Hampton County School District Board Meeting Live Stream-April 21, 2026

001Good evening. >> Good evening. >> The April 21st, 2026 Hampton County School District Board of Trustees meeting is now called to order. In accordance with the South Carolina Freedom Information Act section 30-4-8E, South Carolina code 1987 as amended, all local news media have been notified of the date, time, location, and agenda of the meeting to include a posting on the Hampton County School District web page. Will you please stand for a moment of silence in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Our adopted rules of parliamentary proceed procedure Robert's rule provide for a consent agenda listing several item for approval of the board by

002a single motion. Most of the items listed on under the consent agenda have gone through board subcommittee review and recommendation. Documentation concerning these items have been provided in advance to asssure an extensive and thorough review. Items may be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any board member. Do we have any um items need to be removed at this time? Hearing none, I would now entertain a motion for the consent agend agenda. >> Madam chair, I move that we approve the consent agenda, including approval of the agenda. Board meeting minutes March 17th and board meeting minutes March 31st. >> Second. It has been properly moved by Foy and second by Wilson that we approve the consent agenda to include the board meeting minutes for March 17th, a regular meeting and approval of the

003board minute meeting minutes on March 31st, a call meeting. Are there any discussions? All in favor, let there be no by saying I. I >> oppose have the same right. Hearing none. Motion carried 70. At this time, Miss former, do we have any public comment? We do not have any public comments at this time. Down to five information items. Recognition of the 2026 special award recipient by the South Carolina Arts Commission on Welch. Who's doing that? Madame Chair and Madam Chair, I just received um a notification that um our recipient this evening um he is in route. So I am asking the board um if they will allow us to remove um to move 5.1 to the very end of ourformational item. The any other board members have a problem with us moving 5.1 until

004later on on the agenda? Hearing? None. We move 5.1. We're down to 5.2. Salary compensation study update by Kathy Clark, CFO. at this time. So, we're hoping We'll be talking a little bit more on the um on the salary schedule. Is there any questions on that? Okay, thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Conquation. We're down to 5.3. Information technology update. Aosia Henson, director of information technology. >> Good evening. Um I just got a couple of things we're going to talk about today tonight. Um the topic of discussion we are talking about the SC ready and of course testing devices. We are talking about what we're doing as far as IT support, our damage devices, our student device refresh initiative, and the district administration and school level leaders refresh initiative. So there's a packet that you

005should have. Um this is our testing schedule. We are going around to each school with the office of technology. We are checking every single device to make sure that they have the latest update for the DRC app which is what we use for testing for SC ready as well as in of course testing. We are giving each school 15 to 20 extra devices as far as for any technical issues that they've been running to. They'll have 20 extra devices on hand at the school level for testing throughout the whole testing period. Here is a list of our current damaged devices based on our enrollment. So currently right now we have 30 devices damaged at the high school. We have 22 damaged devices at North District, 23 damaged devices at Esther Middle, two at Ben Hazel,

006seven at Bronson, three at elementary. Fel has four. Hampton Elementary, Hampton Intermediate has 29, and Barnville Elementary has 47. So, what you're looking at is the current damaged devices. We have sent them off for repair. Um, we're waiting for some of them to come back, but as I stated earlier, we do have extra testing devices. So, we will have enough devices when time for the kids to test. I know this is a big number here we have going on, but we will have a device for every child. This is a pretty pie chart that we have that shows the different colors or the numbers that we just went over for the damaged devices. So, for the student device refresh initiative, we have not purchased devices since 2021 for our students. We have been buying along

007and along, you know, we got some damaged ones. We've been trying to replace them. We are replacing the old outdated ones, but we haven't did a full student device refresh since 2021. So, we have to think about what we got going on as far as technology wise. We use our student devices for textbooks. They're testing online. They're using them in class for class instruction. So we we're looking to update what we have because technology is essential for us now because of everything is based on technology. So the challenges that we are facing is all of our devices are end of life. We are running into issues for um instructional time and student productivity um because they're outdated. So, they're unable to use the device to pull up some of the curriculum information that we have

008online, the older devices that we have. And then we're unable to receive any type of critical Windows update because they're at end of life. And then the maintenance cost has increased with us trying to keep them up to date and get them repaired. It's costing us more money to repair them than to get them replaced. the district administration and school level leaders which includes our entire district office. School level leaders includes our principles and assistant principles and the other instructional leaders. We have not purchased anything for them. So their devices are six plus years old. So, we're looking to get them up to date because you have to worry about security, the different types of fishing attempts that we're having. Make sure they're up to date and then they'll be able to interact with the

009students as well as the instructional staff. So, it's costing us a good bit of pairs to repair the administration devices as well as like I said I stated earlier that they're four well four plus six years old. We're actually six years old. So, we need to get them replaced. So, here's our estimate of what we got. We took half of the student population. So half of the population is 1129 times 1091 which will give us 1,231,739 for student devices. District level and school level desktops is 95. We did an estimated 2,000. That's $190,000. as well as getting them laptops, they're running about 1,900 and that's 180,500. So that gives us a total of 1,602,239. And I'm going to note that I didn't the teacher devices. We did do a refresh with them where we implemented

010teacher desktops to be integrated with their um Prometheian boys. We did that last school term. So teachers got new desktops as well as new laptops. So that's why they're not included with the school level leaders. Anybody on my right board members have any questions? >> Left, any questions? Boy, >> I was just looking at the um damage device update table and I see that you've um expanded, you know, the columns to include devices that maybe are have warranty issues or irreparable or misplaced. Can can you help me understand why the numbers of devices in warranty or irreparable or misplaced sometimes exceed the number that are reported damaged? I mean, for example, take Brunson Bees, Brunson Elementary. Seven devices reported in repair or damage, but then we have 17 in warranty, 31 irreparable, you know, which

011is 48. So I can you just explain those columns? >> So I I broke it down where we know the damaged devices which was seven 17 is we did have some issues with the warranty where we were trying to get it repaired. So we were going back and forth with the company. So I wanted to keep it separate so we'll know. So those 17 they stated that we didn't have warranty when we tried to get it repaired but we've got it straightened out now. So that's why I kept it separate that way. And then 30, the 31, these are the ones. These are at end of life, the ones that we just can't repair. They are the old devices. So, I wanted to keep it separate. That way, we'll know we'll be able to differentiate

012between what's what. Did I ask the question? >> Well, I mean, I understand you keep them separate, but I guess I just don't fully understand how we're tracking our inventory. And um this might be something y'all want to look at. I also wondered, you mentioned the cost. There's increasing cost. Do we track repair costs and and do we have an annual trend or anything that we could >> We do. >> Um we we have a um the layout the cost of what it cost to repair the device >> and then if it's close to end of life then we determine that we're not going to spend that kind of fund >> because the device is so old. But I mean yeartoear like you said it's been increasing. I guess I was just curious what that

013you know might look like on an annual basis. And then my final question is this cost that you presented um maybe Miss Coulature will address it but I wondered has it been budgeted? Is it in this year's budget? I didn't think so. Was it >> Madame Chair? >> Yes. Um Vice Chair Foy. Um no this particular cost the 1.6 million a little over 1.6 6 million is not allocated in this year's budget. Um, as you know, we're going into um a special workshop on Saturday to talk around some contractual matters around capital projects and so forth. So, this will be part of that discussion around capital projects and infrastructure. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, >> pre we discussed it before maybe some I can't tell you how many years ago it was but

014anyway we discussed the fact the price of getting a computer or laptop with the warranty and the price of not getting the warranty and I'll save my questions to Saturday. So, I'll be ready cuz we the warranty cuz we discussed it, but we I'll wait the Saturday morning and we'll um talk about if we got the warranty. Bingo. Be good. Thank you. That's all. I might be the Saturday. Um Miss um I'm getting call. Um thank you for your report for the um devices that we currently have. But my question I just want you to think about, you may not cannot answer. Well, as we move into the new high school, are we good with technology and make sure they're up to date and ready to go as of August? >> Yes. Okay. Everything is

015in place. Um, they're coming this week to install the circuit. No, next week to install the circuit as far as moving stuff around as far as the internet wise. So, they are working on that. So, yes. Are there any other questions? >> I should have said thank you too. >> Long, >> have we looked at any like lease programs for technology? Have have we explored anything like that to where we could lease the equipment and then trade it out every so many years? >> I did look at it um but not recently. But when we looked at it, it was too expensive. >> Okay. >> So, we we came out better just purchasing them and getting the warranty and we were good. I haven't looked at it. >> Yeah. I I was wondering because of

016repair bills and stuff like that, if we have it leased, then sometimes that goes back on who we're leasing from. So, just figured I'd ask. Thank you, >> Dr. Madam Chair. Um, just to follow up vice chair's voice question in regards to the numbers, I just want to let the board know that I will work with um, Miss Hixon and her team and just in terms of looking at our numbers um, along with finance as well just to make certain that we do have and we can report back to the board um, the accurate number of devices that we do have. Um, I do hear what that concern is and I just want to assure and assertain that we will provide the accurate counts but I will work with the team. >> Thank you Dr.

017Shepard. Any other question for Miss Miss um Hansen? Again, Miss Hson, thank you for all your hard work. Thank you um technology team for keeping the computers and everything going. We know that's a hard job, but we say kudos to you and thank you so much. Thank you. >> We're going to go back up to 5.1 at this time. Recognition of the 2026 special award recipient by the South Carolina Arts Commission on Wells by Dr. Sheffield. >> Good morning. Um Good morning. [laughter] Um good evening. Um again, board chair, vice chair, and board members. Um it definitely just gives me um excitement um to just talk about one of our own that was um you know that he was recognized most recently here um in Hampton. Unfortunately, it was read at the beginning of spring

018break. So many of us were out of town um and not able to join u Mr. Welch in regards to the recognition that he received. And when I realized that it was red in the middle at the very beginning of that spring break, I wanted to make certain that we as a board, as a district, um, honor him for the recognition that he received. He was a 2026 recipient of the South Carolina's Governor's Awards for the Arts. The Hampton County School District Board of Trustees proudly recognized Mr. known as Welch for his outstanding achievement as a 2026 recipient of the South Carolina Governor's Awards for the Arts. Mr. Welch is exceptional elementary he's an exceptional elementary art teacher and an award-winning print maker and a dedicated mentor whose passion for the arts has made a

019lasting impact on our students and this community here in Hampton County. his commitment to excellent and his unwavering support of the arts embodies the very best of our district and our community. So this time board I again do want you to just join me down front as we recognize um Mr. Welch for the outstanding achievement here and the work that he's doing here in Hampton County. as we were up talking prior to the board meeting starting in regards to the the work and the shows that we have been attending this week. Last evening I was at Ben Hazel um where the students put on Frozen there at Open Arms. Um today at 1:00 I did make my way over to Brunson Elementary where those students did the same. They have have another show this evening

020going on at 600. They told me it's sold out. Then I'm going to go over to Hampton Intermediate tomorrow to check out their show. Um, so again, this is all part of the work and of the arts that are happening here and the commitment of Mr. Welch, Mr. Wright, and just that team. So, Mr. Welch, we don't say thank you enough. um you probably don't hear it as often as you would like, but know that you are appreciated and we do recognize um the work and the commitment, more importantly the dedication that you're do you're doing. So, if you can join me down front with the board [applause] reached my mother. I was in the hospital for my actual >> for my words. So my fiance >> nowadays can our teacher be closed with a

021competition? There we go. >> [applause] >> Mr. Welch, if you like, we'll give you a few minutes to say a few words if you like. Okay, cool. I wasn't prepared to do that, but it's that's okay. Um, thank you so much for the honor and the recognition from the board. It means a lot. I mean, I know that the arts sometimes are something that is often under the gun in terms of finances and considerations for our the betterment of our students. But I know that I see every day students benefit from the classes I teach, Mr. Wright teaches, my fiance, Miss Barker over at Varnville and Estle teach um in music and theater. Like all these things benefit our students and more importantly they benefit students who a lot of times don't feel like they

022can fit in anywhere else. And we have to recognize that those students are just as important as everybody else. And the arts gives them a chance to express themselves and share with other people their feelings and it reinforces social emotional learning. Just inherently in what we do in the arts, we build social emotional learning. So all of the things we're trying to do as a district to implement those kinds of practices and try to assist in helping our students regulate better. the arts do that. If you have good art teachers and good music teachers and good like theater and other sorts of opportunities, that is inherently baked into what we do. So, I would encourage the board as we are moving forward, um, please, we need to recruit more art teachers. We need to recruit

023more related arts teachers in the district because I know we're coming up on some of them getting ready to retire and we can only go as much as we can go. So, and I know like with I know with the recent cancer diagnosis I had um you know it slowed me down a lot and I know that I have students coming up to me going when are we going to do this? When are we going to do this? When are we going to do this? Well, when I'm not fighting a life-threatening disease, but we'll we'll get there. But just seeing the gap that's already happening is a little disconcerting. So, I hope that, you know, the board and the school district as in general can help support the arts in more positive ways. And that

024starts with just getting teachers in the classroom, qualified teachers in the classroom. And I know that like Mr. Wright and myself, we are both more than willing to mentor. If you know anybody who's interested pursuing alternative certifications, anything like that, we are happy to do so and happy to mentor. So, thank you so much. >> And again, congratulations, Mr. Welch. And we do appreciate all the hard work you do. And I do understand what the arts can do with our students. I've been there, done that. So I know what it means. Uh we're down to 5.4. I already in a year data, but Christy Woods would >> Good evening. How are you? >> Good. Tonight I want to begin by sharing what the next few weeks look like as we roll into May. What you

025can see up here is our state testing calendar. you approved that I think a couple months ago. This had to go before our school board um and then to the state department for approval. There are a lot of parameters that go into play with this testing calendar that we have to follow. And so that there are some reasons behind all these different testing dates. Um whether it's requirements from the state department, bandwidth or resources or even just monitors to make sure it's done accurately. Um there is a reason behind it. But I wanted to share it with you because we are starting to near the end of the school year and it is critical that we make every moment count. Dr. Sheffield likes to say it's all hands on deck at this time of the

026year and that's kind of where we are right now in our schools. So I did want to take a moment to share with you our end of the year diagnostic data from I Ready. This data that I'm going to be sharing only represents grades through eight. Um I came back in February and we shared that middle of the year diagnostic results, but we wanted to kind of give you a quick snapshot of where we are in these grades as we move into those last weeks of preparation prior to state testing. You need to know that the students took this test in early spring. We completed all of our testing right before spring break. that is earlier than end of year when you're thinking about that, but we choose to do so because we want to

027be very strategic in how we're finishing out that year. Um, we need to provide intensive targeted support for our students as we're looking at that final stretch and make a lot of instructional decisions based on this data of what needs to happen in those classrooms as we're finishing out the year. Um, once we receive the results, we look at all kind of reports. one of the not only school level, content area, grade level, but we really look at individual class level results as well. And we one of the things that we did is we identified those power standards that students are still struggling with. And we compared those for each classroom teacher with what the state testing blueprints say that they're going to be tested on. And that kind of helped drove our decisions on

028what we're really focusing on from here to the end of the school year to really teach those key standards for those specific group of kids in our tier one core instruction. We also looked at um the data that we collected and looked at creating new groups for that intensive targeted intervention support. One of the reports that come from my ready is called a grouping report and it pulls together missing skills from um and groups similar students together in that. That was really kind of a driving decision of the new small groups that we were creating and the groups that we were creating for our testing boot camps. One of my favorite reports that we really intensively looked at right now is called the within 10 report and each one of our schools looked at it

029and it really shows the students who are within 10 points of moving from one category to the next. So, for example, they might be in approaches and they're 10 points away from getting to meets or they might be in meets and they're 10 points away from getting to exceeds. We really looked at that data because that's the kind of things that we can really make a move on as we wind down to this end of the year. Um, and then it really became a big part of that preparation for those boot camps. And then finally, what are the students going to do and what can we do when they're working independently, not with the teacher. So the other thing that we did is we took this data and we adjusted the students individual learning pathways

030when they're on the I Ready instructional software, not with the teacher. So we shifted it so that we'll make sure that they're being exposed to those key lessons on areas they still hadn't quite mastered but they're very close to. So it will streamline what they're being exposed to as we move into the end. And then finally, we use a lot of the standards mastery lessons in assisting with prep as we go in. So this snapshot actually shows the percentages for each school in grades three through eight and then their projected proficiency scores. The difference between the actual percentage and the projected proficiency is projected proficiency is based on historical data takes multiple tests in account when they're creating that percentage. So you might see a discrepancy between that actual score and what they're projected to

031score. Um the other thing that you need to know, yes, these are considered end of the year, but they were given in March, so it's really early on. We still have more work to be done. And that this test was given without students with accommodations. So we do that intentionally because when we give those accommodations, it kind of skews what the kids can and cannot do alone. So we choose to do it at this point in the year with no accommodations knowing that at the end of the school year they will get the accommodations and so we typically see a rise in the test scores at the end of the year and historically we see a boost in our scores in SE ready where it's slightly above where they are in Ire. Um when you're

032looking at the projected proficiency scores it's a little bit lower in ELA than where we were last year but it is a little bit higher in math than where we were last year. So, it's kind of balancing out. Um, we were at like 57% ELA last year and we were at 35% in math. Um, and now you can kind of see the shift if it stays on that same projection. So, this slide is showing individual schools. This next slide is actually showing grade levels. Um, one of the things that I want you to note is if you look at grade levels three through eight and you look at ELA, ELELA, you'll see the pattern that we try to trend for. And that is consistency among each grade levels. One of our red flags goes up

033when we look at math though because when you look at grade levels from three through eight, you don't see the consistency. We start to see a decline in the test scores the higher up that the students get. Now, we know there are a lot of obstacles that lead to that and you know, one of our battles that we've been having, especially in math, is really attracting teachers um in that area. This year, we work really, really hard. Dr. Sheffield, this was one of her pride joys is to filling those positions um with highly qualified teachers. We were able to do that. Uh but one of our obstacles is still they might be highly qualified, but that doesn't always mean that they're highly effective. So, one of our biggest goals is we have to coach them

034up, coach them out, and try to retain them. Um, and so our in order for us to be effective, we have to have that continuous goal of improvement. We need to retain the teachers. We need to not have to start over year after year with a new crop. And so, that's kind of one of our hurdles that we're having to do. Um, we also had new standards, new tests, and new curriculum in ELA and math. Last year it was ELA, it was new standards, new curriculum, new test. This year it's new standards, new curriculum, new test, and I ready. So what are I mean and essie ready. So what our kids are about to face here in May, we've never seen it before. Um enough that the state is not even going to release the

035preliminary scores for math until late in the summer because they don't know what the kids are going to be able to do. Um, it's been a lot of changes, but you know, we know there's still a lot of work to be done, but I need you to understand that we are constantly analyzing our work and refining our practices to make the improvements as we move forward. It's happening in the schools. It's happening at the district as well. Dr. Sheffield came by today and we were in a room working um, looking through lessons learned and having conversations about what adjustments need to be made immediately and as we move forward. And we were in this conversation, we're really talking about our ELA decision trees because that really kind of drives what individual students need work. We

036screen them on and then it it kind of drives our intensive instruction. We know we've learned some lessons. We got to narrow our focus. We're going to um move down into really making more specific targeted groups. We're trying to make sure we're aligning our resources, helping teachers better understand what to do. We're going to have to create a supplemental guide to assist them in making those instructional decisions. We're going to split those trees up um different grade bands because we still feel like they don't understand exactly what we need them to do. We had ELA in the past. This year, we created a math um decision tree as well. We're in the process of right now of creating screeners for them to do. We're piloting it out with some of our kids to work out

037the kinks before we move it out districtwide. We're researching for what that might look like at the high school and we're working on and you'll hear in a minute we're modifying the instructional schedule at the high school so that we'll be able to provide support for our students and create opportunities for our high school students that right now we're kind of pigeonholding that we cannot do. Um so there's a lot of things that are going on. Um we know we with our new math curriculum we realized I think you heard us say this at the middle of the year our pacing was off. We didn't wait until next year to do something about it. But we adjusted immediately for the second semester, brought them in, and then rewrote our pacing for the final um nine

038weeks of what needed to be done before we run into this testing. And we've already developed the new plan for next year with the first nine weeks ready to go. So, I just want to say we know the data isn't where we want to be, but I want to reassure you that we are working and making changes to assist in improving it. Any questions >> board members? Are there any questions on left? >> Right? None. Thank you, Miss Woods. We looking forward to the real scores. >> Madam Chair, Madame Chair, if I could, um, Miss Wood, I know you briefly touched in regards and Miss Williams is here um, with us this evening. Um, thank you, Miss Williams. But can you touch briefly in regards to um in sharing in regards to the scheduling that

039Miss Williams and the team um that we've worked with um pretty much um all year um in talking about um what the scheduling could look like um and the adjustments in scheduling based on the data and how that was coming and the support structure that we received and how they're moving forward. So, we have been working on this with the team. We've been meeting um continuously and I I do have a slide this year when we get to our local board specifically about the schedule. But one of the things right now at the high school, they're on a a 4x4 block which is about a 90 minute um core instruction for them. That's great and a lot of high schools have that. But what we've realized is it is it is so tight that we

040aren't able to assist in providing any kind of time unless a child's coming after school or before school to be able to address some of the needs. So what we're proposing and you'll hear more about in a few minutes is we're moving to a 4x4 plus a skinny as we like to say it will give a fifth period um into their instructional day. It's called the cat five. And what's going to happen during the CAT time, CAT 5 time, is it's going to give us the opportunity to be able to provide that intensive intervention um and academic support. We'll be able to do intervention for MTSS. We'll be able to give instructional support for identified kids that are still needing to close some gaps in ELA and math and science and social studies. We're also

041going to be able to provide acceleration opportunities where we're going to be able to do some test prep for SAT, ACT, advanced placement, ASVAB, um when we have coursework and things like that that's provided from the state, but it's never a time could we build in the day to even give it? What teachers going to give up their instruction when they got EOCC's to do that? Um, we are also going to do other things such as double block classes, and we'll talk a little bit more about that with the local board approved courses, but we're strategic in which classes we're going to double block. Um, matching students with their data to where we need them to go, creating a pathway and a tracking um, for all of our students per grade level as they're coming

042in, trying to separate some of these EOCC courses that we can give them opportunities. We're creating some half units that will layer in on top of some whole units and just um being able to give a lot more opportunities even from down to student volunteers and and work opportunities, job shadowing, things like that that we can't fit in our current schedule. So, we're excited about the changes. >> Thank you, Miss Wood. And boy, that was important. And I know she called out particularly, you know, the win and um just how we're able to dig deep and provide that additional support. I attended yesterday the um career fair there at the high school where they had several businesses, well, several companies that were there um recruiting and it was juniors and seniors. And you know, believe

043it or not, we hear all the time that there is no jobs here. There are plenty jobs here in Hampton County. Um, and there are plenty jobs that are there, um, in regards to that are waiting to hire out students that may be going to post-secary and have to work at the same time or may be looking to go directly into the workforce. And I know one particularly that really caught my attention and I said, you know what, it's um, it was a confirmation that we're moving in the right direction. And I think it's Savannah Riverside where I was talking with a young lady and she was talking. And I said, "Well, tell me what is it that you can offer to students um our students that are graduating right out of high school?" She

044said, "Believe it or not, there are several opportunities um if they have the win score." Um so just spending time and then talking about the careers and just talking about the highpaying wage um that's available to our students. And I said, you know, um it just says that, you know, we're moving in the right direction in terms of just providing those opportunities. But we'll talk more about that as we move into. I'm sorry, Miss Wood. I didn't mean to call you out. And I forgot we had the local course approval on here as well that you probably were going to get into that. But we just get excited when we talk about our purpose um which is making certain that we are um looking at what we're doing. If it's not working, then how do

045we shift? But um board I can tell you um we are digging deep trying to figure this out. But even the work that we are doing as a system is not going to close the gaps. This is going to take the work of everyone. This is a collective. So it's not just the school district. You're talking about home. You're talking about the community. Um everybody. It's it's it's going to take everyone to come in and to help with this. This is heavy lifting. Um, so we're talking about the variables that we have control over, but until everyone take ownership of the variables that they can control, we're going to continue to see these gaps. But what we're not going to do is make excuses for the variables that we can control. Again, thank you, Miss

046Wood. I always want to put an S on your name, but Mr. would and um Dr. Sheffair for the information and pertaining to curriculum and instruction which is the key to everything curriculum and instruction. We're down to six action items. 6.1 board you should have received information in regards to a field trip for North District Middle School Beta Club. um to car winds Friday May the 22nd 2026 so it's a north of South Carolina border so it's out of state um trip have you have time to look at it the information are there any discussions or questions you all have if not at this time was entertain a motion It has been properly moved by Holmes and second by um Wilson that we approve the field trip for North District Middle School Beta Club to

047Carow Wins on Friday May the 22nd 2026 which located at the North and South Carolina borders is out of state. Are there any discussions? All in favor let it be known by saying I >> I >> oppose have the same right. Hearing none motion carries 70 6.2 fiscal year 2026 27 budget review first read first read. Good evening again board. Okay, I have brought to y'all the proposed budget for fiscal year 2627 for the first reading for your approval. Thank you. Um, if you'll look, it's got a lot of information in there. And so I'm going to start out by kind of breaking it down on in each of those columns what is in the columns so y'all better understand what is in the columns that we're referring to. So, the first column is for

048the workshop that we did on 331 2026. And here's the original that I brought to y'all and where it was out. Um, in [clears throat] the second column, we're going to look at the teachers only. And when I call it teachers only, it is because we have still included the revenue. We have included the salaries and and the um other nonp pay payroll expenses as we did before. But what I want you to notice more is that inside of this one for the um increase in the budget based on state um mandates, we have only included the what the teachers would be um getting their $2,000. If you'll remember in that first one I brought you that they got $2,000 plus a step. So this does include that $2,000 in a step and does not

049um increase anyone else in any kind of way. So you could see where it puts just for your teachers. Um, in the next column you have the all certified and what that is, if you'll remember in our salary schedules, the way it's set up that are um the personnel that is considered our director certified or certified directors are you there's a couple other people that's down into the um coordinators and stuff like that that's also captured in that. um they too now receive that same 2,000 increase that the I'm [clears throat] so sorry they also include that $2,000 that the teacher gets because they're following the teacher salary schedule. So they get increased up by that and then whatever percentage rate that would be um that they are above the teachers. So then this third

050column there you have your certified teachers and your certified directors and staff. Nothing has changed for any classified. Okay. [clears throat] In your fourth column you have all the certified that we just talked about then and the and what their increases would have been and then you have the classified only receiving a step. Okay. So then if you go into that last column, you have the certified, you have the class receiving their step, but the class also receives a 3% increase. And the reason that we chose to do this column, if you'll remember last year, the same increase that the teachers got based on that um salary mandate, we did that percentage increase. We had to do it in a percentwise across all of the certified. So [clears throat] that's why I continued to do

051it in the pattern or at least show y'all in the pattern in which we did it last year. So that's [clears throat] to give you the direction of how each of these columns when we're talking about them are um being aligned and what is inside of those. So now with these these true four scenarios that I'm bringing to y'all, I'm going to actually turn it over to Doc Sheffield. She's going to go into a little bit more about what we've done in our conversations together with the different areas um and let y'all hear from her on it. >> Thank you. Thank you, um, Miss Carlasia. Um, board, we are tag teaming this and, um, as Miss Carlasia indicated, you could see when we came with just an overview of us starting to work on the

052budget development back on the 31st where this number um, where it had us at the 3.7, you're probably looking to say, you're probably ready to just run me out of the room. [laughter] But I can assure you amongst everything else that what we have done thus far because we still have a ways to go on this is that I've spent time with each one of the principles um going through um their going through their requests um and just making certain that I was doing my due diligence there with the schools. Now, there are some pieces that we've literally pulled back from because what we don't want, we didn't want to leave those vacancies sitting out there that we know that we are probably not going to need. So, some of these vacancies we have frozen.

053Okay. And what our next step is now after tonight is now I need to really go and as I said to Miss Casia and look at now um purchase services because you can see that's a very high number. um in the $4 million range as well as others to see what is sitting there and to make certain that we are being financially responsible. And I'm sure that there are some additional pieces that we're probably going to be pulling back. But I started at the school. So now we will go into those other areas down from purchase servicing and others. Purchase servicing, Miss Klasia, correct me if I'm wrong. Is that where we have um contract some of our contracted services? >> Yes, in [clears throat] that $4 million that would have your contracting teachers that

054we're doing where we're using a marriages or um there's a couple other ones as well that we're using. So yes, that would have that would include all of those sets of teachers. >> Okay. [clears throat] and right now. And then with contracted services, I think when we look in regards to the contracted services with those teachers with um our sped um the group that we're using that are contracted services, I think we're looking anywhere from 2.5 to 2.6. Um correct. It's a very high number. So that's why it is important. I know when we look in regards to the vacancies and things that were coming in is in regards to how do we close the um the vacancies and one thing we did last year was we looked we had to go we went out

055and we looked at the contracted services. So I'm going to go back as we continue to work through this um for the second read and look at purchase services what's in there as well as others as we continue to work through. I've also asked Miss Carlasia, we didn't have time to include um another column. I asked her if she will go and just look if we just did teachers, right, in terms of what we needed to do with just the teachers in terms of to make certain that we're in compliance with the state. So, she is working on that, but then she's also needing to check to make certain that we can do without including the other certified staff. Right, Miss Clayia? That's what we're working on. >> That's correct. So, those so those are

056the pieces that we're working on. What I do want to say as we work through this and you can see that this is a it's a it's a challenging time. Now, we are going to um we're going to have a balanced budget and also making certain that we're doing our due diligence to where we are cutting. When I shouldn't say cut, when I say cut, I'm not meaning, you know, we're making certain that we are not we're being responsible. But what I need us to understand as we work through this for 2027 and I've already started having the conversation with principles is going to look very different. We've already started with 2028. And the reason that I'm saying this is because I had to sit back to reflect to say why are we here at

057such a high number. You know, ESSA was good, right? But we're still trying to do some of those esser things without esser dollars. We also have to, and this is where the hard conversation comes, is that it's time to start looking at our funding in regards to class allocation, student allocation, and that's how we receive our funding from the state. And I went and I've looked at looked at it and I've done that when I go back and I looked at the data for a few years just to see is this something that we have been utilizing in regards to our state allocation. In some places it's 1 to 30 um and so forth and that's a high number. I agree with that. But if that's how we're being funded, just to give you an

058example, we're going to have to be close to it. We cannot be significantly off from it. So when I'm looking at it here for Hampton County, we are significantly off in regards to our student allocation in terms of how we have our class size set up. So I've already started having that conversation. Miss Williams, you remember me having the conversation with principles that we're going to work through it, but we have to start for 27, but 2028 has to be a new day. And in regards to we have to hold tight to our student allocation and how we're being funded from the state. And this is the work that as we are working through 2027 that we're having to start working on 2028 at the same time. And the reason team that is this is

059going to be so important that we really look at our allocation and making certain that we are we're being very close to it is that when we come back on May 5th with the conversation around the salary compensation schedule if we want to do our due diligence and address what is in that report. We're going to have to make some changes. We're not going to be able to >> you understand where I'm going. We're going to have to tighten that up, right? if we're wanting to respond to what that salary compensation is saying. Not that we're going to be able to to do all of it, but if we want to make an attempt and we have to be committed to it because we spent time talking about it. We embrace this initiative. So, we're

060going to respond, right? So, this is the conversation that we're having. I hate that I'm talking about 28 alongside with 27, but it's going to take this entire year for us to get ready for 28 because it's going to take some hard conversations and some planning for what that's going to look like for us as a district. Miss um Kaklasia, I'll turn it back over to you to finish. I think that's um part a big part of the work that we're doing as we're working through 2027 to balance this budget that we're having to talk about what what's our goal for that as well. And so my immediate recommendation right now as we're working towards is looking to see what is it that we need. we know what we need to do for the teachers

061in terms of I think it's the $2,000 right $2,000 and that step and then she's looking to see if that with what we're needing to do. Do we have to include all certified staffs with that or can it just be the teachers with the $2,000 and STEP and then everyone else with STEP only? Am I making sense? >> Yeah. So that's where we are right now. She's working on that end. We're going to be working in the upcoming week in terms of looking now at the bottom portion in regards to professional services and other. So boy, that's where we are. So I don't want you to have the sleepless nights that I'm having. Um, just know that um, Miss Clay and I, we're working, we're working, um, we're working on it. We're working through it.

062And I think on Friday, I left um, feeling real good cuz I think we had cut about a million dollars. And then when I come back on Monday, I think that million turned into about 600,000. I'm like, then I I'm like, okay, I feel deflated, right? Um, but then we go to talking about those shifts and things that we're having to make because there are some fund some pieces that we needed to pull from over on our sped side over into general funds. Um, but there will be other conversations that we will have in terms of how we are getting to this balanced budget and if we needed to utilize what have you, it's definitely would not be here. Um, because this is not good. So, we're continuing to work. And Miss Williams keep looking

063at me because she was one um and she understood um as we are moving into the new school, as we talk about the high school um and we made those commitments um and as we're filling those positions, there are other positions um that will not be needed. So if she had so many English positions and we filled the advanced place the AP lang or vice versa or AP social studies then we got on and then we worked through that we're pulling back um associate studies or in English because on the other side so we are closing those gaps and not leaving vacancies just sitting like we've left sitting. Um so that's some of the work that we're doing. So, but I think it's painful, right, Miss Williams? It's painful. Um, but we're working through all

064of this together. But, Miss um, Clayia, I'll turn it back over to you. All right. For me, I am bringing this for the first reading. So therefore, out of those scenarios, I'm going to recommend for my first reading of my budget to be for the all certified plus the class step, which would be the 33,87,93497 for my revenue and 36 um,000 I mean 36 million 34,06465 for my expenditure giving me a deficit of 2,ion4946 12968. [snorts] Board members, do you have any question for uh Miss Coca before we can um vote on it? We'll make a motion on it. And I can see that Dr. Sheffair and I we attended that um finance meeting um for the boards for the school boards and she is literally saying what they were saying. We have to with

065the with the pupil counting the money we are far away from it. And that's the only thing thing they kept saying. You can have up to 30. You can have up to 25 here. You can have up to 28 here. When you're sitting there with 18, they weren't hearing it. If you sitting there with 18 in class and they saying you can have 30 and they kept saying and and the the superintendent and the board like we don't have money. They said you have money. You just got to look at it in a different way. You can't sit there when they say 18 students in a class when the state say you can have up to 30. So, she's not making this up. This is what the state is pushing at us at board as

066board members and as superintendent. You have money. Look at that money differently and do what you need to do for children. That's the number one. What are you doing for teachers to help children and like she like she saying we kept echoing we don't have the money and they kept telling us yes you do. They didn't want to hear it. So when she said that we have to tighten it up and we going have to do what the state say because they not going to give us any more money cuz they going to base it on how many students you can have in a class. So it doesn't make sense is we have 72 students and we have five classes trying to pay five teachers. It's not going to work cuz they already know that

067you shouldn't have five teachers for 72 students and they going to only give you what you u deserve based on their account. So she's not making it up and it was hard for us to swallow that. Uh I looked at uh Dr. Sheffield, Dr. Sheffield look at me and everybody else kept looking at each other. But the only thing they say you have money, look at it differently. So we understand what budget and that gave me a greater insight about how you how much you have to go through with budgets and dealing with budget and trying to cut this and trying to cut that and then trying to keep everybody, you know, happy. Them happy days for the state, they gone. They don't they don't care about your happy days. They care about what you

068doing for children. They don't care about anybody else but all we provided in education, the best education to our student. That's all they want to hear. They even try to come back with what? Well, you got coaches. So why you can't have 30 students? You got coaches. And I'm not throwing this at Miss. I'm just saying that's what they kept coming back us with. Why do you hire coaches if you they're not going to get any help the teachers if they have if they have to have 28 students. So we just have to look at things differently. And we're going to make it work. We're going to make it work cuz we we here to provide the best education for our student for all students not some but for all of our the Hampton County

069School District students. So we do appreciate your hard work. We know you step many hours. We know you your team step and we know Dr. care safe they are cuz this is a beast budget is a beast but we going to do what's right so that we won't get caught up in anything so board members do you have any question for um Miss Casia well I I was sitting here listening to you and um about the changes that we're going to have to make and um thinking to myself why why do we have to wait to 2028 but I know you went on to say that it's going to take planning and conversations to make these changes, but I guess I just say that to let you know that I hear you. >> Um, and

070I, you know, if there are opportunities that we can, you know, um, as as the year goes on or even as we're finalizing this budget that maybe we could take baby steps towards those, um, I I, you know, let's not, you know, let's let's not wait. I I understand you can't just make a change like that because it affects um you know all kind of structures but I I hear you is what I'm saying but yeah >> madam chair >> yes >> um thank you um vice chair foy um for that um yeah this will this change it will take um it's going to take a lot of planning um we will actually miss kalage and I talked to we will actually you know have to start notif find um staff and others that will

071be impacted in regards to moving to such say December be and and to talk about in regards to what those processes look like because when we start talking about in regards to those student teacher ratios in regards to those numbers it could be to where we're shifting staffs from one location to the next. It's definitely going to help close some of those vacancy gaps. It definitely will cut down on some of the on many of the um contracted services vacancies. Um, and so I just want to make certain um, the humane side of me um, in terms of just wanting to do it right and at the same time as we are doing this also make decisions around the compensation schedule and how we're moving forward and those kind of things as well. So, I

072just want to do the whole gamut um all at once. But I will say to your point uh Miss Foy, and thank you for that is that as vacancies and things are coming up at schools and we're not being able to fill them, those are conversations to have with principles in regards to looking at those numbers to say that this is a way that we can go ahead and start. Um and I think what you're saying soft, right, a soft start. So, I definitely appreciate that and we'll look in doing those soft starts any way we possibly can. But, um, we'll start the planning, but I just wanted to start this conversation of started the conversation with principles, but I want to start the conversation with the boards and and with others that are impact,

073you know, that would be impacted. >> Madam Chair, we've had this before. I mean, so I'm in I'm in the dinosaur group. I've seen this happen. If we had to sit down and talk about gas or buses, so Dr. Sheffield, uh, we know we be all right. We going to be fine. We going to be fine. I I I've seen it before because some classes are going to be small because there some some things you have to do. You don't have 30 special ed students in the school most likely. So you going those classes going to be smaller. You're gonna have some subjects you gonna have to offer. How many people gonna be taking trigonometry, but you probably gonna offer the class. >> So, I mean, it'll be it's gonna be all right. That's all

074I got to say. I've seen it before. I've seen this animal before and we going to be all right cuz the other school districts, we not the only small school district >> with limited um community services like factories and stuff. We not the only one. Everybody biting the same bullets. Thank you. Um, >> yes, please, >> Madam [clears throat] Chair. I move that we approve first reading of the budget um as presented by um all certified plus class step revenue totaling 33,87,934 expenditures totaling 36,34,64. It has been properly moved by Foy, second by Wilson that we approve the budget first reading as presented by Miss Klasia and follow up by Miss um board vice chair Foy with the numbers. Are there any discussions? All in favor let it be known by saying I >> oppose

075had the same right. All in favor, let everybody know saying by I. >> I oppose have the same right. Hearing none. Motion carried 70. >> We're down to >> All right. Before we move on, I've got one more part that I want to bring up, which was the calendar. >> Yes. >> Um due to the fact that we were running a little bit late on getting this budget to get to the first reading, >> um I'm going to need to do an adjustment to the calendar. We if you see on April the 14th I was supposed to send the um public board reading to the newspaper by that 14th which has passed. Um so I am um recommending that we move that to that we um submit to the newspaper on April the 28th. It

076will come out in the newspaper on May the 7th and run in the paper. I have to have legally I have to have 15 days that I have it in there. So that would be May the 25th which was be the earliest but we don't have a board meeting at that point. So I've try I have I'm recommending to move the second reading to June the 2nd with the public hearing and then on June the 16th I will present the third um and I'm flip that one more page and on June the 16th I would present the third reading. >> So that was the optional date but you're going to go ahead and plan on that >> June 16th. So, the newspaper will be May 19th. >> Um, I I'll submit it on May the

0777th and it will it'll run I mean I'll submit on April 28th. It'll run on start running on May the 7th. >> Oh, okay. >> And then the earliest I could have a board meeting would be um May the 25th, but we don't have a board meeting at that point. So, June the 2nd would be the first that we would have a board meeting. >> Okay. Okay. So, we are looking at a change in the uh update budget calendar. >> Yes, it was to submitted to the newspaper on April 28th. It will run in the newspaper from May the 7th to May the 25th. We will have our second reading on June the 2nd and our third reading on June the 16th. >> That is correct. >> So, I just want to make sure that

078all board members understand the changes in the uh in the calendar. Okay. Okay. On April 28th, she's going to submit it to the newspaper. It will run in newspaper from May the 7 to May the 25th. The second reading will be June the 2nd and the third reading will be June the 16th. Board members, you have heard um the request from Miss Klasia in regards to the update budget um changing the updated um budget calendar. What is your pleasure? >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve the updated budget calendar um as presented. It has been properly moved by Foy and second by Miss Wilson that we approve the updated bud budget calendar as presented by Miss Klasia, CFO. Are there any discussion? All in favor, let it be known by saying I. O. >>

079All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. >> Oppose have the same right. Motion carried 70. >> Thank you. you 61.3 locable approval courses for the 2026 202 27 school year Christy Wood. So, we did have the opportunity to share a little bit um about the strategic schedule at the high school, but um I in terms of why do we need local board approved? That's a perfect example. Um local board approved courses are the courses that are not in satchel from the state, but it gives boards the flexibility, the freedom to create courses that will meet your individual school in district's needs. um they have to be approved annually and so in your packet you do have a list of those courses and I am going to highlight just a few of

080the changes but I wanted to draw your attention to this slide. This is what Dr. Sheffield and I talked about a little bit um before as we're going into this. There is going to be a new schedule at Hampton County High School and it's not just a simple schedule. It is a very strategic um placed schedule where we're really going to be tracking students and placing them in the best um opportunities for them. We have requested some additional supports for the high school. We're trying to see how that rolls out with um one of the things that we know that we have some students who need intervention and support. One of the pieces, for example, we're looking at exact path, which kind of mirrors what we're doing with I Ready in grades K through eight

081to have that same kind of opportunity at high school that would be a data driven resource that they could dig in, close those missing skills gaps. We know that we have courseear that's provided from the state. We just have to have the opportunity um and the place to be able to provide that for the students for when and Dr. Sheffield talked about how critical that is in looking for jobs for their future. It is such an important piece and >> right now I don't know that our students take it as seriously as they should. But we also are not able to provide them the sport that we know that we should. This new schedule is going to give us that opportunity. Um we know we have students who are gifted and are advanced and right

082now our schedule hasn't given us a lot of opportunity what we can do for them other than leaving campus and going to dual enrollment. So now with the additional AP classes and um SAT prep and ACT prep and ASVAB prep for the military, we'll be able to support our students inhouse and be able to um help them be more successful on those exams. We're also going to be able to give them opportunities to really explore careers that, you know, we have our cake classes, but sometimes they're very limited and and they're not able to see everything. with this other skinny. We'll be able to rotate in and out different possibilities for the kids to get them to really think about what they may be able to do. And then of course we talked about that

083double blocking for those EOCC's. We've got to improve our test scores and one of the ways of doing that. We know we need more time in the course and being more intentional. So when you look at the local board approved the courses, some of the things that you'll see on here is us having to adjust what is already offered in Satchel. That may mean taking a semester long course and changing it into a half a credit course or taking a semester course and expanding it to a year-long course. All of those pieces. So, if you look at your handout of the local board of courses, that very first page, it's the same things that we had on last year. One of the changes though is the very bottom one, introduction to speech. If you have

084that handout, you have it in your packet. >> This handout Just a minute, Miss Wood. Unless the gremlin may have taken it from us here indiligent. Okay. >> You can if you don't, we can give it to them. I mean, I I have it electronically that I can send back out to you all. >> Okay. >> But it is something you're very familiar with. It looks like this. You see it each year. So, one of the things that I'm just going to highlight just a few so you can remember in your head and if you'd like I can even send you a highlighted copy when you have it in your hand of what's different from what you approved last year. So, for example, one of the ones we have on here is an introduction to

085speech. The way it was on here in the past, it was only a full semester course. We do now see the need that we can put it in as a half a semester and we can offer it also in that skinny block. Um, if you look over on the second page, we had had in the past foundation courses. We had like foundations of biology, foundation of history. >> We have decided there's a better path. Um, and so we are switching over to early American history and we had in the past early American history honors. We're adding in an early American history CP class. Um, that is going to be kind of a precursor into the US history course. So the kids are going to take early history, American history, they will then be blocked the

086very next semester into US history. So instead of being foundations, it is really kind of two courses that are going to lead into working on that EOC. We in the past had had foundations of biology. We are switching that. I put it on this list to integrated science. Integrated science is actually of course in satchel. So, it's really not local board, but I wanted to put it on here for you to when you go, Christy, what did you do with foundations of biology? Just know we're moving toward what the state really um suggested, which is integrated science. It is still going to be that kind of foundation course that's that precursor into biology. So, the kids will take integrated science and then they'll be followed right behind a semester with it. And then there's also

087a course that's called math ready. It kind of replaces the foundations of algebra course. It will be the precursor that leads right into algebra 1. So we are double blocking biology, US history, and algebra 1. The only U the only EOCC course that we're not double blocking is the English 2 course >> and we feel good about that. Um the rest of the things that are on local board approved are pretty much the same until you get to this last page. And what we saw here is we had some pieces like introduc in instructional support for ELA and math, but we realized that our kids that really are struggling need more than one course. It's not one year of their four years at high school that they need that one course. So we had to

088build in um that type of course one, that type of course two. So, there are going to be multiple opportunities for those kids that still have those missing skills that they can go back into a course and we can continuously provide that support. So, you'll see that down um here where we're offering and giving ourselves the flexibility. Some kids are going to need a full year long, some kids are going to need a semester, some kids are going to need a half a semester of ELA and then half a semester of math. We want to be able to give us our flexibility, really tailor it to individual student needs, and that's what those changes are. And then finally, the same thing about test prep. We had test prep one and we had test prep two.

089But then when you look at a high school student, oh my gosh, they're taking when they're taking ACT, they're taking SAT, they're taking AP courses, they're taking ASVAB, they're taking all of those pieces. And we had one or two courses over the course of the four years. So we have um extended that to a one, two, three and four so that we can strategically place those kids each year based on their pathway toward graduation to be able to have that support. The all the other classes um remain the same for middle school and elementary. And the final course that we added on there was an ROC leadership academy course that we are excited about to give us a little bit of flexibility for those real leaders in ROC that they'll have another opportunity that may

090even be during that CAT 5 skinny that they can really hone in on those leadership skills and get some um additional support from ROTC. I apologize that this is not in your packet, but we will make sure that you receive a copy of it as well. >> Board members on Do you have any questions? >> No. At this time, we entertain a motion to approve um the 2020 6 2027 um course courses. Madam Chair, >> course guidelines in college. I move that we approve the um courses as presented by the director of curriculum. >> Second. >> It has been properly moved by Holmes and second by Foy that we approve the qu courses for the 2026 2027 um school year as presented by Miss Christie Wood the director of curriculum. Are there any discussion? All

091in favor, let there be no by saying I. >> Oppose has right. Hearing none. Motion car 70. Thank you, Miss Woods. >> Down to seven, superintendent information and action items on board 7.1. 7.1. Um, you have your bi-weekly construction meeting minutes um for March the 25th and April 8th. Um, the construction of our new high school, it is coming along. It is on schedule um to open in the fall um as we anticipate. I do want um and I have asked um Miss Carlasia, she is serving as the project lead for the moving committee. Um, we do have a moving committee. They have been meeting quite frequently in regards to um what the move is going to look like and I'm going to ask um that she share the calendar, the progress with the board

092at our May 5th meeting so that you will know um we are moving right along. You may not hear us talking about it, but [snorts] a lot of work is taking place. I know Miss Williams has already been over um doing the room assignments um and work and she's of course a part of that moving committee along with other members of her team. So you will hear more about how the move is coming and how we are planning for um for May on May 5th. Um 7 and I did go by the high school um today um to do another walk and I tell you um the bleachers in the gymnasium gymnasium it's it's beautiful. The seats are already there in the auditorium just the light fixtures um everything is continuing um just moving along

093beautiful. Um, we're definitely going to have I'm going to say we're going to have the most beautiful facility here in Hampton County and um, so cannot wait for you to come back. Um, so you can see the progress since your last visit and of course all of the equipments and things are continuously coming in. Um, so we're right on target. 7.2 7.2 is our board work session. This is just a reminder that we'll be together on Saturday or we'll open up and then we'll go into executive session for contractual matters pertaining to um you know phase two and some other contractual pieces that we would need to discuss. That meeting is scheduled here um at N district in the multi-purpose room from 9 to 12 and we will have a light um light breakfast refreshments

094for you on and also before I leave 7.2 we're looking at releasing the agenda tomorrow. Along with the agenda will be some attachments. Um, not that I'm giving you homework, um, but there'll be some attachments I'm sure you'll be excited to see, um, that you would want to review prior to, um, prior to Saturday in working with, um, you know, our architecture and some of the work that we've asked to do around the contractual matters and decisions that we need to make. She assured um spoke with her on yesterday, Miss Cocklasia and myself that she will have the information that we need from her um sometime tomorrow. So we will be upload uploading it and you will have an opportunity to review it um prior to Saturday's meeting and um 7.3 um 7.3 at the

095last meeting you did um support me doing a superintendent state of school address. This is where we will just talk about the state of our schools here in Hampton County. We did release and this is scheduled for Thursday, May 14th at 6 PM. We did release the um flyers and so forth to the community um via social media and also in your folder and I think you have like five white envelopes there in your packet. Those are um invitations for you as a board um should you come across a constituent or someone that you want to invite with a personalized invitation. So we have again it's already out there. We had a flyer with the QR code that's on the flyer where they will have an opportunity to scan and send in questions that they

096may have that they want to make certain that I address during this time. Um but it was important and we've already mailed out many of the private invitations that you have. These invitations went to our local delegations, our um county officials um and all of our municipalities and so forth. So just I'm looking forward to it. We'll continue to plan and I will be working with some of you that will be involved in this process. I'll be reaching out um reaching out to to you individually. Um 7.4 7.4 I put 7.4 um because I want it's important for me because I put and you probably say why does she have a 2425 audit notification on here an update. Well, if you recall, and this is a lot to celebrate because I just remember coming in

097when I came in January 13th of 2025. Um, we had two weeks to get that audit turned in, right? Um, and we got it [snorts] in um and we immediately started working on the 2425 audit and we had some cadence and so forth. That audit was submitted on time and you heard from the auditors. Um there were no findings and we also had addressed previous findings and Hampton County through the state was what was called you know there are three signs they have a warning physical warning then you go to physical caution and you go to emergency which you don't want um and I say all the time an organizational can be great but if their finances are not in order that can destroy organization but I just want to tell you. Um, on Monday

098when I got into the office, I did receive in my email um, from the State Department that Hampton County School District not only has been released from physical caution, we have been released altogether. So, we didn't even go from caution to warning. Well, we were hoping to go at least come down to warning, right, Miss Calasia? >> But we came completely off that watch list. Now, what we do know Huh. Yeah, that's a lot to celebrate. What we do know is that um on board chair, I I borrowed your letter because I left mine in the office, but they sent a letter for the board chair. Um what we do know is that um it's easy to get on that list and hard to get off. So, we know the work that we must continue

099to do um to remain off the list. We know how we got on and we know the work that we need to do to get off. Um Miss Carlasia has already sent out um a schedule to principles to district leaders as we are working through the 2526 audit. We've already started that process. So as you are hearing and they're saying that you know um we are losing our minds we are holding um some things tight um there's a reason behind that so I personally want to of course thank um the board thanks miss klasia Kathy and that finance team um the principles everyone this was an effort of everyone just getting what needed to be done done um and responding to um the needs from the eight. So, this is definitely um great news. So,

100board, I just wanted to put that on there and congratulate you as a board and more importantly thank um Miss Casian working with the auditors and that team in making this happen for Hampton County because we had no business being on that list. >> Miss Cartasia, is there anything you need to add or want to add? Boy, I'mma ask that you uh join me in celebrating the hard work under the leadership of Dr. Sheffield. >> No, she >> um um Miss Klazia and and for sure everybody who's sitting among us today, we just want to give you a round of applause because it take teamwork. So, we thank you all. [applause] We have something to be very proud of. In less than a year, two years, we have made a almost a 360. So, thank

101say thank you Lord. But y'all [laughter] give me say thank you God. But um thank you all for all your hard work. Um so that was seven um that was 7.4. It was just important for us to, you know, we talk about those things. We talked a lot about it when we got on it, and I'm going to talk just as much about it when we got off. And we're going to have to work hard to stay off. And as you saw the audit, I mean, excuse me, the budget that we are preparing um this is a part of that staying off and just making certain that we are being financially um responsible and keeping our finances in order. and in meeting with M um reading meeting with Miss Klasia prior to coming over um

102we've been meeting a lot lately and um pushing back at each other because we're having to have those hard conversations and I do appreciate the hard conversations that she's having with me. She will say no. Um and that's what we have to do. Um 7.5 7.5 is board in your packet. It's just a calendar of the district end of year activities. I've asked the principles if they will share with us their end of the year activities and they did and Christy and Melanie did a great job in collecting that for us um districtwide and Julia just printed a copy so that you will see some of those events have passed um just so that you will see and if you have time and if you want to stop or highlight um a visit a school

103by all means you know they are always happy um to see to see you and we do have some overlaps, but you know, so many hours in a day, so many days in a week, so we're going to have the overlaps in some of them that we will continue doing our best in terms of trying not to have as many. Um 7.6 7.6 I think board in your packet you have the school law conference. Um the information in there that is scheduled for um August 29th through the 30th is in Greenville, not Charleston. Um it is in Greenville. So, you would need to let Julia know, right, Miss Farmer? You'll need to let Miss Farmer know um of your intentions on attending um the law conference that will be held in Greenville August 29th through

104the 30th. Okay. 7.7 Can you believe we are here talking about a ribbon cutting ceremony for the brand new high school on 601? >> Can you all believe it? M well we here right. >> Yes. >> So the moving committee um as I indicated to you they've been busy busy busy. They provided with three dates that the committee came up with. Once they provided those dates um and of course needing to talk with Ryan and his team and making certain that these dates would have worked and that we're going to be good. Um I provided those dates to the state superintendent's office. um Weaver provided those dates to her um for her executive assistant to work with her in checking because of course we'd want to make certain she's available >> and gave them a

105deadline of last Friday and they did respond back by the deadline that July 9th would be the date to work best for her. So, um, but she wants to, of course, make certain that that date will work best for her, but she wants to make certain that the board decide, the board decides if that date works for them. So, we would really need to decide tonight if we're going to move forward with a July 9th date. Um, it seems far away, but this is a lot of planning that must take place. What time of what time of day do you picture this? >> I'm saying early morning because we know July is hot. >> So, I'm you know my recommendation for a morning will be at 900 a.m. because even at 10:00 it's hot. >>

106Now, we may be out there at 10:00, but at least if we can start um at 9 and the committee will keep in mind of the heat and you know we have to do the commercial tents and so forth. you know, we'll work through all of the logistics and of course we will come back to the board with the logistics and the board provide the feedback, but we will keep in mind what we need to do. But what we need to solidify um to see if everyone will be in and available in town and available on July 9th or is there anyone that will be traveling um and would not be available because we would like all all of you to be a part of it. Anybody on the right? Do you object to July

107the 9th? >> Miss Holmes. >> Huh? >> You good? You sure? >> Sure. >> Miss Darl, >> I'm looking now. >> Mr. Miss Wilson, >> I have to check with my secretary, >> Miss Foy. >> I'm good. Miss Prester, >> I'm good, I think. But >> Mr. Long, >> how are you? >> You good? >> Okay. It seems like the consensus everybody July 9th is good. >> You said no. >> But >> I got a meeting sometime in July, but I'm not sure when. >> Okay. >> So, we'll just July 19th. >> Okay. So, Okay. Okay. So, we'll let you all make a motion, I guess. I guess we need to make a motion. Yeah. >> I don't know. >> Okay. Well, we will just move um the we'll just go ahead and tentatively plan.

108We're going to go ahead and we need to plan for July 9th. And what I would say, we're going to say July 9th starting at 9:00 this morning. 9:00 in the morning. Um today is Tuesday and Kath what I would say um in fairness because we're giving this date right now unless the board say no let's move on with July 9th if you all want us to wait >> I'll be here >> you'll be here so we want to go ahead and move forward we can move forward >> okay >> we will move forward with July 9th >> at 9:00 a.m. >> Okay so July 9th um July 9th at 900 a.m. we will go ahead and move forward um and I'll have Julia to send that information to the state superintendent's office to um

109tomorrow morning and then Miss Carlia then of course will need to work with the um architecture the contractors and everyone um so that we can and get that time in and then um we'll move in there and that will do it um that would do it for my announcements. Okay. Thank you, Don. Thank you, um, Dr. Shepier for the information. You always do a good job and keeping us informed with everything's going on, and we appreciate you greatly. Uh, we're down to 7.8. Enter into executive session in accordance with section 30-4-70 part B. No action will be taken in exe session except a adjourn or b return to the public session. >> Madam chair, I move that we enter into executive session um to discuss personnel matters relating to hiring, termination, resignation and retirement. >>

110It has properly moved by Foy second by home that we enter into executive session for the purpose of discussion of personnel matters related to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement. Are there any questions? All in favor let it be known by saying I. >> Oppose have the same right. Hearing on 70, we'll now enter into executive session. At this time, we entertain a motion to return to open session. >> Madam chair, I move that we return to open session. >> Second. >> It has been properly moved by Foy, second by Wilson that we return to open session. Are there any discussions? All in favor, let be known by saying I. >> I. Oppose has same right hearing. None. Motion carried. 70. We are now back into open session. Down to number nine. Action items after the

111executive session. Approve personnel matters related to hiring terminations, resignation, and retirement. At this time, we entertain a motion. >> Madam chair. >> Oh, >> got it. Mhm. >> Madam Chair, um I move that we approve personnel matters related to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement. >> Second. >> It's have been properly moved by Holmes. Second by forward that we approve the personnel matter relating to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement. Are there any discussion? All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. >> Opposed had the same right. We're now um down to number 10. 10.1 at this time we entertain a motion to adjourn the meeting >> I move second >> it has been properly moved by Miss Priest second by miss whistle that the meeting are there any discussions all in favor let

112it be known by saying I >> I oppose had the same right hearing none motion carried 70 the me the meeting is adjourned