001Good evening. >> Good evening. >> The Hampton County Board of Trustees meeting for March 3rd, 2026 is now called to order. >> Will everyone please stand for? In accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of 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 District website. Will everyone please stand for the pledge of allegiance? A moment of silence. >> Amen. >> 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. >> Oh Jesus. My thing went out. It went out one moment. Now it went back out. It keep jumping off.
002Our adopted rules of parliamentary procedure Robert's rules provided for a consent agenda listing several items for approval of the board by a single motion. Most of the item listed under the consent agenda have gone through board subcommittee review and recommendation. Documentation cons concerning these item 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 items that need to be removed by a board member? Hearing now, none. Can we please get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Madam Chair, I move that we approve the consent agenda items. Approval of agenda. Board meeting minutes called meeting February 17th and board meeting minutes regular board meeting February 17th. >> Second. It had been properly moved by
003Foy, second by Wilson that we approve the consent agenda and included consent items as presented. The approval of the agenda. Approval of the board men meeting minutes for February 17, 2026 call board meeting and approval of the board meeting minutes from February 17, 2026 regular board members. Are there any discussions or questions? All in favor, let it be known by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos have the same right. Hearing none. The motion to approve the consent agenda to include approval of the agenda. Approval of board meeting minutes from February 17, 2026 call board meeting and approval of the board meeting minutes February 17, 2026 regular board meeting carried. 760 6 public comments. >> At this time we do not have any public comments information items this Dr. Shvier nothing we don't have any information
004item action items Dr. Sheffield. Good evening, madam chair and board. Under action item 6.1 6.1 is ourou memorandum of understanding with communities and schools. If you recalled um a few months ago we did have the CEO from communities and schools where the team came and did a presentation to the board and shared the data in regards to the return on investment in regards to how the students which are being serviced by them are performing. um academically and just being successful in school. We have four schools that community and schools are involved in. That's Esto Elementary, Esther Middle, North District, Middle School, and our high school. Um for five plus years, community and school have been involved with the Hampton County School District and it's just been a blessing to where the grant covered all of
005the charge. I did meet with them um along with the CFO and myself um earlier um well towards the end of last year when they wanted to make us aware and asked that if we could cover a third of the total cost of the counselors um that works for community and school within the four campuses and that one-third of the cost um is $90,000 and again that's for the employees that we have on our campuses a third of the total cost this grant Um theou I should say is only for a year. We did not extend it out for 2 or 3 years because this will be our first year. So we want to make certain that financially we will be able to sustain since this is the first time that we have been asked
006to pay a third of the cost. So, I'm just making a recommendation to the board um if you will to allow us to go into the memorandum of understandings with communities and school to where we can continue to pro provide the services for our students. Board members, you have heard the presentation from Dr. Sheffir in regards to the community and action school MOU. What is your pleasure? >> Priest. >> I think I talked loud enough. >> Oh, it's on now. Thank you. I move that we accept the recommendation to pay the $90,000 for the community school I've worked with before and they excuse be worth it. >> Second. >> Thank you, Pet. It has been properly moved by Miss Priest, second by Miss Hoy, that we approve theou with the $90,000 community and schoolou to
007include the $90,000 which is onethird of the fee for the individuals in the school. It was second by >> Foy. Are there any discussions? All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I >> oppose at the same right hearing. None. Motion carried 6 to zero. Approve the community and school MOU to include the $90,000 to support the program. 6.2 two field trip Hampton County High School Jag jobs for America's graduates program in Columbia, South Carolina. This is an overnight trip March the 24th through the 25th, 2026. Board members, you should have received a packet in regards to the field trip. Um, what is your pleasure? >> Madam Chair, I move that we Madam Chair, I move that we um approve the field trip for Hampton County High School JAG program to attend the
008overnight um event in Columbia, South Carolina. >> Second. >> It has been properly moved by Miss Holmes, second by Miss Wilson, that we approve the field trip for Hampton County High School. Jad jobs up for American graduates program in Columbia, South Carolina and on March the 24th through the 25th. Are there any discussion? All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose has the same right. Hearing none. Motion carried. and the field trip to Hampton County High School JAG program to Columbia, South Carolina, March the 24th to the 26, 2026 has been approved. Number seven, superintendent information and action items. >> Again, good evening board. Um, in regards to our superintendent um, information, before I get started, do want you to join me in just congratulating in just congratulating our
009board member um, Miss Deborah Holmes um, who was featured in SCASPA's um, newsletter this week. U, Miss Holmes is definitely um, a pleasure just reading about your gardening skills. um I know where to get some fresh vegetables um as that is definitely where you find your self-care and your peace. So again um congratulations and definitely it was a very wellwritten article and speaks volume and it's just a pleasure to work alongside with you here on the board. Also, um board um I do before I get into 7.1, I do want to make you aware that um I had an opportunity to attend the Navy Gro TC annual inspection on last Thursday there at the high school. Um when I tell you and I'll make certain I'll ask Miss Farmer to make certain that that's an
010event that all board members are invited to um next year. as I was sitting there, I'm like, I wish the board members were just here to see our students because those are the things that we don't get to hear about. Um, and that's where we don't tend to always have our news media when we see our young leaders um, just shining so brightly and they just looked marvelous. But more importantly, the highlight for me was right before I went a few days before. Don't know if you recalled, but last year this time it was the time that I received notification from the commanding officer that um the Navy general TC program was being placed on probation for attendance purposes. They were not sure that they would be able to sustain with the enrollment and had
011to work with I worked with the principal. We worked up with a recruitment plan and when I tell you it just brought joy to me last week when I received notification um written notification that they had been taken off of probation that they succeeded um what we came up with in regards to student participating. They were needed to have at least 50 students and right now they have a solid 73 students that are participating within that program. Um so again those are the things that just make you want to show up every day and just celebrate and it was a very nice crowd there with the families coming out um to participate. Also um you know this is read across America's week. Um I actually started last Friday and also had one of my boss
012with me, Mr. Long. Mr. Long went right after I did went over to Varnville Elementary where I was brave. I read to a kindergarten class. Um I think he got afraid and um got a little scared and he went to fourth grade. He went to the older group. Um but I went to kindergarten class and gave them a little special treat afterwards because they were just I mean just sweet as they wanted to be. So I just encourage you if you get some time um by all means um you know principles always welcome you to come in and do a little read along with um with our little scholars. And to finish to top that off I got excited yesterday when they called over. I had a field trip packet that I needed to sign
013um that we had missed, but it was read over to um Hampton Intermediate School where the Beta Club from the high school was going over during their club time to read over to the students there at Hampton Intermediate. Again, these are the things that we don't hear about and I know Aaron, I think, went over and captured some of those moments. Um also last night, I did attend the county council meeting um at county council. they did a proclamation um for coach Hannah and that entire football team there um just recognizing and honoring the successful season that they had this past year. And then the last piece in terms of just celebrating again, you all know um you approved theou there with the boys and girls club of the low country and we said that
014we wanted to start small to make certain that we get it right and that program there at Esto Elementary um it's flourishing. I'm going to ask Miss Farmer to put it on my calendar because I do want to go out one afternoon and see our students. We know our students are there from 3:00 to 6:00 to where they're also fed a hot supper. And right now we're up to approximately 55 students that are participating in that program. So again, um those were just some things that I did not have listed that I just needed to share with you because again, we have to celebrate and tell our own um our own story. um uh bi-weekly construction meeting update. You know, those meetings are attached. I did have an opportunity on last Wednesday, I think it
015was last Wednesday. Don't know the day of the week anymore where I went over um uh CFO Kathy, um Mr. Smart Procurement, and even Miss Doson. Miss Doson joined us. That was her first time going over there to the new building. Um and Miss Dobson said that we're going to have to order a scooter. She said that large campus, it was um it's beautiful board. I cannot wait to see the expressions on your face because we do have it scheduled for Friday, March 13th. Um the where we're going to go over and you'll get to see it. The furniture are now being delivered. Classrooms are being set up. Um it just you're going to see more than just the shell. We were not able to go on to that beautiful gym flow there and just
016the graphic and the artwork um that is happening there within the building. So, we just have um we have a lot um that I can go on and on about it, but we'll go and take a tour together there on March 13th. Miss um Farmer was very anxious. You can see how anxious she was there. What I've done because I'm working with the high school, I'm doing some work um with the high school. I've been working with them now um for a little over more than this semester in regards to some changes that needs to take place. So board, you may ask that we call a special meeting just so that we can update you on what some of those changes would look like particularly around um academic programming. We'll talk about that a little
017later. But in the midst of doing that um also shared and asked you in regards to our being intentional around our academic planning to forefront um some of those positions that I was requesting around acceleration around um advanced placement coursework. So, we are really piped up in regards to our recruitment efforts. Miss FMA is going to go ahead and hit the video for you that we've put together. You have in your packet a flyer around that we're going to be putting out. Also working with SCASA to where we can go ahead and do this particular as um advertisement to where it will go out statewide um because we are really trying to um just really identify and bring in some high impact teachers to where we can not disappoint our students. So here you go.
018This is a snippet. >> Welcome to Hampton County High School, home of the hurricanes. A new era is beginning here that we want you to be part of. This fall, we're opening our brand new state-of-the-art facility built to inspire, innovate, and elevate the future of education in Virginia. From advanced technology to modern urban spaces, this is a building for excellence. We're expanding and we're hiring passionate educators across a wide range of areas. Join our team in art for early childhood education, physical education, and welding. If you're certified or would like to be certified in advanced performances, we're also seeking the teachers for AP history, AP human geography, AP psychology, and AP language. At Hampton County High, we work with an incredible student body. Young people with energy, determination and work. They won't be doing it
019alone. Our teachers are part of a collaborative supportive team where innovation is encouraged and everyone is valued. A new building, new opportunities, a powerful community. Join us county high school where the courage can rise together. Your next chapter starts here. >> So thank you. Um so board this is some of the advertisement and the recruitment pieces that we are doing and you're probably saying well we have other vacancies with um within the district. We do um and we are continuing to advertise for those other vacancies as well. But we know um this is a very unique situation here. So and I understand um that we have to stretch our thinking. We have to think outside the box and that's what we're doing here. So I asked u Miss Long I told her I wanted to
020hold off till tonight. um and we'll release tomorrow morning and I reason holding off in case you had some feedback for us and as I move on in regards to in regards to 7.2 7.2 um that's our marketing strategist with Banco. Um there will be more to come um at our March 17th meeting. I put this on here because I will ask for an executive session. And the reason that we will talk about this marketing strategist piece um with the banko is that it pertains to um contractual matter and we know that with contractual matters our contractual matters um they are discussed in executive session. So we will be having um that as an agenda item just so that I can provide you with an update to um the contractual matter pertaining to um to
021Bangkok and where we are. Also, um, in talking with that, um, before I forget, I do want to just also make you aware because they both go together, that, um, on March the 11th, on March the 11th, I will be meeting with, um, USDA officials um, here in the district. And while meeting with them, we will be touring the new high school along with um, other district facilities. Um hopefully I'll have time to take them to all nine of our schools to where they can see um here what we are working with here in Hampton County. We are very proud. Um we have our barriers, we have our challenges and our barriers does not define the work that we are set forth in doing. Um but you know me um want to see how they
022can help us, right? And the compensation study update which is 7.3. Um just want to um give you an update. We did receive our latest update on February the 28th. We are right on track um in regards to um with our compensation salary schedule. They have closed the job analysis survey that they sent out to um to staff. um a little disappointed that we've only received um I think it was at 69% um response rate and you know you always would like to get the 80% and I tell you I don't know what else more we could have done in terms of just push out push out and reminding and asking them to please um have a voice and this is what we're trying to do but we're at 69% there and now that we
023have um completed the staff survey at this point what they what they are working on is that they are now um working with the comparable districts and there were 15 comparable districts that they have reached out to to provide um to get to gather their compensation survey information and to see how we aligned accordingly. So that went out on February 20th and the 15 comparable districts have until March the 11th to respond to that survey and then we will reconnect after they receive that data. But we have a weekly check-in meeting with the consultant. 7.4 7.4 for um you know a goal of mine is just to continuously learn um the communities my communities the municipalities here that we serve um here within Hampton County School District that's important for me this Friday morning I
024will um be doing the bus ride early bus ride I think 5:45 a.m. um there for the Brunson community in 7.5. Um just to let you know that I will be out of the office on Thursday um attending the superintendent roundt in Colombia. Do not like being out of the office. Looked at the agenda and there are some legislative updates um as they're beginning to go into session. Some pieces that I want to make certain that I am on top of so that I'm making sure that I'm doing the due diligence and serving to your expectation there. So I will be attending SCASS um the round table there on Thursday and this is just a reminder I think Julia sent out to you all 7.6 around the day at the capital some of you are
025already responding but that date the day at the capital is April 22nd and 7.7 is just a reminder for all of us um that you know we have to do that ethics filing um which is due on March 30th and then 7.8 Eight is just um to let you know that I will be out of the district. That's on a Saturday, I think it is. Um but I always like for you to know when I am out of the district and of course and I'm serving in the capacity of superintendent and I will I've been asked to speak at in an event in Charleston on March 14th. So I will be doing that. And then um for anything else in your packet, it should be the newsletter. One of our goals this year was to
026try to close some of our communication gaps. We still have a lot that we're working on, but I think we're making progress. And so, you do have a comp a copy of our newsletter that went out for the month of March. And I think that will do it um do it for me. And I did remind you of the walkthrough that is scheduled at the high school on Friday the 13th at 11:00 a.m. Julia, could you not get it? Could you get any other date besides Friday the 13th? Um, but that's scheduled at 11:00 a.m. And that would do it for me. Thank you, Dr. Sheffield, for that wealth of in information. Board members, do you have any questions for Dr. Sheffield? To my right, to my left here. And now again, thank you, Dr.
027Sheffield. We're down to 7.9. enter an in executive session in accordance with the section 30-4 that's 70 part B no action will be taken in executive session except to Ajourn or B to return to the public session may I get a motion to enter into the executive session >> Madame Chair I move that we enter into executive session for the discussion of personal matter matters related to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement. For the discussion of recommendations to hire district administrators and principles, and for the discussion of a proposed property matter related to the Buckfield project pursuant to South Carolina code of law, section 30-4-7A2. It has been properly moved by Miss Holmes, second by Foy that we enter into executive session to do a 8.1 discussion of personnel personnel matters related to hiring terminations, resignation
028and retirement. 8.2 recommendation for hire district administrators and principal. Uh 8.3 discussion of a poor pop property matter related to the Buckfield project pursuant uh to code South Carolina code of law section 30-4-7A-2 are there any uh discussion all in favor let me know by saying I >> oppose has the same right motion carries six to zero that we will enter into the executive session for the purpose of discussion of personnel matter related to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement. Recommendations for hire district administrators and principal. Discussion of the property proposed property matter related to the Buckfield project pursuant to South Carolina code of laws section 30-7 excuse me 30-47 AE a2 Madam chair, I move that we return to open session. >> It has been proper move forward second by Holmes that we return to
029open session. We're down to 9.1. Approved personnel matter related to hiring, termination, resation, and retirement. Oh, I didn't carry it through. It has been properly moved. I for second by Holmes that we return to open session. All there in discussion. All in favor by known by saying I. >> Oppose has the same right. Hearing none. Motion carried. We are now back into open session 9.1. Approve personnel matters related to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement. May we get a motion to approve the personnel matter related to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement. >> Madame Chair, I move that we approve personnel matters related to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement as presented in executive session. >> Second. Second. >> It has been properly moved by Miss Holm, second by Miss Hoy, that we approve the personnel matters related
030to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement as presented in the executive session. Are there any discussions? All in favor, let it be known by saying I. >> I. Oppose have the same right. Hearing none, motion carried. 6. The personnel matter relating to hiring, termination, resignation, and retirement is approved as presented in the executive session. 9.2 approve recommendation for hire district administrators and principal. What is your pleasure? >> Madame Chair, I move that we approve recommendations for hire district administrators and principles as presented in executive session. >> Second. It had been properly moved by Holmes, second by Wilson that we approve the recommendation for hire district administrators and principles as presented in the executive session. Are there any discussions? All in favor? Let be known by saying I. >> I oppose have the same rights. Hearing none.
031Motion carried six to zero to approve recommendation for hired district administration and principal as presented in the executive session. >> Number 10, we're down to number 10. We're down to an adjournment. >> I move the adjournment. >> Second. >> It has been properly moved by Miss Preston, second by Miss Wilson that the meeting is adjourned on any discussion. All in favor let me know by saying I. >> Oppose has the same right. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.