[00:05:14] 25TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ORDER. [00:05:19] WE BEGIN ALL OUR MEETINGS WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. 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 PUBLIC WAS DULY NOTIFIED OF THIS IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING, AND THE AGENDA WAS PUBLISHED TO THE BOARD AND TO THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE. IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, WE'LL CONSIDER THE AGENDA APPROVED. HEARING NONE. THE AGENDA IS APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTIONS. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES THAT WE'LL HAVE TWO DIFFERENT MOTIONS FOR TO APPROVE BECAUSE WE HAD DIFFERENT ATTENDEES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 11TH OF THIS YEAR? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION MADE BY MR. LINDELL, SECONDED BY DOCTOR BRADLEY TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 11TH. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE SECOND SET OF MINUTES IS THE MINUTES FROM THE BOARD RETREAT OF MARCH 14TH OF THIS YEAR. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 14TH MEETING? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION MADE BY MR. LINDELL, SECONDED BY MR. MOULTON TO APPROVE THE MEETING. MINUTES OF THE BOARD RETREAT HELD ON MARCH 14TH. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. YEAH. THAT'S EIGHT IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE ABSTAINING. ONE ABSTAINING. THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. 8 TO 1. EIGHT TO 0 TO 1 FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THERE WAS NO ONE THAT SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING NOR RIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING. WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS PLANNED FOR THIS EVENING, AND I DID NOT HAVE ANY PREPARED TOPICS FOR OFFICE OF BOARD CHAIRMAN. SO WE WILL ROLL INTO THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. THE FIRST OF WHICH IS ITEM A1 PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS. THE BOARD WAS HAS BEEN PRESENTED WITH A LIST OF CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL THAT WAS SCREENED BY HUMAN RESOURCES AND APPROVED BY ADMINISTRATION, THAT WE MUST APPROVE IT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? MOTION MADE BY MR. LINDELL, SECONDED BY MISS MORRIS, TO APPROVE THE LIST OF PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS AS PRESENTED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR THE MOTION CARRIES. INDIVIDUAL ITEM A2. EXCUSE ME. I'M GOING TO FIND MY PLACE. SORRY. A2 IS A CONSIDERATION TO FUND A SECOND ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. AND JUST GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND FOR FOLKS IN THE ROOM. THE BOARD KNOWS THAT ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CURRENTLY IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE ONE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, REGARDLESS OF ENROLLMENT. AND THE PROPOSAL HERE IS TO ADD A SECOND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS A 210 DAY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ENROLLMENT OF 500 STUDENTS BASED ON THE 2526 STUDENT PROJECTIONS. AND THAT IF SO, THAT WOULD WE WOULD STAFF 11 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH A SECOND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL THAT WE CURRENTLY DO NOT TODAY, AT A COST A LITTLE OVER 1.4 MILLION TO THE BUDGET. AND THE REASON WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN ADVANCE OF THE BUDGET IS THAT THIS WAS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS WAS A DISTRICT PRIORITY. BASED ON A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING WE HAD, IT WAS A BOARD PRIORITY. AND AS A LONG LEAD TIME ITEM AS FAR AS YOU NEED TO ADVERTISE THESE JOBS SO THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. SO IF WE IF WE APPROVE THIS, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING, [00:10:06] IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR A SECOND ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT THE 11 IDENTIFIED SCHOOLS FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. SO MOVE. THAT WAS BASICALLY A TIE. BUT DOCTOR BRADLEY MADE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? MISTER LINDELL MAKES A SECOND TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR A SECOND ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT THE IDENTIFIED 11 SCHOOLS FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? VERY GOOD. HEARING NO DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES. AND THAT WILL BE FACTORED INTO THE BUDGET MOVING FORWARD AS WE HAVE OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. SIMILARLY, THE NEXT ITEM, A3, IS A CONSIDERATION TO FUND MIDDLE SCHOOL EXTENDED LEARNING IN 2526. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD DEFINITELY HEARD ABOUT AS FAR AS ONE WAY TO IMPROVE TEST SCORES OR TO IMPROVE LEARNING IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS WAS TO CREATE 90 MINUTE BLOCKS FOR MATH AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS IN ORDER TO HELP AS AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE MATH AND ELA PERFORMANCE. SO THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN STAFFING AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF 1.18 MILLION FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR'S BUDGET. WITH A THAT'S A NET COST OF ABOUT 19 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT. EXCUSE ME, 16 FULL TIME EQUIVALENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS ALSO REQUIRES HIRING FOLKS. SO SIMILARLY, AS THE LAST ITEM, IT WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT PRIORITY. IT CAME OUT AS A PRIORITY. AND YOU NEED TIME TO HIRE PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE CONSIDERING IT THIS EVENING. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL EXTENDED LEARNING FOR 2526 SCHOOL YEAR, ALLOWING THE DISTRICT TO BEGIN THE ADVERTISING AND HIRING PROCESS? SO MOVED. MOTION MADE BY DOCTOR BRADLEY. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, SECONDED BY MR. LINDELL. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT WAS IT FOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. SO WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF CONSENT ITEMS. ACTUALLY, 13 IN ALL. THAT WILL BE VOTED ON AS A GROUP, BUT WE MAY DISCUSS INDIVIDUAL ITEMS PRIOR TO TAKING A VOTE. AND FOR ONE OF THESE ITEMS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PRESENTATION PREPARED THIS EVENING THAT WILL DO ONCE I READ THROUGH ALL THE TOPICS BUT BEGINNING WITH ITEM NUMBER TO REVIEW THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE CONSENT ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER B ONE IS RATIFICATION, RATIFICATION OF EXPULSIONS. SO WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH A LIST OF STUDENTS RECOMMENDED FOR EXPULSION THAT HAVE NOT APPEALED. AND THE BOARD MUST APPROVE THAT. ITEM NUMBER TWO UNDER CONSENT. ITEMS B TWO IS OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFER REQUESTS FOR FOLKS THAT STUDENTS THAT WANT TO TRANSFER OUT OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THE THIRD ITEM IS LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD COURSES FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. SO JUST LIKE WE APPROVE TEXTBOOKS, IF THERE ARE ANY LOCAL COURSES JUST TO OUR DISTRICT. THE BOARD MUST APPROVE THOSE. AND THE BOARD'S HAD A LIST OF THOSE COURSES. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE AS CONTINUING FROM PREVIOUS YEAR TO APPROVE. NUMBER FOUR IS TEXTBOOK ADOPTION. SO WE'VE GOT TEXTBOOK ADOPTIONS FOR THE 25, 26 SCHOOL YEAR. IF WE APPROVE THAT AS PART OF AND WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED THAT LIST OF THE RECOMMENDED STATE APPROVED TEXTBOOKS THAT'S BEEN SELECTED. AND IF WE APPROVE, WE'LL BE APPROVING THE ADOPTION OF THE TEXTBOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TEACHER COMMITTEE'S. ITEM NUMBER B5 IS SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION. DISTRICTS. ARTS SUPPORT GRANT SUBMISSION FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES TEAM IS REQUESTING TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE ARTS COMMISSION FOR THAT DISTRICT. ARTS SUPPORT GRANT. THE MAXIMUM GRANT AWARD IS 25,000 PER YEAR FOR TWO YEARS, BUT IT'S TO SUPPORT CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION. NUMBER SIX, UNDER CONSENT ITEMS, IS A SUBMISSION OF THE DISTINGUISHED ARTS [00:15:04] PROGRAM FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. ARTS CURRICULAR INNOVATION GRANT APPLICATION SPECIFICALLY FROM EAST AIKEN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS FROM FROM DOCTOR EDWARDS. SO, EAST AIKEN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, WE'D LIKE TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR THE DISTINGUISHED ARTS PROGRAM FOR A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,000. B7 APARTMENT. YET ANOTHER GRANT ALSO FOR EAST AIKEN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. EAST AIKEN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION IN BASIC FOR THE BASIC CURRICULUM GRANT FOR AN AMOUNT OF $12,500. ITEM NUMBER B8 THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WUNDERMAN THOMPSON, LLC GRANT DONATION TO NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL FOR FY 25. SO NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH HAS BEEN AWARDED $4,199 GRANT FROM THE US MARINE CORPS THROUGH THE WUNDERMAN THOMPSON, LLC TO MAINTAIN THE WRESTLING PROGRAM AT NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL. ITEM NUMBER B9, WHICH WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR. ONCE WE'VE READ THROUGH THE CONSENT ITEMS IS THE SCHEMATIC PLANS FOR THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM BUILDING AT JD LEVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE ARCHITECT PRESENTATION. SO EXCUSE ME, I'M LOSING MY VOICE. IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THAT, WE'RE APPROVING THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN NARRATIVE, SCHEMATIC PLANS AND PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATE FOR THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. AKA A GYM AT JD LEVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE ONE. B TEN IS THE SELECTION OF ARCHITECTS FOR SMALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. WE'VE BEEN THEY'VE THE FOLLOWING THREE FIRMS WERE SELECTED. METHOD WORKS. ARCHITECTURE. MOSELEY ARCHITECTS AND JOHNSON. I'M GOING TO PROBABLY NOT GET THAT RIGHT. JOHNSON AND ASSOCIATES PC. IF WE APPROVE THAT, WE'RE ALLOWING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ADMINISTRATION NEGOTIATE ARCHITECTURAL, ARCHITECTURAL, BASIC SERVICES AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE COMPANIES FOR FUTURE SMALL PROJECT DESIGNS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. ALL RIGHT. ITEM B 11 IS THE INSTALLATION THIS YEAR OF FLOORING AT BUSBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO THERE WERE REPLACING FLOORING AT BUSBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH LVT. THIS IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE FIVE YEAR FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN AT A COST OF AROUND $279,000. AND IF WE APPROVE THIS, WE'RE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ACCEPT THE LOW BASE BID AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH QUINN TECH SOLUTIONS FOR THAT AMOUNT FOR FLOORING AT BUSBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ITEM B 12. IS PAVING PRODUCTS. PROJECTS. EXCUSE ME. DISTRICT WIDE. SO TWO. PAVING CONTRACTOR FIRMS. EXCUSE ME IF WE APPROVE THIS. WHAT WE'RE APPROVING IS THE CONTRACTOR FIRM APPROVING THE CONTRACTOR FIRM AS PROVIDED BY THE COMMITTEE, AND AUTHORIZE THE ADMINISTRATION TO EVALUATE, DESIGN, AND ADMINISTER THE CONSTRUCTION, PAVING, AND PATCHING OF PARKING LOTS OR ROADS AS NEEDED ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A CHANGE ORDER. THAT'S ITEM B13 AND. CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR THE ADDITION OF THE CAR LOOP AT REDCLIFF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS IS MONEY COMING BACK SO TO SPEAK, OF A LITTLE OVER $48,000 APPROVING THIS. WE'RE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCEED WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR THE CREDIT AMOUNT OF 48 820 FROM J.A. GRADING AND PAVING. THOSE ARE THE 13 CONSENT ITEMS. AND BEFORE, IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE BOARD, BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY MOTION OR DISCUSSION, WE FIGHTING WHO WE'RE INVITING THE ARCHITECTS TO COME UP AND PRESENT. YES, DOCTOR MURPHY, GO AHEAD. MR. CHAIRMAN, I WAS GOING TO BRING UP DOCTOR YARBOROUGH SO HE CAN BRING HIS TEAM UP AND GO OVER THE PRESENTATION FOR JT LIEBER. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR MURPHY. [00:20:02] YES, WE DO HAVE SCHEMATIC PLANS FOR THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM BUILDING AT JT LIEBER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM METHOD WORKS. AND MICHAEL WINZINGER WILL COME UP AND GO THROUGH THAT PRESENTATION WITH YOU. MICHAEL. WITH THIS CONTROLLER. THE DOWN BUTTON ADVANCES THE DOWN BUTTON. THANKS. OKAY. DOCTOR YARBOROUGH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR MURPHY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR OUR PRESENTATION ON J.D. LEVER. SO THIS IS A PROJECT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. SORRY. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE REMOTE. RIGHT HERE. I'M SORRY. THE THE THE ARROW DOWN. THERE WE GO. I THINK WE GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO WE UNDERSTAND THIS PROJECT HAS SOME HISTORY TO IT. YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT ON EVERY PROJECT. I THINK IT'S WE'RE ACUTELY AWARE OF THAT ON THIS PROJECT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GET, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY WHAT THE KIDS NEED, WHICH IS RATHER SIMPLE, RIGHT? RIGHT NOW THEY'RE HAVING PEE IN A PORTABLE, SO WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THEM SPACE IN A VOLUME. AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO TRY TO TACKLE AS MANY THINGS ON THE CAMPUS AS WE CAN WITHIN THAT BUDGET. AND SO THE BUDGET WE WERE PRESENTED WITH WAS $2.2 MILLION TOTAL PROJECTS. SO THAT'S ALL IN FOR EVERYTHING. AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO FAR, IT'S LOOKING SUCCESSFUL. SO WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF MASSAGE THE BUILDING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE SMALLER THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE. IT'S ABOUT 5% SMALLER, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT IT DOES ADD UP TO SOME DOLLARS IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL BUDGET. THE BIG PIECE, WHICH WE'LL LOOK AT IN THE KIND OF GENERAL SCHEMATICS, IS THAT WHILE MAKING THE BUILDING SMALLER, WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO SIGNIFICANTLY ENLARGE THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM AREA. AND SO IN THE PREVIOUS CONCEPT, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR, THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM HERE IS RATHER NARROW. SO FUNCTIONALLY, THE SHAPE WASN'T IDEAL. AND WE WERE ABLE TO ADD ABOUT 600, 700FT² TO THAT. SO IT'S LIKE 2100FT² BEFORE. IT'S ABOUT 2800FT² NOW. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WANTED TO LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ON CAMPUS. LIKE EVERY SCHOOL, WHENEVER WE DO A PROJECT I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF, TOO. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WE DO ONE THING AND IT'S LIKE, BUT HEY, WE NEED TO DO THIS, THIS AND THIS TOO, RIGHT? AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE ITEMS. WE'VE LISTED THEM AS ALTERNATES TONIGHT, WHICH WE'LL SHOW YOU. AND IF WE GET FAVORABLE BIDS, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ADD TO THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT. BUT CURRENTLY WE ARE IN A BUDGET, AND WE DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDING SOME OF THOSE ITEMS. AND THEN LASTLY, IT'S JUST OBVIOUSLY THAT BUILDING'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'VE DRIVEN PAST JD LEVER, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF TIMES COMING INTO AIKEN. SO IT'S A GOOD PROMINENT LOCATION ON THE HIGHWAY THERE. AND SO IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY, EVEN WITH A SMALL BUILDING, TO KIND OF MAKE A STATEMENT OF SOME PROGRESS AND SOMETHING NEW AT JD LEVER WE'VE TALKED WITH THE PRINCIPAL ABOUT SOME SIGNAGE, YOU KNOW, ON THE, ON THE BUILDING, KIND OF DOING SOME SCHOOL BRANDING TO THE, TO THE HIGHWAY. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TACKLE AS WELL. SEE IF I CAN. I'M LEARNING. SO THE DIAGRAM HERE ON THE LEFT, THAT'S JUST A QUICK DIAGRAM OF THE PREVIOUS CONCEPT. AND SO IT'S REAL SIMPLE WHAT WE DID. BUT YOU CAN ONE THING IS YOU CAN NOTICE THE YELLOW BLOCK IS SMALLER. IT IS DIAGRAMMATIC, BUT IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER. AND SO THERE ARE SOME KEY SIMPLE CONCEPTS. YOU KNOW, WE WE WORK WITH A LOT OF GREAT FOLKS ON EVERY PROJECT. WE TALKED AT LENGTH WITH OUR MEP TEAM. WE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SOLUTIONS TO SHRINK THE SPACE. THE AIR HANDLER FOR THE MECHANICAL SYSTEM WAS IN ITS OWN ROOM BEFORE. ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF A MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM BUILDING IS WE HAVE A HEIGHT, RIGHT? AND SO IN THE STORAGE ROOM, WE CAN BASICALLY HANG THE AIR HANDLER AND DO A SPLIT SYSTEM WITH THE CONDENSER OUTSIDE, WHICH MEANS WE DON'T NEED THAT SPACE. AND SO THAT'S 300FT² OR SO. THAT JUST GETS DELETED OUT OF THE PROGRAM. AND WE CAN PUT TOWARDS SPACE THAT KIDS CAN USE RATHER THAN AN AIR HANDLER. AND SO THOSE STRATEGIES LIKE THAT THAT KIND OF SHRUNK THAT SPACE. AND THEN REALLY JUST FROM A SIMPLE SCHEMATIC STANDPOINT, IF YOU KIND OF JUST ROTATE EVERYTHING AND PUT IT ON THE SHORT END OF THE BUILDING, IT GIVES US A MUCH BETTER KIND OF ALMOST SQUARE RECTANGLE WHERE KIDS CAN DO WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO DO IN THEIR MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. RIGHT. AND SO YOU SEE HOW KIND OF NARROW IT WAS BEFORE WITH THE NEW CONCEPT. IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A BIG, WIDE OPEN SPACE. I'M LOCATING IT ON THE SITE. IT'S A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING BECAUSE THERE'S SOME EXISTING PORTABLES, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO FIT IT TO WHERE IT COINCIDES. WELL, I THINK LOOKS INTENTIONAL ON THE SITE. IT'S SITED VERY SIMILAR TO ITS PREVIOUS ITERATION. ONE OF THE BIG THINGS TOO, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A SECURE CAMPUS. AND SO WE'VE GOT A SIX FOOT. THE YELLOW LINE INDICATES A SIX FOOT ALUMINUM SECURITY FENCE USING THE BUILDING TO KIND OF SHIELD THAT OFF AS WELL. AND THERE'S YOU KNOW, FOUR FOOT GATES WITH PANIC HARDWARE AND THEY'LL HAVE, LIKE, THE TAMPER SHIELDS, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT. SO KIDS CAN'T SWING A BAG OVER AND GET THEM. BUT THAT'LL SECURE THAT AREA TOO. SO IN ADDITION TO ADDING THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM, WE'RE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING SECURITY THERE, BECAUSE CURRENTLY WHEN KIDS ARE THERE, THEY'RE JUST KIND OF MOVING ABOUT YOU'VE GOT THE HIGHWAY RIGHT THERE, RIGHT? SO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HIGHWAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WE WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND IMPROVE. [00:25:04] AND SO SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IN THE GREEN LOCATION THOUGH. AND THEN ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE PORTABLES? THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION ON THAT AS FAR AS THEM MOVING IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE WANTED TO BUILD IN A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD BE LOCATED. THE BUILDING COULD BE LOCATED WHERE IT IS NOW AND THEN ALSO LOOK INTENTIONAL. YOU KNOW, ONCE IT'S ONCE IT'S DONE, YOU CAN SEE THAT ACCESS FROM THE TOP BACK BUILDING AND THE BUILDING ON THE LEFT IS VERY SIMPLE AND KIND OF CLEAN INTO THE BUILDING SO KIDS CAN GET THERE WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE. THIS IS A FLOOR PLAN, SO IT'S VERY, VERY SIMPLE. BUT LIKE WE SAID, IT'S THE WHOLE THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS PROJECT IS SPACE, RIGHT. AND SO WE TRY TO MAXIMIZE THAT. AND SO WE'VE GOT A BIG LARGE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. IT'S ABOUT 2800FT². IT'S A NICE SIZED COACHES OFFICE THERE IN THE BOTTOM CORNER. WE DO HAVE TWO RESTROOMS WHICH ARE INDIVIDUAL USE RESTROOMS AND THEN A STORAGE ROOM ON THE TOP THERE WHICH HAS A SHIP'S LADDER GOING UP TO ANOTHER MEZZANINE, WHICH IS ALSO STORAGE ABOVE THE OTHER SPACES. SO THERE'S PLENTY OF STORAGE IN THE BUILDING. IN THAT STORAGE ROOM IS WHERE WE CAN HANG THE AIR HANDLER THAT THEN DIRECTLY FEEDS INTO THE SPACE. SO IT'S VERY EFFICIENT FROM AN MEP STANDPOINT. AND THEN THE RESTROOMS IS SOMETHING WE LOOKED AT AS WELL. SO, YOU KNOW ANY RELATED ARTS PROGRAM. IF YOU LOOK AT LIKE AN ART CLASSROOM, RIGHT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE GROUP RESTROOMS IN THE ART CLASSROOM BECAUSE THEY'RE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUILDING. AND SO WE OF COURSE WANT TO HAVE RESTROOMS FOR CONVENIENCE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS, KINDERGARTNERS ARE USING THE SPACE. IT'S ALSO REMOTE. JUST SO FOR ANYBODY. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT THERE. BUT WE DID CONDENSE THAT TO THE TWO INDEPENDENT RESTROOMS RATHER THAN SPENDING THE EXTRA COST ON ON MULTIPLE GROUP RESTROOMS. JUST BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, IT'S MORE OF A CONVENIENCE THING. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE THE RESTROOMS IN THE SCHOOL FOR GENERAL CAPACITY. SO THESE ARE SOME IMAGES OF WHAT THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING COULD LOOK LIKE. SO WE'RE DEVELOPING THAT NOW, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PULL FROM THE EXISTING CONTEXT SO IT LOOKS APPROPRIATE AND INTENTIONAL, WHILE ALSO KIND OF SPEAKING TO THE PROGRESS ON CAMPUS. AND SO THE BUFF COLOR ON THE LEFT THAT'S MATCHING AN EXISTING BUFF BRICK OR ACCENT BLOCK THAT'S IN THE EXISTING BUILDING, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT GROUND FACE BLOCK FOR THAT PIECE. THE BRICK COLOR WOULD BE MATCHING THE EXISTING FIELD BRICK THAT'S ON THE BUILDING. SO NOTHING NEW THERE. AND THEN THE BLUE METAL PANEL. IF YOU DRIVE BY J.D. LEVER, OBVIOUSLY YOU SEE THE BIG BLUE ROOFS AS YOU'RE GOING BY. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A SIMPLE KIND OF VISUAL CUE THAT WE WANT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH. AND JUST INTRODUCING SOME OF THAT ON THE BUILDING AS WELL. AND SO THIS JUST KIND OF TAKES YOU AROUND THE BUILDING. SO THIS IS THIS IS THE SIDE FACING THE HIGHWAY. SO AS I DRIVE BY THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SEE. KIDS ARE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUILDING OVER INTO THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM BUILDING. THIS IS KIND OF TAKING YOU AROUND. YOU CAN SEE THE LION THERE FACING THE HIGHWAY AS WELL. THAT'S KIND OF HEADING OUT OF TOWN. THAT'S SORT OF THE BACKSIDE OF THE BUILDING, IF YOU WILL, THAT'S FACING THE EXISTING BUILDING. BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, SIMPLE ELEVATION KIND OF TAKING YOU BACK AROUND THAT LITTLE WINDOW THERE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BUFF COLOR IS THE COACH'S OFFICE. THE VERTICAL GLASS MAIN ENTRY. THIS IS A VIEW INSIDE. SO SCHEMATIC DESIGN. SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SIMPLIFIED BUT WE'LL HAVE BAR JOISTS IN THERE. WE HAVE SPECIFIED AN ACOUSTIC DECK AND THE BLUE MATERIAL YOU SEE THERE IS AN ACOUSTIC PANEL ON THE WALLS. I'M JUST HELPING TO TRY TO MITIGATE AND HELP ABSORB SOME OF THE SOUND THAT IS AN ATHLETIC FLOOR. SO SOME OF THE OLDER SCHOOLS HAVE VCT OR KIND OF SOME MORE SIMPLE FLOORING SYSTEMS. SO THIS IS A RUBBER FLOORING SYSTEM MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE BY TAKT OR ARMSTRONG. SO IT'S CALLED OMNI PLUS. BUT IT'S A IT'S A GOOD APPROPRIATE FLOORING SYSTEM FOR THIS USE. YOU SEE THE TWO RESTROOMS THERE AS WELL. AND THEN YOU ALSO GET SOME NICE NATURAL LIGHT INTO THE BUILDING TOO. SO IT'LL BE A GREAT VOLUME FILLED SPACE. THE BEARING HEIGHT IS 21FT FOUR. AND SO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A PRETTY NICE HEIGHT. YOU'LL HAVE ABOUT 2 TO 3FT OF STRUCTURE THERE, BUT YOU HAVE ABOUT 18, 19FT CLEAR IN THE SPACE KIND OF MINIMUM REALLY IS 16 FOR THAT KIND OF FUNCTION. IF YOU THINK ABOUT KIDS THROWING BALLS AND STUFF, YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM COMING BACK AT THEM. BUT WE DO SHOW A RETRACTABLE BASKETBALL COURT THERE. AND EFFECTIVELY, WHAT THE GYM SIZE IS, IS BASED OFF OF A HALF COURT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BASKETBALL SIZE. NOT THAT IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, NEEDS TO BE REGULATION, BUT IT'S A GOOD JUST KIND OF SIZE TO KIND OF REFERENCE HOW BIG IT IS. THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL SPACE AS WELL. AND SO CURRENTLY THE PROJECT IS UNDER BUDGET. IT DOES HAVE ROOM FOR SOME ADDITIONAL CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS. THIS IS A LITTLE HARD TO SEE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IF YOU CAN LOOK IN YOUR PACKETS I THINK WE'RE AT 2 MILLION, 60,000 TOTAL PROJECT COST. SO THAT'S EVERYTHING ALL IN. SO WE'RE ABOUT $140,000 UNDER BUDGET. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN TALKING WITH LOCAL CONTRACTORS WORKING TO DRUM UP INTEREST AND PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BID THE PROJECT. BUT FRANKLY, ALL THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN HAS BEEN REALLY FAVORABLE. AND SO THE CONTRACTORS WE DO GO OFF THE ESTIMATE, BUT SEVERAL CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN TELLING US THAT THEY COULD HIT IT MORE AGGRESSIVELY, TOO. SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE HOPEFUL FOR GOOD NEWS ON BID DAY, BUT WE WANT TO BE CONSERVATIVE AT THE SAME TIME. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE LOOK AT THOSE AS ALTERNATES. BUT WE HAVE THE TWO ALTERNATES. ONE IS ADDING CANOPIES TO THE EXISTING DROP OFF LOOP. IT'S ABOUT 350 LINEAR FEET OF CANOPY. SO IT'S QUITE A BIT OF CANOPY. [00:30:01] THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD ALSO KIND OF MASSAGE DOWN, RIGHT. SO WE COULD STILL ACCOMMODATE THE NEED WITHOUT HAVING QUITE SO MUCH. AND SO THERE'S SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE. THAT'S ABOUT $240,000. AND THEN AND PART OF THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT TOO IS LOOKING AT HOW YOU ANCHOR IT. AND SO WITH THE EXISTING SIDEWALKS, WE'D HAVE TO TAKE SOME OF THAT UP IN ORDER TO INSTALL THE CANOPY. SO THERE'S SOME COSTS THERE AS WELL. AND SO WE'RE JUST WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS WITH PEACHTREE AND OTHER CANOPY MANUFACTURERS LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN KIND OF DO THAT MOST COST EFFECTIVELY. AND THEN ANOTHER BIG PIECE IS FIRE ALARM AND THE BDA SYSTEM. SO THE FIRE ALARM IN THE EXISTING SCHOOL IS VERY MUCH AGING. CARVER SECURITY IS DOING A SORT OF A PIECE OF THAT PROJECT, YOU KNOW, NOW WHERE THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE PANEL AND KIND OF UPGRADING THAT TO VOICE EVAC. THEY'RE NOT REPLACING THE DEVICES YET. BUT WHAT THAT DOES IS IT ALLOWS US TO BUILD OUR BUILDING SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PROVIDE THE FIRE ALARM AND BDA, AND IT CAN STILL SPEAK TO THE HEAD END SYSTEM IN THE MAIN CAMPUS WITHOUT HAVING TO NECESSARILY REPLACE IT. REPLACING I THINK, IS CERTAINLY A PRIORITY. IT'S DEFINITELY AN AGING SYSTEM, AND IT HAS A BUNCH OF FALSE FALSE ALARMS AND ISSUES. BUT BUT THAT'S THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OBVIOUSLY AT ABOUT 390,000. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON GETTING DOWN. THERE'S SOME PIECES WE CAN TAKE OUT OF THAT THAT ARE CURRENTLY OCCURRING. BUT THOSE ARE TWO, TWO ELEMENTS WE'D LIKE TO INCLUDE IF WE CAN. AND THEN LOOKING AT SCHEDULE. SO WE ARE INITIALLY PRESENTED WITH AN 18 MONTH TURNKEY SCHEDULE. SO FROM THE WORD GO IT WAS 18 MONTHS TO OPEN THE BUILDING. THAT WAS ABOUT SIX MONTHS FOR DESIGN, ONE YEAR FOR CONSTRUCTION. CURRENTLY WE'RE TRACKING IT, COMPLETING DESIGN ABOUT THREE MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. SO I THINK FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, WE'RE LOOKING TO BASICALLY FINISH NEXT MONTH WITH DESIGN AND THEN BID IT IN MAY. AND SO WE'LL GET IT OUT AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, GETTING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND LOOK TO CONTINUE TO PICK UP TIME AS WE WORK, WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS AND DELIVER THE PROJECT, YOU KNOW NOT JUST ON TIME, BUT EARLY. SO I THINK THAT'S JUST A GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE GROUP OR ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO LOOK AT OR DISCUSS? MR. LINDELL AND MAYBE DOCTOR MURPHY COULD ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS. THE FUNDING FOR THIS COMES FROM WHERE? RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THE ATHLETIC FUNDS. THE THE 8% ATHLETIC FUNDS. OKAY. AND I KNOW A GENERAL CONTRACTOR HASN'T BEEN SELECTED YET, BUT IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT AN AIKEN COUNTY GENERAL CONTRACTOR WILL BE BIDDING FOR THIS? I'M SURE SEVERAL AIKEN COUNTY CONTRACTORS WILL BID. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, KEEPING WORK LOCAL IS A PRIORITY AS MUCH AS WE CAN. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY OF AN OPEN BID IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE WHOEVER'S THE LOWEST BIDDER. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL LOCAL CONTRACTORS THAT ARE INTERESTED, AND, AND ONE OF THEM, I THINK, JUST WALKED IN A LITTLE BIT AGO. SO AND I JUST I JUST PREFER TO KEEP IT LOCAL IF WE CAN. SURE, SURE. THE LAST QUESTION, THE EXISTING PORTALS WILL THAT AFFECT EDUCATION OR WERE THEY GOING TO MOVE FOR THE KIDS? OH, THE PORTABLE CLASSROOMS. RIGHT NOW, THE PLAN IS NOT TO MOVE ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. SO, I MEAN, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, BUT WE WE USUALLY ERECT TEMPORARY FENCING OR SOME THINGS LIKE THAT TO MITIGATE ANY CHANCE OF KIDS COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I HAD MR. MOULTON AND THEN I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION AFTER YOU. JUST A QUICK COMMENT. I'M PRETTY IMPRESSED. I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND USE OF SPACE AND THEN STAYING WITHIN THE BUDGET WAS ALSO A REAL PLUS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN I GET THE OPPORTUNITY SOMETIMES, BUT I SEE THIS AS A GOOD APPLICATION FOR A NEED THAT WE HAVE AT BELVEDERE FOR A, FOR A CAFETERIA AND AN AUDITORIUM. SO I JUST SEE A CONNECTION THERE. SURE, SURE. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. SO WITH THE SIX FOOT FENCING THAT WILL CREATE A PERIMETER AROUND THAT OPEN AREA. COULD YOU. YOU DESCRIBE IT AS ALUMINUM FENCING? YEAH. SO IT'D BE LIKE, COULD YOU COULD WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT AT ALL? ORNAMENTAL. I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST. IS IT CODED? IS IT? IS IT? YEAH. SO THAT WOULD BE A BLACK ALUMINUM FENCING. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS NOT LIKE A CHAIN LINK. SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE AN ORNAMENTAL FENCING WITH PICKETS. AND IT'D LOOK LIKE SOMETHING NICE YOU'D PUT IN YOUR HOUSE BASICALLY. BUT. BUT A SECURITY FENCING FOR THE CAMPUS. THANK YOU. YEAH. IT'S SOMETHING SIMILAR. YOU HAVE TO AT OTHER BASICALLY ANY LIKE PUBLIC STREET FACING FENCING WE'VE DONE AT MOST OF YOUR RECENT PROJECTS IS THE SAME TYPE OF FENCING. SO MILLBROOK HAS IT. THERE'S OTHER EXAMPLES OF IT AS WELL. THERE'S SOME LIMITED USE AT GRANITEVILLE. ANY OF THE KIND OF MORE PRIMARY PUBLIC FENCING IS THIS TYPE OF FENCING. AND THE MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION, WHICH MAY THE 2ND OF YOU MAY HAVE TO ANSWER IT TOGETHER IF THE BOARD APPROVES THE PLANS, ETC. GOING FORWARD, ARE THE ALT ONE AND ALT TWO YOU LISTED ARE. WE WORKED IN IF WE CAN OR HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER THAT? WELL, IT TYPICALLY DEPENDS ON OUR BUDGET. AND SO WHEN WE GO OUT TO BID, WE'LL FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE. AND THAT GIVES US SOME MONEY WITH THE, THE, THE OVERAGE, [00:35:01] ANY MONEY THAT WE HAVE IN EXCESS. AND WE CAN ATTEMPT TO LOOK AT THE ACT ONE AND ACT TWO. HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND SOME COST SAVINGS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, AND IT WILL MAKE THEM BOTH A LOT MORE PRACTICAL. I UNDERSTAND. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS PRESENTATION? THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WAS THERE BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS? WAS THERE ANY OTHER INFORMATIONAL QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAD ABOUT THE CONSENT ITEMS? MR. LINDELL ON THE THE SMALL FIRMS. HOW WOULD THESE FIRMS AND THESE FIRMS, FIRST OF ALL. WHEN WE DO A SOLICITATION, BASICALLY IT'S A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. AND SO WE BLAST IT OUT. ANYONE IS INVITED TO COME AND ATTEND. SO ONCE THEY MAKE A PROPOSAL, WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF SELECTION BASED ON THE CRITERIA THAT WE PUT IN THE PACKAGE ITSELF. AND THEN WE RANK THEM, WE RATE THEM, AND THEN WE SELECT ONE, FOUR OR AS MANY AS WE WE CHOOSE TO PROCURE THEM NOW. THEN ONCE THEY'RE PROCURED, WE CAN SELECT THEM FOR FUTURE PROJECTS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SO MANY TIMES IF THERE'S A LOCAL FIRM, WE WILL WE ADD A FAVORABLE GRADE TO THEM BECAUSE IT'S LOCAL. WE WANT TO SPEND OUR MONEY LOCAL AS WELL. BUT IF A FIRM FROM OUT OF TOWN HAS A COMPETITIVE PRICE OR SOME COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES, WE'LL ALSO CONSIDER PROCURING THEM AS WELL. NOT HEARING ANY MORE INFORMATIONAL QUESTIONS, I'LL ASK IF IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 13 CONSENT ITEMS AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. MOTION MADE BY MR. LINDELL. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND. MISS TYLER, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE 13 CONSENT ITEMS? HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE 13 CONSENT ITEMS AS PRESENTED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE 13 CONSENT ITEMS ARE APPROVED. WE DO HAVE TWO INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, WHICH MR. TRAXLER IS PREPARED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY. BUT THE BOARD RECEIVED IN ADVANCE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING IN DECEMBER 31ST OF LAST YEAR, AND THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 31ST OF 2025. AND THE BOARD HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE REPORTS. DOES ANYONE ON THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS OF MR. TRAXLER ABOUT THOSE REPORTS? HEARING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER ITEMS. THE FIRST OF WHICH WAS AREA THREE ADVISORY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS BEING MADE BY MISS MRS. MORRIS AND MR. SILAS. AND WHO HAS THE FLOOR? I DO. I'LL GIVE THE FLOOR TO MR. SILAS. APPRECIATE THAT, MISS MORRIS. AND I, AS YOU MENTIONED, HAVE TWO OPENINGS ON THE AREA THREE ADVISORY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS AND ALSO FOR APPOINTMENTS WHICH CURRENT MEMBERS HAVE CHOSEN TO CONTINUE SERVING. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD NOMINATE THE FOLLOWING. OR I MOVE TO NOMINATE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FOR AREA THREE ADVISORY COUNCIL MR.. ROGER BOYD, MR. TIM WILSON, MR. KEITH GLOVER, MISS SARAH JOHNSON, MISS SHANNON ENNIS AND MISS CASSIE BASINGER. IS THERE A SECOND? EXCUSE ME. IS THERE A SECOND FOR MR. SILAS MOTION? SECOND. MOTION MADE BY MR. SILAS, SECONDED BY MRS. MORRIS. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL BOARD ITEM IS MINE. AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO THIS EVENING IS ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS HEARD THE VERY KIND WORDS THAT DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT DIANA FLOYD AT OUR LAST REGULAR MEETING. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE. AND I AM MAKING A MOTION THIS EVENING. AND JUST MY MOTION IS KIND OF TWOFOLD, BUT PART OF IT IS A RESOLUTION THAT I'VE GIVEN. I HANDED OUT TO THE BOARD THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A LOOSE COPY OF SO THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING, AS I SAY IT. SO I DID HAVE THE PLEASURE OF MEETING DIANA FLOYD THE FIRST TIME WHEN WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING IN 2019 FOR THE OPEN SEAT AND THEN A FEW TIMES AFTERWARDS SHE ACTUALLY WE [00:40:05] PROBABLY WENT OUT TO SOMEWHERE WITH A FEW OTHER PEOPLE, AND SHE ASKED LOTS OF QUESTIONS, LOTS OF VERY GOOD QUESTIONS. AND I REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION DEARLY. AND SHE DID A LOT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AIKEN COUNTY. AND THE MOTION I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ENDORSES AND DIRECTS THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TO FACILITATE THE PLACEMENT OF A PLAQUE IN RECOGNITION OF DIANA FLOYD INSIDE AIKEN HIGH, BUT ALSO THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION THAT IF YOU CAN. GIVE ME A MOMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD. SO RESOLUTION OF AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, HONORING THE LEGACY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF DIANA FLOYD. WHEREAS, THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN ADVANCING THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITHIN AIKEN COUNTY, AND WHEREAS, THE 2014 PENNY SALES TAX WAS A PIVOTAL INITIATIVE AIMED AT SECURING ESSENTIAL FUNDING TO IMPROVE AND ENHANCE SCHOOL FACILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFITS OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF THROUGHOUT THE AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND WHEREAS, DIANA FLOYD PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF THE 2014 PENNY SALES TAX INITIATIVE, DEMONSTRATING OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF AIKEN COUNTY SCHOOLS. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH HER ADVOCACY, TIRELESS EFFORTS AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT. DIANA FLOYD HELPED TO INFORM AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, ENSURING A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME THAT HAS SINCE PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT AND LASTING BENEFITS TO THE DISTRICT'S STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. AND WHEREAS, IN 2018, SHE SPEARHEADED AN ADDITIONAL GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY EFFORT FOR FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PUBLIC SUPPORT OF A BOND REFERENDUM. AND WHEREAS MRS. DIANA FLOYD PASSED AWAY IN 2024, LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND ADVOCACY FOR EDUCATION THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS, THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS APPRECIATION FOR DIANA FLOYD'S CONTRIBUTIONS AND RECOGNIZE HER AS A VALUED LEADER WHOSE EFFORTS HAVE POSITIVELY IMPACTED THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN AIKEN COUNTY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DOES HEREBY HONOR AND COMMEMORATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DIANA FLOYD FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF OF AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE ENTERED INTO THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, THAT A COPY BE PRESENTED TO THE FAMILY OF DIANA FLOYD AS A TOKEN OF OUR GRATITUDE AND ESTEEM. ADOPTED THIS 24TH DAY OF MARCH 2025 BY THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. SECOND, THE MOTION. SO I HAVE MADE THE MOTION THAT I HOPE WE'VE GOT A RECORD OF, AND I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT THE WHOLE THING. AND DOCTOR BRADLEY HAS SECONDED THAT MOTION FOR THE RECOGNITION OF DIANA FLOYD. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR. THE MOTION PASSES. THIS RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED, AND I THINK I'LL STOP TALKING BEFORE I GET SENTIMENTAL. AND THANK YOU FOR FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE FOR COMING. THAT WAS THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER, ONLY INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER ITEMS WE HAD THIS EVENING. NO CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESSED TO BOARD MEMBERS. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR MURPHY FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AND TO THE STAFF AND FOLKS HERE TONIGHT. GOOD EVENING. THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY AS WE APPROACH SPRING BREAK, AND I'M PLEASED TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS THAT HAPPENED ACROSS THE DISTRICT. LAST THURSDAY, WE CELEBRATED OUR STARS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, RECOGNIZING OUR OUTSTANDING VETERAN AND FIRST YEAR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, CLASSIFIED STAFF, GEMS, PROFESSIONAL STAFF, AND DISTRICT LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENING HONORING THE DEDICATION AND EXCELLENCE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NOMINEES AND THIS YEAR'S DISTRICT WINNERS. SRP GAVE A TREMENDOUS GIFT TO OUR OAKWOOD WINDSOR STUDENTS. LAST WEEK, SRP FEDERAL CREDIT UNION PROVIDED A BRAND NEW PAIR OF SHOES TO EVERY STUDENT AT OAKWOOD WINDSOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS INITIATIVE STEMMED FROM DECEMBER, A DECEMBER MEETING BETWEEN SRP AND OAKWOOD WINDSOR LEADERS, WHERE SRP LEARNED ABOUT THE MANY WAYS THE SCHOOL SUPPORTS ITS STUDENTS. [00:45:01] ONE TO CONTRIBUTE SRP ORGANIZED A SPECIAL SHOE DRIVE. WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING A STUDENT ASSEMBLY AND THEN VISITING CLASSROOMS, WHERE WE SAW THE SHEER JOY AS THOSE STUDENTS EAGERLY SWAPPED OUT THEIR OLD SHOES FOR A BRAND NEW PAIR. ALSO YESTERDAY AT MIDLAND VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, WE WITNESSED AN INCREDIBLE ACT OF GENEROSITY. THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S FUND AND THE OLD BARNWELL GOLF CLUB FLASH FUNDED EVERY AC PSD EDUCATORS DONORS CHOOSE PROJECT THAT WAS POSTED THAT DAY THAT TOTALED NEARLY $15,000 IN CLASSROOM RESOURCES. THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE DURING A SURPRISE VISIT TO THE SCHOOL'S NURSE AND CULINARY ARTS TEACHER, TWO EDUCATORS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LEVERAGED PHILANTHROPY TO ENRICH STUDENT LEARNING. AND LASTLY, COMING THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 28TH, OUR DISTRICT WILL TAKE PART IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPRING GAMES AT CITIZENS PARK HERE IN AIKEN. THE EVENT KICKS OFF WITH AN OPENING CEREMONY AND AN OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY AT 9 A.M.. SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT ARE CELEBRATING THIS WEEK, GEARING UP TO CHEER ON OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND THEIR BUDDIES AS THEY PARTICIPATE IN A FUN FILLED DAY OF COMPETITION AND CAMARADERIE. IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING AND AGAIN, VERY SATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOME WITH THE RECOGNITION FOR MISS FLOYD AS WELL. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO AN EXCITING WEEK AHEAD IN AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MURPHY. THAT CONCLUDES THE AGENDA WE HAD FOR REGULAR SESSION. HOWEVER, WE ARE IN NEED OF AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS, IN SUCH ORDER AS THE BOARD DEEMS APPROPRIATE. UNDER STUDENT MATTERS, WE HAVE THREE STUDENT APPEALS. STUDENT APPEAL A FROM AREA FOR STUDENT APPEAL B ALSO FROM AREA FOUR, AND STUDENT APPEAL C FROM AREA THREE. FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION TO ANNOUNCE THE MATTERS CONSIDERED AND TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY. IS THERE A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THIS PURPOSE? MOTION MADE BY MR. LINDELL. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? SECONDED BY DOCTOR BRADLEY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE THREE STUDENT APPEALS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL BEGIN EXECUTIVE SESSION IN IN THE ROOM BOARD BOARDROOM IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES. SO LET'S SAY 655. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN. [01:53:40] AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT WE ARE IN NEED OF A MOTION TO EXIT [01:53:43] EXECUTIVE SESSION AND REENTER REGULAR SESSION. [01:53:46] SO MOVE. THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. [01:53:48] LINDELL. IS THERE A SECOND? [01:53:49] SECOND? SECONDED BY MISS TYLER. [01:53:52] ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SESSION AND REENTER REGULAR [01:53:55] SESSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. [01:54:00] THAT'S SEVEN IN FAVOR, WHICH IS ALL OF US AT THIS POINT. [01:54:03] THE MOTION PASSES. WE ARE BACK IN REGULAR SESSION. [01:54:07] WHILE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HEARD THREE STUDENT APPEALS A, [01:54:13] B, AND C THAT ALL REQUIRE ACTION. [01:54:19] IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO STUDENT APPEAL? [01:54:23] A FROM AREA FOR STUDENT APPEAL ALPHA. MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RECOMMEND EXPULSION OF SERVICES FOR STUDENT A. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY MR. LINDELL, SECONDED BY DOCTOR BRADLEY. TO RECOMMEND EXPULSION WITH SERVICES FOR STUDENT APPEAL. A IN LIEU OF THE HEARING OFFICER'S DECISION. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT IS SIX IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S ONE OPPOSED. THE MOTION PASSES 6 TO 1. [01:55:04] THE NEXT APPEAL WAS STUDENT APPEAL B BRAVO, ALSO FROM AREA FOUR. IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARDS TO STUDENT APPEAL. BE. YES, SIR. I'D MOVE TO OVERTURN THE HEARING OFFICER'S DECISION IN LIEU OF EXPULSION WITH SERVICES FOR STUDENT BE SECOND. SO MR. SILAS MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY MR. LINDELL, TO RECOMMEND EXPULSION WITH SERVICES IN LIEU OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE HEARING OFFICER. IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S FIVE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED RETAIN. THAT'S ONE. OPPOSED. ANYBODY ABSTAINING? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THE MOTION PASSES FIVE TO 2 TO 1. AND LASTLY, WE HAVE STUDENT APPEAL C OR CHARLIE FROM AREA THREE. IS THERE A MOTION IN REGARDS TO STUDENT APPEAL C MR. LINDELL? MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT WE USE THE DISTRICT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, MR. LINDELL HAS MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY MR. SILAS, TO UPHOLD THE DISTRICT'S RECOMMENDATION OF ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT IS SEVEN IN FAVOR. UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION PASSES. WE'RE IN NEED OF A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION MADE BY DOCTOR BRADLEY. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? SECONDED BY MISS TYLER. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT'S SEVEN IN FAVOR. WE STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.