001Good evening, Miss Hila. Would you open us with a word of inspiration, please? >> Our word for today is shalom, which is a Hebrew word that means peace and was used as a greeting and a blessing. Psalm 85:8 speaks of peace. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak. For he will speak peace to his people, to his saints, but let them not turn quickly to folly. Let us pray. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak. He will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, and those who turn to him in their hearts. Blessed be upon this day as you begin work on the budget. Look in favor of those who work so diligently through the many items on the budget. Protect them in their work to get the job done.
002bless you as the Lord gives us counsel for this work that has been done. Continue your blessings on our defenders of freedom and first responders. We ask that you this evening heal the hidden wounds of men and women who suffer and sacrifice for our freedom. Lord in your mercy, here our prayers. Amen. >> Call the Kershaw County School Board of Trustees meeting to order for May 19, 2026. Is there a motion to adopt a proposed agenda? >> Properly motion by Mr. C by Mr. Cameron and second by coach Blackman. All those in favor known by saying I >> I oppose and it's done. >> Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? >> Second. >> Properly motioned by Mr. Roberts, second by Miss Runlet. All those in favor, let it be known by saying
003I. >> I. >> And that's unanimous. I want to thank each and everyone for gathering with us this evening. Moves us down to our next item on our agenda, which is introduction and recognitions and special recognitions. Dr. Bill. >> Yes. Pinching for Mr. Matthews tonight is Mr. Hopkins. and we have a number of folks uh both adults and students we'd like to recommen uh recognize. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um our first recognition tonight goes to Ludolf Elgen High School student Carla Hernandez. Is Carla here? Please come forward, Carla. Cara earned top honors in the 2026 Project Safe Neighborhoods logo contest with 9inth through 12th grade division students. This was a statewide initiative promoting school safety and gun violence prevention. At Lug Felton High School, math teacher Samantha Thomas Green incorporated the contest into
004classroom learning, blending creativity with real world application. Through a lesson on quadrilaterals, students explored concepts of area and space while connecting them to safety and prevention. They then designed logos on quadrilateral surfaces, integrated both mathematical principles and messages aligned with the initiative. Open to students across South Carolina grades K through 12, this contest encourages young people to use creativity to spark conversations about preventing gun violence and fostering safer environments. Please join me in congratulating Carla on her creativity, leadership, and commitment to promoting a safer school environment. Mom, if you would like to take a picture. >> Our next honory is Lug Felton Middle School Weston Kish. Please join us up front. Weston earned second place at the state level in the Optimus Club ortorial speech contest. His confidence, poise, and powerful speaking skills were on
005full display as he represented Lugfeld Middle School with excellence on the state stage. Competing against top students from across South Carolina, Weston's performance stood out. Way to go, Weston. >> All right, Mom. You ready? We got a principal. >> There you go. Great job, Weston. Okay, ladies, you ready? Next, we're excited to welcome up three of our cafeteria managers for a special recognition. First, Lugof Elementary's Edwena Atkins. Next, North Central Middle Kelsey Hopkins. Great last name. And finally, Lug Felton High's Tavana Shaw. These three cafeteria managers applied for and received grants through the grab the tab grant program totaling $5,837. This annual grant program created created by school snack brand ZZs helps schools pay off unpaid student meal debt. The grant application required managers to submit debt documentation and explain how the funding will positively
006impact their school and community. Lugof Elementary and North Central were able to wipe out all student meal debt while Lugen High was able to cover senior meal debt. Thank you so much for caring so much about our school communities and putting in the extra effort to take this burden off of our school families. We appreciate all you do. Congratulations. Any family members? >> Hey, we have one. We have one. Okay, our final recognitions. We are celebrating three of our schools for earning statewide recognition. The South Carolina Palmetal Gold and Silver Awards program is designed to recognize and reward schools for attaining high levels of absolute performance, for attaining high rates of growth, and for making substantial progress and closing the achievement gap between disagregated groups. Tonight, we are recognizing the following schools. First, Blaney Elementary
007School for earning palmetal silver. All right, Miss Gardener, you can come forward. Okay, congratulations, Blaney. >> Next, we have North Central Elementary School for earning power medal gold. Okay. And final finally we have Luggy Middle School for earning also earning PAL medal gold. Okay, while she's doing that, these These honors recognize outstanding achievement in academic performance, student growth, and progress in closing the achievement gap. >> All right, please join us in celebrating the hard work of our educators and students with these great honors. Thank you very much and congratulations to all of our winners tonight. Great. sir, too. just our next item on our agenda is public form. We did not have anyone signed up. No chairman's report. So that moves us down to the superintendent report. >> Okay. While Mr. Willard's coming forward. Um
008just a couple of housekeeping chores related to the budget and our first reading tonight. But um beyond first reading, this year is reassessment year for Kershaw County. And because of that, uh we are going to need to appear before county council to bring our um our millillage ask for the year. Um that will be on Tuesday, May 26th, which is next Tuesday. Uh we've had the same village I think for 13 years. Uh and it has not been changed. We do not anticipate it changing any but because of reassessment we need to get there okay to to levy the same number of mills again. I would encourage you if you have time to attend that meeting just to to show our support for Kershaw County School District and for our budgeting process. Um so I
009wanted you to know that uh in advance. I'm sorry that it took until today actually for us to get that firmed up that that was going to be the case and that it would be Tuesday. I'll have Wendy send you the actual time of the meeting. That way you'll you'll know what time it is. Um the other thing that I want to mention before Mr. Willard starts um is this has been really a strange budget year and he's going to mention that in his presentation, but we've talked around the budget a whole lot. not just us as a school district, but the state in general. Um there there really hasn't been a lot of nuts and bolts in the numbers and we've waited a long time to get numbers tonight. Um we we're giving you
010our best stab at the first reading. Please keep in mind that we that's why we have a second reading is to give us a time to clean it up and and all as it goes through that process. but um he's going to mention it, but I'm going to reiterate now. The numbers that we're using are based off March 31st data as far as what our revenue is for present year and then how to predict revenue for next year. So, what we're having to do is just sort of take a stab in the dark as to what those extra months are. We come pretty close year to year, but it's a little bit scary when that's the best overall revenue projections that you have. So, um, please be aware that these numbers may change, not significantly,
011but they may change between now and second reading as we talk through things. I'm going to also steal his thunder. If you want to ask questions, you're feel free to stop him right in the middle. You don't have to wait till the end to to to get him to pause. He picks back up where he was pretty well. So uh uh but >> I might forget by the time I get to the end. So catch me when you can. >> So uh but but again you know I want to commend our leadership and and that includes principles that includes district level administrators that includes everybody in the organization for their input. We actually began budget work the first week in February and what we bring you tonight is a culmination of that process uh for
012first reading. So, uh, people work really hard at this. It's it's time consuming and, uh, but we we really want to make sure that we invest the resources of this district the best way we can. And you've heard me say it over and over. The best investment we can make is good quality workforce to take care of our students, which are our most important asset. So, uh, the budget we present tonight takes all of that into account. And again, if you have questions, just tell him, "Whoa, I need you to stop." explain that line to me. Thank you. >> Good evening everybody. So, um, as Dr. Goodwin mentioned, I I do feel like that, uh, what we've been able to bring to you up until now, the information has seemed pretty generic. Um but when
013you're in a budget uh cycle as we are in this year and when the available funding resources um are obviously not going to be available uh in a state budget uh for very much change and when we experience the loss of enrollment which is the first time that's happened in a long time in this district. Um we do what we need to do to move forward. So, what we're going to bring to you this evening is a concentrated focus, as Dr. Goodwin said, on the people of the district to the extent that we can financially and taking care of the classroom and the program needs as best as we possibly can. And that even comes with the need for us to look at the strength and the financial position that we have built up until
014this year um to make prudent financial decisions and put that to good use. And we've we've talked before about the necessity of reliance on fund balance for it from a budgetary perspective. And we will again talk about that tonight. Now, doing everything that we can in making those decisions doesn't mean that we can make commitments to infuse a lot of money into supplies of materials and those types of things. What it means is that we retain and invest uh into the the best assets that we have and that is looking at all employee classifications that take care of our students and taking care of those individuals who monitor program needs as well as as those who take care of our employees. We've talked about several challenges uh within this budget and things that we would
015like to change in generic fashion and we'll briefly talk about those challenges again this evening. But it's worth stating that portions of this evening's proposal comes with a bit of uncertainty as Dr. Good one is mentioned a little bit about uh but it also comes with some cautious optimism and at the end of the day there comes a time where we just have to move forward with the best plan that we can put in place despite the challenges and the things that we don't like through state legislation and we have to do everything that we can to execute that. So that's what this evening's proposal represent. So, as we move into the presentation, uh just a quick summary of some of the legislative actions and considerations that we've um we bring before you tonight. And
016the first couple of bullets are simply reminders of what's happened in legislation. And this is one of a couple of many, but from a financial perspective, these are the prominent mandates uh within this year's legislative budget, as in most years. Um but it's always important to high highlight those um and and make sure that we reiterate the fact that the changes made in the legislative process are to the minimum salary schedules for teachers and bus drivers. And as we've talked before that teacher salary schedule the proviso covers other classifications as if they were teachers. Uh that being nurses, guidance, media specialists, OT, PT, psychologists and social workers. So those two bullets represent the mandates and the changes to the minimum schedules. Those are not requirements that every district do so, but those are minimums. And
017then the next bullet for this evening's proposal and consideration. What we have included in this proposal are figures that represent a 2% cost of living adjustment for all employee classifications other than teachers and bus drivers. We will talk a little bit later. I think it's a couple of slides in about um what our considerations are for the teacher salary schedule and how that compares with that 2% increase to other employees. What we also have in the proposal is a step increase for all classifications for all eligible employees. Um obviously that includes the teachers and the bus drivers because that's by mandate, but we are also including a step increase for all other employees as well. and health insurance. Um, we we've made it all the way through this process and surprisingly for the first time
018in a long time, there is not a percentage increase that's mandated through legislation for either employee or employer health insurance cost. Now, again, it's it's important to note that our costs go up just because salaries go up. And that's true for insurance, health insurance, retirement, and FICA. So you will see those changed. So just a quick summary of of things we considered and objectives we've looked at as we've gone through the process. Um equity and staffing and making sure that we have the FTEES necessary to maintain uh classrooms. um coming into this this budget cycle and going into next year, that's a little bit different for us because we're experiencing both growth in pockets but a loss in enrollment districtwide. So, we have to look at that simultaneously uh with those needs. um special education,
019the idea program, we always want to make sure that we're we're meeting the standards and that may come with some contractual agreements that we've talked about many times as opposed to having employees. Um during the the budget process, we've considered other things, program expense needs, utility cost increases, operational needs, and taking care of our facilities. U the bachelor's plus 18 teacher schedule. Uh I just want to mention that real briefly again. That's a schedule that the state cut out a year ago. Uh we have chosen to maintain that schedule for those who are currently at that classification. And we will treat that schedule just like any other teacher schedule that's that exists uh under our umbrella. So here's where we briefly talk about those challenges a little bit again that we've talked about all along.
020Um, you know, we we've talked about the the change in waitings and how that impacts us locally, but also impacts all statewide and adjust our funding based on the change with students at the state level or other districts. And that's where the state aid to classrooms proportionate share comes in is that we are impacted more so under this formula by the growth or the lack thereof of state weighted pupil units and the growth or the lack thereof in other districts. And what that does especially in times of loss is it magnifies that impact. Um because we know traditionally weighted pupil units statewide are not going to do anything but go up. But if we lose it magnifies the impact on our district and the unfortunate thing again as we've mentioned is it's very very difficult
021impossible I would say to predict in advance. Then we'll skip the next bullet real quick and we'll come back to that. Um just uh just need to say that we're not sure exactly where we'll land by the time we get to final reading. Um a lot of things are fluid uh revenue at the state level. Um we we may get a few minor changes, but we don't expect any real win. Um when it comes to the final projections, uh but Dr. Goodwin mentioned the local revenue. Um you know, we're we're needing to go before council to talk about our our millillage roll back and where that's going to end up. Uh so there are some fluid things with regard to revenue and uh final personnel expense uh determinations. Uh we got a lot of hiring
022to do and we got folks leaving. So as they get taken out, put in a lot of things can change. So the third bullet uh where we get back to talking about those mandates a little bit. It's important to to note that the mandates based on the teacher salary schedule, the bus driver schedule, and the step mandate. All those things as defined are not fully funded and that's no surprise. We've talked about that. But what that does is puts us at a real disadvantage when we look at all employees and all classifications. So for our first reading tonight, what we wanted to do is look at a treatment of all salary schedules in a manner of equity. And we've mentioned uh in the prior two meetings, I think um that the $2,000 increase to the
023minimum salary schedule, if we were to fully load that on our side, which we're not required to do, um and the mandated step, then we know that that would have come at a cost of about $2.7 million is what we had discussed. But what we have included in tonight's reading uh for this proposal uh for your consideration and feedback is a teacher salary schedule that closely aligns with increases across all schedules for all employees. So we wanted to compare those to see what they look like against each other on average. So the increase this evening that we are proposing in the teacher salary schedule is an average increase across that schedule of about $3 a.5%. And what that includes is an average per sale change of around $1,400. And what that means on average is
024that a teacher that's getting a step, so they're at 10 this year going to 11 next year. With that change to the sale dollar and with the step, that equates on average to about $2,150 or about three and a half% on average. So what that does is it closely aligns us approximately at 3 and a.5% when we look at a two and a 2% cost of living adjustment and a step for all other classifications that also comes out at about 3 and 1.5%. So this evening's proposal um puts us at um looking at those teacher schedules not at the fully loaded as we've talked about but averaging 3 and a.5% um which is comes out at a cost of about $2.2 $2 million as opposed to the 2.7 that we had mentioned. And then the
025increases for everyone else being three and a half% across those classifications um uh is to include a 2% cola and a step. Now I know that's kind of a lot on that subject. So I will pause to see if there are any questions there. Okay. All right. then we will move right along into uh the the numbers the dollars and cents of this. Um so as we do as we look at this uh just reiterating what Dr. Goodwin said um as we put this together uh we have not yet closed out the month of April. So when we put our projections in for endofear performance on expenditures and revenue we're using the most recent data we have at the end of March uh to do those projections. So we do anticipate that that some of
026these will change by the time we get to second reading. They may not change the end result of what we propose, but it may change the the dollar amount or the percentage of change. So if we look at this in groups as opposed to going line by line and we take the expenditures um and what we give to you as we do a budget proposal is we go back a full year and give you the actual dollars from the FY 2425 year. We give you what the current year budget is and we give you where we would project to end up at the end of this year for each expense line. And then we give you a proposed budget line for 2627. So if we take this in groups, if we look at the first
027row, which is principal, assistant uh principal salaries, basically the school admin, and we go down through the row that's titled matching FICA, that is the area that includes all of your salary and fringe um for all full-time employees. And that also includes a proposal for part-time temp as well as subs uh to make sure that we are taken care of in all aspects of personnel that take care of either students, classroom programs or from a district level um other district level uh business aspects. And as you can see, uh, if we by the time we get to the back and we're looking at six and a half, I think it's $6.6 million worth of expenditure increases. Uh, this is the lion share as we've discussed. The next small section uh that includes the instructional services,
028program improvements, and student services. Those are the areas that we've talked about every every month at finance and facilities that are um quite a bit over budget because these represent the contractual agreements areas where we have to have those contractual agreements to take care of programs as opposed to us being able to hire. Um a lot of that comes from the idea or the special needs area. We we're choosing to not increase those uh in any drastic manner just to have a budget show. We would prefer to have those in salary and fringe u because that gives us the most bang for the buck and we're prepared when we hire people. The remaining items on this page um we are proposing primarily to keep those fairly level with current year budgets uh with the exception
029of a few that I will point out. Um one is cleaning services and you will see that that uh cost increase goes from a little over 3.3 million to 3.7. Um we we feel like we're going to end up at 3.7 this year because we did have we're coming out of ESSER that paid for part of this. We just had the full year of the increased budget for that full contract and we had an RFP during the middle of the year to adjust that contract by requirement. So we would we would keep that or or have that at 3.7 million. Um the other would be property insurance. Um we we can't avoid increases on property insurance cost. It just happens. Um trash as a utility. Um that one has not had a budget before. So
030we're simply just breaking out that portion of budget. So we have a line item for it as opposed to it just being a property service line item. And then our energy and gas. Obviously, we would expect an increase uh on on those utility items for next year. Um those utilities are hard to gauge. Uh we're doing the best we can to get as close as we possibly can, but those are uh the primary items for that page. Uh the second page of expenditures for first reading. Um our proposed budget items on this page are largely unchanged. Um as we look at things like transportation, travel um and then we get into the supplies and and some other uh smaller needs from a curriculum standpoint. Um there are a few material changes that I'll mention. Uh
031one is the technology purchase services. Um, I think that one comes with a a certain bit of expectation because that's what we need to deliver curriculum instruction material to the classroom. So, that's largely the reason for that increase. Um, and then we have um insurance and it's called insurance and judgments, but basically what that is is that's the other side of our insurance. So, we had property and casualty. This is our liability tort as well as our catastrophic interscolastic sports insurance. So u while the while the intercolastic side likely comes with no increase the li the liability side's going to. So we need to just be prepared for what we can be. Um to to round out the expenditure page. We also include our intent to uh to build in the idea that we're going
032to maintain our reserves at a certain level. uh we need to make sure we do that to maintain healthy fund balance and the allowance for any unanticipated fluctuations with cash flow as well as interest rates. Um so the total proposed expenditures for 2627 would be in in this reading would be 134 million 386930. It's an increase of about 6.6 million or about 5.3%. And we will look at that number again as we get towards the bottom of this summary page. Um so as we kind of sum this up and round this out. Um again these projections that you see for year end as we look at these columns we do the same thing for revenue. We give you the prior year current year budget where we project to end up with this year's budget again
033based on the March data. Um and then we give you the proposed next year's budget. All the categories in the local section at the top, we are proposing to keep most of those the same. However, from a tax collection standpoint, that top line for advorum, we do expect at a minimum a certain level of natural growth and appreci and assessed value. Um whether or not we we we definitely get the benefit of of retaining our millillage level. Uh we certainly hope so. Uh but we can plan on natural growth there and we will obviously have to adjust our projections based on next week's meeting. As far as state revenues, um the aid to classrooms lines uh for general fund and EIA transfer reflect the most recent data from the house. Now, interestingly enough, we just
034today got the Senate finance projections. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to dive into those. Uh, but I will definitely have that information by the time we get to second reading. Um, but the information that is that is there represents the House version of the state legislative uh revenue that will be coming to us. And as you can tell, um, not very much change there. whether you compare that to the prior year budget or whether you compare that to where we think we will end up. Um, as we talked about um, briefly uh, under the House version, we were getting about $1.6 million in new money. Unfortunately, that's what was taken away from us roughly at the 45day adjustment. all other state revenue lines in that section. We are proposing to maintain the same or
035similar current budget levels even though we we may project to exceed those currently. And as we look at those, what we have to do is keep in mind that there is some state tax break tax cut legislation u that that is still pending being discussed or being passed. So, it could impact any one of those line items when it comes to merchants inventory, manufacturers depreciation, or other state revenue or other state property tax um or state property tax and other state revenue. And the other state revenue line includes the the lion share of that is our retiree insurance. Um, and we're not sure where that's going to land just yet because those rosters won't be finished up until sometime towards the end of June. Um, so as those monies start to flow, people make elections,
036that money could change. So the local and state revenues at this time for first reading proposal uh comes in at about 128 and a half million. So 128.5 million. We are still proposing as we did um as we were uh converting our cleaning expenses from Esser over to general fund. We still want to maintain the possibility that we would have a transfer line from capital of $1,120,000. And what that would help us do is offset some capital needs that are in the general fund. um we can then combat some of the if we have any more than expected utility increases um or any property or liability insurance increases that surprise us because they're still uncertain at this time. And then you will see a line in there that subtracts out $950,000 for the CTE shift.
037We've talked about that career and technology money being shifted from the general fund to the state EIA funds. Um I put in 950,000 because I really wasn't sure if that number was going to change by the time we got Senate finance numbers. Now that I get a chance to dig into those at first glance, I don't think it's changed very much. So the hope is next time we will simply have that already included in the expenditure numbers. So we would pull that line away and it would be reflected in our expenditure number which means we would hope that 33 134 million u would go down a little bit. So um this proposal does leave us as you'll see with a shortfall of a little over $3.7 million um which we would propose to use fund
038balance reserves uh to balance the budget. And if you look across to the left on that and compare that to where we've been the past couple of years, um FY2425, we were able to um you know, execute the plan and we were able to put $879,000 into fund balance. We did project a use of $2.9 million coming into this year. Um I will tell you that it's really too early to tell u where we will end up but if you look at the next column based on the most recent data we have right now um as opposed to the use of 2.9 million we would we're saying that the possibility of using 1.6 is there uh but again that's based off of uh the end of March data and we hope that uh we can
039fine-tune that as we get to second reading. So, just a just a few reminders um as we close up. Um you know, we we still need to dig into that that Senate finance uh information. Things could change. Um you know, one thing that still is on the table and is going to be debated for a while, unfortunately, I think, is going to be the redistricting of of legislative lines in the state of South Carolina. Who knows if that will delay the actual passage of a final budget because it's all wrapped up into the legislation um or other things. So, uh our hope is we come back in early June and pass a second reading. However, um you know, the idea of a continuing resolution is still out there. Um salary and fringe projections will continue
040to fluctuate. We we have a lot of ins and outs. people leaving, people coming in, new hires that we need to make in the system. So, those will change. Um, contracts are in um and then, uh, as we've stated here, uh, due to the the prior year funding adjustments and a myriad of other things that we have talked about tonight that we have considered, this does have a reliance on fund balance to balance the budget. Uh but we'll continue to monitor all aspects uh salary and non- salary as we get towards second reading. Um you know I would I would encourage you as always please be open with us between now and the next week to 10 days if you have any feedback regarding tonight's proposal um so that we can look at some things
041before we wrap things up uh in June. Uh but with that Mr. Chair and board members, that concludes the first reading presentation and uh we'll be happy to take any questions and try to answer those if we can. >> I just excuse me I just have one on the proposed budget summary that when the principal is on that page I should have asked you were there and I'm sorry about that. I just had a question. It says property services tra what type of u what kind of money is we talking about? What is that for? What is done for that price? >> Which line is that? Um it's near the bottom. It's the first under energy and gas. The next one up I think it's property services and trash. >> Trash. Yes. Historically we we
042have it is a utility expense for our garbage services is basically what it is. And traditionally in the district it's been covered by basically a a lump sum budget that falls under the maintenance area. Uh, so just in order to get a budget in there so that we can track that in case we have increases down the road, I wanted to apply a budget there. And based on um history and track record, the 140,000 should be fairly close to covering that districtwide. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Yeah, I I just appreciate all the information you given us. Um, we've mentioned that um going to present this to the county council. our budget um first reading or whatever and then go from there. The expectations I just like for it to be on
043the floor today. the expectations from school board. It's been quite like a thing like like you said 30 I'm 13 years excuse me since we've asked them for any millillage increase and as we pres make a presentation from my own experience you can make a presentation but they're going to ask questions is oh we're spending our money wisely and that's no no reflection here but as we prepare ourselves uh I hope that they will look at things that um the state likes to mandate a lot of things but they don't fund a lot of things and that's where we land uh within our education system. So, uh I guess you'll be making the presentation or to the county council and >> we both plan to be there. I'm hoping that they will be open-minded our
044to our needs. And I'm saying this to be put on the floor because somebody might be hearing me tonight. So, I would just say that uh um I plan to be present when you do make the presentation and uh I certainly believe that we need help and uh I don't know what percent we would as far as we would be asking for. Have Have y'all come up with any numbers far as millage increase for anything to make things better? >> Yeah, I I could speak to that and we've we've had a great deal of help from the uh the county offices to provide us with the most up-to-date um estimated post assessment figures that help us calculate what what we have to put out there. First is a roll back millage. you know, going from
045where we are to a roll back millillage that basically keeps things somewhat flat with with just a natural growth. Um, we would not have to capture the full current year CPI and local growth percentage that is allowed um under the statute. We've received the letter. So, we would not have have to capture that full amount just to stay at our level millage. And I think that would be somewhere around the 4% range. >> Appreciate that. But any millage increase they would give us would be a big help. And >> agreed. >> I just want to make that point. >> Thank you. questions. >> Um I would I would actually echo what coach says that you know it it's been a long time since millage was adjusted and actually we're really you know the proposal will
046not be to adjust millillage. It will be just to restore it back to the level which will be a significant uh amount of help. And uh this school district long before I got here has been very very prudent with with their finances and has done a very good job. Um I dare say there are very few districts that can say it's been that long since millage was adjusted up. And you know, we're not crying that that we're being mistreated because we've we've chosen not to ask because we felt like we could live within our means and we still feel like we can live within our means uh with with the the natural growth in the the assessed value of the county. Uh we we are there. One of the things though that that you know
047we all have to to recognize is that because we had this one-year drop in enrollment doesn't mean we're going to have a consistent trend of dropping enrollment. And in fact, our projections don't show that. So, we're going to need to be careful that we that we keep that in the back of our mind as we do budget because what happens if we end up needing three other FTEEs, you know, in July because we realize we've picked up that many families, which is very possible. Uh, of course, we build in contingencies. Y'all know that that our budgeting philosophy has always been very conservative and make sure we give the worst case scenario. Uh but you know it doesn't take a lot of uh a lot of extra FTEEs to to eat up you know half a
048million million dollars. So we've got to be very careful. But uh I I'm you know you you can't say it often enough to our staff and the way they work to live within our means. And that goes with everybody in the district. It goes to our maintenance folks who look at a problem and they don't look at the most expensive solution. They look at how we can do it the best way for the taxpayers of of Kershaw County. And we see that in every classification of employees. We're very lucky. That doesn't go on everywhere. Uh and so as we go through this process, um this is the first time in quite a number of years that the district has appeared before county council, you know, in regards to having to to look at at where
049things are. and um you know we we are going in good faith and we believe that the county council will be in good faith also. >> Thank you. >> I'm going to piggy back. I I didn't say anything that I would think they would um help us or you know look at take things seriously. So thank you. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to go into executive session to discuss resolution, retirement of certified and classified personnel, employment of certified and classified personnel, assignment changes, and transfer to certified classified personnel. >> So, second >> properly moved by Miss Runlet, second by Miss Hley. All those in favor that raise your left hand and that's unanimous. A motion to reconvene the open session. >> Properly motioned by Mr. Roberts, second by second >> Mr. Cameron. All
050in favor know by saying I. >> I. >> And that's unanimous. In executive session, we discuss resignation and retirement of certified and classified personnel, employment of certified and classified personnel and assignment changes and transfer of certified and classified personnel. Is there a motion to accept the administration recommendation concerning employment matters? Probably a motion by Dr. King, second by coach Blackman. All in favor, let me be known by saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed and it's unanimous. And so we want to say to Dr. Goodwin, thank you for your leadership in the four years. uh mark tomorrow of your service to the district for the outstanding job that you have done. >> Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Second. >> Proper motion by coach Blackman, second by Miss Hley. Any discussion hearing? None. All
051those in favor that we know by raise your right hand and that's unanimous.