS REALLY AMAZED BY THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AS FAR AS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE GOING ON THERE, THAT WE WOULD TALK ABOUT MOVING OUT OF, OF A BAND ROOM THAT WAS DESIGNED AS A BAND ROOM INTO A SPACE THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE

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AND THIS IS NOT A COURSE OFFERING.

THIS IS A PROGRAM. I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL SEEN THE BEAUTIFUL NEW AUDITORIUM AND INVESTMENT THAT'S BEEN MADE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THESE PROGRAMS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, THEY WON'T BE COMING ALONG TO BE PLAYING IN THAT AREA.

AND SO OUR CONCERN IS TO GET AT WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS GOING ON HERE AND TO, YOU KNOW, GET ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.

AND, AND WE REALIZED THAT THE TIMELINE IS SHORT BECAUSE IF THEY'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT RELOCATING CUBBIES TO THIS NEW SPACE THAT WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT FIVE WEEKS BEFORE THE NEXT YEAR STARTS. SO THAT'S WHY WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO NEED SOME HELP.

AND SO I, YOU KNOW, I AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT, YOU KNOW, TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERN AND, AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON, WHO WE NEED TO TALK TO AND, AND GET INVOLVED SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND MR. THRELKELD WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS AS FAR AS THE SPACE THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS MOVE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE AS FAR AS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SPACE USAGE AT SCHOFIELD AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HEARD OTHER RUMORS THAT THAT THAT SPACE WAS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, UTILIZED THE OLD BAND SPACE, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT BAND SPACE FOR SOME NEW PURPOSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS DISCONCERTING THAT SOMETHING MIGHT BE DEFACED OF THE BAND ROOM IN THE SHORT TERM FOR A NEW PURPOSE THAT WOULD COST US MONEY TO REVERSE.

OR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON DURING WHILE MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN AT SCHOFIELD AS FAR AS OTHER CLASSROOMS HAVE MOVED TO DIFFERENT SPACES.

AND IT'S IT'S BEEN HARD TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT'S GONE ON THERE AND WHY.

SO WE WANTED TO GET QUICKLY TO THE SOURCE OF WHO WAS MAKING THESE DECISIONS.

SO ANYWAY, I NEED TO WRAP IT UP, BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR CONCERNS. AND MISS THRELKELD, WHO'S THE FORMER BAND DIRECTOR AT SCHOFIELD, WILL PRESENT SOME MORE SPECIFIC CONCERNS.

THANK YOU, MISS KREBS.

MISS THRELKELD, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE THRELKELD, AND I'M. I'M MEDICALLY RETIRED FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AFTER SERVING AS BAND DIRECTOR AT SCHOFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR 14 YEARS.

LAST TIME I WAS IN THIS ROOM, I WAS RECEIVING RECOGNITION FOR THE SCHOFIELD CONCERT BAND, PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE AND JAZZ BAND FOR EARNING FIRST PLACE IN SPECIAL RECOGNITION AT A NATIONAL EVENT IN 2011.

IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON THE SCHOFIELD BAND ROOM, WHICH WAS CELEBRATED AT ITS GRAND OPENING IN 2003.

THIS BANDROOM IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND ROOMS AMONG STATE BAND DIRECTORS. THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT MOVING THE BAND PROGRAM INTO A ROOM THAT WAS NOT BUILT FOR THIS PURPOSE.

THE MAIN CONCERN IS ACOUSTICS AND CIRCULATION IN THE BAND ROOM, THE WALLS AND CEILING ARE NOT PERFECTLY SQUARE.

A SOUND PROFESSIONAL WAS BROUGHT IN TO SELECT AND MOUNT SOUND PANELS ON THE WALLS AND CEILINGS. THESE ACOUSTICS ARE KEY TO THE BAND PROGRAM'S SUCCESS.

FORMER TEACHERS ASSIGNED TO THE NEW ROOM CAN ATTEST THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO TEACH A NON-SPECIALIZED CLASS IN THE PROPOSED ROOM.

THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, OR OSHA PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT IS 90DB FOR AN EIGHT HOUR WORKDAY.

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH SOUND LEVELS PRODUCED DURING MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC CLASSES, AND FOUND THAT SOUND LEVELS RANGED FROM 91 TO 97DB AS THE SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES BEEN CONSULTED TO BRING IN A REGISTERED HIRED PROFESSIONAL TO MAKE SURE THIS NEW ROOM FITS WITHIN THE OSHA GUIDELINES. THE CURRENT BAND ROOM HAS SPECIALLY INSULATED WALLS TO PREVENT FROM DISTURBING THE OTHER CLASSES.

WHAT OTHER STUDENTS AND STAFF BE DISTRACTED IN THE NEW ROOM BY PERCUSSION AND METRONOME NOISES? AS JOYCE CULP, DIRECTOR FROM 1995 TO 2002, POINTED OUT FROM HER OWN EXPERIENCE WHILE SHE WAS RELOCATED DURING THE BAND ROOM CONSTRUCTION, THE NOISE LEVEL CAN BRING TENSION AND RESENTMENT WITH OTHER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, AND IT IS NOT CONDUCTIVE TO TEACHING OR LEARNING.

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IF WE WANT THE BAND PROGRAM TO GROW AND FLOURISH, THE NEW SPACE IS SIMPLY NOT BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE A LARGE BAND PROGRAM.

THE CURRENT ROOM EASILY ACCOMMODATES OVER 100 PIECE BAND FOR COMBINED REHEARSALS.

STUDENTS NEED TO MOVE EASILY IN AND OUT OF THE CHAIRS AND MUSIC STANDS WITHOUT INJURING THEMSELVES OR DAMAGING INSTRUMENTS.

THE BAND OWNS AND UTILIZES A LOT OF LARGE PERCUSSION EQUIPMENT THAT IS USED DAILY BY STUDENTS. ARE THE DOORS WIDE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THESE INSTRUMENTS GOING IN AND OUT, AND IS THERE ENOUGH SPACE? EVEN IN THE ROOM? THERE ARE SMALL ENSEMBLES AND PRACTICE ROOMS IN THE CURRENT BAND ROOM, AS CATHERINE WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR FROM 2019 TO 2022, POINTED OUT, THESE ARE NEEDED FOR STUDENTS TO WORK ON INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS, GET COACHING AND PRACTICE FOR INDIVIDUAL AUDITIONS.

THE TRUE BAND ROOM HAS THESE AVAILABLE TO HELP STUDENTS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

ANOTHER CONCERN IS SAFETY AND SECURITY.

INSTRUMENTS REQUIRE PROPER STORAGE AND TEMPERATURES.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE EXTERIOR DOORS WHERE ANYONE CAN WALK THROUGH THE NEW BUILDING, THE NEW BAND ROOM DURING ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL, DISMISSAL FROM SCHOOL, AND DELIVERIES. ARE WE PREPARED TO FINANCE THE REPLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENT INSTRUMENTS IF DAMAGED OR STOLEN? THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A SPECIAL FIRE ALARMS WITH SPECIAL SOUNDS AND LIGHTS IN THE ROOM IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE FINAL CONCERN IS THE LACK OF SUPPORT OF THE ARTS.

SCHOFIELD NO LONGER HAS A CHORUS OR STRINGS PROGRAM.

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT THE FOUNDATION AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.

HOW CAN WE FULLY UTILIZE THE NEW AUDITORIUM AT AIKEN HIGH? IN CONCLUSION, KATHERINE BROOKS BRYANT SCHOFIELD, DIRECTOR FROM 1973 TO 1995, WHO I ALSO HAD WHO WAS CONSULTED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS NEW BAND ROOM AND WELL RESPECTED MUSICIAN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND NATIONALLY, FEELS THIS IS A BIG STEP BACKWARDS FOR FUTURE BAND STUDENTS AT SCHOFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL. SHE POINTS OUT THIS COMMUNITY, AIKEN, IS BECOMING KNOWN AS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS.

WHY ARE WE SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY RENOVATING A ROOM THAT IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR BAND, WHEN THERE IS ALREADY A FANTASTIC BAND ROOM AT SCHOFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL? BAND DIRECTORS AROUND THE STATE AT THE MIDDLE, HIGH AND COLLEGE LEVELS HAVE ALL EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THIS MOVE.

PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM IN THE PAST OR PRESENT HAVE SHOWN THEIR CONCERN BY SIGNING A PETITION REQUESTING YOUR ATTENTION TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS IN THE PRESENT. PROPERLY DESIGNED FACILITY AND WE.

IT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH YOU VIA EMAIL.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS MUCH TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN CONSTRUCTING A PROPER BAND ROOM. THERE ARE A LOT OF EYES ON HOW AIKEN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HANDLES THIS SITUATION. WHAT IMPRESSIONS DO WE WANT TO GIVE? WILL YOU JOIN US IN RETAINING THE QUALITY OF FINE ARTS EDUCATION IN AIKEN COUNTY BY PROVIDING THE BEST FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT AND TEACHING STAFF FOR OUR STUDENTS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, MISS THRELKELD.

DOCTOR BRADLEY WE? THE FIRST I HEARD OF THIS WAS THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT AN EMAIL OR TWO, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT THIS EVENING BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, AND WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I'D LIKE TO OFFER A MOTION THAT NOTHING BE DONE TO ALTER THE SITUATION WITH THE BAND ROOM, UNTIL THE BOARD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INFORMED AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON AND TO EXPRESS AN OPINION ABOUT IT.

SUCH I MAKE THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION.

SECOND. DOCTOR BRADLEY, YOU GOT ME IN A LITTLE BIT OF A PICKLE, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE. I'M TRYING TO THINK IF WE CAN MAKE MOTIONS ON SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T ADVERTISE ON THE AGENDA.

WELL, AND SO PROBABLY NOT.

BUT. SO WE CAN'T TAKE VOTES ON THINGS.

I'M SORRY. OKAY. IN THAT CASE, I'LL JUST EXPRESS AN OPINION.

IT SOUNDS RIDICULOUS TO ME.

I MEAN, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHO CAME UP WITH THIS AND WHY YOU SPEND ALL THAT MONEY ON A VERY VIABLE PROGRAM. IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

MY SON WENT THROUGH IT FOR THREE YEARS AT SCHOFIELD AND FOUR YEARS AT AIKEN HIGH.

HE WAS ALL-STATE FIRST CHAIR.

HE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT IT HAD ON HIS LIFE.

AND I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN TO TO TO CAN THIS IDEA UNLESS SOMEBODY CAN EXPLAIN TO ME. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT EXPLANATION I COULD HEAR.

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RIGHT. SO I'LL BE VERY UNHAPPY IF SOMETHING HAPPENS BEFORE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH IT. AND IT WILL BE EVEN IF WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING.

I TAKE YOUR COMMENTS AS WE NEED AN AGENDA ITEM AND WE'LL MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE DO HAVE ONE OTHER PERSON THAT SIGNED UP AT THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

MR. ROD GREENWAY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL SELECTION AT NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL. MR. GREENWAY. MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME PARTICIPATE TONIGHT. I MADE THIS COMMITMENT LONG BEFORE THE COMMITTEE EVER STARTED INTERVIEWING FOLKS. ONE OF OUR FIVE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AT NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL, MISS KRISTIN RISHER. SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY SHOWED INTEREST AT OUR SCHOOL.

AND BECOMING THE PRINCIPAL DOWN THE ROAD.

I WENT TO HER RIGHT OFF THE BAT BEFORE MR. MURPHY HAD EVEN BEEN ANNOUNCED TO MOVE TO HIS NEW JOB HERE AT AIKEN.

AND I SAID, I'LL HELP YOU IN ANY WAY THAT I POSSIBLY CAN WHEN THE TIME COMES.

IF YOU MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL GROUP, I'LL BE GLAD TO.

I HELD OUT MY HAND. SHE HELD OUT HER HAND AND I GRABBED HER INDEX FINGER AND I SAID, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I'M PULLING FOR YOU AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS RECOMMENDATION THAT I'M MAKING TONIGHT, MAKING TO YOU TONIGHT IS NOT A RACIAL RECOMMENDATION.

THIS IS SOMETHING I COMMITTED ON BEFORE ALL OF THIS EVEN STARTED.

I WAS GOING TO REPRESENT OUR CANDIDATE FROM NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL.

KRISTIN RICCI HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A WHILE.

I'M A NORTH AUGUSTA FROM BIRTH.

I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 78 YEARS.

MY MOTHER GRADUATED IN THE NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1936.

I GRADUATED IN 64. MY BROTHER AND SISTERS ALL GRADUATED FROM NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL.

I SERVED AS AN ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A SUMMER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, A TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR JOB WHICH I SPENT 20 SOME ODD YEARS BEFORE I RETIRED.

BUT I WAS STILL IN AIKEN COUNTY.

WHAT WE'RE PUSHING FOR AT NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL IS A HOMEGROWN CANDIDATE IN OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAM. OUR HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, RICHARD BUSH, HE'S FROM NORTH AUGUSTA.

OUR HEAD BASKETBALL COACH, TONY HARRELL, HE'S FROM NORTH AUGUSTA.

I SAW HIM GROW UP OUR HEAD.

BASEBALL COACH, MR. JASON LYNN LEE SHERIDAN'S GRANDSON, PLAYED AT CLEMSON. OH MY GRACIOUS.

AND WE'VE GOT OTHER SPORTS THAT HAVE NORTH AUGUSTINE'S IN THERE.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS A CANDIDATE THAT HAS IN OUR SYSTEM THAT HAS GROWN.

THIS SYSTEM IS QUIET, IT'S TOGETHER.

AND MRS IS ON TARGET. WHEN MR. MURPHY, MR. JOHN MURPHY WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN THE FALL, WE WENT THREE MONTHS WITHOUT OUR PRINCIPAL THERE.

MISS RICHARD WAS THE ONE THAT STEPPED FORWARD TO GUIDE EVERYTHING AND LEAD US ON.

WE COULD NOT TURN OUR EYES.

I MEAN OUR BACKS ON THAT BECAUSE OF HER DEDICATION TO OUR SCHOOL.

SHE KNOWS OUR KIDS. SHE KNOWS OUR TEACHERS.

SHE KNOWS ALL FOUR OTHER ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

AND SHE BEING THE FIFTH ONE ALL OF OUR FOLKS ARE WELL LOVED.

I WORK BACK AT NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL AFTER I'VE ALREADY RETIRED 2 OR 3 TIMES, AND I'M NOT GOING TO THROW THIS OUT.

I WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT BELVEDERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN WE GOT NOTIFIED THAT ALL RETIREES THAT WERE WORKING WOULD NO LONGER BE EMPLOYED, AND I HAD TO SIT THERE IN MY OFFICE WITH TEARS IN MY EYES.

IS OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT TOLD ME, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR. I WENT HOME AND I WAS FELT LIKE THE WORLD HAD JUST ABOUT ENDED BECAUSE.

DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR AN ADULT MALE TO GET TO BE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL? IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

ANYWAY, MY SON CAME OVER THAT NIGHT HAPPY GREENWAY AND HE SAID, REVEREND, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? I SAID, I DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

I SAID, I JUST DON'T KNOW.

HE SAID, WHY DON'T YOU COME WORK AT MY OFFICE? YOU CAN DO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND YOU COULD HELP ME.

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THAT COUPLE OF DAYS LASTED 12 YEARS.

AND THEN JOHN MURPHY CALLED ME AFTER HIS.

HIS PROCTOR ON THE GREENWAY AVENUE TURNED IN HIS RESIGNATION.

HE SAID, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THAT JOB? I SAID, I SURE WOULD. I APPLIED FOR IT AND I GOT IT.

I'VE BEEN THERE TWO YEARS AND I'LL TELL YOU, I LOVE NORTH AUGUSTA.

MISS RITCHER HERSELF IS DEDICATED.

SHE'S A ROLE MODEL. SHE MAKES QUALITY DECISIONS.

EVERYBODY LOVES HER. I'M JUST SAYING, ON BEHALF OF CHRISTIAN RITCHER, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HER AS PRINCIPAL OF NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

THE FOLKS THAT SIGNED UP.

AND WHAT THAT LEADS US TO SOME SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS.

AND MISS PICCOLINO, THE FLOOR IS YOURS AGAIN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. NESTLE. SUPERINTENDENT LAURENCE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD, IN THE FALL OF 2018, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AIKEN, OPENED AIKEN SCHOLARS ACADEMY.

ASA WOULD OFFER A UNIQUE, HIGHLY RIGOROUS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO A COHORT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS, AND THEY WOULD SUPPORT THEM AS THEY WERE INTRODUCED AND IMMERSED INTO COLLEGE LEVEL COURSEWORK.

WITH ITS SETTING ON THE CAMPUS OF USC AIKEN, ASA WAS POISED TO BE AN ACADEMIC SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE, UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

THE US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT RANKS THE ROUGHLY 25,000 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE US AND WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA RANKINGS FOR ITS BEST.

HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS ARE CALCULATED BY A NUMBER OF FACTORS.

THOSE INCLUDE COLLEGE READINESS OF 12TH GRADE STUDENTS, STATE OF ASSESSMENT PROFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE, STATE ASSESSMENT, PROFICIENCY OF MINORITY STUDENTS AND LOW INCOME STUDENTS, COLLEGE CURRICULUM BREADTH AND GRADUATION RATE.

WE ALL THOUGHT ASA WAS THE BEST, BUT NOW IT'S OFFICIAL.

AIKEN SCHOLARS ACADEMY IS RANKED AS THE NUMBER ONE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE AUGUSTA METRO AREA IN THE STATE. IT'S RANKED SECOND AND IT'S 28TH IN THE NATION.

CONGRATULATIONS TO A VERY PROUD PRINCIPAL, MISS MARTHA MESSICK.

SHE'S JOINED US TONIGHT.

SHE'S BEEN LEADING THE SCHOOL SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

SHE'S JOINED BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF HER FACULTY, INCLUDING AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY AND US HISTORY TEACHER AND ACADEMIC TEAM COACH, MISS LORI JAMES. ENGLISH, TWO HONORS AND AP SEMINAR INSTRUCTOR, MR. JOHN. MR. RON JOHNSON, AS WELL AS HONORS BIOLOGY, HONORS CHEMISTRY AND AP RESEARCH TEACHER AND SPONSOR OF THEIR SCIENCE AND CYBER PATRIOTS TEAMS, AS WELL AS ITS GARDEN CLUB.

AND THAT'S MISS AMANDA WEIMER.

MISS MESSICK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLEASE COME UP, SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT ASA.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO START THE CLOCK.

THIS HAS BEEN BEING A PART OF THIS SCHOOL AND SERVING THE STUDENTS OF AIKEN COUNTY.

THE WAY WE GET TO DO AT AIKEN SCHOLARS ACADEMY HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY CAREER.

I LOVE WHAT I GET TO DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I LOVE THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE CULTURE THAT OUR FACULTY AND STAFF, AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS HAVE DEVELOPED, WHERE WE TRULY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON TEACHING AND LEARNING.

WE GET TO GUIDE STUDENTS THROUGH A VERY RIGOROUS AND HARD AND TOUGH PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE.

IS AN ELITE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS WITHIN AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND WE WORK DILIGENTLY, OUR STAFF AND FACULTY EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE ALWAYS PUT STUDENTS FIRST, AND ARE MEANT TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE IN SUCH A RIGOROUS

[00:35:01]

WITH JUST A SMALL FACULTY THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE YOU KNOW, I THINK LIKE 15 DIFFERENT CLUBS OR ORGANIZATIONS FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN.

OUR STUDENTS ARE RECOGNIZED AROUND THE STATE FOR THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AT THE SCHOOL.

SO IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO WORK, AT LEAST I THINK SO.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S IT'S JUST A GREAT ENVIRONMENT TO BE IN AND WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS WHO REALLY KIND OF DRIVE EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

SO WE'RE EXTREMELY HONORED TO HAVE THESE HIGH RANKINGS.

I FULLY EXPECT THOSE NUMBERS TO GET SMALLER IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS WE CONTINUE TO GRADUATE STUDENTS. SO THIS THIS INFORMATION IS BEST BASED ON OUR FIRST GRADUATING CLASS TWO YEARS AGO. SO KNOWING WHO'S GRADUATED, SINCE I FULLY ANTICIPATE TO BE BACK UP HERE NEXT YEAR WHEN THE REPORT COMES OUT AGAIN.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US HERE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE AS YOU ALL ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US HERE IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY, WE INVITE YOU TO STAY WITH US.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THAT BRINGS US TO OFFICE OF BOARD CHAIRMAN.

AND IF MR. LAURENCE AND THE BOARD, IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME DOWN ON THE FLOOR JUST FOR A FEW MINUTES, I'D APPRECIATE IT FOR A PRESENTATION.

SO I DON'T NEED A MICROPHONE.

MY VOICE CARRIES. SO YOU ALL HAVE PROBABLY HEARD.

MAYBE NOT. TONIGHT IS MR. LAWRENCE'S LAST BOARD MEETING WITH US BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT.

AND AS A TOKEN OF THE BOARD, IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR 38 YEARS OF SERVICE.

I JUST WANTED TO PRESENT TO YOU A MEMENTO.

AND JUST FROM US, PRESENTED TO MR. KING, LAURENCE SUPERINTENDENT IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION FOR 38 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOUR DEVOTION AND HARD WORK MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS, AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST.

THANK YOU SIR.

MR. LAURENCE DOESN'T LIKE BIG PUDDINGS, IS WHAT I CALL IT.

AND I'M AD LIBBING AT THIS POINT, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY.

I'LL TELL YOU A FEW THINGS.

GET EMOTIONAL. I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE MAN I DIDN'T VOTE FOR.

YOU REMEMBER THAT, RIGHT? I DO.

SO, MR. LAURENCE, THE.

HE AND I HAVE DISAGREED.

AND SOMETIMES I MAY HAVE WANTED TO KICK HIM IN THE REAR END.

BUT ONE THING THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW, MOST LIKELY, IS THAT YOU NEVER DOUBTED WHY HE WAS HERE AND WHOSE INTEREST HE PUT FIRST.

AND THAT WAS THE KIDS.

AND THE FIRST PART OF YOUR SUPERINTENDENCY.

YOU LED US THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFICULT YEARS WITH GRACE AND INTEGRITY, AND I SINCERELY WILL APPRECIATE THAT FOREVER.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, SIR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL SAY SOMETHING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[00:40:10]

THAT'S A WE HAVE A LIST OF CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL THAT HAS BEEN SCREENED BY HUMAN RESOURCES AND APPROVED BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WE MUST APPROVE.

AND WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, WE'RE APPROVING EVERYTHING ON THE ATTACHMENT EXCEPT FOR LINE ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS IN NUMBER SEVEN.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS LISTED IN A1.

MOVED BY MR. RHINEHART-JACKSON. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? SECOND BY MISS TYLER. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS IN A1, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.

WE HAVE A REVISION ON FIRST READING.

FIRST READING OF A REVISION TO POLICY AB NONRESIDENT STUDENTS.

THIS IS A REVISION TO THE POLICY FOR ABOUT THE TUITION CHARGE TO NONRESIDENTS, MEANING PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY FROM A FLAT TO A FLAT FEE OF $750 FOR ONE STUDENT AND 1000 FOR TWO OR MORE.

IS THERE A MOTION? BLESS YOU.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REVISION OF POLICY AB ON FIRST READING? MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY DOCTOR HANKS.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE REVISION ON FIRST READING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.

WE HAVE ANOTHER FIRST READING, AND THIS IS A FIRST READING OF REVISION OF POLICY FOR HOMEBOUND INSTRUCTION.

THERE ARE CHANGES TO THIS POLICY HAVING TO DO WITH THE CHANGE TO BLOCK SCHEDULING IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT THE POLICY, I BELIEVE, USED TO STATE HOMEBOUND WOULD WHEN YOU HIT TEN DAYS OR MORE.

THAT'S WHEN IT KICKED IN.

AND WITH BLOCK SCHEDULING, THAT'S WOULD BE FIVE, BECAUSE WE'VE CUT CLASSES AS FAR AS THE CHRONOLOGICAL TIME IN HALF IN EVERY CLASS PERIOD IS WORTH THAT MUCH MORE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ON FIRST READING THE REVISION TO POLICY MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON? IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MISS TYLER? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ON FIRST READING THE REVISION OF POLICY IBHF, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.

THERE WAS ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

AS YOU WENT THROUGH THE ATTACHMENT WAS A A LIST OF PROCEDURES AND POLICIES, EXCUSE ME? POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES THAT WERE REVIEWED AND NOT NEEDING UPDATING.

SO ESSENTIALLY WE'RE DOING ON FIRST READING APPROVING THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED THESE POLICIES AND THEY DO NOT NEED UPDATING.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ON FIRST READING? MOVE BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON. IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MR. MOULTON DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THAT REVIEW ON FIRST READING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES.

FIFTH ITEM UNDER INDIVIDUAL ITEMS IS THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. THIS IS A YEARLY EVENT.

AND YOU WILL NOTICE JUST BECAUSE OF THE VALUE OF THINGS THAT THE ISSUANCE THIS YEAR IS $20 MILLION IN BONDS. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS? MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON, IS THERE A, EXCUSE ME, A SECOND SECOND BY MISS TYLER.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER SIX IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

THIS IS THE SECOND ONE.

AND IF YOU WENT THROUGH THIS IS ACTUALLY MONEY COMING BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.

SO THAT WAS NOT USED. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON? IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY MR. SILAS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO OF 2324 FOR FUNDS ONE, TWO, THREE, EIGHT AND NINE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR

[00:45:01]

WHICH LEADS US TO THE AMENDED ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.

INDIVIDUAL ITEM A7, WHERE WE ARE INDIVIDUALLY CONSIDERING PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT NUMBER NINE ON THE ATTACHMENT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT NUMBER NINE? MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY DOCTOR HANKS? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S EIGHT IN FAVOR.

OPPOSED? ABSTAINED. THAT'S ONE MOTION CARRIES.

EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE ABSTENTION.

THAT'S ALL THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS B ITEMS ARE CONSENT ITEMS WHERE WE'LL VOTE ON THEM AS A GROUP, BUT INDIVIDUALLY THEY CAN BE DISCUSSED BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE.

THE FIRST IS WHICH WE WERE PRESENTED WITH A LIST OF EXPULSIONS THAT WE MUST APPROVE.

CONSENT. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS THE REQUEST TO ADMIT FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT.

NUMBER THREE IS OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFER REQUESTS REQUESTING TRANSFER OUT OF AIKEN COUNTY FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

NUMBER FOUR IS TRANSFER REQUESTS TO TRANSFER INTO AIKEN COUNTY FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. AND THEN CONSENT ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS THE CAROLINE MACKEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONATION TO AIKEN HIGH, SO AIKEN HIGH HAS BEEN GIVEN A $5,000 DONATION FROM CAROLINE MACKEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND, AND THOSE WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO GRADUATING SENIORS.

THE LAST CONSENT ITEM, NUMBER SIX, IS FUNDING FLEXIBILITY FOR THE QUARTER AND YEAR. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SIX CONSENT ITEMS? MOVED BY MISS RHINEHART-JACKSON, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY DOCTOR HANKS.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT ITEMS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT ITEMS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR.

THE MOTION CARRIES SIX CONSENT ITEMS ARE APPROVED.

WE HAVE THREE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

THE FIRST OF WHICH MR. TRAXLER CAN CERTAINLY BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

SO WE WERE PROVIDED IN ADVANCE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR PERIODS ENDING MARCH 31ST AND THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30TH.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION THE BOARD HAS ON THOSE REPORTS? OKAY. HEARING NONE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE $0.01 SALES TAX RENEWAL.

SO THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM FOR DISCUSSION AND NO VOTES WILL BE TAKEN.

IT'LL BE THIS IS OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY AS A GROUP TO JUST DISCUSS AND EXPRESS THOUGHTS SINCE WE'VE HAD THE SURVEY AND PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS, ETC.. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO START WITH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, FRANNY, IS IF YOU COULD COME UP AND JUST REVIEW THE TIMELINE FOR THIS WITH US.

GOOD EVENING. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU ALL.

AND MR. LAURENCE, WE'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU AND WISH YOU THE BEST.

AND I TELL PEOPLE I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BE AROUND SO EVERYTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND ME IN COLUMBIA.

SO Y'ALL DO HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOUR VOTERS, YOUR TAXPAYERS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, SALES TAX, YOUR EDUCATIONAL CAPITAL PROJECT SALES TAX.

THE STATE LAW SAYS THAT ANY ITEM THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT MUST BE DELIVERED TO YOUR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS NO LATER THAN NOON ON AUGUST THE 15TH.

AND IF THAT WAS A SUNDAY, IT WOULD ROLL TO TO THE MONDAY.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT I WOULD CALL THE THE ABSOLUTE HARD DEADLINE.

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS, NOTHING WE CAN DO TO GET AROUND AROUND THAT TIME FRAME. I KNOW THAT THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON YOUR COMMUNITY INPUT.

YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING YOUR POTENTIAL PROJECTS.

I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER CONTINUING THAT PROCESS ON INTO THE MONTH OF JULY. AND DON'T WANT TO IMPOSE ON Y'ALL, BUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THAT Y'ALL MIGHT

[00:50:06]

AND IN ORDER TO DRAFT THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU ALL WILL NEED TO APPROVE.

WE NEED YOUR LIST OF PROJECTS.

AND THERE'S A A PROCESS WE GO THROUGH WHERE WE WE WE LIKE TO PARTICIPATE AND LISTEN AND HEAR HOW Y'ALL ARE DESCRIBING THE PROJECTS.

AND THEN WE WORDSMITH IT, AND THEN WE SEND IT BACK AND WE GO BACK AND FORTH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACCURATELY DESCRIBING WHAT THE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE, SO THAT THE, THE LANGUAGE ON THE, ON THE BALLOT WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DECIDED AND WHAT YOUR EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL IS TELLING PEOPLE.

AND SO I KNOW WE'VE WE'VE TALKED JUST THIS EVENING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SCHEDULE AND Y'ALL HAVE A MEETING, I THINK ON AUGUST, LIKE THE 11TH OR 12TH AND FIFTH, THE 13TH. AND THAT WOULD GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK IF YOU WAITED TILL THEN TO TAKE THE VOTE. TECHNICALLY, YOU COULD DO THAT.

WE WOULD THEN NEED TO PACKAGE THAT DOCUMENT UP AND TAKE IT DIRECTLY TO YOUR YOUR ELECTION COMMISSION. BUT THE THE METHODS AND SORT OF THE THOUGHTFULNESS THAT Y'ALL THAT Y'ALL ALWAYS UNDERTAKE A VERY THOUGHTFUL PROCESS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD SUGGEST TO Y'ALL THAT I'LL CONSIDER SETTING SOME TIME ASIDE IN IN JULY SO THAT Y'ALL CAN VET YOUR QUESTIONS AND PUBLIC CAN HEAR ABOUT THEM, AND THEN YOU STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY LATER IN THE MONTH OF JULY TO TAKE THAT VOTE.

AND DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR.

THANK YOU MA'AM. SURE ENOUGH.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT. SO JUST TO REVIEW WHAT WHAT I THIS IS AN OPEN DISCUSSION THIS EVENING. I HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPRESS OUR THOUGHTS OF WHAT WE WERE THINKING AFTER HEARING PUBLIC INPUT, BOTH IN PERSON AND FROM A SURVEY, AND I'M SURE FROM PHONE CALLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND OUR OWN ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE SEE AND WHAT WE'VE GOT BETWEEN US AND THE DATES.

WE DO HAVE TWO REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS IN JULY JULY 16TH AND JULY 30TH.

AND I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE A DECISION AT THE JULY 16TH MEETING.

AND I THINK YOUR SUGGESTION ABOUT A WORKSHOP PRIOR TO THAT, WE CAN DISCUSS AND I THINK MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA.

HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY SAW FOR THIS EVENING.

JUST FOR REFERENCE, THIS IS INFORMATION THAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.

BUT THERE WAS A LIST OF PROJECTS TO CONSIDER WITH HIGH LEVEL SCOPE AND ESTIMATED COSTS.

HIGH LEVEL ESTIMATED COSTS.

AND THEN SOME THOUGHTS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT, BUT THE.

THOSE ESTIMATED BUDGET COSTS WILL BE GOOD TO KEEP IN MIND, JUST AS WE'RE TALKING.

BECAUSE JUST AS WE CAN ASK MR. TRAXLER OR SOMEONE ELSE YOU MAY REMEMBER FROM A PREVIOUS MEETING, THE I THINK THE CONSERVATIVE NUMBER, BUT THE GOOD NUMBER WE THINK WE COULD GET FROM A BOND ISSUANCE. IF THE PENNY SALES TAX WAS TO PASS, IT WOULD BE 285 MILLION.

RIGHT. AND THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT.

YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY. SO BUT THOSE ARE PARTICULARS WE'D HAVE TO WORK OUT LATER.

BUT I WOULD THINK 285 IS A REASONABLE CONSERVATIVE NUMBER.

MR.. TRAXLER. YES, SIR.

295 IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.

WE ALSO HAVE MIKE GALLAGHER FROM COMPASS.

HERE. HE'S OUR BOND FINANCIAL ADVISOR AS WELL FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

BUT HE MAY WANT TO STEP UP FOR ONE MOMENT.

YES, SIR. PLEASE TAKE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

WE GOT THE ESTIMATES FROM THE OFFICE OF FISCAL AFFAIRS, AND WE RAN THE MATH. AND AS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, THE WAY IT WORKS IS 10% OF THE TOTAL SALES TAX COLLECTIONS GOES DIRECTLY TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. THEN THERE'S 81% IS AVAILABLE TO BE BONDED OUT.

WE RAN THE MATH THAT PROJECTED COUPON RATE OF 5%, WHICH IS THE PREVAILING COUPON RATE THAT IS RECEIVED ON BONDS OF THIS TERM.

IT'S NOT THE ACTUAL RATE YOU PAY, BUT THAT'S THE THAT IS THE RATE THAT IS CHARGED ON THEM. YOU'LL HAVE WITH THE INVESTORS YIELD IS.

SO IT WILL BE A YOUR COST OF BORROWING WILL BE LOWER THAN THAT.

BUT FACTORING THAT IN $285 MILLION WAS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER UNDER THOSE ESTIMATES.

NOW, I WOULD CAUTION YOU THAT THEIR ESTIMATES INCLUDE A 5% GROWTH FACTOR.

[00:55:04]

BUT 285 IS THE IS THE MAX NUMBER THAT THEIR ESTIMATES WOULD SUPPORT BORROWING? YES, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AT THIS POINT? FOR. DOCTOR HANKS ONE QUESTION.

WHAT DID WE PROPOSE WITH THE LAST SALES TAX AS FAR AS THE PERCENTAGE GROWTH, TO CONSIDER THAT FINAL NUMBER OR GUESSTIMATE? IT WAS. WELL, WE DIDN'T PROJECT IT.

IT WAS THE OFFICE OF FISCAL AFFAIRS.

THEY PUT THAT THOSE NUMBERS IN.

AT THAT TIME THEY WERE VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE ON THEIR NUMBERS.

THEY'VE TENDED TO BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

AND Y'ALL CAME IN MUCH ABOVE WHAT THOSE ESTIMATES WERE.

SO THAT'S WHY I JUST SAY NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE ECONOMY BETWEEN 2025 AND 2035. 5% COMPOUNDED GROWTH 5% EACH YEAR AND THEN COMPOUNDING MAYBE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT. AND IT'S NOT THAT IT WOULD CAUSE ANY KIND OF A PROBLEM, BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE THE 9% THAT'S SET ASIDE FOR PAY AS YOU GO.

SO THERE IS ALREADY A BUFFER BUILT IN.

SO YOU'VE GOT A GOOD SAFETY NET.

SO IT'S NOT AS IF IT WOULD CAUSE MILLAGE TO GO UP.

BUT I DID WANT TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

YES, SIR. OTHER QUESTIONS.

BEFORE WE START DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. SO I DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTICULAR WAY THAT I WANTED TO GO ABOUT THIS OTHER THAN I JUST PEOPLE THAT HAD THOUGHTS AND WANTED TO SHARE THEM.

I KNOW I DO. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.

WELL, I'LL START OUT JUST SO AND MAYBE WE'LL REALIZE AS WE'RE TALKING THAT WE MAY BE ALIGNED IN CERTAIN AREAS AND AND MAYBE NOT, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEING FROM AREA ONE OR FROM THE AIKEN AREA FROM WHAT WE HEARD FROM PUBLIC INPUT AND JUST MY OWN OBSERVATIONS AND OTHER THINGS, I THINK THE THE WORK SCOPE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED AT SOUTH AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL WITH UPDATING FACILITIES, ADDING A GYM, RENOVATING THINGS LIKE THAT.

FOR ME, ANYWAY, THAT'S THE CLEAR PRIORITY IN THE AIKEN AREA.

DOCTOR BRADLEY, I'D SECOND THAT.

I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN THE MAJORITY OF THE INPUT THAT I'VE RECEIVED ABOUT THOSE THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FEASIBLE, BUT BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT FOR SOME CONSIDERATION IS THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A COMPETITION GYM THAT BOTH SCHOOLS COULD UTILIZE BETWEEN THE TWO, SINCE THEY ARE RIGHT SIDE BY SIDE.

THIS IS AN IDEA OF HOW TO ADDRESS THE KENNEDY GYM HAS GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE.

IT WAS INADEQUATE WHEN I WAS A SUPERINTENDENT BACK IN THE 80S, AND IT HADN'T GOTTEN ANY BETTER.

SO IT HAS TO HAVE AND THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS THAT SOUTH AIKEN, AS WE HEARD. THE BAN PROGRAM IS IN THE WING WHERE THE GYM IS, AND THEY CAN'T GET ALL THEIR BAND STUDENTS IN THE CURRENT BAND ROOM THERE.

SO IT MIGHT NEED SOME ADJUSTMENT, ALONG WITH SOME FACE LIFTING AND OTHER OTHER THINGS. YES, SIR. DOCTOR HANKS.

SO FOR MOST OF US WHO VISITED NORTH AUGUSTA ELEMENTARY, I THINK HANDS DOWN WE SHOULD GIVE THEM CONSIDERATION.

ALL RIGHT. DOCTOR. HANKS. NORTH AUGUSTA, MIDDLE. NORTH AUGUSTA MIDDLE. WHAT DID I SAY? ELEMENTARY. NORTH AUGUSTA MIDDLE.

THANK YOU, MR. SILAS. SO 25% OF THAT SCHOOL.

YES, HAS BEEN TOUCHED, BUT THE REMAINDER PRETTY MUCH THAT BUILDING IS EXISTING FROM THE 1950S.

SO IT NEEDS A PRETTY DECENT, COMPLETE REBUILD OR MAKEOVER OF THE OLDER PART OF THE BUILDING. MR..

MR. MOULTON. TIMING WISE, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE.

I AGREE WITH DOCTOR HANKS.

I WAS AT THAT MEETING AT NORTH AUGUSTA MIDDLE.

THERE'S A COUPLE SCHOOLS THAT STAND OUT.

NORTH AUGUSTA MIDDLE IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE TO ME.

AND THEN GLOVERVILLE ELEMENTARY IS A BIG ONE TO ME ALSO.

BUT I DID I DID WANT TO ASK ONE QUESTION.

AND I'LL LISTEN TO THE REST OF THIS DISCUSSION.

[01:00:03]

BUT THE CAFETERIA DID NOT GET DONE, AND I THINK I HEARD IT WAS ABOUT IN THE 1 TO $2 MILLION RANGE. AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, IS THAT TOO SMALL TO BE ON THIS LIST? IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER? IT'S JUST WE'RE SO CLOSE.

AND THAT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR BELVEDERE ELEMENTARY.

SO I WAS KIND OF WONDERING IF WE SHOULD HAVE IT ON THE LIST OR NOT.

THAT'S ALL. SOMEONE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION WANT TO ANSWER? YES, SIR. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AT REMAINING FUNDS FROM THE 90 MILLION ISSUANCE. WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT NOW, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN 2 MILLION. IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER TO 9 OR 10, I WOULD GUESS.

BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ACCOMPLISH.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS SCARED OF THOSE NUMBERS.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT.

MR. SILAS HAD HIS HAND UP NEXT.

YEAH. SO I DON'T THINK I DISAGREE WITH ANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT'S BEEN PUT FORTH FOR OUTSIDE OF AREA THREE AND DISTRICT THREE, WHICH WHICH I REPRESENT.

BUT WITHIN AREA THREE, WHICH WE KNOW AND HAVE DISCUSSED MANY TIMES, IS A HIGH GROWTH AREA.

I THINK WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS THERE WITH THIS PENNY SALES TAX.

AND I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HEADED THAT DIRECTION NOW. I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE PENNY SALES TAX TO ADDRESS THE BIGGER TICKET ITEMS. RIGHT. BUT I DID WANT TO STATE THAT, THAT, THAT I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.

THAT SAID, I THINK MIDLAND VALLEY HIGH.

DEFINITELY. WE'VE GOT TO BRING IT UP TO STANDARDS.

AS WITH SOUTH AIKEN. I'M SURE MR. BROOME WILL TALK ABOUT SILVER BLUFF. ALL THOSE ARE OF THE SAME VINTAGE, THOSE THREE SCHOOLS THAT REMAINED THAT NEED SOME WORK AND A LOT OF WORK OUTSIDE OF THAT.

LBC MIDDLE IS A IS A 1950S VINTAGE AS WELL, AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE ON THE LIST.

BUT I BUT I DO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FASHION. YOU KNOW, THE GLOVERSVILLE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH 12 MOBILE UNITS.

MR. SMITH, I'M SURE WILL SPEAK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, BUT. WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT SITUATION IN SOME WAY, WHETHER IT'S PENNY SALES TAX OR SOME WAY.

RIGHT AFTER THAT, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME COMMITMENT, IN MY OPINION, TO ADDRESS THAT SITUATION. BUT I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW SOME CAPACITY IN AREA THREE FOR ELEMENTARY IS A IS A CONCERN.

SO I THINK MIDLAND VALLEY LBC GIVES US THE BEST CHANCE TO TO SUPPORT OR I GUESS THE MOST STUDENTS, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL GO THROUGH THOSE TWO, ALONG WITH WITH LAVELLE, WHICH WE ADDRESSED IN THE LAST GO AROUND.

SO I THINK THOSE PROJECTS GIVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO, TO YOU KNOW, PROVIDE THE MOST BENEFIT TO THE MOST STUDENTS.

BUT THAT'S THAT'S WHERE MY HEAD IS RIGHT NOW, SO MAY HAVE MORE TO ADD.

MR.. BROOME. OKAY, I, I AGREE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS AREA FIVE.

I KNOW ON THE LAST PENNY SALES TAX THAT AREA FIVE IS THE ONLY AREA IN THE DISTRICT THAT WAS NOT TOUCHED IN ANY FASHION.

WE HAD SOME NEEDS, BUT AS I'VE EXPLAINED TO A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS IN THAT AREA AT THE TIME, MIDLAND VALLEY, AS YOU ALL WILL REMEMBER, SOME OF THE TEACHERS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE CLASSROOMS. THEY HAD CARTS.

I MEAN, WE HAD AND WE HAD SOME OTHER SCHOOLS THAT WERE STURDY, WALKING, 30S, 40S, VINTAGE SCHOOLS THAT WERE TEN YEARS AGO.

THIS DISTRICT LOOKED A LOT DIFFERENT THAN IT DOES NOW.

THAT BEING SAID, SOUTH AIKEN HIGH AND SILVER BLUFF HIGH ARE THE ONLY TWO HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT THAT HAVE NOT EITHER EITHER BEEN TOTALLY REBUILT OR REPLACED OR ADDED ON TO WHICH MIDLAND VALLEY, AS WE KNOW, BEING A HUGE GROWTH AREA, THAT'S ONE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP A PULSE ON, I GET THAT, BUT SOUTH AIKEN HAS NOT BEEN RENOVATED AND NEITHER HAS SILVER BLUFF.

THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE GOT JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THAT'S A 1950S SCHOOL THAT MY SON NOW IS GOING TO, MY MIDDLE SCHOOL SON THAT IS SITTING IN THE SAME CLASSROOMS THAT LOOK THE SAME AS WHEN I WENT THERE IN HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE SILVER BLUFF WAS BUILT.

SO THAT SCHOOL NEEDS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.

THE FRONT OFFICE AREA WAS REPLACED SOME YEARS BACK.

YES, I WILL SAY IT'S VERY NICE, BUT BEHIND IT THE REST OF THE SCHOOL, EVEN DOWN TO THE GYMNASIUM, IS THE 1950S.

[01:05:05]

AND THEY'RE BOTH EXTREMELY SMALL.

WHERE WE WENT AND COMBINED AND WE HAVE SILVER BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL, WE STILL OPERATE THESE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT ARE HALF THE SIZE OF ANY OF THE OTHER MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT, UNLESS YOU GET UP INTO, I GUESS, WAGNER OR RICH SPRING, WHICH THE LAND THERE, I MEAN, THE POPULATION THERE REALLY WITHOUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRAVEL WOULD YOU COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. SO IT SEEMS TO BE THAT IT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

AND THE COMMUNITY IS NOW LOOKING AT THIS AND I THINK IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, FOR THE MOST PART OF COMBINING THEM TWO SCHOOLS ONTO THE SILVER BLUFF CAMPUS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THERE'S THERE'S SEVERAL OPTIONS LISTED ON THIS SHEET TO DO THAT.

RENOVATING SILVER BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL EITHER.

APPARENTLY YOU'RE GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE TO BUILD A SCHOOL ANY WAY YOU GO FOR AREA FIVE.

SO IT'S JUST HOW WE GO ABOUT IT.

TIME YOU LOOK AT RENOVATING SILVER BLUFF HIGH TO BRING IT UP TO THE STANDARDS OF WHAT THESE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS ARE, AND THEN GO BUILD A MIDDLE SCHOOL.

YOU PROBABLY LOOKS LIKE YOU SPENT ABOUT THE SAME MONEY AS BUILDING A NEW HIGH SCHOOL, STATE OF THE ART, LIKE WE'RE DOING IN WAGNER AND JUST DID IN RIDGE SPRING AND THE OTHER IN THE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE RENOVATED, AND MOVING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO THE EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL WITH SOME, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME UPGRADES.

AND OF COURSE, IN THAT THAT DOMINOES DOWN TO GREENDALE, WHICH IS IN HORRENDOUS SHAPE, IT'S PROBABLY GETTING GLOVERVILLE OR BY FAR THE TWO WORST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, NO DOUBT. THAT'S NOT EVEN UP FOR ARGUMENT.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY CONSIDERATION IS TO LOOK AT THE LOOK AT THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMBINING OF NEW ELLENTON AND JACKSON, WHICH I THINK WOULD DO A GREAT THING FOR STUDENT OFFERINGS.

AND THEY'RE ALREADY FEEDING SILVER BLUFF.

AND THEN THAT WILL PUT THAT SCHOOL ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR NORTH AUGUSTA MIDDLE PAUL KNOX KENNEDY THAT THEM TYPE SCHOOLS.

THEY'D ALL BE IN THE SAME RANGE OF SIZE N AND THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU. DOCTOR. HANK.

RIGHT. JUST ONE LAST QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO MR. MOULTON ASKING ABOUT KITCHEN RENOVATIONS, ONLY TO MAKE THE PRICE TAG A LITTLE BIT SMALLER. IS THAT AN OPTION AT PAUL KNOX AS WELL? BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN PROMISED A NEW KITCHEN SLASH CAFETERIA FOR QUITE A WHILE VERSUS THE EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS THAT'S LISTED HERE.

THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN. IN MY VIEW, THE THE ISSUE IS DEFINITELY THE CAFETERIA. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE KITCHEN, BUT I'M TOLD THAT IT IS IT IS IN NEED OF, OF OF SOME ATTENTION. BUT THE SIZE OF THAT CAFETERIA IS, IS, I THINK, WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

YEAH. MR.. SMITH.

TEN YEARS AGO, WHEN WE GOT THE $0.01 SALES TAX THAT MONEY AT THAT TIME DID A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN THE MONEY WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THIS TIME, IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.

FOR EXAMPLE, MILLBROOK ELEMENTARY, I'VE BEEN TOLD MY MEMORY IS NOT THAT GOOD TO REMEMBER THAT FAR BACK WAS REBUILT FOR $11 MILLION.

YOU COULDN'T REBUILD THAT SCHOOL NOW, PROBABLY FOR $70 MILLION.

EXCUSE ME. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE MONEY THAT WE WERE ALL HOPING THAT WE WOULD GET.

AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS THING AND LOOK AT IT, WHERE EVERYONE THAT'S GOT SOMETHING THEY NEED THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY DO AS MUCH WITH THIS MONEY FOR AS MANY SCHOOLS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS ARE LOOKING FOR.

AND NO ONE WILL PROBABLY GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY THINK THEIR AREA OR THEIR SCHOOLS NEED.

BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT FROM A REALISTIC VIEW AS TO WHAT WE CAN GIVE AS MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS AS WE CAN. NOW, IN THE FIRST ROUND, NOT JUST LOOK AT THE BIG THINGS AS ONES SOME OF US ARE WANTING, BUT LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET AS MUCH DONE AT EACH ONE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT HAS A NEED THAT'S IN OUR AREA.

WITH THIS MONEY. THANK YOU.

[01:10:04]

I JUST I'M STEPPING OUT ON A LIMB HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY.

OUT OF MY AREA THAT I REPRESENT.

BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AREA THREE.

EVERY TIME I RIDE DOWN BETTIS ACADEMY OR ANYWHERE DOWN US ONE, THIS BUILDING GOING EVERYWHERE AND.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE'VE REALLY GOT TO BE SMART DOWN THERE.

WE'VE GOT TO CREATE A LOT OF CLASSROOMS. I KNOW WE'VE HAD THIS DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY THAT SAID NOTHING WAS GOING TO CHANGE, BUT I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS. I SEE THAT MR. SILAS MADE A POINTED OUT THAT THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION TO.

WELL, NO, IT'S MR. LAURENCE POINTED OUT IN HIS MEMORANDUM THAT THERE'S PROBABLY A NEED FOR A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND I KNOW THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE SAME BREATH, WE'D TALK ABOUT CLOSING SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DOWN THERE.

BUT I WILL REMIND YOU THAT THAT HAPPENED WITH THE OLD BIRD.

WE CAME ALONG AND CLOSED THE OLD BIRD AS A SCHOOL AND KEPT IT FOR OFFICES AND ADULT ED AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND BUILT A NEW ONE.

AND I'M AFRAID THAT IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING IF WE START CLOSING SCHOOLS. I'M NOT.

I'M THINKING WE'D BETTER LOOK AT MAKING SOME GOOD UTILIZATION OF WHAT'S THERE AND PERHAPS BUILDING THE NEW SCHOOL ALSO AT A LOCATION THAT WOULD RELIEVE A BIRD WHICH IS OVERCROWDED, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND PERHAPS SOME OF THE OTHERS.

BUT. BUT BEFORE I WOULD WRITE OFF OTHER SCHOOLS TO.

CLOSE THOSE TO BUILD A NEW ONE.

I REALLY GIVE THAT SOME SERIOUS THOUGHT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S. IT MIGHT BE A BETTER IDEA TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW. LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED 12 MOBILE UNITS IN A SCHOOL, BUT MAYBE WE COULD REDUCE IT, PUT A FEW CLASSROOMS ON IT OR SOMETHING TO TO MAKE IT A VIABLE SCHOOL AND PERHAPS LOOK AT REDISTRICT. YOU KNOW, I KNOW ONCE YOU START TALKING ABOUT REZONING ANYTHING, THAT'S THE KISS OF DEATH. BUT BUT BUT, YOU KNOW, ALL I'M SAYING AT THIS POINT IS I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE LOOK AT SALVAGING WHAT WE HAVE RATHER THAN DESTROYING IT IN IN GOING THAT ROUTE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF COPY YOUR COMMENT PART OF IT ANYWAY, OF OUTSIDE OF AIKEN. I REALLY MY FOCUS WOULD BE ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CAPACITY IN AREA THREE.

AND I KNOW NORTH LAKE AND SO THAT COULD TAKE ALL KINDS OF SHAPES AND FORMS. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD LIKE TO RENOVATE OUTDATED FACILITIES AND ALL ALL OVER THE COUNTY. AND YOU HAVE TO PRIORITIZE THAT.

BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, I THINK WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT CAPACITY IN AREA THREE.

MR.. MOULTON, SINCE IT WAS BROUGHT UP, I AGREE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT KNOWN.

I THINK AREA THREE, THE THE GROWTH HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL PAY ATTENTION TO. I REALIZE THE VOTERS NEED TO SEE SOME ACTION IN ALL THEIR AREAS.

WE'RE ASKING THE VOTERS OF THE OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

AND I THINK I THINK MR. SMITH SORT OF ADDRESSED THAT.

WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH A SMALLER AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES. BUT THE ONE THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, WE KEEP TOUCHING AROUND IT, THIS POPULATION STUDY.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT VERY HARD.

AND I THINK WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

I THINK MANY OF US ADMIT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER THEM SAYING THERE WOULD BE ZERO GROWTH IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN COMING INTO THESE NEW SUBDIVISIONS IN AREA THREE.

BUT WHEN I RIDE BY THOSE SUBDIVISIONS, THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO BE NO CHILDREN.

IT WAS RETIREES. BUT I RIDE BY AND I SEE CHILDREN'S BICYCLES, CHILDREN'S TOYS. SO I DON'T THINK THE STUDY WAS QUITE ACCURATE.

AND MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS I THINK WE MADE THAT MISTAKE THE FIRST TIME AROUND.

I THINK THAT'S WHY WE GOT INTO THE REZONING DISCUSSION WITH AIKEN HIGH AND AIKEN L AND ALL OF THAT. SO WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT IT BEFORE THE MONEY GETS DESIGNATED.

BECAUSE I DO THINK AREA THREE, I THINK WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO ADMIT AREA THREE IS SEEING THE MOST GROWTH, AND WE'VE GOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

SO. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR

[01:15:01]

I WOULD ASK BOARD MEMBER, I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING JUST ON THIS TOPIC JULY 9TH.

IF YOU CAN CHECK YOUR CALENDARS.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT, I WANT EVERYBODY THERE.

SO IF YOU'VE GOT AN OBLIGATION THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM BEING THERE, WE'LL FIND A DIFFERENT DAY. IF I HAD HEARD IF I HAD HEARD A LOT OF US WITH VERY DEFINITIVE IDEAS, THAT ALL SOUNDED THE SAME, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN NO NEED FOR THAT.

BUT I THINK WE NEED A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TO TO WORKSHOP THAT.

AND I WOULD JUST ASK BOARD MEMBERS TO CHECK THEIR CALENDARS.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN TELL ME AFTER THE MEETING. I RECOGNIZE DOCTOR BRADLEY. DON'T WE HAVE A I DON'T HAVE A CALENDAR IN FRONT OF ME.

BUT DON'T WE HAVE A REGULAR MEETING IN JULY? WE HAVE TWO. YEAH, BUT.

BUT THE FIRST ONE IS JULY 16TH.

SO THAT WOULD BE A TUESDAY BEFORE.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING WILLING TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS OF WHERE THEY WERE AT RIGHT NOW AFTER, YOU KNOW, AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT AND COMMUNITY INPUT.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU CAN CHECK YOUR CALENDARS AND, AND LET ME KNOW PERHAPS AFTER THE MEETING I THINK WE'LL IF EVERYBODY CAN MAKE IT, WE'LL HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TO WORKSHOP THAT ON JULY 9TH.

ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE MOVE OFF THIS INFORMATIONAL TOPIC? OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON. THERE WAS NO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER ITEMS SUBMITTED.

WHICH BRINGS US TO MR. LAWRENCE'S LAST SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR FOR THAT PRESENTATION EARLIER.

I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT.

AND THAT WAS THAT WAS VERY, VERY KIND AND AND GENEROUS, I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN KIND OF A JOKE.

LAST FEW MONTHS, PEOPLE WOULD COME UP TO ME AND ASK ME IF I'M COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS, OR THEY'D ASK ME, HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU HAVE LEFT? AND I ALWAYS MY ANSWER HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME.

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY DAYS I'VE GOT LEFT, BUT I KNOW HOW MANY SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS I HAVE LEFT. SO TONIGHT IS MY MY FINAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, AND I WANT TO USE MY TIME TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD FOR THE CONFIDENCE THEY PLACED IN ME TO LEAD OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE'VE NOT ALWAYS AGREED ON EVERYTHING, AS MR. NESSEL MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO SET DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND ENSURE POSITIVE GOVERNANCE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CONTINUING TO TO ACT IN A MANNER THAT MOVES AIKEN COUNTY FORWARD.

AND I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT.

IT MIGHT BE TOO STRONG TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO MISS OUR TUESDAY NIGHTS TOGETHER, BUT I AM CERTAINLY GOING TO NOTICE THAT THERE'S THERE'S A VOID IN MY TUESDAY NIGHT.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING MY PARTNERS IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

TO MY LEADERSHIP TEAM OVER THERE AND OVER THERE, I SAY THANK YOU FOR THE CAMARADERIE AND THE FRIENDSHIP THAT WE'VE ENJOYED OVER THE YEARS.

YOU'RE A VERY SPECIAL TEAM OF LEADERS WHO WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT AIKEN COUNTY REACHES NEW HEIGHTS. TO OUR SCHOOL LEADERS, TEACHERS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL, YOU ARE A GIFTED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS AND YOU KNOW, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A DAY IN IN MY TENURE THAT YOU HAVE NOT MADE ME PROUD.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF AIKEN COUNTY YOUR PRIORITY.

THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO MEASURE, BUT YOU MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER, BOTH RIGHT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

TO OUR FAMILIES AND TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR BLESSING ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU.

THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS MADE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE IN DOCTOR COREY MURPHY, AND I WISH FOR YOU, COREY, FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND FOR AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ONLY THE BEST IN THE YEARS TO COME.

I WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY.

PRAY DAILY FOR YOUR SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.

WE ARE IN NEED OF AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT, SO WE NEED A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS IN SUCH ORDER AS THE BOARD DEEMS APPROPRIATE.

SO MOVED. OH, YOU GOT TO GO.

I'M GOING TO READ IT. WE WE HAVE THREE EMPLOYMENT MATTERS.

ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT FOR THE PRINCIPAL OF AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL, ADMINISTRATIVE

[01:20:03]

FOLLOWING THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING, THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION TO ANNOUNCE THE MATTERS CONSIDERED AND TAKE ANY ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THESE PURPOSES.

SO MOVED. MOTION BY DOCTOR BRADLEY.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND.

BY DOCTOR HANKS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THIS PURPOSE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S EIGHT IN FAVOR.

THE MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL BEGIN EXECUTIVE SESSION IN APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER A SHORT BREAK.

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[02:56:35]

THAT'S EIGHT IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES. EMPLOYMENT MATTER B WAS THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL AT NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL. IS THERE A MOTION IN REGARDS TO THE POSITION OF PRINCIPAL IN NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION FOR PRINCIPAL OF NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

MOTION MADE BY MISS TYLER, SECONDED BY DOCTOR HANKS TO ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE POSITION OF PRINCIPAL AT NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL. DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S THREE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S FIVE AGAINST.

MOTION FAILS. THREE IN FAVOR, FIVE AGAINST.

THE. LASTLY, THERE WAS AN EMPLOYMENT MATTER.

SEE? WAS A CONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYMENT MATTER.

IS THERE A MOTION IN REGARDS TO THIS EMPLOYMENT MATTER? MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT WE CREATE AN ESOL DIRECTOR POSITION FOR THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR AND ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION FOR FILLING THAT POSITION.

IS THERE A SECOND? MOTION MADE BY DOCTOR BRADLEY, SECONDED BY MR. SMITH, TO CREATE THE POSITION OF ESOL DIRECTOR FOR THE 20 2425 SCHOOL YEAR AND ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION TO FILL THAT POSITION? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT IS EIGHT IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVED BY MISS SMITH SECOND.

SECONDED BY MR. MOULTON. DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S EIGHT IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION CARRIES.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.