LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE Regular Board Meeting Minutes November 20, 2012 The Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees convened in executive session at 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 20, 2012, in the Lexington County School District One board room to discuss employment and contractual matters. General session of the regular monthly meeting began after the executive session. Board Members: Chair Cindy Smith, Sandra Backman, Jean Haggard, Edwin Harmon, Debbie Knight, Brad Pitts and Brent Powers Media: No media in attendance 1.0 Call to Order Executive Session 2.0 Executive Session Chair Smith called for a motion to begin executive session. 3.0 Adjourn Executive Session Chair Smith called for a motion to adjourn executive session and begin general session. SECOND Harmon 4.0 Call to Order General Session 4.1 Invocation The invocation was given by Sandra Backman 4.2 Notification meeting is being taped. 4.3 Notification of compliance with South Carolina Freedom of Information Act 5.0 Swearing In of Board Members Judge Jimmy Spence was present to swear in the new board members. Following the swearing in ceremony, Superintendent Woodward welcomed the new board members. She thanked them for giving of their time unselfishly and unpaid to oversee a most important responsibility, the education and welfare of children. 6.0 Election of Board Officers Chair Smith said that Superintendent Woodward would preside over the election of officers. Superintendent Woodward called for nominations for office of Chair of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Brad Pitts made a motion that the Board of Trustees accept a slate of officers. SECOND Knight DISCUSSION: None
Minutes November 20, 2012 Page Two 6.0 Election of Board Officers (continued) Superintendent Woodward called for nominations. Cindy Smith was nominated as chair, Ed Harmon as vice chair and Debbie Knight as secretary all on one slate and at one time. Superintendent Woodward called for additional nominations. No additional nominations were made. She declared nominations closed. Superintendent asked if anyone opposed the slate nomination. No one opposed and she declared the slate of officers elected by acclamation and called for a vote. NOMINATION Pitts ACTION No opposition. Approved Unanimously 7.0 Approval of Agenda Chair Smith called for a motion to approve the agenda. 8.0 Approval of Minutes Minutes of the October 16, 2012, regular board meeting were included for board approval. Chair Smith called for any additions or corrections to the minutes. Hearing none, the minutes were approved as presented. 9.0 Honors and Achievements Superintendent Karen Woodward presented certificates to those who were present. 10.0 Citizen s Participation Chair Smith read the guidelines for the citizen s participation portion of the meeting. She invited those who wished to speak to the board of trustees to do so. No one addressed the board at this time. 11.0 Reports from Executive Session EMPLOYMENT MATTERS Chair Smith called for a motion to approve four (4) certified recommendations for the 2012 2013 school year. A motion was made to approve the recommendations as presented. MOTION Harmon SECOND Pitts Chair Smith called for a motion to approve one (1) administrative recommendation for the 2012-2013 school year. A motion was made to approve the recommendation as presented. MOTION Knight SECOND Harmon
Minutes November 20, 2012 Page Three 12.0 Continuing Business 12.1 Report Instructional Update Gloria Talley ED.D. Dr. Talley said that, as part of the instructional update, we have begun featuring district initiatives that are framed around the LexLeads, LexLearns and LexLives initiatives. She introduced Benji Rikard and Mary Matthews with a presentation from icivics. 12.2 Report Operations Update Jeff Salters, chief operations officer, provided a construction update for River Bluff High School. 12.3 Report Fiscal Services Update John Butler John Butler, chief financial officer, reported on the budget and projections of increases in state revenues for school districts. The latest projection from the Bureau of Economic Advisors was that there will be an in increase in state revenues for next year at a rate of 2.8 percent. Reports are that Revenues are coming in slightly above that projection. An advisor from the South Carolina Finance Committee projects a 3.5 to 4 percent increase in state revenue. As was the case last year, the State Department of Education (SDE) has indicated they will not recommend that the legislature provide an increase in SDE budgets for school districts for next year. Butler also presented an education funding plan that has been developed over the last several years. The plan originated from a task form begun by Dr. Jim Rex and co-chaired by Superintendent Woodward. The plan was developed by a committee of sixteen members and chaired by Harry Miley, former chief economic advisory for South Carolina. Members represented School Business Officials and representatives from the South Carolina School Boards Association and South Carolina Association of School Administrators, and a legal firm. The plan does not fix the present inadequate funding but does recommend a shift of taxes from businesses to the state and requires hold harmless funding to some districts. The plan, titled SC Jobs Education Tax Action of 2013 (SCJET), would create a state uniform millage of 100 mills for every district creating a level playing field for businesses, second homeowners and vehicle owners. Currently, the millage rate runs anywhere from about 100 mills to over 300 mils statewide. An example of leveling the playing field would be that if a business owner considering opening a business in Charleston or Greenville, SC, would pay 40 percent of the taxes that they would have to pay in Lexington, SC. The plan would create equity regardless of the business location. The plan consolidates approximately 70 different funds to 12 funds, simplifying things. It would take approximately $600 million to make up for the reduction in millage and shift the burden from the businesses to the state. The plan does not indicate where the $600 million would come from; it does provide revenue options for consideration. The plan would require hold harmless funds to insure that no district would receive less money than they currently receive. That would cost approximately $334 million. The plan allows school districts to increase above their funding level beyond 100 mills by increasing millage up to eight percent of their assessed value of taxable property for that district. It also allows districts to pass a referendum for operations, if they wished to go beyond the eight percent flexibility. To develop this plan, we received information from a variety of sources to run sample calculations. Mr. Butler reviewed calculations for a sample district and for Lexington One showing how this plan would impact these two districts. The total cost to fund this plan would be approximately $948 million. It would give about $600 million in tax breaks to South Carolina.
Minutes November 20, 2012 Page Four 12.3 Report Fiscal Services Update John Butler (continued) In summary, the plan would provide for tax relief for every district. It eliminates the Index of Taxpaying Ability which is currently used in the calculation of EFA funding we receive. Every committee member agreed that this would be an all or nothing plan. To pick pieces of the plan without the others would create greater imbalance. The bill has been written and we anticipate that it will be prefiled for the upcoming legislative session. Superintendent Woodward said this plan does not correct the level of funding. We will still be funded at the 2000-2001 year level. It does correct is the structure of the way we are funded. This group was instructed not to touch Act 388. This plan was developed working around that. We are concerned that the legislature will not be true to the total package. This is an all-or-none package. 12.4 Report Human Resources Mary Walker Chief Human Resources Officer, Mary Walker said that since the last board meeting, we have issued letters of intent to our certified staff to determine who may not be returning next year. At this point, we have 33 who will be retiring, resigning or relocating. 12.5 Report Legislative Update Mary Beth Hill 13.0 New Business Chief Communications Officer, Mary Beth Hill, provided an update of elected officials as a result of the November elections. On the Lexington County School District One board, Bert Dooley and Frank Shumpert were replaced by Jean Haggard and Brent Powers. Katrina Shealy replaces Jake Knotts in Senate District 23. Ralph Shealy Kennedy Jr. replaces retiring House member Marion Frye for House District 39. On County Council, Kent Collins replaces retiring council member Smokey Davis for District 3. The Legislature begins its regular session on the second Tuesday in January (January 8, 2013). This session is the first session of the two-year-long 12 th South Carolina General Assembly (2013-2014). As we get closer to the General Assembly returning to Columbia, we are beginning to see the legislative process unfold. The House Representatives meets on Tuesday, December 4, for their annual organization session. Legislators will begin pre-filing new bills. The first day that members of the House of Representatives can prefile bills for the 2013 Legislative Session is Tuesday, December 11, 2012. The Senate hasn t published their dates for the prefiling yet. But, they usually start on the Monday before the House does, which would make it December 10. 13.1 Report Audit Report 2011-2012 John Butler John Butler introduced Larry Montague of Burkett, Burkett, Burkett, C.P.A., and Matthew Hodges and Heyward Barnes who worked on the annual audit for the school district. He thanked the employees and staff of the district and Fiscal Services for their professionalism and cooperation as they worked through the audit process. He said it was a pleasure to work with the district. Lexington County School District One has done a very good job with the funds they have to spend. The auditing firm tests transactions using our professional judgment to test in the areas of disbursements, receipts and major funding controls. Mr. Montague said that in everything that they have reviewed, they found no noncompliance issues whether it be district policies or compliance issues from funding sources. That is commendable. Burkett, Burkett and Burkett issued three clean opinions. They issued an unqualified opinion on the district s financial statements that they are materially correct. They issued an opinion on the district s internal control structure, on your ability to create financial statements and on controls over the major compliance sections. Mr. Montague said that Lexington One is a leader in many ways. It is a leader in financial stability as well. Lexington One was given an AA rating by Standard and Poor s. Their rating is largely because of your financial practices, policies and stability.
Minutes November 20, 2012 Page Five 13.2 First Reading 2013-2014 Board Meeting Schedule Mary Beth Hill Mary Beth Hill said that normally the board meetings are scheduled on the third Tuesday. The proposed meeting dates for the 2013 2014 year would be July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19, December 17, January 21, February 18, March 18, April 8, May 20 and June 17. April 8 is an exception to the rule because spring break falls during the third week of April. 13.3 Action - Student Travel Requests Chair Smith called for a motion to approve three student travel requests. A motion was made to approve three student travel requests. MOTION Harmon SECOND Haggard 13.4 Action Use of Facilities Requests Chair Smith called for a motion to approve two use of facilities requests. A motion was made to approve the requests as presented. MOTION Powers 14.0 Items for Board Information Chair Smith said the remaining items were for board information only. 15.0 Adjournment Chair Smith called for a motion to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, Debra Knight Secretary