LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE Regular Board Meeting Minutes March 21, 2017 The Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees convened in executive session at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, in the Lexington County School District One boardroom located at 100 Tarrar Springs Road, to discuss an architectural selection committee contractual matter, 2016 2017 and 2017 2018 personnel recommendations, and a property option contractual matter. The board also heard a TIF legal briefing and a Town of Lexington Annexation briefing. Open session began immediately after the executive session. Board Members: Chair Debra Knight, Vice Chair Cynthia Smith, Secretary Dr. Brad Pitts, Michael Anderson, Anne Marie Green, Grady Harmon Media: No media in attendance 1.0 Call to Order, Executive Session Chair Knight called the meeting to order. 2.0 Executive Session Chair Knight called for a motion to enter into executive session. A motion was made to begin executive session. Green Pitts Approved Unanimously 3.0 Adjourn Executive Session Chair Knight called for a motion to come out of executive session and enter into general session. A motion was made to do so. Pitts Harmon Approved Unanimously 4.0 Call to Order, General Session Chair Knight called upon board member Grady Harmon to give an invocation. 4.1 Notification of compliance with S.C. Freedom of Information Act Chair Knight advised that the district tapes the meeting for accuracy in preparing the minutes and confirmed that the district notified the media of the date, time, place and agenda of the meeting. 5.0 Approval of Agenda Chair Knight called for a motion to approve the agenda as presented. A motion was made to approve the agenda as presented. Pitts Green Approved Unanimously 6.0 Approval of Minutes Minutes of the February 11, 2017, special board meeting, and the February 21, 2017, regular board meeting, were included for board approval. Chair Knight called for any additions or corrections to the minutes. Minutes were accepted as received.
Page Two 7.0 Reports and Action Items from Executive Session Contractual Matter Chair Knight called for a motion regarding a recommendation from the Architect Selection Committee. A motion was made that the board approve the recommendation of the Architect Selection Committee to award the architectural services contract for a new middle school to Jumper Carter Sease Architects, 412 Meeting Street, West Columbia, SC 29169. Smith Pitts Approved Unanimously Discussion: Jeff Salters said the district followed the process for solicitation for architectural selection and received a number of responses. The district committee interviewed three architectural firms. The Architect Selection Committee recommended the firm of Jumper Carter Sease Architects. Jumper Carter Sease has worked on projects for the school district for a number of years, dating back to the 1970s. We are pleased to recommend them. Jeff Salters thanked Chair Debra Knight for serving on the committee representing the board of trustees. Board member Cynthia Smith said she was a proponent of keeping tax dollars in Lexington County. She thanked the committee for choosing a local firm. Employment Matters Chair Knight called for a motion to approve one certified recommendation for the 2016 2017 academic year. A motion was made to approve the recommendation as presented. Smith Harmon Approved Unanimously Chair Knight called for a motion to approve 25 certified recommendations for the 2017 2018 academic year. A motion was made to approve the recommendation as presented. Smith Pitts Approved Unanimously Chair Knight called for a motion to approve 1,887 certified educators in schools plus 64 certified educators in Central Services for a total of 1,951 certified educators for the 2017 2018 academic year. A motion was made to approve the recommendation as presented. Smith Anderson Approved Unanimously Chair Knight called for a motion to approve 30 principals for the 2017 2018 academic year. A motion was made to approve the recommendation as presented. Smith Harmon Approved Unanimously Chair Knight called for a motion to approve six Senior Leadership Team Chief Officers for the 2017 2018 academic year. A motion was made to approve the recommendation as presented. Smith Anderson Approved Unanimously
Page Three 7.0 Reports and Action Items from Executive Session (continued) Property Option Contractual Agreement Chair Knight said the board discussed a property option contractual agreement. No action is required at this time as a result of that discussion. Student Appeal Chair Knight said that no student appeal was heard in executive session. No action was required for a student matter at this time. Tax Incentives Funding Proposal Chair Knight said the board of trustees heard a legal briefing regarding a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposal. Chief Operations Officer Jeff Salters said that the district was approached by the Town of Lexington to enter into a TIF agreement. This is an agreement wherein the district and other entities would give up potential future tax revenue to be used for development in a given area. In this TIF, there is one particular piece of property (approximately 264 acres) across the road from River Bluff High School on Corley Mill Road. The Town of Lexington is partnering with the school district and the county for funding to do a road improvement project on the Corley Mill Road, Ginny Lane and Highway 378 intersection. This intergovernmental agreement would cap our future potential contribution at $3.8 million. Anticipated revenue to be generated from that area would be approximately $13 million from the development. Chair Knight called for a motion regarding the TIF. Board member Anne Marie Green said the board heard the administrators present the town of Lexington s proposal for a Corley Mill Road/Sunset Boulevard Gateway Corridor improvement package financed by a TIF, and an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Town of Lexington and Lexington County School District One. Since the TIF would affect future tax revenue in Lexington County School District One, Anne Marie Green made a motion that the board accept the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Town of Lexington and Lexington County School District One. Green Pitts Approved Unanimously Discussion: Ms. Cynthia Smith said that school board members recognize the traffic issues in that area and that the TIF is a way we can give back and assist the Town of Lexington with that situation. She thanked the Town of Lexington for undertaking the task. Town of Lexington Annexation Legal Briefing Chair Knight said that the board of trustees also heard a legal briefing regarding the Town of Lexington Annexation proposal. Action will be taken later in the meeting (see Item 10.6). 8.0 Honors and Achievements Chair Knight, Superintendent Gregory Little and school board members recognized honorees present to receive state and national awards. 9.0 Citizens Participation Chair Knight read the guidelines for addressing the board of trustees and invited those present to address the board.
Page Four 9.0 Citizens Participation (continued) Ms. Yvonne Boyd of 609 S. Lake Drive, Lexington, South Carolina, addressed the board of trustees regarding Google s program delivering Wi-Fi on buses. This allows students who travel distances on buses a chance to do their work. She said Wi-Fi on buses would ensure that we are giving our students additional opportunities. She asked that the district reach out to tech companies to see what might be available. Her child participates in a cyber patriot program through IT-oLogy and the U.S. Navy, a program where students pretend to be U.S. technicians and search for threats. Her son represented Lexington Middle School and performed on a national level. Ms. Boyd wanted to make the district aware of this opportunity to ensure that children are getting more than just the robotics part of technology programs and that they get Wi-Fi access in early grades. She offered her assistance to do this so that our students are prepared for the future. Jessica Crowson of 238 Pilgrim Church Road, Lexington, South Carolina, addressed the board of trustees regarding the rezoning plan. She said that her house is in the middle of the rezoned area located closer to Midway Elementary than to New Providence Elementary. She is concerned about traffic patterns. She works in Columbia and would need to travel in the opposite direction to take children to school, retracing her steps. She requested that the board of trustees look at traffic patterns in the area where she lives. 10.0 Action Items 10.1 Bond Resolution John Butler, Chief Financial Officer John Butler said the bond resolution is for the construction and furnishing of a new middle school in the Lexington attendance area. The administration recommended approval of the bond resolution. Chair Knight called for a motion regarding the bond resolution. A motion was made that the board of trustees approve the resolution that provides the issuance and sale by the District of General Obligation Bonds of Lexington County School District One not exceeding $29,400,000. Anderson Pitts Approved Unanimously Discussion: Mr. Butler said that $28 million would be used for construction of the new middle school. The new middle school will cost approximately $40 million. We have sold some other bonds that will allow us to add to this amount. These bonds will be paid off by June 30, 2021, and will not be longterm debt. 10.2 Second Reading Policy BAA Board Self-Evaluation Mary Beth Hill, Chief Communications Officer Mary Beth Hill presented Policy BAA Board Self-Evaluation for second reading and approval. This is a new model policy recommended by the South Carolina School Boards Association, based on federal and state laws. This policy incorporates language from Policy ABB Board Powers and Duties, which will be deleted as part of the recodification process. Chair Knight called for a motion to approve Policy BAA Board Self-Evaluation. A motion was made to approve the policy as presented. Pitts Smith Approved Unanimously 10.3 Second Reading Policy BB Board Legal Status Mary Beth Hill Mary Beth Hill presented Policy BB Board Legal Status for second reading. This is a new policy recommended by the South Carolina School Boards Association, based on federal, state and local laws. The district does not presently have a BB policy. This is a new policy to the district and an addition to the B section.
Page Five 10.0 Action Items, 10.3 Second Reading Policy BB Board Legal Status (continued) This policy, however, replaces four other short, out-of-date Lexington District One board policies: Policy AB School Board Legal Status; Policy ABA School Board Authority; Policy ABCA Board Member Legal Status; and Policy ABCA Number of Board Members. The administration recommended Policy BB Board Legal Status for approval. Smith Green Approved Unanimously 10.4 Second Reading Policy BBA Board Powers and Duties Mary Beth Hill Mary Beth Hill presented Policy BBA Board Powers and Duties for second reading. This is a new policy and administrative rule recommended by the South Carolina School Boards Association, based on federal, state and local law. It replaces Policy ABB Board Powers and Duties. It also replaces Lexington District One s Policy BBA Board Officers. BBA will become part of Policy BD Organization of the Board when we recodify that policy at a later date. Chair Knight called for a motion to approve Policy BBA Board Powers and Duties for second reading. A motion was made to approve the policy and administrative rule as presented. Smith Pitts Approved Unanimously 10.5 Textbook Adoptions Gloria Talley, ED.D., Chief Academic Officer Dr. Talley brought a recommendation for instructional materials for the 2017 18 school year. District instructional adoption committees have reviewed the materials for grades six through eight and nine through 12 in the areas listed in the attachment. The committees recommend adoption of these materials contingent upon funding from the state. Chair Knight called for a motion to adopt the instructional materials. A motion was made to adopt the instructional materials as recommended. Pitts Anderson Approved Unanimously 10.6 Town of Lexington Annexations New Providence Elementary, River Bluff High Schools Jeff Salters Jeff Salters said the district recommended that the board of trustees allow annexation of New Providence Elementary and River Bluff High schools by the Town of Lexington. This will generate several cost savings for our district. Because of the way utilities are structured, we will realize a $20,000 annual savings in utilities costs. We will also see a savings in our School Resource Officer contracts as that moves to the Town of Lexington Police Department. Chair Knight called for a motion regarding the Town of Lexington Annexations of New Providence Elementary and River Bluff High. A motion was made that the board of trustees approve the recommendation of the administration to accept the Town of Lexington s request for annexation of New Providence Elementary property, on Old Cherokee Road, and River Bluff High property, on Corley Mill Road, in the Town of Lexington. The New Providence Elementary property is known by Lexington County as TMS #003300-04-012 and River Bluff High is known as TMS # 003696-06-005. Harmon Green Approved Unanimously
Page Six 10.0 Action Items, 10.6 Town of Lexington Annexations New Providence Elementary, River Bluff High Schools (continued) Discussion: Ms. Smith asked if there were any negatives to this agreement. Mr. Salters said there were none of which we are aware. We will get great service from the Town of Lexington and are excited about the opportunity to work with them. 10.7 Student Travel Requests Gloria Talley Chair Knight called for a motion to approve eight student travel requests. A motion was made to approve the travel requests as presented. Smith Anderson Approved Unanimously 11.0 Superintendent s Report 11.1 Report Superintendent s Update Superintendent Greg Little, ED.D. A. AdvancED Update Dr. Little said the AdvancED Review Team visited Lexington One last week. AdvancED is an international accreditation body. A team of eight came from various parts of the state and nation. They spent three days touring our facilities and talking with people. They interviewed 669 individuals. The AdvancED Review Team gave Lexington One one of the highest scores given to a school district. They said that it is exciting to see schools excel. We have wonderful staff, teachers, principals, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, etc. We have a supportive community and our schools thrive because the community supports public education. Our community demands great schools and we are glad to deliver. B. Comprehensive Five-Year Growth Plan Update Jeff Salters Jeff Salters reviewed the Comprehensive Five-Year Growth Plan for Lexington One. He said Lexington One held community meetings to gather input from citizens. More than 400 community members attended the meetings. Mr. Salters said that we received feedback from the elementary schools regarding Carriage Hill Lakes subdivision rezoning. Community members had concerns about transportation issues, friend and peer groups, and traffic. Frequently asked questions were: Can immersion students who are grandfathered be provided transportation? Will French immersion now be provided at LMS? What would the numbers look like if current sixth-graders were grandfathered at MGMS? Will rezoning impact high school attendance lines? The administration will review the feedback and share it with board members, then make any suggested modifications to the plan. Second reading and final action will be taken on April 25, 2017. Board member Cynthia Smith thanked the administration and community members for taking the time to participate in this process and provide input.
Page Seven 11.0 Superintendent s Report (continued) C. Transportation Update Jeff Caldwell, Chief Student Services Officer Jeff Caldwell reported that at the beginning of the school year the district needed 26 bus drivers. At this point, we are only ten drivers short. The board of trustees approved a two-dollar per hour increase that has boosted morale and enthusiasm. The district also lost 15 state-owned buses. We have little control over how many we have or when we will get replacements. At this point, we have received eight replacements. Three of the replacements are 66-passenger buses and five are 72-passenger buses, which leaves the district with a deficit of 600 (approximately nine or 10 buses). We do not know when those buses will be replaced. We have 20 district-owned buses and use them every day. Eight more have been ordered and we hope to get them by the end of the school year. They are in a queue to be manufactured. We are having conversations about replenishing buses and getting on a replacement cycle during budget. The average mileage is 160,000 miles on district-owned buses. Our buses travel about 22,000 miles every day with irreplaceable, excited cargo. The very few problems we have are minimal when you think of the magnitude of what our transportation department accomplishes every day with the number of buses we have. Board members asked Mr. Caldwell to pass on their thanks to Mr. Kurtz for a job well done. Dr. Little said that school buses are the first classrooms of the day. Bus drivers smiling faces are part of our students day. D. Legislative Update Mary Beth Hill Mary Beth Hill said that most of the movement since our last meeting in state legislation that affects public education took place in bills related to the budget, the state superintendent position and other matters. The National Board supplement for new applicants may be deleted from next year s budget. As it stands now, it would not affect teachers who have already applied for the process or who are already certified. It would, however, eliminate another professional growth opportunity for teachers. Senate Bill 534 would establish the Education Accountability Act. As of now, the State Department of Education would continue to administer the standards-based assessments of mathematics and English/language arts to students in grades three through eight. It would also procure and administer a standards based assessment in science to students in grades four, six and eight, and a standards-based assessment in social studies to students in grades five and seven. It continues WorkKeys and ACT Plus writing for eleventh-graders. It also calls for formative assessments in English and mathematics. The bill received a favorable report from the Senate Education K 12 Subcommittee. A similar bill, House Bill 3969, states that teachers may be evaluated using a value-added model. This bill is currently in the House Education and Public Works K 12 Subcommittee. Carried over in the Senate Education Committee is Senate Bill 389. This bill creates the Teachers of Tomorrow Certification Act, which provides an alternate online program route to teacher certification that includes having a minimum of a bachelor s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or institution with a teacher education program. Teacher candidates would still have to successfully pass the appropriate Praxis exam and successfully complete their school district s induction program. House Bill 3052 could allow public schools and public school district offices to authorize employees who hold a public school concealed weapons permit (PSCWP) to carry a concealed firearm on school property. This bill is in the House Judiciary Committee.
Page Eight 11.0 Superintendent s Report, D. Legislative Update (continued) Senate Bill 27 provides for the appointment of the Superintendent of Education by the governor with the consent of the Senate who would provide the term and qualifications. It received a favorable report in the Senate Education Committee and was amended in the full Senate to add that candidates must have a master s degree, and substantive and broad-based experience in public education. This bill received third reading in the Senate and is now in the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 3146 is a joint resolution which places a referendum question on the 2018 statewide ballot asking the people of South Carolina whether they want to continue electing the Superintendent of Education or want the governor to appoint the Superintendent of Education. This bill passed the House and is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. A similar bill, Senate Bill 137, received a favorable report in the Senate Judiciary and is on the Senate calendar. At the federal level, President Trump s initial federal budget proposal for FY 2018 slashes funding for the Department of Education by $9 billion (a 13.5% cut), which would roll education funding (excluding Pell Grants) to pre-2002 levels (in current dollars), despite 8.6 million more students in classrooms. E. Budget Update John Butler John Butler said the state is early in the budget process. The Ways and Means Committee finished their version of the budget and passed it to the House of Representatives. The House should finish their budget this week. The Senate should finish the budget on April 4. The House and Senate will then work to create a compromise budget. The budget goes to the governor in May. The Ways and Means Committee s budget proposes an increase per student from $2,350 to $2,400 ($1.2 million). They propose an increase in the fringe allocation by $841,636.00. They also, however, pass costs on to the district for $3 million in retirement payments as well as cost increases for health insurance and a step increase for employees at a cost of $7.4 million. The Senate would like to raise the base student cost to $2,500. Locally, with an increase in assessments and some other adjustments, projections suggest we would receive about $5 million. The board workshop will be held during the board meeting scheduled for April 25, 2017. 12.0 Items for Board Information The remaining items were for board information only. 13.0 Adjourn Chair Knight called for a motion to adjourn. A motion was made to adjourn. Harmon Anderson Approved Unanimously Respectfully submitted, Dr. Brad Pitts Secretary