001Want to thank each and everyone for gathering with us this evening. Moves us down to recognition as well as public forum. We have three individuals that have signed up with us this evening. Neil McMillan, [clears throat] facility assessment, and Karen Robinson of Facility Assessment. And then we have Latana, Air Force School Practice. So, we have two individuals that have signed up for the same topic you will be allowed to share that five minute time and then we will then move down to Latana for school practice at this time Mr. and Robinson want to five minutes. [clears throat] >> Hey, good evening, superintendent, members of the board. Uh, my name is Neil McMillan. uh recently moved into the area about five years ago and um participated in in youth sports. I have two um children here
002in the area. Both have uh moved on from Stover. Both are a freshman at Ellie High School. One's a senior. I'm actually missing a cheer event tonight to be here with you guys. And one's a freshman that plays football last year. So having said that, I had a bunch of spare time. Um 25 year veteran from the army. um 10 years a special um special agent with DCSA defense count intelligence special this defense county intelligence and security agency out of DC. So when I moved here u my wife and I both retired military so she told me I need to do something with my time. So therefore I started a youth a youth league here in the county. Uh we played two years with the recreation department. Great league however didn't have any postseason which
003was the uh basis for me starting the youth league to travel. However, so just to address a few things that we ran into with some issues um being in the county um in front of me, um KCSD currently um assesses a rate of 250 per hour with mandatory minimum of four hours, which b equates to us for $750 a week for practices. Uh that's unsustainable by any means for any 501c3. So, um that's for practice field use. We don't have a um a problem plan for the facilities use. Um the current rate for facility use we don't have a problem with that but the practice to pay 250 um per day we we we don't have we haven't heard anybody doing uh any fees like that or paying we just wanted that address and and
004some help with that and some your feedback would be uh nice at the conclusion of this. So um this creates a clear inconsistency. Um organizations like dental lead are being required to pay double time that athletes are legally allowed to use the field. In effect, we are being charged for access that cannot be utilized under SCHL rules. This policy places unnecessary financial burdening uh on nonprofit organizations serving KCSD students, families, also um contradicting the established athletic athletic regulations. We can't even practice kids for more than two hours, but we we have to rent the field for a minimum of four hours. So, I'm just trying to process that logic, you know, from from where I sit as a as a youth leader, youth organization leader. So, demite [clears throat] demolite has approximately 130 student athletes,
005all of whom are Kershaw County schools. Their families already contribute through property, vehicle taxes, and many military families, which we have 30% of those from Fort Jackson and surrounding areas whose um service bring additional funding into the county through federal impact aid. This creates perception of double taxation. We get asked those questions from families, why are we paying this astronomical amount? We pay taxes here in in the county. I can't answer those questions right now. So um like I said this creates a perception of double taxation. The uh financial burden it has on our organization. Demon Lee is a veteranowned nonprofit sustained by entirely uh donations and sponsorship. To offset the cost, yes, we charge a modest interest fee, but the expenses per Saturday event are significant. The facility rental as of now is $1,200.
006Referees for four games are $750. Um Casey Security, the Kershaw Kershaw County Sheriff's Department, we pay those guys $50 an hour. So, it's about four hours. That equates to anywhere from $200 to $300 depending on if they stay overtime or not. Um, the total being 20 $2,200. And recently, like I said, by adding the uh 750 per week with the practice facilities, that brings us to $3,000 a week to maintain a program, which is not feasible just by charging $8 to $10 out of the gate. Um, the uh what we asking for is equity and fairness in the uh fee reductions. We were told by KCSD facilities manager that the uh because we charge a fee to play the uh KCSD school board um recommends that demolite not be eligible for reduced fees. However, upon
007reviewing the facility requests from the past three years, we found local churches receive discounts up to 70% for classroom use despite charging a few fee for their um events. Additionally, other travel sports team in the area are not held to the same same standards as far as having visiting teams showing proof of insurance. the visiting teams. Um yeah, show proof insurance, us having uh proof insurance ahead of time, which no, we have all that stuff in place. We have to um have the facilities um in advance, pay in advance before we use the facilities. We never done that before in the last three years. However, this year it has changed for some some reason. So, um like I said, the uh in addition to that, right, the uh the community impact demolite um in enforces
008a no grades, no play policy resulting higher academic performance and attendance. We host Kers. We have actually have a Kersel County Demite day here in the county. You guys are probably not aware for actually winning two state championships. Our second year out the gate um last year 20 20 24. So um we we we we call ourselves we pride ourselves. We are the Ivy League of youth football. We have no incidents. I wish one of the Kersaw County deputies were here that we that support us at our events. They rather [clears throat] do our games than any other game in the state. So we we do have a reputation if you have not heard about us. Um we um we respectfully ask KCSD school board to provide equitable access to KC facilities um rates consistent
009with other community organizations and recognize the unique um service that we um we um provide in the community. And my closing is we are we are not here to throw any organiz under the bus any churches uh the leadership. However, we are asking to that things be equal. We are not asking for special treatment only equal opportunity. We're open to partnership with the recreation department whatever that looks like. We're open to it. However, they can they can charge they can charge the fees. They can take over the payments. I'll be gladly to to offset that as long as our kids have a place to practice and play. That's what we're asking for. With that, I yield my remaining of my time. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> I'm so sorry, Miss Gar. Miss Latana instead school
010practice. >> This is my daughter. If we're allowed to speak together, I would be greatly appreciated. >> Yes, you have five minutes. >> Okay. [clears throat] like to say good evening first to the board members. My name is Karen Robinson and I'm here as a grandparent and a parent and a taxpaying citizen for Elgen. I've been in Elgen since January 10th of 2010. I am here and my children and grandchildren are here because my husband is from Rimbert, South Carolina, but we wanted another small town area and Elgen was up and growing. So basically, I'm here so we can be treated fairly. I'm here because the children on Demon Elite, I feel, are not being treated fairly. Demon Elite has been denied access to county parks, school fields, stadiums, and athletic spaces that our tax
011dollars fund. While other leads and programs are permitted to use these same facilities without issues, I have seen it myself. The explanations we receive are inconsistent, everchanging, and seem to apply only to our organization. This is inequitable and is unacceptable. Let me be clear. I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm just asking asking for equal access. I want to explain something. My father will be 96 in March. He lived through the civil rights movement. I witnessed that fight firsthand as he fought for fairness and opportunity and dignity for his children. I'm the youngest. I see now that in 2025 I find myself fighting for those same principles but for my children and grandchildren. I have a another child back there. I have an adopted daughter back there whose children also play for Demon Elite. And
012this Demon Elite has changed their lives immensely. I don't want to let another generation grow up facing subtle barriers and favoritism and exclusions disguised as policy. Not in this county, not in Elgen, not in Lug. Not in Kershaw, not for our kids. Kirchel has dozens of baseball fields and more being built right now. Yet there are no dedicated youth football, track, volleyball, other sports for these kids or facilities for these kids to use or even for community use. Despite the large number of children involved in these sports, the imbalance hurts families and real opportunities for these children in Kershaw County. Our athletes, and I'm talking all athletes, deserve the same access to safe, reliable practice spaces as every other child in this county. What concerns many of us is that this decision affecting our youth
013are often appear to be influenced by personal discretion rather than clear consistent policy. When the rules shift depending on who is asking, that's not fairness. That's gatekeeping. Tonight, I am asking the board to clarify school facility use policies and apply them equally to all youth organizations. Review the pattern of inconsistency decisionmaking that has impacted not only Demon Elite, but my children, my grandchildren, and my future. Develop a clear actionable plan that ensures youth football and track and other sports are consistent access. They have to have it for school facilities. They need to be able to practice there also. We are a vessel in a vein. Thank you. >> You have a minute and a half. >> Move this. Can you hear me? Oh, sorry. Good evening, members of the board. My name is Tech Sergeant
014Latoya Ginstead. I'm proudly serving in the United States Air Force for the last 22 years. I also serve this nation as an employee of the Department of Veteran Affairs for the last nine years. I'm here tonight as a parent, a military member, a government employee, and a taxpaying citizen of Elgen. We moved here in 2020, October 2020, and we've been home to Elgen, and I love it. I love the community here. I'd like to express the unfortunate unfairness towards my children that need to be addressed. My nephew and all the other kids that I call my babies on Demon Elite. They are part of the Demon Elite League which has repeatedly been denied access to county parks, school fields, and athletic facilities that our tax dollars fund. While other leagues use these very same spaces
015without issue. I know that firsthand. When my family first moved to Elgen community, my children began participating athletics at Jeep Rogers YMCA, but eventually they aged out. DM elite filled that gap and kept an active, trained, supervised, and supported. Additionally, they have encouraged us to play WCK basketball in the offseason. My daughter has made the KC junior varsity club volleyball. Um they participate in school sports as well over at Stove Middle School and Lugoff Elgen High School. That's that's wrestling, basketball, volleyball, football. Um I have a I have had a clear view of how school and county facilities are used. I have I fill out the impact aid form every year for each one of my children and list all of them on all the forms. I have seen the inconsistent uh the consistent unfairness
016directed toward them and elite a league with star a strong population of military and government affiliated families many of who serve this country and this community every single day as a military parent. I also want to highlight this. Kershaw County School District receives federal impact aid specifically because of students from military families and those that are employed on federal facilities. In 2023 to 2024 school year, the district received 4.38 million in federal revenue, a portion which includes aid connected to military connected students. If our military families contribute to those funds, if our service strengthens this community's budget, then our children should not be the ones facing barriers, exclusion, or inconsistent application of policy. All we're asking for is fairness and equal access. Our children deserve to play, train, and compete on the fields their families
017help support, just like every other child in Kershaw County. If our tax dollars fund these facilities, why aren't all of our children allowed to use them? And if fairness truly exists here, why doesn't it reach every child? Thank you. >> Thank you. And thank you for your service. >> Chairman's report. I'm going to turn to Dr. King for the uh South Carolina School Board Association Legisl TIFF Advocate Conference Report. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This past [clears throat] weekend, uh several of our board members were given the opportunity to attend in Charleston the annual school board's legislative conference and delegate assembly. Um this is a a kind of a whirlwind um activity for us. It's very fast. you basically spend all day Saturday um delving into the various interests and concerns we may have or
018may not have with regard to our public school districts in the state. Uh first we u um sit as a a conglomerate body uh and listen to a legislative round table made up mostly of uh local legislators uh from uh representing throughout the state. Um, one key takeaway I thought uh when uh we start talking about funding mechanisms of uh of our school districts is that one one legislator brought up the fact that when a major corporation locates to a specific area, it is typically just that area that benefits um even though um statewide taxpayer incentives and offsets may happen. Um, a good example of that as I see will probably be the Scout plant that's located over in Blewood, but right now you you all know and can very easily attest to how BMW
019basically morphed the whole Greenville Spartanberg area and still does to this day. Um, something that I hope the legislators will kind of look at um with regard to the funding inequities that occur in the state. Um, next we did hear from an expert regarding how the budget is assembled for K12 education and it is a very convoluted process. We're funded through a mix of local property taxes, that's the major source, uh state funding like state aid to classrooms and federal dollars for specific programs particularly uh directed toward uh balancing disparities and serving our disadvantaged students mostly like title one specifically. um other initiatives and delving into a new state formula which would simplify funding distribution and increase transparity is always our plea as a conglomerate school boards association. Um, Act 388 is always mentioned and
020how that places a tax burden on a certain sector and uh, we always uh, send out a plea to our legislators to keep looking at a better way to fund our state system that's more consistent and serves our whole state rather than having again the the balance of disparities with with the funding mechanism. Uh, notably though, less than 10% of funding for schools comes from the federal government. I found that interesting. I guess I thought it was more than that for some reason. Um, and speaking of the federal government, we did have a representative speak about key development and changes in K12 at the federal level. Uh, and as you know, there's currently a dismantling of the federal department of education. Um, talking about transfers of function functions within the department, uh, re refocused mission
021of the department if there continues to be a department. Um, and federal student aid. So, things to watch. again the continued dismantling of the Department of Education at the federal level and how Congress will act with regard to public education and the funding streams and whether or not all that will be relegated back to the states. Um the the main gist of the meeting though is the actual delegate assembly which takes up all of the afternoon. Um and it has some key points. Uh first of all, we elect the association's leadership for the coming year. We receive an annual report and financial report from the school boards association. Um it's a formal way for school boards to collectively voice their needs and shape advocacy at the state level. And we do focus on issues like
022funding and student support. And we adopt uh through resolutions we present legislative priorities and statements of belief. Uh we did have a wide range of resolutions that were presented and they range as they do every year from instructional matters, personnel hiring practices, facilities, and of course funding and more. Delegates uh were provided an opportunity to voice concerns and ask questions. Um notably um districts are, I guess kind of like Congress are provided a certain number of delegates based on the enrollment of a specific district. Kershaw County gets four delegates and fortunately we did have four representatives of our school board there to vote on the resolutions or not vote on the resolutions. And uh y'all I got to tell you we're blessed. Um and I we say it all often. Uh we don't say it
023out loud enough just how well we all work together as a school board in Kershaw County. Um uh there there was no uh dissension or we just we just group. we just gel when we hear these issues that are presented before us. So, uh we do discuss the matters, but as a board, we did all agree um as uh unanimously on on what we voted on as a school board from Kershaw County. So we then vote again and decide as to which resolutions move forward as an active agenda and these are presented by the school boards association uh to uh the legislative bodies and delegations and committees that will be convening in the state house next month. So again it's a hope that our collective voice serves to obtain what's in the best interest of
024our public schools specifically our students and staff. So, um, very stimulating. It's a whirlwind of activity, but, uh, personally, and I I believe my board colleagues who were there will attest, it's very beneficial and serves to help our kids in the best manner possible. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Dr. King. Coach, >> I just need to add just a few points to what Charles was talking about about the um, legislators that were there. Um, the honorable Shane Martin was there and his main concern was school safety. And he said it doesn't matter where your child goes to school, he or she must be safe. And the main hot button issue for him for the coming year is who's going to be the next governor. The honorable Russell Art was also there. Public education
025is a priority and the main hot button issue for him was air marks for individual districts. It needed to be more transparency there. when you have those air marks for districts. The honorable Neil Collins, he thanked the board for their service and he also said that change is also good. The Honorable Terry Alexander, educators are the first responders. His main hot button issues was a budget and the opportunity gap. He said, "An educated community is a healthy community." And then we had the opportunity to hear from the South Carolina Education Association President Dana Cruz and she brought forth these points. She supports professionals. She supports um the organization supports reduction in class sizes. Um emotional supports of students taxes and also school discipline. Ryan Bailey from SCASA um he brought a point about the educational
026trust fund and he said local boards and county councils need to have a seat at the table when we're discussing the fileos and we heard from Ian Headley. He's the deputy superintendent of education. His main focus was safety infrastructure grant. And then finally we heard from Patrick Kelly from the Palmetto State Teachers Association and he brought forth to us four different points. educators working conditions, um, school safety, um, compensation and benefits, and they also talked about, and they support this, um, the the persistent disruptive behavior that may go in our classroom. We had the opportunity, as Charles has already said, our new school board association president for 2026 is Tim Rose, and he represent Abbyville County School District. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to go. It was a whirlwind of activities, but it
027was well worth the time that was spent, and I thank the board for giving me the opportunity to go. >> I want just want to agree with everything that Dr. King and um Miss Hley said. Sunday morning we had the what they call the great school board debate and I thought the topics were quite interesting. Um, one of the topics that they debated, um, they had team A and then team B, and of course they were all on stage, so they debated back and forth from each other a little bit. And I thought the topics was real interesting because because one of the topics was, should the school personnel be be allowed to be armed in on campus? And uh I thought to myself a little bit when they was talking about that going back
028and forth. Um where we're going with this in this time of educational careers. Uh and I thought it was kind of funny. I thought back when I was growing up and we had a paddle and a belt and that was my resource officer. Um and then now we into resource officers and of course we we do protect our schools as I think second to nobody. But um it was it was pretty good debate back and forth and they were prepared with these um questions. And then the other should charter schools, homechools and governor school students have access to our programs which means extracurricular act extracurricular act programs and activity programs, excuse me. And um you know and that's something that's ongoing. um high school league representative was there and uh it's going to be a
029pursued that they're going to have access to uh our facilities and activities even if they're homeschooled. So, it's going to happen. Um, I think there's no doubt about it and I don't know if the legislature would take over the high school league or not, but eventually it's proceeding forward where they're going to not only that they're going to be able to um access money that we normally would have uh for our our students and um that was just debated back and forth of what it should be done and what will be done. Uh the last topic that was interest me interesting to me was should school boards be part of school board members be partisan. And um you know the thing about that is that you're dealing with politics and then you're going to be
030getting on uh which side you stand on about politically. [clears throat] And we as a board, I thought of our board and I I said that to myself as we they were talking back and forth that we we agreed to disagree sometimes, but we all always come to a a solid conclusion with our thoughts and we don't need to be partisan in any kind of way as far as my opinion as when they as they were discussing that. Which team won as far as team A and team B? I really couldn't tell you cuz they were prepared for the questions and they had very good answers on either side. So they had reasons for their um questions, how they wanted to interpret the questions, answer the questions and so forth. So it it was really
031interesting. But um some of the things is is these topics that I just mentioned it's pretty serious topics about things that's going to be taking place and I think it's in the future and um we'll just have to be looking out for it as we go on. So, thank you for letting me go and I enjoyed the time I spent with uh our school board members there and uh have good leadership in our chairman and um we did uh obviously on the ad advocacy uh meeting uh there was some long discussions and took some time but we got it done and I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you coach. [clears throat] >> All right. Thank you. Superintendent Finance, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Dr. Goodwin, members of the board. Good evening. Uh before we
032get into the October review, I just wanted to give you a quick update regarding the audit. Um as we met last month and uh Mr. Finny brought the audit draft results to you. Uh as you remember, we were in a position where it was in draft format and we were not able to finalize the audit by December 1st as normal. Uh but just wanted to report as of last week uh the federal government the OM has released the uh the uh supplement uh the audit supplement guide. So uh we are now in a position where we can finish that up and I've been discussing with the auditors and they're they're working on closing that out and wrapping up. So we'll be able to submit that soon and right now we don't foresee any changes. So,
033um, [clears throat] so for the October review, uh, just, uh, just a reminder, um, again, as Mr. Finny had mentioned last month that, uh, at this time we're we have gone since the beginning of the year, uh, without a lot of local tax dollars. Um, we've been, uh, you know, living on the state dollars that are coming in and the federal dollars that we've been able to claim. So, we're just now entering that time of the year where we're getting our annual local tax collections to start and we'll be getting the bulk of those from now through the end of January into early or midFebruary. [snorts] So, as we look at the dashboard, uh take a look at the general fund balance uh that 21.6 million almost 21.7 that has been updated per the audit
034draft. So, we've got that that slide part updated uh with the FY25 result. Uh the ADM, the average daily membership, uh you will see where that being reported for 2526 um at the 10day and now we've added the 45th day. Uh you can't see it in there, but there was a little bit of change from the 10th day to 45th day to the positive. We did uh add some students during that time. Um but you will see that we are certainly uh impacted uh by a reduction in enrollment this year and not sure what that means for our funding as of yet because that is yet to adjust within the calculation and I'm sure you guys heard some about that uh at the uh at the conference. Uh cash balances and sales tax are as
035expected this time of year. So we will go over and look at the monthly schedule summary uh for the revenue and expenditures. Um just a [clears throat] couple of things to highlight. Um so talking about the local advalorum delinquent taxes that have been collected, you'll see that we are better than we were in the prior year actuals and we are better than the year-to- date expected there. Uh and that is the case for all local revenue in comparison overall. state revenue, those top three three lines which makes up uh a main portion of our state revenue through general fund EIA and then that retirey insurance line. You will see how we compare. Uh we are not where we would expect to be in all of those areas. Um and there's a couple of reasons for
036that. One, as you recall, the charter schools have the opportunity to present a 10-day count into the year and it and the funding is immediately adjusted across all districts and charters after that count is there. There is no weight in that game. Uh we have to sustain that immediately. The other thing is there are a few revenue items. The biggest example is revenue that we get to cover fringe cost has not been fully updated yet in the calculation but we expect that to be updated in either the December or January payments. So we hope that that will uh make a little bit of a difference. Um but again we now have to wait and see what the reduced enrollment means for us later in the year. Um overall revenue compared to expenses we the the
037comparison is is just fine where it is uh around 4.2 million to the negative in the prior year and at the same time negative4.9 million this year. So that is a good comparison and where we would expect to be this time of year based on our budget and the lack of local tax collections. So the general fund expenditures on the next slide. Uh overall you can see that we have used about 28% uh of our budgeted expenditure lines this year. Um that compares favorably to an ideal percentage of 33%. So we are in good shape there overall. Um and we'll you know we continue to highlight those that we have uh spent beyond budget or beyond expectations at this time. um for things like uh technical professional services, we've talked about those, but as far
038as our uh miscellaneous needs for technology and supplies, we always have to frontend those. So those percentage of uses are going to be higher. [clears throat] Look at the special fund summary. um and taking these individually, the special revenue, um although the the processing of the federal grants has been slow, uh what we see is we're we're maintaining a a an appropriate uh ratio between revenues and expenses there. So, the state revenue we have coming in on allocations as well as the money we spend on federal uh programs that we have to then claim. uh we're keeping a good ratio with uh 6.3 in revenue and 7.1 almost 7.2 in expenses. That's okay. That's where we would expect to be. Debt service um we are currently in a what I call the period of collections.
039Uh we have made a couple of small payments early in the year. Uh but we are collecting our sales tax now in preparation for larger payments that will come in the year. uh but that is favorable revenue and expenses uh when comparing those two now and activity funds uh all good activity for the month of October which is represented on the next chart and the receipts and dispersements there uh you'll see that that's that's some very balanced activity uh within our uh student activity funds um and that translates overall when you look at the ending balances by location, rental account. Um, I will really not stop there and go over that. We just like to give you that cumulative activity uh based on things that you do consider when we meet for finance and facilities.
040Uh, food service community eligibility uh result for the month of October. Um, as you can see, we're holding steady on our both both our lunch and our breakfast percentages. Um and we we hope to continue maintaining those but that program is uh running in very good shape. Um and we'll not go into any detail on the appendix uh pages for the the expenditure detail but just I will reiterate in those areas where we have uh expended ahead of our projections uh that is to be expected at this time. So, um, that concludes the report for October and be happy to answer any questions if you have them. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you all. Got a motion to [clears throat] go into executive session to discuss resolation, retirement of certified and classified personnel,
041employment of certified and classified personnel, assignment changes and transfer of certified and classified personnel. Proper motion by coach Blackman, second by Mr. Roberts. All in favor, there be no by saying I. I. Is there a motion to green to reconvene to open session? Properly motioned by Miss Furnace, second by coach Blackman. All those in favor have been known by saying I. >> I. post and it's unanimous. In executive session, we discuss resignation and retirement of certified and classified personnel, employment of certified and classified personnel, assignment change [music] and transfer of certified and classified personnel. Is there a motion to accept administration recommendation concerning employment matters properly? Motion by Miss Furnace, second by Mr. Roberts. All those in favor be known by saying I. >> I those opposed and it's unanimous. Is there any other motion?
042>> Mr. Chairman, if I may. >> Yes. >> On the guidance of our district attorneys, I'd like to make a motion to begin the Kershaw County School District Board meetings with an opening invocation that does not advance, prefer, or disparage any one faith, belief, or creed. Specifically, I move our board select from the invocations offered by the South Carolina General Assembly. Invocations shall be non sectarian and follow the process of section 6-1-160 of South Carolina law. >> Motion is properly before us. Is there a second? Second by Miss Furnace. All those in favor have been known by saying I >> I >> those opposed and that's unanimous. Is there a motion to adjurnn? So move. >> Motion properly made by Dr. King second by Miss Ronlet. All those in favor let me know by saying
043I >> those post We're talking