001Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And welcome to the school board of trustees meeting. Ms. Holloway, would you open us with an invocation, please? >> will. Our thought for the day is from Jeremiah 29 and 11. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Let us pray. Father in heaven, lead us this day with the understanding that we are guided by the Lord Almighty. He blesses us with the power of his love for us to do and say what is good for us. Bless our defenders of freedom and first responders as they care for us. By the arm of God, we are renewed by those things he gives us. We ask for your guidance as we go
002through this day. Bless and protect our men and women of our armed forces as they protect us. Remember those with hidden wounds. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen. Call the Colquitt County School Board meeting to order for April 14th, 2026. Is there a motion to adopt the proposed agenda? Properly motioned by Ms. Furness, second by Mr. Roberts. All those in favor let it be known by saying I. I. Those opposed, and it's done. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? Properly motioned and second by Ms. Furness. Mr. Cameron made the motion and second by Ms. Furness. All those in favor let it be known by saying I. I. Those opposed, and it's done. Again, we want to thank everyone for coming out this evening. At this time, we move to introduction
003and recognition. Dr. Goodwin. Mr. Matthew. Yes, we have quite a number of recognitions tonight and Dr. Smith, if you join me at the front. Dr. Smith, Dr. Goodwin, board. We'll start our recognitions tonight by recognizing several outstanding students. First, we'll recognize three students in our district who've not only been named National Merit semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program, but have now advanced to the finalist stage of the competition. When I call your name, please come forward. From Lugoff Elgin High School, Angela Newton and Isabella Scott. And from North Central High School, Cooper Quigley. As finalists, these students have the opportunity to continue in the competition for nearly 7,000 national merit scholarships worth more than $26 million that will be offered in the spring. From this pool of semifinalists, only about 15 15,000
004students nationwide advanced to the finalist level and were notified of this designation in February. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be chosen from this group of finalists based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments. We can't wait to hear the good news from all three of you. Please join me in congratulating these amazing students. Moms and dads? Okay. Okay. All of you are sure who's going to Shore? Thank y'all. All right. Next, we'll recognize a state champion team. The Iron Knights strength team won the 2026 2A state championship at the South Carolina High School League Strength Coaches Association state meet for the third year in a row. Will Will members of the Iron Knights, Coach Ryan McDonald, and North Central Principal David Davey Branham, please come forward. Members of the team that competed include Netty Reyes,
005Jaylen Wesley, Chris Quayler, uh Kaylin Bradshaw, Zamain Bennett, Tech Boyd, Zion Reed, Kamari Kelly, Tyler Sumpter. Each lifter competed in the bench press, squat, and broad jump. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Don't go anywhere yet. We would also like to give special recognition to Kaylin Bradshaw, who finished as runner-up and was named to the All-State team. He lifted 405 in the squat, 240 in the bench, and jumped 11 6 in the broad jump. Congratulations. Our next recognition tonight goes to another outstanding group from North Central High School. Would members of the North Central JROTC Raider team please come forward. Team members include team captains Victoria Frank Vega and Jasmine Cruz, along with Beseda of Val Divines, Hannah Epps, Cooper Quigley, Gavin Payne, Jake Breed, He Sheller, and Arby
006San Jose. Team is led by Major Chad Young and Command Sergeant Major Owen Smith. The North Central High Army JROTC Raider team claimed the Fourth Brigade JROTC Best of the Best Raider Competition Championship in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Only the best teams from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and DC were invited. These cadets from North Central High had their best ever performance, placed four out of five events, and first place overall. They finished first in the one rope bridge, second in the 5K run, second in the not tying relay, and third in the litter carry. The victory at Best of the Best solidifies North Central's reputation as one of the top Army JROTC Raider teams in the fourth brigade. The championship victory highlights what has been an exceptional season for the
007Raider team, who now holds an impressive 48 and six record for the year. Their success reflects months of intense training, discipline, and commitment from the cadets. Join me in wishing this impressive team luck at Nationals in Kentucky. Thank you. Our final recognition tonight, we ask director of safety and security Captain Coleman Smith to come forward. Tonight, we recognize Captain Smith for his recent graduation from the South Carolina FBI Command College. This premier program is an intensive deep dive into strategic planning and high-stakes leadership. His selection and graduation highlight his dedica- tion to professionalism and commitment to keeping Kershaw County students and staff safe. Please join me in congratulating Captain Coleman. >> On our public forum, we do not have anyone that has signed up tonight. Our next item on the chairman's report you have in
008your packet school board members to school law conference that is coming up in August and the registration open in May. So, if you would let Wendy know if you plan on attending. Dr. Goodwin. Mr. Matthew again. Yes, tonight we have the annual federal funds approval. Mr. Matthews and Dr. Jenkins are going to come up. I would like to officially welcome Dr. Jenkins to the to the district. This is her first board meeting. She's been with us now for a number of weeks, but uh first time she's had to sit up there in the hot chair. So, we want to welcome her as federal programs coordinator. Board, uh we come to you tonight and first to welcome Dr. Jenkins to Kershaw County staff. She comes to us from Darlington County and we are so very happy
009that she's part of our team. It is a joy to work with her every day. She knows the job, so that's very helpful as as we move into the next school year. You have before us in your packet the request from us to for you to accept federal funds for next year. The funds that we the numbers we have are what we got this past year. Uh so, that's the the basis for the numbers you have. Uh I'm not aware that we've gotten any projected numbers for next year. They know if you remember last year's uh federal funds were delayed uh in some cases fairly significantly. Uh so, we don't have any this idea at this point we don't have any idea how it will come out moving forward. Uh but, we we certainly hope
010that we'll get the same amount of funds we got last year. So. Uh we're asking the board to approve uh and accept accept the federal funds for next year. Are there any questions for Yes, sir. Great question Mr. Matthews. Um and Dr. Jenkins. I I guess it kind of goes without saying that still Title I is pretty much people heavy which is a good thing. Yeah, and I always like that Okay, when we use these kind of monies to when we we use them for folks, that puts people in front of the faces of kids which is People teach children, programs don't teach children. So, we are very much in favor and promote the idea of putting people in our Title I program. program. No other question. A motion to approve the federal funds. Properly
011motioned by Ms. Furness, seconded by Mr. Cameron. Any discussion? All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. Opposed. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Chair, Mr. Willard will come up and do a uh overview of where we are in the budget process. We're still obviously very early in the process. Um the uh Senate, if I'm not mistaken, uh the, uh, budget will be on the floor week after next. And, you you do have a calendar of where it is, but I'm sure Mr. Willard will highlight that, also. Good evening. Thought it was already on. We want to build tonight, uh, on what we've already discussed as far as budget. As Dr. Goodwin mentioned, uh, we are still waiting on a lot of information. Uh, so this will again be high-level. Um, but we
012want to work up to our last couple of updates before we get into a first reading of the budget, which we anticipate being the second meeting in May. Uh, we just don't think it's going to be advantageous just to do a reading at the first meeting in May, just based on the information that we will likely not have at that time. And being able to assemble a reading. So, we'll jump right into the information. Um, the first two slides of this presentation has not changed since the last time we were together. So, I am not going to spend a lot of time going through, uh, what we have seen through the house version of the budget again. And not going to talk about the waitings again. So, we have that information. So, if we go
013to the right there on that slide, just want to make a couple of comments and review of what we have talked about. And this is the one where it talks about the state aid to classrooms and what it means to Kershaw County School District. So, as far as new funding for the 26-27 year, it only nets out to be about a one and a half million dollar increase under the formula. Now, what's critical is we need to understand that that increase is based on the 45th day adjusted funding that we currently have. Meaning when we lost students coming from 135-day last year to 45-day this year, we lost funding. So, when we take a look at budget from a reading standpoint, our approach when we start our revenue side of that discussion is going to
014look somewhat different than what we've done before. Typically, we go from a previous budget to a new budget. This time, we're going to have to actually look at our actual revenues in comparison to what the increases are going to be. Because if we look at that compared to what our budget was coming into this year and what it currently is, there would be virtually a zero net increase in revenue going into 26-27. So, we need to make sure that we keep that in mind, and we will show that to you as we get into those uh readings. And it's important to keep in mind that a million dollars of this funding change comes by virtue of the CTE money being moved out of general fund to the state side. So, part of the positive of
015this is we may not see that in a revenue form when we build the revenue, but we will have the ability to shift somewhere in the neighborhood of about a million dollars worth of salaries and fringe out of general fund to this state fund for CTE. Now, CTE will still maintain their portion of equipment and supply money. That's not taking the place of it. We will still maintain that. But this money has the intent of covering other expenses for that program. So, we will be sure to show that to you as well. So, it's not a revenue benefit to the general fund, but it is a expenditure shift that will help us a little bit. Health insurance. The revenue side of that, it could get a little bit better as we get to the end
016of the year and we update our current workforce and SC educator used to be PCS. Uh we may gain a little bit more in the health revenue side uh based on our workforce going into next year. On the expenditure side of that, however, currently there has been no indication that there is either an employer or an employee increase to health cost for next year. We've been known to be surprised before though, unfortunately late in the game. Uh so, we're still waiting to see if we will incur any kind of expense increase uh on the employer side for PEBA health coverage. Okay. So, in addition to that related to uh the state um legislative process, other things we need to keep our eye on and we will look at over the over the next few weeks
017um is the state mandated bus pay. So, traditionally that percentage increase that's mandated by the state is tied to the state employee percentage increase. Right now, that is a 2% cost of living increase uh but it has not yet been stated that it's tied to bus drivers. So, we will keep an eye on that and bring more to you. In addition to that, um the bus driver pay uh would change based on the step. We do anticipate a mandated step for them just like teachers as well. Again, the state health plan cost increase is not known at this point if there would be any. Uh we do hope that we will continue to operate next year under the same employer cost rate. There will be some increases just by virtue of salary increases, but we
018would we hope that there will not be a percentage increase on our cost. All of the tax relief bills that we've discussed a little bit, we still have not seen anything um in writing or in formula to know how that would impact us with regard to uh the phase-in and the hold harmless as we anticipate losing revenue on state tax relief, homestead, and the boat tax. So, we will keep you informed. Um tier three uh under Act 388, uh we still receive a small hold harmless increase because we do not get taxes on owner-occupied homes. And right now that is projected to be another 675,000 in revenue to the district. Um is all we would get from that. So, what we have been able to do to this point when it comes cost to the
019district is we know that the legislative body is saying a $2,000 increase to each cell of the teacher minimum salary schedule. Um we we have to keep in mind and just disclaimer that we're already above the state minimum. So, we're not required to do that full amount, but what we wanted to show you is the cost of implementing a $2,000 increase to each cell and maintaining our current local supplement that we pay on top of that for each cell. And if we implement that with our current workforce, the cost of that alone would be over $2 million. And if you take that one number and compare it to the revenue that I just mentioned, things just don't quite match up. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that. In addition, the state-mandated step
020increase calculated under our with our current workforce for certified teachers would cost an additional $640,000. So, those numbers will change a little bit as we have folks leave the district at the end of the year as we have new hires coming in, but we'll continue to calculate those and update those as we have those fluctuations. So, you're looking at between 2.6 and 2.7 million just on two mandates that are drastically underfunded. So, if we take a look at other considerations that you that we would like for you to know that we are at least looking at despite the challenges. We we certainly want to look at both cost of living and step increase for non-certified, so all other non-teacher employees, non-bus driver employees, since they are covered under the state mandates. Um we will be
021taking a look at curriculum and instructional needs. That's largely going to focus technology that are needed to deliver curriculum. And then any other state mandates or anything that's approved there from a material standpoint, obviously, but hopefully those would come with some funding. Utility. We all know that we do the increases on an annual basis. We would just have to simply take a look at what those projected increases are, look at our trends through the current state and bring you a recommendation for those changes. Um inflationary impacts. How much would supplies, materials, and other things cost us in comparison to what it does this year? Um always a necessary Um, uh, something we we should look at each year. Um, and then starting back in February, we met with all of our principals to go over
022staffing, uh, student teacher ratios, and from my personnel standpoint. So, we will take a look at necessary staffing adjustments and alignment based on that reduction in students that we experienced coming into the year and we expect going into next year. Um, so we will we will make sure that we take a look at those very closely. Um, an important bullet, local revenue right now, um, is um, is uncertain. We are in a reassessment year and we are working very closely with, uh, the county and we have met with the state Department of Revenue to go over the process for that reassessment and how we calculate millage and how we, um, estimate what our local revenue would be next year. So, we will continue to take several steps on that in the coming weeks and hopefully
023by the time we get to, um, an early May update, especially going into first reading, we'll be able to hone in on that and give you some more information. So, basically, as we go through this, again, very high level, it may seem overly simplistic, um, at this point, um, we we can look at this one way as as it being a very easy budget because, um, there there's just only so much we can consider. Meaning that we do the bare minimum or we can also look at this as being a very difficult budget because of information we don't have and because of funding we're not getting. So, and and because of that, it creates difficult decisions that have to be made. But, either way it doesn't change the fact that the end result we need
024to go ahead and resign ourselves to the fact that it's not going to look good. There just aren't enough cookies in the cookie jar. And that's statewide. That's not just uh Kershaw County. So, what we hope that you will see and that everyone will see through this is it's going to be a people-focused budget. And we're going to put our money, we're going to invest our money into our our best resource, our best asset, and that's our people. So, that's going to be our goal, and we will look at other necessary things that we need to as we go through this budget process. Um as Dr. Goodwin mentioned, we provided to you a calendar. Uh next week is supposed to be the full Senate uh budget debate. And we'll keep a a a close ear
025to that. And hopefully by the early part of May, we will have some concrete information to be able to build uh this out to some specifics to be able to show you in May. So, with that, uh that is the update on the budget this evening, and I'll be happy to uh try to answer any questions you may have. Just a couple things, Mr. Wood, if you don't mind. First of all, always appreciate what you all do in the um the nether regions of the the department of the budget and your office and all that stuff. I don't know how you keep everything straight like you do, and it's it's much, much appreciated. A couple things um with regard to the early discussions of the state budget, the um I hate to call it a
026surplus, but there was wasn't it like a billion dollars or something? Am I making that up? That the state had >> that's close. Do you see it's it's a a difficult pill to swallow uh when we're talking about, you know, perhaps having some issues with our budget when they have that kind of surplus money. Do you not see us as in school districts, public education getting any of that, or are they doling it out, or in in other ways? What are you hearing from that? Um right now, we do not have a a real high hope that any of that surplus is going to be put into the educational pieces of the budget. Um I can't say whether or not it's going to be um you know, deviated into other areas, uh but we do
027know that it has not to this point been placed into the education uh formula. Okay. >> Um we do get the sense that they're going to continue to maintain a very high level of reserve. Okay. Secondly, and I certainly appreciate your comment about the how people-focused we are, and I think I think us as a board, we definitely have been, and that's that's spot-on. Um with regard to the cost of living increase for our non-certified folks, um I guess that's something that the board will take up before we get into the crunch time of the budget with if we want to do a percentage, or however we normally do it. Actually, as we're building, we we tend to go along with what the state is doing with for their employees, which this year looks like
0282%, but in our case, it's 2% plus a step. So, we're making the assumption as we begin building that that's that's where we're going to build out from as we bring you that first reading. Then if uh you know, if you want us to make adjustments from there up or down, that'll be the the next step. Yes, sir. Okay. And then the last thing, and this is my old brain not working, if you'll refresh me, um again, this this board's been magnificent with the um the salary study we initiated a few years back in implementing facets or phases of that. Is there anything we we still need to target in that arena at this point or are we have we kind of done everything so far? Thank you. >> Well, in most there are a
029few a few minor cleanup kind of things that that we have been working on and and the other thing and I'm not sure if it's going to make it in time for our budget um is we are uh looking at supplemental schedules for athletics and those kinds of things. Not sure if that will make it in budget. That could be you know even something that we have to look at during the year next year. Thank you. Ms. Kim. Uh thank you Mr. Woolard for all of that information. I do have a question um just to to wrap my head around it with staffing adjustments um coming up I I know we've lost a number of students this particular school year. Uh I don't even know how you're projecting what to do next year cuz I
030don't think this year was anticipated like it was but what is what is the ratio of students to a teacher position where it would have an impact us in terms of uh of a lost position. And I know some of that will be absorbed through attrition and whatnot um but I I just I'm just curious if there's a a number that you go off of a ratio that you look at in order to consider where or not where but what to cut how many positions to cut. Well, the the way we have our staffing we have a kindergarten ratio that we use. Then we have an early childhood ratio which is first and second. Then we do a third, fourth, fifth ratio. Then we have a different ratio we use for middle school 6 7
0318 and then we have to actually do a little different formula for high schools because you have to be able to offer the all the curriculum. So it's a little more difficult. Uh Mr. Branham left. Mr. Branham is the the recipient because of that. The smaller the school the harder it is to hit those benchmarks. Where at the high school at you know say Lugoff-Elgin High School it's a little bit easier because you can offer depth of curriculum because of staffing. But uh we actually are low we're projecting low on all of those ratios. We're we're not creeping our numbers up at all. In fact, we to be perfectly honest, we ended up by the way we were able to work with our principals, especially in elementary, where we actually creeping it down just slightly.
032So uh we don't think that anybody's going to see, you know, really drastic changes. Um and you know, I'll I'll call attention to to one school in particular cuz we've talked about it publicly. Um we never anticipated losing that many kindergarten students at Pine Tree Hill. Um and so the absorption there is just absorbing what we would have done last year if we had known it in advance. We we would have gone ahead. Um and we've got little pockets of that all across the district. But um we have informed the principals where we are. We will riff no one. You know, we we're not cutting any positions. The other thing that we don't that we're trying to avoid every opportunity we can, we're trying to avoid um even transferring staff. Uh you know, because uh
033a person goes to work for a principal. They don't go to work for the school district. Now, I know in technicality they work for the school district. But you know, when somebody interviews, they want to work with that person. And so we we're doing everything we can to avoid having to do what I refer to as an involuntary transfer. Uh so we uh you know, to be honest, our folks really are not going to see any change because we're we're just staffing to the to the numbers. Now, it's a moving target. What happens if if, you know, some of these uh virtual homeschoolers come back next year? Well, we may be hiring late. Uh we don't want to hire late. In fact, you know, my my theory's always been hire before the 1st of May.
034And uh so, you know, but we may have to hire late, but you know, right now we we look really good and it we actually look really well staffed for this time of year. So, that's a long answer to your question. I'm sorry. Uh I I appreciate the thoroughness of that. That Thank you very much. That was very helpful. Mr. Chairman. Yes. Um to piggyback off Mr. Cameron, um and it may be with the ratio, it may be another exception, the special education department. I know we're keeping our eye on that as well with those caseloads, trying to keep those uh down as well. So, I appreciate it. I always tell folks, you know, you you you plug the hole in the dam over here, and all of a sudden it leaks over here, and
035that's that's the way it is, not just with special ed, but I mean, you know, you can think you've got a high school staffed on math teachers, and all of a sudden you realize you're a math position short, and that's never good because you don't want to be looking for a math teacher in June. Or special ed teacher in June. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Uh members of the board, we have a few things coming up that I want to make sure that are on your calendars. Uh the Teacher of the Year celebration is this Thursday night. Starts at 6:00. Um that's always a big big night for our district, and hope if there's any way you can come out to to join us for that. That is at the Camden High School Auditorium. Then,
036in this room on Thursday, May 7th, we will be having the future educator signing day, and there's an invitation in your folder for that. You know, that's not a very long program, but it's very meaningful to our profession and we uh we hope that you'll join us for that also. And this month is the month of the military child. Y'all know we have a very large contingent of military connected children. And we have activities going on all week, but on April 22nd we would invite all of our district to wear purple in recognition of military families. That also is Day at the Capitol Day. So, I'm probably going to wear my purple to Day at the Capitol Day. Of course, my wife will have to lay out whatever's purple cuz I can't tell what that
037is, but she'll tell me it's purple at least. She'll try to make me feel good about it. But we we do have a number of events. Y'all know that that Mr. Hopkins and his team really do a lot to recognize our military connected children and they're very important to our school district. So, uh we'd invite you to wear purple on April 22nd in recognition of the month of military child. And Mr. Chair, I think that concludes my remarks. Okay. Thank you. Is there a motion to go into executive session to 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? Properly Properly motioned by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Ms. Runyon. All those in favor, let it be known by saying
038aye. Aye. Those opposed, then it's done. >> Mhm. >> Motion to reconvene to open session. Properly motioned by Ms. Furness, second by Coach Blackman. All in favor, let it be known by raising your right hand. That's unanimous. In executive session, we discussed 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 administration recommend recommendation concerning employment matters? Properly motioned by Ms. Furness, second by Ms. Robert. All those in favor, let it be known by raising your right hand. Okay. Are there additional motions? Mr. Chair, I move that we accept the superintendent's recommendation that the contract of one induction contract employee not be renewed for the 2026-27 school year pursuant to section 59-26-40 of the South
039Carolina Code of Laws. Motion is properly before us. All those in favor, let it be known by raising your right hand. That's unanimous. Additional motion? I move that we accept the superintendent's recommendation that the agreements for seven non-certified employees not be renewed for the 2026-27 school year. Motion is properly before us. All those in favor, if you let it be known by raising your right hand. And that's unanimous. Uh Mr. Chair, I move that we conditionally accept the superintendent's recommendation that the contracts of two annual contract employees not be renewed for the 2026-27 school year subject to the employees' appeal rights pursuant to section 59-26-40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Motion properly before us. All those in favor let me know by raising your right hand. And that's unanimous. Is there a motion
040to adjourn? Properly motioned by Dr. King, second by Ms. Furness. All those in favor let me know by raising your right hand. And that's unanimous.