School District of Pickens County Minutes of Board of Trustees Administrative Office Pickens County, South Carolina March 23, 2015 These minutes are not official until approved by the board at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The following board members were present: Dr. Brian Swords, Ms. Judy Edwards, Mr. Phillip Bowers, Dr. Herbert Cooper, Mr. Alex Saitta and Dr. Henry Wilson. Those present from the District Office were: Dr. Danny Merck, Dr. William Roach, Dr. Stephanie Lackey, Mrs. Sharon Huff, Mr. Andy Coleman, Mr. John Eby, Dr. Barbara Nesbitt, Ms. Traci Boyles, Mr. Marion Thomas, Mr. Clark Webb and Mrs. Rosanne Morris. In accordance with S.C. Code of Laws, Section 3-4(d), as amended, the following were notified of the date, time, place and agenda of the meeting: Ms. Alison Glass, Anderson Independent Mai; Mr. Brett McLaughlin, The Journal; Mr. David Williams, Anderson Independent Mail; Mr. Greg Oliver, The Journal; Mr. Jeff Brush, Patch; Ms. Liz Carey, Anderson Independent Mail; Mr. Lonnie Adamson, Pickens Sentinel/Easley Progress; Mr. Rocky Nimmons, Pickens County Courier; Mr. Ron Dekett, Greenville News; Mr. Vince Jackson, Anderson Independent Mail; Mr. Woody White, Greenville News; Mr. Zach Mauldin, Pickens County Courier; Mr. Ben Robinson, Pickens County Courier; Mr. Gordon Dill, WSPA; Ms. Mary Lu Saylor, WSPA; Mr. Rob Landreth, WSPA; Ms. Sara Lewis, WSPA; and Ms. Kim Deal, WYFF. The following media representatives were present: Mr. Greg Oliver, Daily Journal Messenger; Mr. Ron Barnet, Greenville News and Mr. Ben Robinson, Easley Progress, WYFF News 4, News 7 and Fox 21. Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes: March 23, 2015 Page 1
Dr. Brian Swords, Chairman, called the board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and stated that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and was posted accordingly. Prior to adjourning into executive session, Dr. Swords read over the agenda as presented. Motion was made by Mr. Phillip Bowers and seconded by Mr. Alex Saitta to adjourn into executive session for the purpose of Personnel Matters regarding leaves/hires/separations, Property Matters regarding purchases/sales/leases/disposal, Legal Matters and Act 155 Update. The motion carried unanimously. The board returned from executive session at 7:10 p.m. and Dr. Swords, Chairman, called the meeting back to order. I. Presentations A. Celebrations of Success The Liberty and Dacusville area Teachers of the Year were recognized for representing their respective schools for the 2014-2015 school year. Dr. Swords, Chairman, recognized each Teacher of the Year and presented them with a small token of the Board s appreciation. Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes: March 23, 2015 Page 2
Dr. Merck and Dr. Swords also recognized the Liberty High School Wrestling Team for an outstanding season along with Jacob Slann from Daniel High School who placed at the State level for Track and Field. II. Public Input Don Lundquist- spoke about support for teacher salary increases Weldon Clark- spoke about school board prayer and taxes Tony Qualkinbush- spoke about school board prayer policy and prayed Johnnelle Raines- spoke about school board prayer and taxes Junius Smith- spoke about school board prayer Rev. Shem Durham- spoke about school board prayer Rev. Roger Todd- spoke about school board prayer and prayed Rev. Jimmy Burrell- spoke about school board prayer and prayed Rusty Smith- spoke about school board prayer Sonya Hoxit- spoke about school board prayer and prayed Chris Koth- spoke about school board prayer Daniel Holtel- spoke about school board prayer Glenda Sanders- spoke about school board prayer and taxes Heidi Williams- spoke about need for salary increases for teachers James Anthony- spoke about school board prayer David Sistare spoke about school board prayer III. Opening of Meeting A. Changes and Approval of the Agenda Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes: March 23, 2015 Page 3
Motion was made by Mr. Alex Saitta and seconded by Mr. Phillip Bowers to change BE to BEAA on Action Item # D and to approve agenda as presented with change. The motion carried unanimously. B. Public Invocation C. Pledge of Allegiance Ms. Judy Edwards, Board Member, led the invocation and pledge. D. Approval of Minutes Motion was made by Mr. Alex Saitta and seconded by Mr. Phillip Bowers to accept the minutes as presented for February 23, 2015 and March 9, 2015. The motion carried unanimously. IV. Committee Reports A. Employee Public Relations Committee Mr. Alex Saitta, Committee Chairman, stated that the Committee had reviewed teacher salaries and looked at morale, turnover rates, medical costs, pay levels and compared to surrounding districts and reviewed the pay scale. Mr. Saitta stated that the Committee has recommended Option 1 which includes the State mandated teacher step increase for 2015, a 2% increase for all employees and to fix the inconsistencies in the pay scale, Option 2 which would also include the extra step increase that Dr. Merck recommends along with the items from Option 1. Both Options are being presented in the budget process and due to the unknowns at this time from the State the district is in a wait and see mode at this time. Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes: March 23, 2015 Page 4
The Committee will be looking at the Administrators pay scales with surrounding districts and will report back in a month or two. B. Policy Committee Section F, L Revisions- 1 st Reading Dr. Brian Swords, Committee Chairman, stated that the Committee had reviewed Sections F and L and were making changes based on the Master Chart as provided in board packet. The committee recommended 1 st Reading approval of the presented policies. Motion was made by Mr. Alex Saitta and seconded by Ms. Judy Edwards to approve revised policies for 1 st Reading. Motion carried unanimously. C. Facilities Committee Dr. Henry Wilson, Committee Chairman, stated that the Committee will make recommendation under Action Items- Approval of Capital Needs Plan- 3 rd Reading. V. Action Items A. Executive Session Motions A. Personnel Matters 1. Leaves/Hires/Separations Motion was made by Ms. Judy Edwards and seconded by Mr. Phillip Bowers to accept the personnel matters for leaves/hires/separations as presented and recommended by the Superintendent in executive session. The motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by Ms. Judy Edwards and seconded by Mr. Phillip Bowers to accept the Superintendent s recommendation that an induction contract teacher not Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes: March 23, 2015 Page 5
be renewed for 2015-2016 subject to the employees appeal rights consistent with State law. The motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by Dr. Brian Swords, Chairman, and seconded by Ms. Judy Edwards to approve new contracts as presented in executive session. The motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by Ms. Judy Edwards and seconded by Dr. Herbert Cooper to move that the Board conditionally accept the Superintendent s recommendation that the contract for a professional employee of the District not be renewed for the 2015-2016 school year, subject to the Board s duty to review the matter on the merits should a hearing be requested. The motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by Ms. Judy Edwards and seconded by Dr. Herbert Cooper to move that the Board accept the Superintendent s recommendation that the contract of an annual contract teacher not be renewed for the 2015-2016 school year subject to the employee s appeal rights consistent with State Law. The motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by Dr. Brian Swords, Chairman and seconded by Ms. Judy Edwards to approve new position that will be funded with existing money to work with At-Risk students. The motion carried unanimously. B. Property Matters 1. Purchases/Sales/Leases/Disposal No action taken. Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes: March 23, 2015 Page 6
C. Legal Matters No action taken. D. Act 155 Update Motion was made by Dr. Brian Swords and seconded by Dr. Henry Wilson to approve the presented Act 155 Update. The motion carried unanimously. B. Motions for New Business No new business brought forth. C. Approval of Capital Needs Plan- 3 rd Reading Dr. Merck, Superintendent, spoke regarding Capital Needs Plan. Motion was made by Dr. Henry Wilson, Chairman of the Facilities Committee and seconded by Mr. Alex Saitta to approve to spend 3.25 million gained from the refinance of bonds and 1.4 million from money on hand to be spent on capital needs this upcoming year with no tax increase. The motion carried unanimously. D. School Board Prayer Policy Motion was made by Mr. Alex Saitta to accept BEAA on 2 nd Reading where clergy will be invited to come in an offer prayer. Second was made by Mr. Phillip Bowers. The motion failed with three in favor and three opposed (Swords, Edwards, Cooper). E. Policies- 2 nd Reading- DICA Capital Needs Improvement, Maintenance, Repair and Replacement Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes: March 23, 2015 Page 7
Policy DICA was reviewed by the Policy Committee and recommendations have been presented to the full board. This was approved for 1 st Reading on February 23, 2015. Motion was made by Mr. Alex Saitta and seconded by Ms. Judy Edwards to approve revisions for 2 nd /final reading. The motion carried unanimously. F. School Strategic Plans Ms. Sharon Huff, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services, stated that every five years the district has to develop a new Strategic Plan, then for the years in-between, the district must annually update the plans. The process is the schools have to update their plans and they have to be approved by the Board, then the District Plan has to be approved by the Board. The District Plan has to be submitted to the State Department by April 30 th of each year. The schools plans are ready for approval with the District Plan being brought to the Board in April. Motion was made by Mr. Phillip Bowers and seconded by Ms. Judy Edwards to approve the schools plans as presented. The motion carried unanimously. VI. Adjournment The board meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Motion was made by Ms. Judy Edwards and seconded by Mr. Phillip Bowers to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously. Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes: March 23, 2015 Page 8