001Good evening and thank you for coming. If you'll join me as I begin with our invocation and we'll follow with the pledge of allegiance. Heavenly Father, we humbly beseech you to create in us a humble and receptive mind. stir in us a sense of discontent if we settle for anything less than truth and honesty. Grant us a cleansed conscience, Father, that will keep us sensitive to your will. Amen. Amen. >> I pledge algiance 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. First of all, welcome and to the board. I present and request a motion to present the motion of the minutes as they appear in your packet. >> I make a motion
002to approve the minutes as presented from the January 12th, 2026 meeting. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, ma'am. Following is the agenda and I'm requesting a motion. But first, are there any changes or additions that you see to the agenda as it's presented? Hearing none, the motion request is to accept the agenda as it appears in your packet. >> I make a motion to approve the agenda as presented for tonight's meeting. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, sir. The uh minutes and the agenda are approved. Hearing and seeing no evidence of public input, the chair defaults its position to the chair superintendent for his updates. >> Hi everybody. It is great to see you and we have some talent in the room. Uh and that is
003our band. Uh so as we were as we were waiting to get started, our band was was uh our I guess our honor band. our honor band was was was here today and we're going to present them in just a minute. But they had kind of showcased their talent uh for our board and we see lots of parents here, lots of family here. So, thank you for being here and uh for sharing your talents with us. I know in a couple weeks they'll be going to compete and we're excited to see how well they do. We have Dennis Aosta and he is back here. We have Andrea Aguero, Michaela Anderson, Llaya Cisneros, and Carson Coleman's not here, but we also have Daniel Winbush. And so what I would like to do is just to to
004recognize one their talent and two of the uh incredible opportunity they have to represent our school here uh very very soon and and and personally thank them for kind of showcasing their talents with them tonight. So, I'd like to recognize uh them for their achievements and would love to have them uh stand up here and so we could kind of uh thank them for their for their hard work and their efforts. >> Representing the board tonight will be Mr. Cody Quinn. >> Come on up, guys. Congratulations. >> No pressure. There we go. Couple [applause] I >> appreciate it. [cough and clears throat] >> Thank you. Bye. >> That's it. >> Let's say goodbye. >> And thank you to the parents who came. Uh you're welcome to stick stick around or or leave. That's that's that's
005fine. Good to see you. >> Next on the agenda, uh the chair requests the superintendent update. >> Great. Thank you very much. There is so many great things taking place around our district and um I'm I'm just honored and proud to be able to kind of showcase some of these things with you tonight. Uh but it really is the hard work of our students. It's the hard work of our teachers and a community that's kind of rallying around our district and and and so I'm just thankful to be in a spot where I can kind of showcase some of those things today. So, uh, of course, right now as we speak, we got all sorts of things taking place around our campus. We have a home playoff game for our G, uh, girls varsity basketball.
006So, that's happening as we speak. And so, we're we're thrilled uh for for that. I know we have some invested interest. I know some some of us uh have some some players that are playing right now. And so, uh, we we'll try to uh see if we can catch that and cheer them on here very soon. We also have our uh baseball team. This is last year's photo, but just let them know that we we are starting our scrimmage. We have a scrimmage today. Our voice our varsity boys basketball hits the road tomorrow against Lamar. Uh we had quite a senior night where we had two of our our seniors, two of our starters actually had knee injuries on the same night. And so just uh just a tough um to for that for that
007program. Uh but we're thankful that they get had a a successful season and they're hitting the road for playoffs tomorrow. But again, there's stuff across our district that is is just um just makes me very proud. Of course, just last week we had uh the staff versus student kickball event, and that is important for our students to be able to see their staff outside the classroom um to um give them the idea that school can be fun. And it's a great place to come and learn and that they're cared for and it's a great reminder for our staff that they're not young anymore. And so we are [laughter] >> lots lots of stories, but I I tell you this this does build a really great camaraderie in our district. It does. >> Uh and now
008when you see you see these teachers in the hallway, you have something to be able to connect with and remember. And um it was it was just a great time uh that's going on there. Of course uh last week also we had our pageant and we have our beta club um that just did so well and and of course we have um just a wonderful group of a athletics their program that's that's coming to a close here um with our with our playoffs. Hopefully we make a deep run. Uh but it's just been so many great things taking place. Um, I also wanted to talk a little bit and and I I'm trying to remember if we talked briefly about this in our last uh board meeting, but it was about our seniors and uh
009we are now getting into the um uh season where we are making sure that all of our seniors have a crystal clear plan as to what they want to do when they graduate. All right? And so if you talk to teenagers, it's like, "Hey, what's your plans?" Uh, I'm going to take, you know, it's it there. It's hard to really engage with them in a one-on-one conversation. So, you have to be really really intentional. So, we have asked them to complete these questionnaires for us, honest on their own, get a good idea of what uh what they want to do and and um and what their aspirations are after high school. And so, I'd like to kind of share with you this is what our seniors, this group of seniors, and this is what they
010believe. And so, uh, the question was asked, I am 100% certain what I plan to do in the fall. And so, we have 86% of our seniors feel like they have a really good, uh, idea. They're they're certain what they want to do. We have about 13% that are still working through some things. But the nice thing is it's not just the number. We know exactly who these kids are, right? >> And we're providing uh, these these services, trying to make sure that everyone has a plan. We're 86% of the way there. We're not quite 100, but we will be. Okay. Everyone's going to have a plan. So, we also asked them some some questions, too. And the next question I asked, and this is important to me. This is this is one of my
011probably one of the most important things um that I can hear from our students. I believe there are adults in this district who care for me. And you can see overwhelmingly only only 7.9% say that they would disagree with that statement. Okay? And so again, that's not 100%, but we want it to be there. And so what we are going to do is we know who these students are. We're going to make sure that we have these meaningful connections with them and and be able to help uh help them in their future journey. Um I also wanted to ask them the question, I'm considering entering the workforce in the fall. We want to have a good idea as to where our students are going. We have uh 50 55.3% said no, I am not going
012to school. uh that I am not going into the workforce. I know I have um [clears throat] uh plans for education, four-year, two-year plans when when I uh when I graduate. We have uh 21% that are certain that they're going to go into the workforce and that is right in line with what we typically have. It's right last year was at 20%, this year is trending towards 21%. And then it was a little tough uh question for some of our kids because they might go to Pimont Tech and work or they might go so they're they're that that questions a little bit tougher for them to answer there. So, uh what I want to do is in in just a minute focus on the the the 21% uh for just just a moment uh because
013I think that's that there's a lot of opportunity there. Um and the ones that I have a heart for making sure that all of our kids have a plan. I share with I shared with our seniors this this comment. I said, you know, within 10 years, it is very likely that a large portion of you will have kids in 4K. Okay. And that just kind of was a a change it changed perspective like what I have a kid in 4K. That's a large percent of those kids in 10 years from now will have a 4K student. We need these for We need these students of ours to have great paying jobs. >> Yeah. >> We need them to have health care. We need them to have a a really strong um environment, a great relationships.
014Um they need to have adequate food in their homes. So, so if we if we can capture this 21% um and that they have a really good uh a really great paying job, we know we know we're playing that long game and making sure that in 10 years from now, our 4K students are going to come in really from come from much more stable conditions. Um and and and so the work that we put in now, we're it's not simply, hey, they're graduating. We're actually investing in our future 4K students when they come. just a completely different mindset, a little different perspective, but something that we we believe in and that's the work that we're trying to do. And so what what I'd like to share with you is is is to go with that
01521% is we're working now uh trying to uh have these opportunities with our uh employers. We are developing in fact just showing you for the first time uh this opportunity to have an um a wearable school district 51 uh K12 employment pipeline where our 21% of students when they graduate um that they'll be able to be connected and be familiar with highpaying jobs in the areas. We're working with HR directors within a 10 mile radius of our school uh to be able to say, "Hey, these are these are great paying jobs. We just need some employees and we have we have great future employees that are just about to graduate." And if we can get the two of them together, I think that's a really great step for us. Um I'm in several meetings where
016we're we're talking about this gap, so to speak. And so what I just want to share with you, this is this is the development. Um this is our 10 milei radius of especially of employers that have 12 or more employees in them. So we know who they are and we know we're trying to to um to target those HR directors in those areas. But in the business side, this is this is kind of the the interesting port. Um with this app and with this portal, uh businesses will begin to go ahead and and share a little bit what what the description of their business, what what particular um uh jobs they have available at that time, and they can begin to build a profile. Meanwhile, on the other side, we have students that are going
017to be able to uh build their own profile, say, "Hey, this is um I'm certified in forklift. I have uh my driver's license. I h um I I have OSHA 10 certifications. I have my AED. Um I I'm a part of FFA. I played basketball for three years. So, they're building nothing personal. Not we're not talking about addresses or we're not talking about social or anything along those lines. We're just talking about generic information about them. All right. But this is where things really get kind of interesting is that our students then after our businesses are in this portal, what they're going to be able to do is select what businesses they want to be seen by. And so they're able to toggle on the right. They'll be able to say, I would like Lily's
018Flowers. I would like where Shaw School District 51 to view my application on there. And so it's it's really this dynamic work of of of blending these two big needs and employment gap with kids that are looking for really great opportunities in their careers. And so um our goal always will be to to see them go into tech to be well trained. Uh that's that's what we want to do. Okay? And we want we're encouraging that. Uh we're encouraging them to go to four-year institutions and to to receive those credentials. That's extremely important. But we have a demographic, a small pocket, a small pocket that knows for sure that they're going to go into the workforce and maybe down the [clears throat] road work work on those degrees. Okay? And so, um, what will happen
019is once once a student selects them, then they'll be able to be viewed by the business, uh, by email, and the business within that 10 milei radius would be able to contact them and say, "Hey, uh, we have some opportunities available. would you like to would you like to apply for them? If we can get students from $9 to $19 an hour, those are really major differences in the lives of these kids. And so, um, so we're on board. We're we're ready. We don't want to be their agents, but we want to set them up for success. Um, the nice thing about this is that we're in control of this. We won't allow this to go active till after May 1st. I think that's important. We want our kids to be able to graduate, >>
020right? and not try to say, "Oh, I might uh I might enter the workforce a little too early for us, you know, and so we want them to kind of stick around and and and uh once we get close to Maine, then we'll open it up and make sure every one of our kids has a four-year, a two-year, or a job lined up." And so that's what we're passionate about, and that's what we're trying to do. We had some uh on other news, uh we had some we had some tough weather here uh this past month. It was beautiful, don't get me wrong, but u propose some challenges. And so I kind of want to I want to share a little bit about our process and how we handle these things. Um, of course we
021we make sure that in whenever we make a decision, every single one of our bridges is checked in our district. Our roads are checked, every bridge is checked. Uh we have broken these out into four sections with duties. We also check the National Weather Service to make sure that uh we know what the freezing temperatures are. They may be starting to melt, but will it refreeze? Uh, and then we also trust um I have heavy trust in someone who's driving a bus for well over 25 years to say, you know, I don't know if this is really safe conditions for us to drive in the morning and that really is is helpful for me and I appreciate all the support that I get in making these decisions. Um, we also have many community partners. I'm
022thankful for the DOT and uh and we had shared this just recently with them. Um what a difference that makes. You would you would have thought that um we were provide steak dinners to all the staff. It was just a simple poster and they just to to be recognized and appreciated is is very very important and uh we appreciate uh the middle school under uh Kobe Berdett to to show thanks and appreciation for for our community partners. Um we also took it a step further because we're trying to refine our practices. I know we had to e-learning. And so we simply are asking our parents, can you provide us feedback on how your e-learning experience was? We don't we do not desire e-learning. So I I just want to kind of make that clear. We
023do not desire e-learning. Face-to-face instruction, I think, is critically important. And um and so but if we have to if we have to do e-learning, what's your what's your takeaway on how we're doing it? and overwhelmingly our our our parents are are in uh in favor or very in favor of what we're doing. We asked for for some feedback as well and they they they shared comments everything from thank you for you know setting our children up for success. Um you do a good job um of taking care of our children overall where Schulz Primary does an amazing job with e-learning. So these are the comments that are coming in but we also have some that says I'm not a strong supporter of e-learning. All right, that's two of us. That's me either, you know,
024but but um and I I I get it. But I I it's good to hear. So I think everything from trying to make a decision. We're trying to make really good decisions. We're trying to, you know, really work on relationships with with the the people who are maintaining our roads. Uh we're working really hard with trying to make sure that we produce when we have to produce e-learning, that we're producing a good product. We're listening to our community, asking for their feedback on how e-learning is going, what we can do to better serve their children. And so, um, as as difficult as a month as it as it was as far as weather, um, I'm thankful for the practices that we have and this continual improvement of can we always get better, how can we
025improve? And so, we'll take this feedback. Um, we'll we'll work with our leadership teams and trying to even refine our practices even more. facility updates um all across our our district. All across our districts, things are taking place. We're thankful for the new awning uh that you all had approved um back in the fall and so that has been completed and most of the work was done over Christmas break. We have a little bit of patchwork we still need to do. There'll be a sign also that will will go up um on top of the awning is where Scholes uh primary school. So, we're in the works of of finishing that project up. of our softball facilities. Uh we have uh this was a picture that was taken today. We in fact the town last
026week had dug a little bit of a channel for us to divert some water. I come down today, it's filled with water and so that was that was good. Uh we're uh repairing some uh cinder blocks, some retaining wall that was kind of kind of uh um kind of shifted on us a little bit with new paint on the press box. Window World was fantastic and helped us out with some with with some windows. Uh Hodgeges concrete was super generous in supplying the the cinder block that was there. Uh we also have made some improvements to our back stop. Um some of the dirt had push pushed it out. So sometimes a ball would get stuck under under it. Yeah. >> And so uh that was repaired and lots more to go. Uh our bathrooms
027are going to have some new lighting, uh working on some flooring, um some epoxy on the floor, some paint. all sorts of things taking place there. We're also thankful for the air quality improvements at the middle school. And that was a project that if you remember back at the very end of November, very 1 of December, we found some areas that we were when we were trying to look at, we had some um some mildew, some some mold in some of these hightraic low traffic areas where there's not very much uh ventilation, some tucked away um some closets, some tucked away bathrooms, not where students students go, but we reached out and said, "Let's let's take a look at this." And so we had reached up to um Crossroads Environmental, great group. They came in,
028did some sampling for us. In speaking with them, they said, "Hey, let's try to take a look at some restoration projects that we could do." Immediately, uh, our school board, I'm thankful, approved the opportunity for our um our rainbow restoration to come in. And not only did we do those areas of that we were focusing in on those tested areas, we decided to do the entire school. Yeah. And so the entire school was was completely cleaned um and professionally cleaned and very thankful for that. U but we took it a step further. We asked that there would be third-party testing take place in every single one of our classrooms, our libraries, our our our band room. All of those reports came back all clear. And so we're thankful that we have um not only does
029safety have to be in our um our locks on our doors or access management or cameras, but it also can be in the air that we breathe as well. And so we made uh major major gains and strides in that area. Um we have posted uh those results um from for those u from that third party tester. We posted those on our website so we can see that they are all approved and and and the contracts on our website under forms and links. And so again, it's it's great. Why? Because we have kids that we care about tremendously. We love them. Want them to have a wonderful uh environment. Our teachers, we need to make sure that we're providing a wonderful uh environment for them to learn in. As well, we have flooring projects at
030the high school. We are well underway with that. We have um situations where we're looking right at the spring break still on target for Terzo floor to go down in the bottom uh floor of that high school and and what an upgrade that that will be. And so uh they may have to do it in phases. They may have some up some tiles on one weekend. Okay. and there's a there's a concrete under those uh under that tile and come in the following start the first day of spring uh spring break work their way through it and then may have to come in in a night or two and then buff it to to bring it all back on on so really tight time frame big project but we need that one to be done
031so we can start working on painting so we work on ourund 100 year celebration and all those things that are taking place so the treadmill is moving very very fast but we're having a great time doing I also wanted to share we talk a little bit about school safety and we haven't talked about that in a little while and I and it's extremely important. I reached out to the state department of education. I asked if they would um go and there was um um Rodney Neely uh works with the state department of education. He had came uh over to our district la a week ago Monday and in fact he had um and his team did a 300point inspection of our schools. Everything from lighting in the parking lots to our doors to our locks
032to our cameras was very complimentary. There will be an official report that we can use to make our future plans for school safety. And so, uh, I do want to make sure that that safety encompasses so many things, but it's not just what we think, it's what the experts think. And so, we're we're trying to build those layers of of security and safety inside of our um district and and very thankful for for his visit and look forward to to getting that report. Um, I do want to make sure that we're aware of of 4K and 5K uh registration that's coming up on the 23rd. It's hard to believe we're already working on 2627 school year, but we're well in underway in making that happen. Um, so we're excited. So share the news. Make sure
033we let all of our 4K, all our four-year-olds, all of our 5-year-olds know that registration's coming up. They can be tested um and and and and start working on enrollment for for that next year. Do want to make sure that again a reminder that I believe the 17th, which is tomorrow. Tomorrow. >> Yep. And so, uh, the board ele the, um, registration for board election is coming up and it will close March the 2nd. And I need to just stop for one moment and just say thank you to some folks. Um, I think it's really, really important. It's important that we build relationships and be able to get an idea of what's coming down the road. Um, and so I'm thankful for um, some superintendent across the state who are investing their time in me
034uh, to be able to share. Uh, we we collaborate in a lot of different projects. This is Greenville, Spartanberg, Anderson, um, Abbyville, some of some folks. They're just really great people with sharp minds and be able to collaborate with them. Uh, I know the governor had invited superintendents to listen to his budget, uh, that he is proposing for the for the upcoming year. So, try to get a landscape, an idea of what's coming down the road and how we need to, um, uh, put ourselves in position to to um, make some really good decisions. that puts us in a really good spot. Um, and also Ellen Weaver being able to to hear her budget and her proposals and and and trying to figure out what our game plan is going to be for the 2627
035school year. So, I'm thankful for uh people being approachable and and sharing what what their vision is for down the road. And the last thing I want to share because I know I've been talking for a little while and that's and that's our employees. I I cannot be more proud of our employees. I and um I have just seen time and time again them deliver and stuff that's not even really their role but they are absorbing it. They are helping and really really um u contributing to a culture of excellence. Our our test results are there. They show but but it really comes from the hard work of of our employees and I'm so thankful for them. um we started reaching out and asking them for their feedback um and their perceptions of how um
036uh things are going in the school and it's just uh they handle with professionalism. Uh they are they are uh sharing that their perception of the future of our district is extremely strong. >> Uh they are very positive and we're going to work through these things as well. Uh there's close to we're close to getting maybe close to 60% of of those surveys back. It was issued this morning. We got it. They have till until next week to to complete it. But it's just encouraging to see those results come in and teachers perceptions and and um and the support that they're receiving. And so that will be I know I covered a lot. I apologize, but but that was really great things taking place since the last time I saw you. And um I want
037to make sure you're aware of those things. >> Dr. Crockett, will you be addressing the scholarship? >> Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Um are are the Yes. Will we do the Banfield trip? Is that what we want to do next? >> Um yes, sir. I had this next in the in the book is why I asked um about the I >> think that will be right here under action. >> Sounds good. >> We'll certainly attract So, we will now Yeah. Right here. Out of place. Out of place. All right. We have a a good a really good thing coming up for our band. And we're all excited for you. And uh that was a wonderful way to walk into a meeting. That kind of talent and um it's just great. And I will draw your attention
038to tab two. Uh we have a field trip request right now coming. >> Oh, okay. >> All right. We got a request here to hold off on our approval and address Miss Paula Taylor and Miss Christy Hajj. Hi, good evening everyone. We are going to share an update with um our wear millance trip to Hawaii which is planned for this December um December 3rd through the 8th. And you received um an update in your board packet um regarding that. But just as a reminder, we do have 65 students and adults who will be attending this trip and they are working very hard to raise the funds. Um, we actually have another updated number for you because we held a fundraiser event yesterday at Wear Scholes First Baptist. Um, they were kind enough to let us
039use their facility and we sold lunch plates to our community and everything, um, that we did yesterday was donated by our band parents. Um, or even some of our local businesses. And so, um, it was a wonderful day to see everybody who was so enthusiastic and excited. and our kids were um very grateful for the opportunity to tell people in our community how much they are thankful for their help. And so yesterday we raised another $3,670. >> That's fantastic. >> So currently in um our account totals which include the account here at the high school which we're paying our monthly or by month by monthly what are we monthly payments um to our travel company. Um our total every two months sorry [snorts] is um right at $12,000. $12,000 $12,61.13. Um, and from your um
040update, you can see that we did make a large dispersement. That was our payment for that first beginning of our trip. And um we're waiting now to hear about results from airlines. Um, our travel company is inquiring about that now just to see what rates might be. You know, we had told you originally it would be about $2,900 per student and that included about $700 for airline tickets. So, there's a possibility we might be a little more than $2,900. We hope it's a little less. That would be great. Um, but that's where we're at right now. We do have some upcoming fundraisers and if you'd like to join us there, March 15th will be at Mount Gallagher Church. They've offered their facilities and Steve Arsenal will be cooking that day. Well, actually, he'll start the
041Friday before so that he can cook those Boston butts for us. So, we'll have a barbecue sale that day. And then we also will be doing a blanket fundraiser and that's going to be a stadium blanket which is either a wear logo or the Hornet. So, we have those coming up in March. And then April, we're planning another lunch. We're just looking for a location that will host us right now. We also have submitted a grant um to the ABNE Foundation in Anderson and we're hoping to hear back with from them within the week if we've been accepted for that grant. >> That is fantastic. >> Terrifying is what it is. [laughter] >> We're making good steady progress towards our goal. When you we have just in yesterday we raised enough to send one student.
042Yeah. with that one fundraiser. So, we know we're making good steady progress. Miss um Hodgej and the students have written thank you notes to all of the donors who have participated so far. Um that was something that we really wanted to make sure. So, our kids handw write wrote notes and we check them for spelling and grammatical errors. Um >> and then we kept out the ones that we shouldn't send. [laughter] >> I'm taking great a there's a heartfelt thanks from this group that you don't typically see. I feel like even in the young seventh and eighth graders that are participating in this um just yesterday we could see them they were having conversations with church members and community members and it was just this constant of we're so excited for this trip we can't
043thank you enough you know this means so much to us you know and then there were even conversations about well who are you know the community asking personal question who are you you know are you related to so- and so like they're making those connections about the kids and who um their relationships are with and that sort of thing. So, it was so good yesterday and we're so excited to do it again in March. >> This is an amazing opportunity for our students. I'm so grateful to both of you for spearheading it >> and I'm confident that it'll be just exactly what you need. >> Yes, we are the only high school band who plans to travel to Hawaii >> from South Carolina. >> There is an alumni band that may be traveling from USC.
044It's a great opportunity to recognize our district. Y >> thank you. >> Thanks a bunch. >> And I loved walking in and hearing the band. >> Thank you. >> I loved it. >> Okay, let me get myself reoriented again. Here we are. So now we go into the chair is requesting a motion to go into executive session. >> I'd like a motion to enter executive session. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, ma'am. All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. Okay. [snorts] I need a motion to uh come out of executive session. >> I make a motion to come out of executive session. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. And the time wimpy is 6:59. We'll now
045move to our action items and I will uh defer to Dr. Pocket for the Whitfield scholarship. >> Great. Uh I was um I was notified just a couple weeks ago about an opportunity to uh share with our graduating seniors uh a scholarship. Um, and it would be the Whitfield Youth Scholarship uh that we'd like to be able to afford to uh three of our students for $500 a piece um in honor of Junior Whitfield. Um and so u most of us know Jabbora or Bunchie. Yeah. >> Um Whitfield. There's an online application the students would take to fill that out. Uh but I just wanted to bring that to your attention and u ask for approval for that. We recognize those that are for approval for at our board or by our senior senior days
046and things like that. So, I just wanted to kind of bring that to attention and and formally approve that that scholarship. >> The chair is recommending a motion to graciously accept the recommendation and the gift of three scholarships and $500 [cough] a piece per year. >> I'll make a motion to approve the Whitfield Youth Scholarship. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, sir. All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed. Motion carries. We have two requests for overnight field trips and they're both very good requests. The first form that I have in my notebook, and I'm assuming it is the same for you, is been uh recommended by Mr. uh Brian Ross. And the chair request a motion to approve the overnight field trip for student council to attend the SEC
047exchange convict convention to be held at Newberry College March 19th through the 20th. I make a motion to approve the field trip presented by Brian Ross. >> Is there a second? >> A second. >> Thank you, ma'am. All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed? Motion carries. The second request comes from a very special group and this is coming to us from Miss Christy Hajj where Scholes High School band and we have a really good opportunity here. The chair [clears throat] requis recommends a motion to approve the overnight field trip for members of the million-dollar ban to participate in South Carolina Board of Directors Association of Region 2 for honor band and the dates are overnight from the 27th of February to the 28th. I'd also want to draw your attention to note
048that all standards for music are addressed in this field trip. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the ban field trip as presented. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, sir. All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. >> I will defer for to Dr. profit to discuss with us policy ADF of the district wellness >> do the administrative contracts first. >> Oh yes. >> Okay. I don't have it in there. >> Yes. Excuse me. I'm jumping ahead. [clears throat] Let's do the administrative contracts first. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. Um I just wanted to uh bring before our board for approval of our administrative contracts this year. We have Darren Rice, chief academic officer. This is for the 2627 uh school year. Apolla Taylor,
049director of early learning, Jason Dickerson, the principal of the primary, Janine Webb, principal at the middle school. We are uh recommending tonight that uh Maria Tyer uh be assigned the director of special services uh with that position that was just recently filled and so we're bringing that for your recommendation tonight. >> Thank you, sir. You've heard the names of these distinguished individuals and I'd like a motion to approve those so stated for the positions for the 25 26 27 academic year. >> I make a motion to approve the administrative contracts presented tonight. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, ma'am. All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. Congratulations. Congratulations. >> And we have some great administrators. >> Yes, we do. >> We do. We're thrilled. Thrilled they
050share their talent with us. For sure. >> Now, Dr. Crockett, I am going to again try to address policy ADF if you will uh indicate the changes that we're uh going to make. >> Absolutely. Just just trying to uh remain in compliance. As federal guidelines change, sometimes that dictates a little bit of our our schoolboard policy. Uh there there is some guidelines as far as um smart snacks in schools. Um just very simple things that the district suggests that um food served but not sold on campus are healthy items. So there's just some you can see down through there there's just some simple words. The number of fundraisers exempt from nutrition requirements will be 30 each, not to exceed one day in length. So, we're just really changing our policy to be in compliance with
051what the new federal guidelines are. Um, if there's any questions, I'll be I'll be glad to answer those. >> And I believe they've also changed director of student services to designated officer. >> That's correct. >> Um, any questions on this policy? Of course, for myself, I'm still bucking for hornet cake. I'm not quite saying it yet, but we're getting close. The chair request a motion to accept the changes so listed in the competitive um foods and beverages and under the direct wellness committee for policy ADF well uh district wellness. >> I'll make a motion to approve ADF as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I'll make I'll second. Thank you, sir. All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> That moves us to the monthly finance
052report. And would you like to address our fund balance, sir? >> Um, sure. Absolutely. Um, I of course we track this every single month. Our our district is in uh a strong financial standings. Uh, we're we're thankful for that. Um, I did did So, we we did take a little bit of a drop on the 45th day report. Um, but our expenses also dropped and so uh we're right in line uh with our fund balance as to where it was right two years ago. So, I I tried to track it historically and and so we're we're thankful that we're uh right on track as to where we should be. >> Um, as far as the district budget that was approved, uh we're a little bit ahead of schedule, which is great. I don't I'm cautiously
053optimistic at [clears throat] this point. Um I will say that because we do have another payroll that comes out in uh July. So it's a June July check. So that kind of comes up all at the same token. But we're hitting our marks as of right now. And so um the next the next couple months are usually good for revenues. Uh uh taxes, local taxes come in and so we're we're kind of hitting our marks right now. >> Thank you, Dr. Crockett. And I couldn't agree more and I appreciate your effort in that in that area. >> We have we have a good team as well as staff board is purple. They do a great job. Now again I always draw your attention to the general fund balance and I know it's an arduous uh
054set of of papers to go through but on the last page which is um really important is that the um if you'll notice the percentage of our expenditures to this point come in a 48% range and the recommended range is in the 40s. So we are right in the the correct sphere for the expenditures um against the stated budget that was approved. I see no changes or uh corrections to the wear lunchroom district and the wear high school activity accounts. Uh, I'll say that it's a a very good athletic fund balance which is going to allow for some changes or some improvements uh in other areas and that's going to come in very handy. But do any of you have questions after reviewing these two actually three financial areas that you'd like to address? >>
055Did we ever get did we ever have a chance to look at the pits or holes that were found in the football field. That will be a portion of the outfield for baseball and soccer. >> Um I know that was mentioned in in our last meeting. Um I'll follow up. >> Yeah, I just I didn't know. >> Yeah, there hasn't been a there hasn't been like a a major project to >> to lower those lower those um >> sprinkler heads. Yeah. So, >> I got you. >> I'll make a note as well. I'll follow up. I'll follow up. Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any questions concerning the um district activity account? That does not require a um vote on our behalf, but it is incumbent on us to raise any questions that we
056might have. Hearing none, we will move right along. Dr. Crockett, any questions for for the good of the crowd? >> That was a great night. >> Thank you. Then with that being said, the chair requests a motion to adjourn. >> I'll make a motion. [laughter] >> Way to hold out, Cody. >> I died on the last. >> Is there a second? >> Thank you, ma'am. All those in favor say I. I those opposed motion carries. Thank you, Dr. Crockett.