001We'll call the meeting to order. If you will stand for a short and brief invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance. Heavenly Father, we come into your presence with awe and humility. all with understanding who you are and humility understanding clearly where we need to be. As we seek to do your will, Father, we humbly beseech you to make you our motive, you our message, and you our might. Amen. Amen. >> 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. Fellow board members, you have before you the minutes from the last meeting. Are there any additions or corrections you seek to make? Hearing none, may I have a motion to
002approve the minutes as they so are presented in your packet? >> I make a motion to approve last month's minutes. >> Thank you, sir. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Motion carries. Before it carries, any discussion? Motion carries. In addition, we have before you the agenda, the state of the agenda for this evening as it appears in your packet. Are there any additions or corrections that you wish to make at this time? Hearing none, the chair makes a motion and request a second to approve the agenda. >> I'd like to second. >> Second received. First received. Second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries for public input. I see none at this time. Dr. Crockett, do you have any that you're
003aware of? >> No. >> Then I will defer to Dr. Crockett to recognize some incredibly important people in our district and to honor them as well. >> Absolutely. Thank you. First of all, good afternoon, good evening. Good to see everybody. Thanks for being here. You know, uh, a few years ago during the during the pandemic, there was this term that was kind of used and kind of tossed around. You remember the the the term essential workers? You remember that being uh that term being used? I I can tell you that we have some essential workers, essential employees to our operations. They're the first people that our students see. They set the tone for our day. They carry our most valuable commodity, which is our students. And so today I would love to uh just bring
004a recognition and um to our outstanding bus drivers who have early early mornings who are late late. They see they're the last ones to see our kids and dropping them off in the afternoons. They're reliable. They're consistent and our kids our kids absolutely adore them. you know, uh I know our our our district appreciates them so very much, but I just want to if it's okay, not just me share my thanks, but of course we have our students, you know, that are are sharing their appreciation. I'm not sure if if some of you had seen this or not, but we have some of our students. I recognize these smiling faces. I love the smiles, you know, it's so powerful statement in itself, but Miss Amy is the best bus driver ever. Mr. Jeff takes care
005of us and keeps the bus clean. It's amazing what these kids pick up. You know, I feel like I can relax when I ride Miss Jackie's bus. I trust Reverend Davis and he makes us feel safe. Miss Shauna has a great sense of humor. Miss Tiffany gets me home safely. uh doesn't really it pales what I have to say pales in comparison from what our students say and how our students perceive these important adults in their lives and so I can't thank our bus drivers enough for the job that they do and definitely essential workers and this month's heart of the hornet award recipients >> and representing the board this evening and our love and appreciation for you is Miss Mandy Salter. >> Wonderful. So, if I could have our DR bus drivers come on
006up. I'd love to get a picture of you right here if that's okay. I have a little certificate for you. [Applause] Davis wells. Come on. Mr. Thank you so much. >> Everyone on bus. The chair now recognizes Dr. Taylor as she shares with us South Carolina Junior Scholars candidates. >> It's a big group, guys, and we're so blessed to have such a large group here. South Carolina Junior Scholars is um part of South Carolina's continued effort that recognize excellence in academics. So students qualify um for this honor based off of PSAT scores. So we have 28th graders um who will be taking PSAT this Wednesday. >> This is the largest group we've had in the eight years that I've been in this position. Um and then depending on their PSAT score, they could be a
007junior scholar. Um, but to even qualify for this portion to take the PSAT, these students had to score exceeds on SC ready and either ELA or math during their seventh grade year. So, 20 students either had a SC ready math or ELA exceed score. Some of them actually scored exceeds in both categories. And so, our eighth grade students are doing a wonderful job. We are very proud of them. And we don't have everyone here tonight, but Miss Salter is going to help me. We're going to recognize the group. Okay. And we're thankful for all of their parents and family members who are here tonight. We know that all of this progress isn't possible without their support from their teachers and their families. All right. So, first we have Miss Jacqueline Aguero. If you walk over,
008she'll get you. And this is Llaya Cisneros. We have Jameson Crockett, Mallerie Manley, Charlie McClendon, Khaled Mills, Keegan Moon, >> Camden Ruitties, >> Emily Salter, Jake Stance, and Addison Taylor. Our other candidates who could not be here tonight are Braden Agnu, Jolene Allen, Aiden Baltnight, Arlene Corona, Noah Franklin, Sarah Mcadori, Bobby Prince, Landon Rosado, and Jackson Tutton. Okay, there comes Braden Agnu in the door. This author Congratulations. [Applause] I would like just to say a couple things really quick. I want to thank uh Dr. Taylor who's over our testing. She um makes sure that we are compliant with everything that's uh with all of our state regs and does an outstanding job. We appreciate the hard work. Also want to let our parents and our bus drivers know that this is a really great transition.
009As we get into the rest of our meeting, if you would like to stay, you're welcome to, but and you are more than welcome to leave at this point. So, this is a kind of a nice little transition point if you'd like to do that. Thank you for being here. We appreciate you so very much [Applause] for all y'all do for our >> Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you for the recogn stand up there. >> That's right. It's a lot of people up there. Are you doing great? >> The chair will now recognize Dr. Crockett. >> Great. And in October, in our October meetings, uh traditionally what we've done and just like we will do this year is uh we will take uh school tours uh to be able to look at
010some uh facilities uh some some programs that we have going on in each of our schools. And so uh we'll start off at the high school, we'll move to the middle school, we'll end up at the primary school, and then we'll move back here. We'll come back here to for uh the to complete the rest of our board meeting. And so, um, with that, we'll put our meeting if that's okay. Put her up, sir. >> Hold that put a placeholder here and we'll pick right back up once we get back from our schools. >> Thank you. Thank you, Dr. >> T. We'll start with you. We can Oh, we can. Absolutely. That's a good [Music] I did too. I didn't. >> Okay. So, we'll start. >> Okay. Got the spirit now. I love that. I'm
011so proud of our schools and our principles and their staffs. It just it's amazing. >> Yeah. Lots of lots of lots of hard work and got some great administrators, great great teachers and just uh students who are who are working and buying in and it's exciting to see those results for sure. Um, if it's okay, I'd like just to bring a couple of uh updates just uh to our board that's important. There's a couple of uh dates that are coming up that I just want to make sure our public and our board's aware of. Okay. Uh first of all, the first thing I wanted to simply share to our community is is this sense of gratitude >> and I I absolutely love >> just been discussing this >> and we're just extremely thankful and we
012almost at at some and somehow have to pause and just kind of acknowledge where we are and it's it's incredible. Of course football um and of course we have everything Right now, we're the fourth ranked team in cross country. And I'll get to some more of these things in here, but the overarching tone that I think it's important is just un have this um sense of gratitude for for for the things that are going on and and the blessings that we're uh that are being poured upon our district. For sure. So, lots lots of excitement. Uh I want to thank our our delegation as well. We recognized Robin Crawford and Trevor Pulley uh recently. um uh we have to continue to um uh work with our legislators, pray for them for wisdom as they handle
013the the the business at the state level. And so we're thankful for their for for their support and engagement and trying to recognize our our our teachers and uh staff. Um I also want to say that we're having a great time um with our alumni as well. We recognized here just recently the class of 85, the class of 75, and just recently the class of 90. their reunion. Uh the message that I wanted to project to all of our alumni is is is very simple. You are welcome here. We want you to be proud of of where you graduated and and always have that sense that you are welcome here. And I think that's a really neat uh concept for a small community school is for our alumni to always feel connected and always feel
014that they're welcome when they come on campus. And so that's been been a lot of on getting to know them. Um, of course, it was shortly after our last board meeting, uh, we we we announced that we're, uh, 12 months away from our 100year celebration of our high school. and um Miss Zel Skinner who helped us with that release and just was a a great job and just an amazing person and and so for more details u that's on our website and we've been trying to uh make sure that every at least someone in every class is aware of this and is trying to push that message out because not everyone follows on social media uh but we still have to make sure that that message is being pushed out there that uh we have
015big events taking place next year and lots lots of folks are excited about that. So, you can uh sign up to help or we're also looking for some business sponsors to kind of help uh with that with the expense of that event. >> I was in awe when I watched this video for the first time, our middle school cheerleaders um that were um on USC's campus, not only their practice facilities, but but also during the game. >> I believe that was against Kentucky if I'm not mistaken. just just incred as I'm watching it, I just say, "This is this is an experience these kids will never forget." And and that's what we want to continue to say. That's an experience these kids won't forget. This is an experience these kids won't forget. And so, um,
016this was, uh, I know Kiki Ellison, Cham, Chamberlain, Chamber Lley, all all those just, uh, D'vor just outstanding job and just very very proud of their leadership and the opportunities for our kids. Last Friday, of course, we had our district 51 employee appreciation. We can't day. We can't do it without them. Uh they are valued u team. It's a team members for our district and I'm I'm just very very proud of them and it was a neat opportunity to be able to for our community to show thanks for the the work that they put in day in day out. And um just a special event. I just wanted to thank our board as well for for helping out um to pass out popcorn and drinks to our to our faculty, not only our faculty, but
017also their families. >> It was fun >> to to be able to get connected with our families. And um and that's that's what makes this this place truly truly special is is that family feel for sure. Uh we also had our I want to thank Babel Border and even some young young ones. We have uh Will Border and uh Jaden Lever who's covered paint, but they were out there, you know, uh painting uh some projects that we had around. But we had, you know, and this is where you get dangerous, but um Marcus Bishop, our local fire department, Luke Wooten, uh was there and um Brandon Federe and just uh lots of people's Rodney Border was there and lots of folks. And I think there's even some more people coming out this week to to
018do some touch-ups in their press box. They they uh painted the outside of our of our concession stand weeks weeks ago. Um and and also our restrooms at the at the football stadium. The outside's painted some projects that we're working on the inside. But we have community members that just love our high school are looking for ways to help and and this was a neat opportunity to to to do just that. Trevor Pulley and his his son Drake were out there blowing. So it was it was fun. >> Fun to see. Of course, today I don't have any updates, but our volleyball team right now is travel to me. They're on the road today, so we don't have an update, but they were on the road and they had a fantastic season. >> Tuesday. >>
019Oh, is it Wednesday? Okay, that was today. All right, so it's coming up Wednesday. >> DC and Abby will have their playoff tonight at >> Okay. >> to see how all the ranking is for our region. >> I got it. Thank you. Thank you, Jason. So, coming coming up. So, um we're excited about their season. They ended on a great note against Thormal. Probably played the best game of the year that I' I've seen them play. And so hopefully that'll transition well into into playoffs. Um I really want to bring attention to our our band invitational that's coming up on Saturday. Um that's a really big event for our band. It's a the first major fundraiser for their trip. And so I'm I'm excited about that. They put a lot of work into that. So
020we're we're excited to host that. So encourage everyone to come out. I think the gates open at three. First per first first performance starts at four o'clock. And then um our cross country team is trying to uh repeat as regent champs uh this Saturday morning as well. So it's it's an exciting time uh for for our district for sure. >> Where will the cross country be held? >> It's in McCormick. >> Cormick. >> McCormick. >> And what time is the band? >> The b the band will play uh the bands start at 4 o'lock. The gate opens at 3 and I think awards are slated at 7:30. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And we know how many >> seven bands, I believe. >> And uh that's dangerous, but I'm I'm going to It's right in
021that ballpark. >> Okay. And that'll conclude uh the superintendent's update. >> Thank you so much, Dr. Crockett. Uh so many good things happening at this point in our agenda is before you. We have listed an executive session. The chair request a motion to go into executive session from the floor. >> I make a motion to go into executive session. >> Is there a second? >> I second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. Not I. >> I'll get my voice back eventually. Motion carries. Yes, sir. The chair request a motion from the floor to return from and end executive session. >> I make a motion that we come out of executive session. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor discuss. Any discussion?
022All those in favor say I. >> I. We're back. Dr. Crockett, for the the next thing which appears on our uh agenda is an an action item and I would like to defer to you to share that information with us. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Um we we had the luxury of going on our school tours today and um our high school is beautiful. I I I absolutely love it. Um but one of one of the areas that might need to be um updated is the uh tile that's on the bottom floor of the high school, the lower level. And so uh we were able to uh do some research, have some folks coming in to take a look at it and to try to see what what the cost would be to not
023only replace the the lower level, but also uh down the hall to the cafeteria, down those steps around to the gym. And so all of that would be included in um in in in the procurement of services that we'd be seeking. And um and so our estimates say that we would be able to to complete this project including uh leveling, including applying a vapor barrier and uh going over the DCT uh with accent covers in colors, including uh the school logo as you come down the stairs um on the floor there. We believe that we'd be able to uh complete that project uh for less than $150,000, no more than $150,000. Uh we've been very closely monitoring our fund balance. Um we we uh I make this recommendation looking at where we are historically this
024time of year with our fund balance. um and all the things that we're doing to to make sure that that uh we're able to maintain operations and feel feel confident that we're able to do that at this time. >> You've heard the information that's been presented and it I think it was really helpful for me to see it visually tonight with the walk through. Um, I think your future plans that we have in this same vein will be painting the walls and um, it's going to be spectacular. So, I don't see how we can do that without doing the other. Um, is I'd like all of your thoughts on this. I think it's a a welldeserved and needed project. And I also I'm reminded of all the things that we did last year was fabulous.
025was fabulous. What was where we were and this year is a continuation of a a very wellstated plan. This is no surprise. We we've talked of it meetings of ourselves, but I I would like to entertain your thoughts. >> Um my question would be, do we have any kind of estimates on the painting that we're talking about doing after the retile? >> No. No. No. I think I think it's um I think it's important to kind of um as we go along continue to take a look um at our fund balance I know u to make sure that that's even a realistic project. >> Um and so I think we just I I prefer just to u get a really good gauge of where we are. >> Yeah. >> See that hey this is something
026we can do at this time. to feel good about it. >> If things change, if um from funding formulas to the 45th day allocations, all those things like that shift, then then then hey, this is a project that we can do at this point. >> Um let's let's see where we are in in a couple more months to see if we can tackle that next project. >> I guess I guess too we need to look we're going to paint are we talking about painting both floors? >> Yes, both ideally that would be fantastic and that would be the final touch on the hundredyear celebration. So, I think that's that's kind of the the motive there. Okay. Um, we do we do have to think things through and we we've tried to that if we were
027to take some of those um original lockers out and to be able to tile underneath, right, >> then that then potentially um the color that might be behind some of those lockers would be off. So, that's just some of those things that we've already taken a look at and try to have a plan for that. But um eventually it would be nice by summer of of this coming summer be able to paint both of those levels and and really kind of put the final touch on that on that building. >> And you know, you you've discussed the painting not in terms of valance sense yet at this point because there've been no uh requests for bids, but we've also talked about the need for paving the circle. >> Yes. >> The high school. and see
028whether that needs to be done when uh we have discussed that. Dr. Crockett, is that the area that you're talking or is there an expanded area beyond that? Um I I would say >> that >> um for for any paving projects, I think it'd be nice to do all of these projects, but I think the the project of paving would be able to be um take place even after summer. So I don't think it's such an immediate issue where we have potholes or anything like that, but it's it's it's reaching its its life expectancy. I just had it in the list of things that you had have projected in the past and sort of moving in that. >> Sure. It's it that's a that's a down the road but not too distant future. >> Not
029too distant, right? >> Could we look instead of >> just let's explore option with a resurfacing instead of a full repainting. >> Uh there's a there's a resurfacing product that gets used. just thin coat, but you know what I'm talking about. >> Just a sealant >> like a sealant. >> And there's and there's companies, you know, when we get ready to do it, I'd be more than glad to tell you some of them out of Augusta. And then there's some right here in Greenwood and I just don't think they really look they're so overcrowded. You got to come to them. They're not going they don't go looking for work. Work falls in their lap. >> Right. >> And so I got two or three companies that I could put you. >> Yeah. Absolutely. We'll always
030to see and we'll continue to to see what's what's the best best option for for us economically and quality for sure. So all all that will be a factor, but um that's again looking where where where we are at that time with our with our fund balance and and this is just one that we think we're we're able to to to tackle right now with the current situation. So >> it definitely needs it. I mean just looking at because >> you know you see it every day >> so you know sometimes you tend not to see it right as you come through but you know that's this is probably the first time I've been downstairs in a few years. >> Sure. >> So going down you know I see the need for it for sure.
031>> Definitely needed. But I guess my thing is if we do this are do you feel confident that we'll be able to do the paint the next phase? I mean, do you I mean, my thing is if you do this and you ain't able to do the paint, you're you know, we have to delay the paint or something. You know what I'm saying? Just >> um I guess the question is, do I feel confident that we would be able to do it? >> Yeah. Because I mean, I'm looking at it as like a whole project. If you do the floor, you got to do the paint, too. And if we do the floor and then for some reason we ain't able to do the walls, you know, you kind of like >> um I I
032I feel it's very doable on on on the way that we're trending right now. I I think it's very doable. Um I I but trying to project where we are going to be in April is is a challenge. Um >> I mean I understand that. I just my thing is I don't want to you know I guess if you do this and you're not it's to me it would be like starting a project before not being able to finish it. >> Yeah. >> You have to start somewhere. Yeah. >> And I think our fund balance, if you look at that this month, we have a healthy fund balance. And I go back to what our auditor said this summer. He he is aware that um he just said, "I know you have needs. Spend the
033money." >> And that's definitely a need. I'm not I'm not doubting that at all. The floor definitely needs to be >> and I think the funds are there. They >> Yeah. Comp. >> That's the only issue I've got. That's that's the only issue I had. If we do the floor, I'd love to do the walls. >> Right. >> I'm going to call the question. Are there any addition additional discussion? What we have before us since uh under tab one is the financial recommendation to do the tiling on the bottom floor of the high school. also to include the right corridor that leads to the gym with the financial estimate at this time to be no more and this is what we will vote on to not to exceed 150,000 and the chair is asking for
034a motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Thank you, sir. There's a motion on the floor to approve the recommendation. Is there a second? Second. >> Second. I appreciate it. Thank you, sir. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. All those opposed. Motion carries. >> Thank you, sir. >> We'll work on trying to get those um procurement in place as quickly as we can and with the hopes of even a Christmas break. But that's that's um we'll be moving if we can for sure. I asked at this point under the financial review my normal good question are there any questions on the general fund budget and I'm always interested in the percentage of of our budget that we've spent as they're as opposed to their projecting projection and we are right in
035the parameter so I'm really pleased I think financially we're in a sound position and um I I really want you to get comfortable with this budget. If you need help with codes or whatever, they we can do that. But it you really begin to feel the rhythm and the flow of this uh activity and we are absolutely trending in the right direction. Um on the activity schedule or budget, I have only one comment to say and I think I've said it to Dr. Crockett. I've never seen the athletic total at $22,97410 and which is amazing and I think it reflects the uh momentum of so many things happening not just one thing but um uh it's it's good to see and it's u it's wonderful. Do any of you have any questions pertaining to any
036of the line items on the activity budget? I again and I compliment you every time and I thank you Dr. Crockett when that budget is placed against the statement from the bank and it tallies. Um do you have any additional questions or uh that you like to insert concerning finances? >> No, I think it's it's important here in the next next little while we'll be taking a look at what's coming down from the state and u so we've been monitoring that. They did release a little bit of a statement. It was a very thick document. I started started working my way through that to see if there's any potential changes for how things are funded. Um I didn't see any anything conclusive right off the bat, but um still working my way through that and
037we'll seek guidance as to if there's going to be any reprieve from from the state. I'm not anticipating any um but we're we're in a situation where we we expect the lowest level that way. if we get any extra employee that would show us. So, but we're we're we're definitely um in a good position right now. >> Thanks for your hard work in that area. With that being said, do I have a motion from the floor to adjourn? >> I make a motion to adjourn tonight. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> All those in favor say I. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma'am. >> You're a wonderful group. >> Thank you.