001time. I'll entertain a motion to return to open session. All those in favor? Okay, we have one public comment and before I ask her to come up, I'm going to read the board chair's statement for public comment. The public participation section of the schoolboard meeting is designed to hear comments from the public, but is limited to 30 minutes so that normal business can be duct conducted. During this portion of the meeting, board members will listen to concerns and comments, but will not answer questions or debate issues. Each participant will be limited to five minutes and will refrain from making personal complaints about school personnel or board members. So today we have Sely Hassel Katie Kaylee. Okay, thank you. Am I good to go? Good evening. My name is Kaylee Hassel. At 22 years old, I
002moved 10 hours away from anyone and everything I have ever known and took a chance on Chesterfield. Lucky for me, Chesterfield took a chance on me. For 13 years, I have worked at CRMS. There is a reason I have made Chesterfield and specifically CRMS my home. There's a reason we still have teachers and staff that started the very first day the building opened. There's also a reason we're here tonight. On Monday, March 10th, our entire school shifted. The district office employees will say it is a personnel issue, and it is. These individuals behind me are personnel and we have major issue with how our school, our complaints and our leadership have been handled since March 10th. I want to be very clear. I am standing here not to address the Mr. River situation. I am
003here addressing the state our school has been left in by the careless district office employees that have failed us repeatedly. There was zero communication from to the staff from the district office from March 10th to March 21st. That was 10 school days where there was no communication of any kind from anyone at the district office. Members of the curriculum department were around throughout those 10 days. But as stated previously, this is a personnel matter, not a curriculum matter. Why were those the members of the district office sent? Over those 10 days, various staff members asked school administration what was happening. We were given a variety of answers with nothing being consistent. I don't blame Miss Sers for not knowing how to handle this situation. I do blame the district office for not stepping in and
004leading, for not supporting Miss Sellers, for not supporting the teachers, and most importantly, for not supporting the students by creating a safe learning environment for them. There is zero trust remaining between the teachers of CRMS and the school and district level administration. How can our students feel safe when we as the teachers, those that are caring for them all day long, don't feel safe in our own environment? Within 24 hours of Mr. Rivers being on administrative leave, things began changing at our school. When the school was at unrest, in confusion, and being told multiple stories from administrators, massive changes were being made. When asked why at the end of a school year, and amidst the turmoil in the building were we making massive changes to our daily structure, we were repeatedly told this is what
005the district office wants. Why and how would the district office even know what changes should be made if they don't come into our building? Why now when the level is tr of trust is so severed would they think that this is a good idea for to further divide the leadership from the staff of CRMS. On the morning of March 21st we received the first communication in the form of an email. The email was sent by Dr. Hail but signed by Dr. Anderson informing us on Monday we had a new principal. Dr. Anderson didn't even respect the employees enough as professionals to tell us in person or send the email himself. Our principal was removed after being a pillar of our school for 13 years. Our school level administration was exhibiting poor leadership and the district
006office with no notice or communication assigned a new principal. Let that sink in. For two weeks, we were left to flounder and we were informed via email of again another massive change. I strongly believe Mr. Morgan can be an incredible administrator. However, however, it's impossible for him to do that when receiving no support from the district office. Where was the district office on his first day? Where was the district office to ensure a smooth transition for everyone? Where have the highest level district office employees been for the last four weeks when our school is sinking every single day? They are nowhere to be found. You might be thinking maybe they didn't know. That is false. Multiple complaints have been filed with Dr. Hazard and Dr. Hail addressed with other members of the district office staff
007and board members and still there have been no changes. We were told repeatedly to trust Mr. Morgan. And this is nothing against him, but the same people that are telling us to trust him are the same people that have not only broken our trust as a staff, but shattered it. In January, before all of this, I made for me the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I decided to leave education. This situation is the epitome of why I'm walking away from a place I have poured my heart and soul into for 13 years. The place I left my family for because I believe so strongly in the community and my students. I want to be abundantly clear. This lack of leadership, communication, transparency, and concern for the staff in our building is not
008isolated to this particular situation. It happens in varying degrees all the time across the district. There is a complete lack of understanding and knowledges and knowledge of the challenges we face at the school level and it is obvious in every single decision that the district office makes. I'm specifically addressing the schoolboard members now. You have an opportunity to make real change for every single person in our county. It can't just stop at hiring a new superintendent attendant. I urge you to delve deeper into every single member of the district office that has turned a blind eye to our school over the last month and continue to let us drown even after repeated requests for help. This was not the failure of one administrator on his way out. This was a failure at all levels repeatedly
009for a month. The back of our shirts tonight say one school, one family, one legacy. These people believe in that with their whole heart and soul or we would not be here. I ask you, what are you doing? What are you doing at the school level? What are you doing as a district office employee? What are you doing as a school board member? Because from where we're sitting, it looks like nothing but repeatedly making decisions to destroy the legacy that we have built at our [Applause] school. Thank you for your comments at this time. We're going to have a moment of silence and then the pledge of allegiance. And I'd like to ask that during that moment of silence, you remember Ellen Middleton and Matthew Cwley that we lost and we just lost last night.
010Donna Freeman who taught here for 35 years. Please stand for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nation indiv indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I'd like to welcome everyone here tonight and again thank you for your comments. Uh I'd like to welcome our SRO, Miss Officer Perry Jacqueline with the link. Is she here? your administrators, principles, teachers, and guests. Stu, are there any students out there? Thank you all for coming. Board members, you've been given the minutes for March the 10th and April 2nd prior to the meeting. If I hear no objections, those will be approved by consent. Okay, Mr. Cassie, we're going to turn it over to our chief financial officer for your report. January financial review. Madam Chair, Dr. Hail,
011members of the board, good evening. February. February, I'm sorry. Yes. Uh, prior to this evening, you all received a copy of the February financial review. Are there any questions as it relates to that report? All right. Uh next we have uh just a quick budget process update. Um this is just the update from the uh the state legislature where they where they are right now based on the the house bill that passed a few weeks back. Uh so here just some of the the major points with some of the mandates that are coming down this year that we're going to have to address in in this year's general fund budget. Uh the House Ways and Means Committee as well as the full house rep uh suggested a teacher salary increase of $1,500. That would bring
012the the base teacher salary up from $47,000 a year to 485. Now, the Senate uh is pushing to reach that original $3,000 that was requested by the uh SDE as well as the governor. That would get to the governor's goal of that $50,000 that's been discussed over the past several years. So, there still is some some chance that that may be put back in when it gets to the Senate, but for right now, uh we're being told it's that $1,500 increase to the the minimum. Uh we are looking at the elimination of the bachelor's plus 18 salary scale. That's something that the state has decided to do uh is just to eliminate that scale alto together. Um what that would do is what we're assuming is going to happen, we haven't gotten confirmation of this
013yet, is that the state would would discontinue the issuance of new bachelor's plus 18 certifications. And then anybody who is on the is currently on the bachelor's plus 18 scale, we would maintain that scale at at the district level uh for right now and just but we just no no new people would would come on to that scale in the future. So everybody would be grandpa then. Yes. No. Yeah. Everybody who's on there right now would would remain on that scale. Just we wouldn't have any new any new additions to those to that scale. Uh the we're looking at a bus driver pay pay rate increase. This comes with the state's uh mandate of uh all state employees getting a I believe right now it's a 2% a 2% rate increase. That's what we're looking
014at for bus drivers. Uh there will be some health insurance changes. Uh we will see an employee increase for their rate of about $36 a month. That's for their health insurance through PEA. And then we are looking at an employee pre employer premium rate increase of 4.6% for retirees. And then this last bullet doesn't really address the general fund, but I thought I would mention it. They are expanding our funding for summer reading camp, which addresses some of the the new mandates that have come down uh related to testing and and retention in third grade. So, because we're having to serve more students over the summer, now they are expanding that funding next year. That's all I have. Is there any questions as it relates to that? We we have we don't have anything yet
015about federal uh no there there's been no news about uh as far as the the federal department of education as as far as what what effects that may have coming down on on this year's budget cycle. Uh we're assuming that it's going to be very minimal for this year just because we kind of operate one year behind. So all the funding that we would get from a federal perspective next year is really already at the state level. We we would really see those effects in years to come. Any other questions? Thank you, sir. Now's when your job really starts watching the budget. Okay. Dr. Hazard, personnel report. Dr. H. Madame Chair, members of the board, at this time I would like to recommend the following exhibits for your approval. Exhibits A through J. So move.
016Second. All those in favor. All right. Thank you, M. Now, Miss Stubs, our chief curriculum, chief academic officer, give us your curriculum report. Good evening, Madame Chair, Dr. Hail, and members of the board. Um, I'd like to highlight several areas in the curriculum report. Um, the first is the CTE program. Uh, Mr. Ben Teal at Mattby High has been chosen to represent the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators at the national level as their outstanding agricultural education teacher. Shar High students and instructors participated in the third annual South Carolina youth skill trade summit um that brought together over 80 students across the state of South Carolina. Um students showcase their skills and aspirations to industry professionals which allowed them to gain insights into the real world applications of the skills they are learning in the
017classroom. The 2025 South Carolina Skills USA leadership and skills competition um took place at the fairgrounds in Colombia. Chestville High had an outstanding showing with several students earning top honors um in the crime scene investigation. Allison Lloyd, Michaela Lizenbe, Carson McCullum demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork, securing first place. In mechatronics, Aaliyah Brown and Savannah Gunter defended their title title, earning first place for a second year in a row. Jenna Kelly and Llaya Moose showcased their expertise, finishing in second place. And the first place teams will go on to represent South Carolina at the National Skills USA competition in Atlanta this June. So, congratulations to these students and their instructors. 4K and 5K registration um took place um in March and will continue um throughout the next several weeks. So far, we have um approximately 212
0184K students that have registered. So, that is great news. Um by knowing the number of students, we can begin planning for next year. Is that an increase over last year? Well, we can have the total amount is 280. So, um we're we're getting pretty close and we're excited. Um so, the numbers look really good. Um special ed track and field day was held at Shaw High School on on March 19th with 200 students participating in the event. It started with the parade of of athletes and the Shaw Police Department's new police car led students around the track and then of course students participated in events and g and games um at the site. Students in grades 4K through grade 11 have been selecting books based on their choice. Um students were able to log into
019an app at their school and to select books that they wanted to read over the summer. Uh all of our students will receive three to seven books to read for summer reading. Um and we are asking that families join us in the theme of unplug, unwind, and open a book. Um so we're encouraging all families to read at least three books or read for 20 minutes each day. Um the last thing I'd like to mention is the the Chesterville County Strategic Compensation Grant. Um we were awarded up to 137,000. Um this grant aims to support innovative strategic educators compensation um in public schools. And so um five of our schools met the criteria of the grant, but the grant was awarded to New Heights Middle School only. Um, and since the South Carolina and state
020legislation prioritize math and reading, um, teachers that are teaching those subjects will be eligible for the grant. Student growth will be measured from spring to spring using the SC ready assessment. Um, and the state department in education analytics will calculate our the growth metrics for schools and districts, ensuring that everything is accurate. Any questions? Thank you so much. All right. Thank you. Tonight we have our assistant superintendent filling in for um Dr. Anderson and she will be with us through June. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um so before I get started on the superintendent's report, I'm going to ask Dr. Mara King to come up to present the policy additions and revisions for us. Good evening, Dr. Hail, Madame Chair, and members of the board. At this time, I would like to present the following policies
021for recommended first reading. These policies are for the protection of staff and students and for compliance with the law. First policy, JLCDB, which is the use of life-saving medications. The district is com committed to maintaining a safe learning environment in case an emergency situation may arise when a school nurse or other designated school personnel believes in good faith that a student or an individual on school premises experiencing a medical emergency. In keeping with this commitment, the board authorizes school nurses and other designated school personnel to utilize life-saving medications in the following circumstances. to provide a life-saving medication to a student to self-administer in accordance with the prescription specific to the student that is on file with the school. Administer a life-saving medication to a student in accordance with a prescription specific to the student that
022is on file with the school and administer a life-saving medication to a student or other individual on school premises whom the school nurse or other designated school personnel believes in good faith is experiencing a medical emergency in accordance with the standing protocol of a physician, director of DHECK, an advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistance licensed to prescribe medication pursuant to the state law regardless of whether or student or other individual has a prescription for a life-saving medication. Special note right now Narcan is the only life-saving medication that we have implemented at this time. We are looking at at the possibility of including EpiPens for the upcoming school year based on the push from the state department. Second policy is policy JLCDA which is the individual health care plans. It's called IHPS. The IHP may
023include an emergency action plan, seizure action plan and will meet the students needs for health monitoring and care during the day during the school day or at school sponsored events. So as of July 1st, 2025, bill 3309, which is a seizure safe school act, it goes into effect. So we as a district have always done this, but the state department is now making them mandatory. So training has already been implemented, but we we will continue to train and update our policies and procedures. So we have some revisions of some board policies. So policy JLCD is the assisting students with medications. So the guidelines have been updated from the state. So now we have to update our policies to be in compliance. School personnel will not dispense medications including aspirin except as provided by administrative guidelines.
024The guidelines are listed in the revised policy. We can no longer administer medications to students. We now have to assist them. Also, another revised policy is policy ADF, which is school wellness. The change is the school year back in 2017 2018 and thereafter, districts are approved to have up to 30 smart snack exempted fundraisers per school. The days per exemption will be reduced to one day up to 30 of one day each. The smart snacks regulations and policies do not apply to the following fundraisers and situations which may therefore also occur subject to district policy. One is the sale of food or beverages that meet the smart snacks guidelines. Sales of foods outside of school hours. Example, after hours concessions at athletic events, school concerts, or on weekends. Sale of foods not intended for on-site
025consumption. Examples, cookie dough, or frozen pizza sales. Sales of food exclusively to adults who are not students. Foods given to students at no charge and without suggesting a donation. Foods donated for classroom celebrations or emergency medical situations. And the last revision of the administrative rule for your information is policy ARJLCDR which is assisting students with medications. Once again the guidelines have been updated from the state. So now we have to update our rules associated with the policies to be in compliance. So this rule of course outlines the procedures that will be used to assist students with medications. And lastly, the following form updates have been presented to you for your information. Is the permission for school assistance for non-prescription medication form and the permission for school assistance for prescription medication? Questions one um the wellness
026program one of the policies there. Do we um do we ask our nurses in the school system to look at this system? I mean, look at this because I noticed that we got to have a countywide advisory committee that comes in and kind of look at what we're doing and what have you. Have the health uh professional in the district looked at these policies in terms of these all of these policies that's getting ready to be implemented as far as coming from the cafeteria or from No, no. from the nurses that that's that would be handling this medication. Oh, yes, sir. They have they they look they have a team. They look at it extensively. Okay. Yes, sir. And they they got pretty much involved in Yes, sir. Oh, absolutely. Yes, sir. And and thankfully,
027we have not had to administer Narcan in any of our schools, which that is a that's a blessing. So, but yes, sir. They look at it extensively. Okay. And we haven't had that in our schools too long. No, ma'am. We have not. It just it was passed last year and so we got the permission this past school year to have it for our school nurses and our director of DH signed off on it. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you. Thank you, Dr. King. Yes, ma'am. We need to give the first reading to this. We need a motion for the first reason. Yes. Sorry. Uh I'm not going to go through all the naming of these policies, but I am going to move that uh we go ahead and give first reading to
028the policies presented at the school board meeting. All in favor? I All right. All right. So, Madam Chair and members of the board, it is my privilege to speak this evening on behalf of Dr. Anderson and to share some important announcements. The first one we we are eagerly awaiting spring break, okay, which will take place next week, April 14th through the 18th. This time away offers not only our students and staff a much needed opportunity to rest, recharge, and return refreshed for our final stretch of the 2425 school year. I can't believe I'm saying that. Okay. Shortly after our return on April 22nd, we will distribute interim reports. These reports are an important checkpoint for our students and our families and educators alike as we work together to ensure that every student finishes the year
029strong and prepared for what comes next. On Wednesday, April 24th at 6 o'clock p.m. right here, Palmetto Learning Center, the 2526 Chesterville County School District Employee of the Year will be officially announced at our first annual employee of the year banquet. Okay. This event honors those individuals whose service often help happens behind the scenes, but is very critical to our su success. We look forward to expressing our heartfelt appreciation to these individuals. And then on Wednesday, May 8th, also here at 6 PM at this location, we will celebrate teacher of the year banquet. This evening recognizes the outstanding educators who have made a lasting impact on the lives of our students and our school communities. Both events will be very celebratory occasions full of gratitude and pride in our CCSD family. That concludes my remarks,
030Madam Chair. Thank you, Dr. Hail. All right. You should have in your packet the 2526 schoolboard schedule. Any questions about that? I just want to make sure you check that. All right. We have a work session on the 28th here. Do you think we'll have enough information at that point, Mr. Cass? I think it's going to be the third week in Okay, good. That's at 5:00 here at Palmetto Learning Center. That will be executive session and then regular meeting at 5:30. Our May meeting is May the 12th. That's a regular board meeting here at the Palmetto Learning Center. Um, executive session at 5:00. Regular session at 5:30. May I have a motion to All those in favor? All right. And we are ajourned.