001[applause] Good evening and welcome to the October 28th business meeting of the Rockville School Board. Local news media outlets are notified in writing of this agenda on Sunday, October 26th. If you will all please rise and uh for the pledge of allegiance by a moment of silence to the flag of the United States of America to the stands nationy and justice for all. Thank you. Please be seated. First up is our agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> So moved. >> Thank [snorts] you, Mr. Nosel. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Daniel. Any discussion? Bearing none. All those in favor? All opposed? Motion carries 6. So, first up is recognitions and I am going to welcome up Miss Carla Mary to get us started. Welcome. >>
002All right. Good evening, Chairwoman Miller, Vice Chair Hutchinson, Board of Trustees, and Dr. Elder. I am Carla Barry, your district test coordinator, and I stand before you today with great pride and excitement to introduce and celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students who have achieved the highest scale score on our SC Ready state assessment during the spring of 25 administration. The SE Ready assessment is a rigorous test that evaluates our students proficiency in English and math in grades 3 through eight and science in grades four through six. It serves as a critical benchmark in measuring their academic growth and readiness for future challenges. Achieving the highest scale score on such an assessment is a remarkable feat that reflects not only the students intelligence but also their hard work, determination, and the support of their teachers,
003families, and the entire school community. Today, we have the privilege of recognizing and applauding 39 students who have achieved this exceptional feat. These young individuals have set a shining example for their peers in the entire school district. It is important to acknowledge that these students did not achieve this level of excellence in isolation. Behind every high academic academic achievement, there are dedicated teachers who have worked tirelessly to provide guidance and support. [clears throat] There are parents who have nurtured and encouraged their children's love for learning. And there's a school community that fosters an environment built on excellence. The success of these students remind us that with dedication, hard work, and unwavering support, our students can reach remarkable heights. So, if there are no questions, the principles are now going to come up and introduce their
004students. Okay? And we're going to start with Jerry Park. Good evening. I hope y'all are doing well. I'm Kendall Futrell, the interim principal at Cherry Park Elementary School of Language Immersion. It is a joy to be here tonight as we recognize these students and their um accomplishments. They did a great job. First, I would like to recognize Amaya Fernandez. [applause] Max Spoon, Nora Crereech, [applause] Miles Harper, Belle Davis, Christian Martin, Isaiah Spain, Isabella Sutton, and Jame W. [applause] [clears throat] And Dr. Elder, if you want to join us for a picture, you guys want to come over to the photo wall? >> Yeah, that'd be great. Keep in front. Perfect. Good looking group. All right, check out everyone's faces. All right, one, two, three. Three, two, one. One, two, three. Awesome, guys. Congratulations. [applause] >>
005Good evening everyone. My name is Shilia Leonard. I'm the principal of Ebenezer Avenue, home of the Soaring Eagles. And I have the privilege of recognizing three amazing gentlemen this gentleman this evening. First, Mr. Zion Irvin for the max scale score in mathematics. Mr. Emtt Hair Max score in mathematics. [applause] Mr. Mahari Hari Flowy Max score in ELA [applause] over friends. Congratulations. Thank you very [applause] good evening. I'm Mrs. Wagner and Miss Tanky. And we are teachers from India Hook Elementary. And we are thrilled to present these two amazing young ladies with awards for their scores. Miss Elena Le received max score in math [applause] and he's a miracle max score in ELA. Grab your certificate. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening. I'm Jean Dixon, principal at Leslie Elementary School. And with me tonight is Dr.
006Tanner Schlegel who is our assistant principal and our recipient of his max door at ELA um SC ready is Michael Lane Martin. One, two, three. Thank you. [applause] >> Good evening. I'm Aaron Clark and the proud principal of Mount Gallen Elementary School and I am happy to recognize these wonderful scholars tonight for their maximum scores on SC Ready. First up, we have Miss Lucy Brack. [applause] Next up, Miss Addison Cook, Miss Ren Smith, and Miss Sarah Wixs. [applause] Come on over. Get your certificile. Good evening. I'm Leslie Rouse, principal of North Side Elementary School of the Arts, and I am proud to be here tonight to recognize EMTT Ashbomb. He is a student athlete, a student leader, and one of the wittiest students since he was five years old. Um, and as the result of
007his hard work and amazing parents and teachers, he scored the highest score on both science and ELA. >> [applause] >> Come on over. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Jacob Murray and I'm the principal at Oakdale Steam Elementary and I have three fine young folks to recognize this evening. And I'm going to start with Lana Simons for receiving a max score in ELA. Also receiving a max score in ELA, Walter Profett. [applause] Receiving a max score in science, Camille Young. >> Good work, guys. [clears throat] Send her up just a little. Get a little closer. All right. Take a few. One, two, three. Three, two, one. Awesome. Good work. [applause] Good evening. I'm an principal of Old Point Elementary School and I am pleased to recognize two amazing students of mine. I have
008Miss Annabelle Alterman who received the max score in ELA [applause] and Mr. Laya Jordan who received a max score in math. [applause] Good job. [applause] >> Good evening. I am IA Lawrence, principal of Sunset Park Center for Accelerated Studies. And this is Tara Blackwell, assistant principal. And we would like to recognize Finley Mcnite for a SC ready math score in math. [applause] Good evening board members and Dr. Elder and everybody in the audience. I am Carrie Beth Brown, the proud principal at York Elementary and I'm here tonight with Mackenzie Tate and Miss Hall, one of my fantastic fourth grade teachers. Today I have the honor and the privilege of announcing that Miss McKenzie Tate scored a max score in ELA on [applause] Good. One, two, three, two, one. Thank you. >> All right. Good evening.
009I am Amber Maize, the interim principal at Dutchman Creek Middle School, and it is my honor to present to Ella Allen for getting a max score on the SU Ready ELA. [applause] All right. One, two, three, two, one. Got it. Thank you. >> Good evening. I'm Kia Frasier, principal at Rollinsson Road Middle, and I'm here tonight to recognize Zoe Dutton, [applause] both max score on science. Good job. All right, come on over. We'll take a picture over here, too. in everybody. Awesome. Great job. >> Good evening. I'm Dr. Jaclyn Pinski, the proud principal of Sullivan Middle School. And I have these fabulous Falcons here who are uh received the max score on SC Ready. First, we have Brillin Hair who received the max score on science. [applause] Next, we have Cadence Trip, who received the
010max score in ELA. >> [applause] >> And last but not least, we have Daniel Rango Herrera, who also scored the max score on ELA. Just a second. [applause] Everybody got your time. Three, two, one, two, three. Great job. Thank you guys. [applause] And I believe that that concludes our recognitions. Can we just give them all a round of applause? [applause] I'm going to take a 30 second break or so. Uh if there are any parents who would like to join their children in the hallway, uh you're of course welcome to stay for the remainder of the schoolboard missing. However, this is an opportunity if you would like to join your children. [laughter] How are you? Let's give it just a few more seconds to >> Yeah. I need a nap. Okay. So, next up is
011citizen participation. I do not believe we have any correct followed by the consent action agenda that has the following items on it. It is the minutes from the September 23rd business meeting uh and from the October 14th modified year-round calendar public hearing as well as October 14th business meeting. And it also has some personnel recommendations that the board received in the executive session of the packet. Do I have a motion to approve the consent action agenda? >> Thank you, Mr. Burns. Do I have a second? Thank you, Miss Harris. Any discussion? none. All those in favor? All opposed. Motion cares 70. That brings us to our action agenda. And first up is the 26 27 modified year round calendar. And I am going to welcome up Miss Lorine Mley as well as superintendent doctor. debating
012the stool. Good evening, Chairwoman Miller, Vice Chair Hutchinson, Superintendent of course, Dr. Elder, and our board of trustees. Tonight, we are seeking approval for the 2627 modified school calendar. As you'll recall at our previous board meeting and public hearing two weeks ago, we reviewed in great detail the calendar. The development of this modified calendar is guided by both statutory requirements and operational considerations, all of which have been thoroughly reviewed and confirmed. The calendar meets the 180 student days and 190 days, staff days, along with every other important guideline. Now, following some feedback we received largely from teachers, we did make two adjustments to the first work week of the start of the school year. The first week back now includes unencumbered days on Tuesday, July 28th and Friday, July 31st. With those changes, the proposed
013calendar reflects a balanced and compliant and well-considered plan. Additionally, as part of the calendar discussion, as you recall from two weeks ago, um I was asked to consider um different ways that we might be able to offer some limited programming during the non-traditional break times. And the non-traditional break times are the October and the February breaks. They do not include spring break and the traditional winter break. And so as such, I've done um a bit of a feasibility study uh to see what resources that we have available that we could repurpose in some way in a budget neutral manner to provide some limited programming during those non non-traditional breaks. So we do have certified staff who are on 200 plus day contracts. Uh we have um USDA USDA reimbursement is an allowable expense to provide
014food. um for limited programming during those weeks. And we also can repurpose some of the summer camp funding sources. Some we are not able to repurpose due to state guidelines, particularly the third grade reading camp that has to take place during the summer. So we have a program design, just a draft of a program design that would again be three days per week for four hours each um week. and the invitation to students would be based on identified academic need. Additionally, concern was expressed that students might be required to attend these these um non-traditional sessions and there would not be a requirement. We would not force them because if their families had other plans, they wouldn't be forced to do so. Rather, they would be invited based on identified academic need. And with that, we
015welcome discussion and request your approval for the calendar. >> Do I have any questions from board? >> And then followed by >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Monday. Mrs. Monday, a question about students that you have identified for me. What subject areas in particular are you targeting for academic needs for the nontraditional break programs? >> We have many data sources. Um the most data sources we have are in English language arts, mathematics and science. >> And is that going to be all grade levels or just >> to be determined? We need to look at the data to determine which grade levels. There may be grade levels that we need to specifically target with additional support. It'll depend on the spring data. >> Thank you, Dr. >> Thank you, Dr. Elder. Um, I do
016think we have a tremendous amount of resources that are not in our schools right now. And I really thank you for for looking into that. I hope that we can have an even more robust program during those weeks. I I I feel like it would be a tremendous benefit to our kids if we're closing school for a week and they have the option to to come in and do extra work. Um, and especially and you and I have already talked about this and that in our high schools, I hope that we will consider running a very robust test prep program during those weeks because I think as we all know, at least the parents with high school students, we we were off for a week. They came back and they went right into PSAT and
017SAT testing a few days later where if we could have been running a test prep all week, that would have been fantastic. My kids were at school. I think Dr. Felman, your kids were at school and they were doing athletics but not academics. I think with this program and using the resources that we have, I I think we can really do some great things moving forward. Thank you. the children at the elementary and middle school level who are identified with academic need there would be transportation options for those children. >> So as of this evening I'm presenting budget neutral options that would be a conversation to go not with the calendar but rather in budget season. So for this evening I wanted to just provide um budget neutral options to just convey that stewardship of
018public resources. >> Um can you kind of for me. What does budget neutral mean? >> So that means within existing resources that we have not allocated to this purpose. These are these are resources that we can repurpose to provide programming. >> Thank you. >> Are there any other questions for board members? >> Yes. Much >> Mr. Nosle mentioned athletics. Um that that actually Another question. Um, will there be, I guess, some conversation, if we decide with this calendar, to work a little bit more with our high school athletics to ensure that there's not too much of an overlap as far as the kids that need a break or want a break and um, making sure that they can meet their practices and things like that. I think that might have been a slight miss this
019year. Um, we had a lot of kids that were still at school practicing and they didn't get to take that break. Will there be more, I guess, conversation with our uh athletic directors at our various schools? >> Um, certainly I can commit to conversation. I don't want to commit to for every coach. Um, and that discussion hasn't come up yet until right now. So, we'll put it under consideration >> on the atmosphere. Thank you, Dr. Elder. >> I don't believe we have any other comments or questions from board. Um, so we have a request to approve the 26 27 modified year round calendar as presented by Dr. Elder. >> I will entertain that motion. >> So move. >> Thank you, Mr. Burns. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Daniel. Any
020discussion? Hearing none. All those >> just one second. Um, chairman. Um certainly I think this calendar is probably going to pass but I do want to express the same concerns. I don't have to reiterate my concerns that I had two weeks ago. Those concerns still here that I think we should make a financial commitment to this. Um I'm still not sure what budget neutral mean. Obviously I know what budget means. I know what neutral means. But I also know that everything increases in price. Um and if we got elementary students and middle school students they don't have access to get there then offering programs particularly programs that are going to be four hours per day that would create a tremendous hardship on many parents so my opposition to this calendar will remain >> thank you
021anyone else discussion >> Dr. Well, I understand your concerns and probably agree with a lot of I I I don't think if we are going to be shutting down schools for a week that there should be programming going on for the kids that are not taking vacation and we have some some problems academically that we need to need to fix. So, I I'm committed to working with you come budget season to make sure that we are funding our schools and our programs in our schools first. And I think that and I understand you're concerned with transportation. I think, you know, there should be ways that we can look at during budget season. So, I will work with you on that to to make that happen. >> Thank you, >> yes, I second that as well.
022I think that uh I I too agree that we do need uh dedication and funds to ensuring that we do have options for students across the board that will need to tap into this. So I commit to that too, Dr. Belton. >> And I will I guess chime in as well and and and say that I I agree with the previous speakers that this be a focus for the conversation for the budget season as well. >> Anyone else? If not, uh the question stands uh with a motion made by Mr. Burns and a second from Miss Daniel to approve the calendar. If that concludes the discussion, uh all those in favor. All opposed. Motion carries 61. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next up is a discussion regarding a proposed location of a commercial distribution center
023related York County tax incentive proposal. This topic is on the agenda during action, not because we are attempting to take action tonight, but it does give the board some um opportunity should a discussion head in a way that we want to issue some kind of statement or anything along those lines. So to give some background um there is a project um called project sample um and this a discussion of a proposed commercial distribution center. Um and um I'm going to give a super quick review to kick off the discussion. Basically covering four topics, background, governance structure, potential impacts, and some next step for the board to discuss. So, some quick background information is that last Tuesday, all board members received in informal phone calls informing us that the York County Council was considering a significant
024tax incentive for a private entity for first reading that evening. This past first read at county council following some public discussion uh about potential impact to Rockville schools. Um I have invited the county to 10% to us tonight. Um but they are in contract negotiations. So they declined citing that it would have to be an executive session. We are not in contract negotiations. So in an effort to follow the Hoya and be transparent, we cannot be in executive session for our lead. So after act 388, businesses pay taxes to Rockville School District on their properties. And out of every dollar collected, 65% or 65 cents goes into our operating fund. The county collects these taxes and then basically sends the school district a check. The school board does not have the statutory right to vote
025on any tax incentives. The county has that decision-making power. Um e economic development is part of their um fundamental mission. Um ours is to educate kids. So um we know that project sample has been extensively covered in the media. Um but the county has not publicly verified any of the details that people may have seen covered in the media. Um but according to uh some of the discussion, it's a large distribution center um that would be adjacent to four of our schools that we operate here in Rockville schools. Um and uh some sources in the media have stated that this would be a 50% reduction on their taxes paid to schools. Um there could be some impact to the Rockville School District uh beyond that um including um school traffic uh or environmental uh impacts
026for students and staff. Um again the school district have not been involved or participated or been asked to participate in any kind of impact studies regarding any of these topics. Um however um a 50% rebate or reduction would be that we would collect half of what we uh would normally collect um at this point. Uh that would be obviously more than we would like to talk at this point. Um so the timeline uh is that the county has to pass any kind of tax incentive with three official readings. It has passed for the first read which leaves two more reads. Um if those go as quick as they could through their normal meeting schedule um it could be as quick as November 17th. However um as frequently happens here too sometimes things are delayed or
027uh or so for but but our meetings and theirs are staggered in the sense that we meet this week they meet the following week. Um but that leaves us with one more meeting prior to the final decision potentially being made on this topic. Um so as a board we have an opportunity to discuss um and we can officially ask for more information in some formats. We can form an opinion of either being in support against or neutrality. Um but I will open it up to discussion from my colleagues. Must um I um again we we don't have all of the information in front of us. I I it would be great if we had, you know, more information so that we could uh make a um more sound opinion on uh this potential project. I
028would ask that perhaps as a board we could request more information to be presented to us so that we can formulate um a healthy dialogue and [clears throat] healthy opinion um before the November 17. Mr. >> Madam [clears throat] Chair, has anyone from the county or sample a business contacted you or Dr. Elder? >> Not formally yet. Uh, we've gotten a Well, I got a from me, we got a I I received a phone call from someone from the county. I have been an email communications requesting that they come and give us some information tonight. I not heard anything back from project sample company. >> Have they given you any or Dr. Hiller any inclination they would like to sit down and talk to the school board before they forego our tax dollars to a$undred
029billion dollar company? >> Uh yes, Madam Chair and member Burns. I did meet with the county at their request last week, made time in the schedule with the request the day before and their request was to try to get get to the board for discussion, but they were expressed that they were unable to do so in public session, that it needed to be in executive session >> because I personally I called one of the county council people and I said, "Well, you know, since you guys are giving out tax incentives, you know, I've put up quite a bit of infrastructure around your county. Where's my tax incentive? And the first thing that was said to me was, "Oh, no. We would never have a car dealer." So, I guess maybe the county council needs to
030come and explain to us why small business carries the brunt of all the taxes in your county while large businesses get all the benefit. I would like to hear that. >> Any other comments? Madam Chair, >> um [snorts] I also talked to multiple people on county council. Um, there was an article in, I believe, the Charlotte Business Journal that mentioned this company coming here. And I just I I I really am just disappointed that this company's not reached out to the board, not reached out to Dr. Elder. We need partners in Rock Hill, in the zone of Rock Hill schools that that want to work with our school district and that want to help us educate these kids and produce kids that are ready to go to work and good for good jobs and good
031companies. And it's it's disappointing that nobody's reached out to you. Nobody's reached out to Dr. Elder. Um it you know I I think I heard that this this potential for a thousand trucks a day. Um it's disappointing to hear there's been no environmental study impact study. There's been no traffic impact study and these are I believe close to three or four schools is going to directly impact that. So four >> and I think some information indicates that they have done some kind of traffic study but It was sent formally to us, but it never at all school traffic. It was probably more about the general traffic matters, but but no one from the school district to my knowledge, and you're shaking your head, too, have have participated in any kind of traffic information. >> Madam
032Chair, member, um I did express concern about traffic and proximity to schools. Um, as we all know, that area gets quite congested um at drop off and pickup time. And so I did express that and and the hope that any sort of traffic study would look specifically at drop off and pickup time in addition to general t traffic patterns. Um, additionally, I expressed cons environmental concerns, right? Having growing children on playgrounds um, right outside that many trucks coming through. >> Thank you. Um, to build up what Pete said, I realize I may have my head in the clouds or some rosecolored glasses on, but I really wish that corporations would come to town and invest in their school district and community. Educators and administrators are tired of our money being siphoned away and still being
033held accountable, still having mandates in place, but the funding not there for us to do what we're asked to do. So, [clears throat] I think our city and county should see corporations that are willing to invest in the future in the workforce that we will put out into schools. >> Thank you, Miss Daniel. >> Madam Chair, a few things. Um, I did go back and it's publicly available the county council meeting from last week and I didn't watch the whole 4-hour meeting, but I watched 20 or so minutes that specifically discussed this topic and it appears that this particular business would pay about $2 million a year would would come to Rockill Schools if they were paying their full freight and it would be now with a 50% discount for the next 20 years. We'll
034get a little less than a million dollars. The economic development director, he read out the number. I think it's 956,000 something additional dollars that we would get um even with their rebate that they're getting. not getting the whole night 1.9 million I think is what what would be um I I do have a concern and even if they were not able to meet with us in executive session per our legal counsel it really would have been nice to at least meet with a representative group of us that would not create a for a quorum at least so we can be more educated about this certainly I think many of us spent most of the week talking to members of council and others about this particular project and I is so I guess what my question
035is is there an ask from the school board >> right so so that's sort of part of this discussion and I think what I'm if I'm summarizing what I'm hearing from everyone around the table is that there is a disappointment that we were not sort of at the table a little earlier in the process rather than getting the phone call the same the first. Um, but secondary, I think the board would like to get more information so that we can educate ourselves about what this means for our staff and for our students as well as what the exact financial agreements would look like. And yes, we could absolutely request to have um a delegation uh meet with um delegation from town council perhaps during their executive session uh this coming meeting next Tuesday. So that
036should be possible. Now um are there any volunteers to to [clears throat] be be available for for that? >> I'll volunteer. >> Okay. We got Mr. Burns. Okay. We're approaching. We're watching. >> I mean, I want to be at the table, but >> So, so is it possible to ask them in this request to just come and just speak to all of us? I mean, again, this is a huge potential project. So that is ultimately on the backs of our kids >> and you know so I I think >> so I made two requests and left the um this this past week since Tuesday uh over email to to their their um person who's responsible for for the economic development uh inviting them to come [clears throat] um and um they can or would not
037uh come to the open session to have a conversation I left the last email with an open invitation that they changed our mind that they were welcome tonight to to participate. So >> madam chair if there's someone else who wants to go I've had enough conversations with them. So someone else wants to go to executive session I will back down that will create >> because not more than three of us can go and I've had enough conversations with them. So I'm okay with someone else. Yes. Is it a possibility to do small groups with you? >> So, that would that was going to be my my second option. If the if the if it pleases the board, what I can do is reach out to see if I can arrange a version of small group
038meetings with um with them and then we will work that out and we'll see how how what the response to that is and I'll keep you updated. >> It would just depend on So again, >> but how about I initiate that and keep you all in the in the loop. >> Sounds good. >> I think that's Yeah, absolutely. >> We I mean, by all means, I think everyone we we want industry to come to Rockill. We we want this city to grow. We want business to come. We're we're we're pro business, but we also want to know what's going on when business comes to Rock Hill. And I think for me personally, it's also a question of making sure that we know all the facts so that we um don't have any adverse impact to
039our student and our staff. And and when it comes to dollars, we know that they're precious. I mean, we just had a presentation talking about, you know, allocating funding uh that is very precious to to transportation. So you know funding is always at the forefront of our discussions. Um I also at the prior board meeting we had a lengthy discussion about um dual enrollment of courses involving driving um and challenges and um you know just overall fear over students being on the road in general and and what traffic does to our students. So I think this is a path forward and then we'll see what comes from there and I'll keep everyone in the loop. Okay. So with that I'm going to try to find my agenda about this place. Um and I am going
040to welcome up uh Miss McCay and Miss Park to talk about the South Carolina Students with Disabilities Pathway Project course approval. Come on. >> Good evening, chairs and members of the board and Dr. Elder. I'm Lee, the director of exceptional student services, and with me tonight is Tara Park, one of our exceptional student education coaches. We come before you tonight seeking approval for courses in the South Carolina Pathways Project. The Pathways Project is a five-year federally funded grant. The purposes of the grant is to provide innovative classes and pathways for students with and without IEPs to obtain a high school diploma as well as employment. One of the goals of the grant is to have 50 students graduate through the pathway by the end of the grant cycle. So this is a five-year federal grant
041that is um run through the state. We are entering year three. So this is a year three update. Year one we developed the logistics courses. Um year two created a mathematics and ELA courses and this year we are seeking to obtain board approval for all of those courses so we can continue to move forward. So what makes it an innovative pathway? um this the the focus of the grant is to create um courses that integrate use a curriculum integration model. So for example, English one students have a English one standard offormational text to analyze information text be able to writeformational text. This would be embedded into the English one um course using the logistics information. For example, they may have to analyze a technical manual or create part of a technical man manual. So these
042courses do cover all the all the high school standards. They look at different resources and materials to um cover those. So all students would obtain high school credit for all of these courses. In a math class, they may need to know the square footage of a warehouse. So, they're using their design skills from their logistics class to design a distribution system. Um, so this is a real world problem.