LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE Board Meeting Minutes September 17, 2013

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1 LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE Board Meeting Minutes September 17, 2013 The Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees convened in executive session at 6:30 P.M. Tuesday, September 17, 2013, in the District Office boardroom to discuss contractual matters and personnel recommendations. General session of the regular monthly meeting began after the executive session in the auditorium. Board Members: Chair Cindy Smith, Vice Chair Ed Harmon, Secretary Debbie Knight, Sandra Backman, Jean Haggard, Brad Pitts Media: 1.0 Call to Order Chair Smith called the meeting to order. 2.0 Executive Session Chair Smith called for a motion to enter into executive session. A motion was made to begin executive session. 3.0 Adjourn Executive Session Chair Smith called for a motion to adjourn executive session and enter into general session. A motion was made to do so. 4.0 Call to Order General Session 4.1 Invocation The invocation was given by Debra Knight. 4.2 Notification meeting is being taped 4.3 Notification of compliance with South Carolina Freedom of Information Act 5.0 Approval of Agenda Chair Smith called for a motion to approve the agenda as presented. A motion was made to approve the agenda as presented. MOTION Harmon

2 Page Two 6.0 Approval of Minutes Minutes of the board meeting were included for board approval. Chair Smith called for any additions or corrections to the minutes. Minutes were accepted as received. 7.0 Honors and Achievements Superintendent Woodward presented certificates to those present. 8.0 Citizens Participation Chair Smith invited those who wished to speak to the Board of Trustees to do so at this time. Tammy Whitehead of 132 Laurel Hill Drive, West Columbia, addressed the board. She asked the board to consider changing the district s cell policy, specifically the punishment for first offenses at middle schools. 9.0 Reports and Action from Executive Session Chair Smith called for a motion to approve six certified recommendations for the school year. A motion was made to approve the recommendations as presented. MOTION Knight 10.0 Continuing Business 10.1 Report Instructional Update Gloria Talley, ED.D. Dr. Gloria Talley, chief academic officer, said that last year, the board approved travel for students from the Advanced Center for Public Health and Advanced Medical Studies to travel to Costa Rica. Dr. Talley introduced Dr. Ann Elam, director of innovation, who accompanied the students on the trip to Costa Rica. Dr. Elam said the writer Henry Miller said One s destination is never a place but rather it is a new way of seeing things. Dr. Elam said he felt these students are seeing the world with new eyes. For many of these students, it was the first time they had been out of the United States. She introduced Ms. Melanie Johnson, lead teacher at the Advanced Center for Public Health and Advanced Medical Studies. Ms. Johnson said the purpose of the trip was threefold. We wanted to introduce students to medical systems in other countries. The trip gave them a good indication of what life was like in a third-world country. We wanted to broaden their world view beyond what is happening in our community. We wanted to encourage them to participate in activities that create bonds and allow them to become more independent. Ms. Johnson introduced Dustin Moore, a senior at White Knoll High School, and Mary Hannah Simpson, a senior at River Bluff High School, who shared their experiences with the board members. Dr. Gloria Talley thanked the teachers and Anne Elam for chaperoning our students around the world. She thanked Board of Trustees for their support.

3 Page Three 10.0 Continuing Business 10.2 Report Human Resources Update Mary Walker, Chief Human Resources Officer Mary Walker, chief human resources officer, said her report will be given at the board workshop on Tuesday, September 24, Report Fiscal Services Update John Butler, Chief Financial Officer John Butler, chief financial officer, said the district implemented the financial part of a new ERP system last year and the human resources part of the system in July September 10 was the first full payroll of the new system. Paychecks for 3,854 employees were processed successfully. He thanked the staff of Fiscal Services and Human Resources for the hours they put in to make this a success. Mr. Butler said that the auditors are working on the district s financial audit. The results of the audit will be presented during the November board meeting Report Operations Update Jeff Salters, Chief Operations Officer Chief Operations Officer Jeff Salters reviewed construction at Deerfield Elementary School. He said a great deal of progress has been made in the first few months. This will be the last school project from the 2008 bond referendum. This school is based upon the prototype plan used for Rocky Creek Elementary and Meadow Glen Elementary. Mr. Salters reviewed construction progress at Pelion Middle School s performing arts center. It will be a 500-seat theatre for use by the Pelion community Report Communications Mary Beth Hill Chair Smith called on Mary Beth Hill, chief communications officer, to give a legislative report. Ms. Hill said one piece of legislation that the district has followed was regarding student athletes and concussions. H.3061 Student Athletes Concussions by McCoy, M.S. McLeod, Stavrinakis and Sellars This legislation requires school districts to follow specific procedures for dealing with student athletes who suffer from concussion. In addition, the law includes: an education piece, which requires that we provide all coaches, volunteers, student athletes and parents/legal guardians information on concussions. specifics about the removal of athletes when a concussion during practice or competition is suspected. stipulations for a written medical clearance by a physician before returning an athlete to play. And, it provides immunity from civil liability to athletic trainers, physicians, physician assistants or nurse practitioners who evaluate the student athlete during the practice or athletic competition and authorize the student athlete to return to play, unless there is evidence of gross negligence or certain levels of misconduct in making the authorization.

4 Page Four 10.5 Report Communications Mary Beth Hill (continued) 11.0 New Business As a group, the high school athletic directors met with Jeff Caldwell, director of student services, and Jeff Salters, chief operations officer, this summer. At that meeting, they made sure that the procedures our high schools were already following in respect to suspected concussions fit the new guidelines required by law. As most of you know, one of our most experienced, if not the most experienced athletic trainer in the district is Damone Leaphart at Lexington High School. Ms. Hill said he recently helped her with a media question about this and he said that any student athlete that is believed to have sustained a concussion or brain injury during play is removed from practice or competition and required to receive a medical evaluation by a health care provider approved by the S.C. Concussion Law (physician, athletic trainer, nurse practitioner, physician assistant). If there is an athletic trainer or another approved healthcare provider on site, that individual immediately checks the student athlete and determines if he/she can return to play. If there is not an approved healthcare provider onsite, the athlete is removed from participation until an evaluation can be conducted. The athletic trainer or coach also notifies the student s parents as soon as possible Action Bond Resolution John Butler John Butler said this resolution is to issue eight percent bonds. We will pay these bonds off in the spring of The proceeds will pay our installment revenue bonds. This also includes a bond anticipation note in order to keep our millage at the current level. In 2008 when we asked our taxpayers to vote for the referendum, we agreed that we would not increase the debt service millage to pay for capital needs more than a total of 12 mills. We are still at the same millage as we were in Our bond rating has been upgraded and the bond market has been good overall. The administration recommends the adoption of the resolution Report Enrollment John Butler John Butler reported that as of 15th day the enrollment was 23,614 students. That is an increase of 731 students over last year s 15th day enrollment. If we include 527 preschool students, we have an overall enrollment of 24,141 students. This is 134 more than we projected.

5 Page Five 11.3 Action Student Travel Requests Gloria Talley, ED.D. Chair Smith called for a motion to approve 13 student travel requests. A motion was made to approve the travel requests as presented. SECOND Harmon 11.4 Action Use of Facilities Requests Jeff Salters Chair Smith called for a motion to approve two use of facilities request. A motion was made to approve the use of facilities requests as presented. MOTION Knight 12.0 Items for Board Information Chair Smith said the remaining items were for board information only Adjournment Chair Smith called for a motion to adjourn. A motion was made to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, Debra L. Knight Secretary