0012026. War County Board of Education meeting order. First order of business is our pledge of allegiance. And we're going to ask Sherry to lead us in the pledge statement. >> 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, Sherry. Okay, before we start down the agenda, I'd like to have a moment if it's okay with fellow board members, a moment of silence for Mr. Winters. Uh you know, some I know that Mark and couple of us I I was a student during that time when when he was here and I was also a principal during the time that he worked for us. But Mr. Winters was truly one of those
002guys that that touched many, many, many hundreds, thousands of young lives, okay? Um he just and same thing with Betty, too. They both just touched lots of lives and were good people and and um we'd like to just to recognize him in the moment of silence if that is okay. Thank you. And our condolences go out to his family. I know Anita works with us and for us and and uh our hearts go out to them. Anybody else have I know that some of you guys knew Mr. Winters. >> Well, he had I thought it was interesting. Um he had all of the old FFA ledgers from years ago um at a service and it was neat seeing those from like the '70s. Yeah. Yeah, anytime you get to something if you can find Betty
003Winners red velvet cake, you you better get it you better get a piece of it because it was an old stale old only cake. Uh It's your microphone. It's a good thing I wasn't Yeah, I am Mr. Winners called me by the wrong name probably for forever. I have an older brother named Dale. And Mr. Winners called me Dale for ever, okay? And I was not ever going to correct Mr. Winners, okay? [laughter] He called me whatever he wanted. Okay, and I forget I was with a with somebody and we were talking and he was calling me Dale and he said the person with me said, "That's not your name." He said, "That's your brother's name." After that point, he never called me by the wrong name again. I didn't care. But he did for
004I mean years and years and years he called me Dale. But uh Okay, so at this time I need a motion to approve the agenda. >> So moved. >> Okay, uh I see under financial we have a a number in the payment of invoices. And I believe that's about it, guys. Anybody see anything I missed? >> page on Mrs. Beck, there's an effective date. >> Okay. Okay. Yes, on the second page under E, under resignations, uh for Mrs. Beck, there is an effective date. There's a folded in. Any questions about that? Hearing none, we have a motion to approve the agenda as presented. All in favor, say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed, say nay. Uh so the motion carries. Okay, we're down to information, monthly attendance narrative, Mr. Smith, please. >> Thank you, Mr. Metz.
005Thank you, Mr. McCall. Um first of all, uh before I read this, I want to compliment the schools and everybody involved, including CIS. Um and uh Ty Starkey, our school-based probation officer. I think you'll see some progress we've made in regards to chronic absenteeism as well well as attendance during the years, but I just wanted to say that before we start into this. Um first of all, um the as you can tell, the attendance doesn't fluctuate that much, but not surprisingly, you can see how it goes down gradually as the year goes on, but not a tremendous amount uh from 95 to 92%, you know, roughly that's but that's not shocking. As the year goes on, kids tend to get spring fever. You see more absenteeism. There's a lot more going on. That's just a
006trend that I've saw over the years in this job. That's not that rare. Um but uh the height was in September when we were at 95%. Um okay, in regards to um attendance uh percentage by school and district for the year, that was by the month. Um the high school was at 91.2. The middle school was at 92.4. The primary center was 93.5 and district wide were at 92.3. So, here shortly when I get further into this, you'll see we're improving a little bit each year in regards to total attendance from year to year. Um uh going on to the next page there. >> [clears throat] >> You'll see um if you go it goes clear back to 2019 to 2020 school year, um we were at 92%. 2021, we dipped to 88.8. Um and
00721 and 21-22 the school year, it was 88.1. The 2022-2023 school year, we came back up to 90.4 and then since since then every year it's increased a little bit each year. Um 23-24, we were at 91.7. 24-25 school year, we were at 91. 9 and the current year that we just wrapped up, we're at 92.3. So, you could see we're trending in the right direction over the last last few years with everybody's help and assistance in the schools and uh the parents I think have made a conscious effort to get the kids to school more frequently and we appreciate that as well, of course. >> [cough] >> Any questions [clears throat] before I go on to Okay. Okay and uh the chronic absentee report um for this year, um the primary center is at
00814.2%. Um the middle school was at 21.7. And the high school is at 29.5. District wide, it averages out to 21.8 district wide as far as uh chronic absenteeism. So, and and you'll see that that's been a great improvement over the last few years when we go further into this as well. >> [clears throat and cough] >> Um perce- Here's the next page that that'll show an example of this. The percentage chronically absent students district-wide by school year at the 2021 school year, it was at 36% were chronically absent. At the 2120 dash or the 2021-2022 school year, we were at 46%. That's where the height, unfortunately, was. I think we were just coming out of COVID. That was part of the result of that. Um in 22 the 2022-2023 school year, we were at
00935%. And you'll see the trend now. We keep going getting better each year. In 23-24 school year, we were at 32%. >> Hey Jared, I can't >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. >> find where you're at. Are you on this >> That's in packet. >> Oh, okay. >> I'm sorry. Yeah, that's in the packet. Sorry. I'll let you I just broke it down further outside the packet. Sorry. Okay. Um Oh, yeah, that's fine. Um in the 2023-2024 year, like I said, we were at 32%. Uh the 24-25 school year, we were at 27. And this year, we're at 21.8. So, you can see we made a substantial improvement where we unfortunately peaked in 21-22, we've dropped district-wide at 24.2%. That's a significant change over the last 5 years. That's a substantial change in chronic absenteeism to
010the good. So, um >> [clears throat] >> And what I thought I would do also, uh Brandon some of the other board members were discussing this at the last meeting. That's the one I brought in Brandon outside of the packet. Broke broke it down a little bit further. Um The primary center during the 21-22 school year was at 53% chronic absenteeism. In 22-23 school year were 32 23-24 it was at 23% 24-25 school year were at 18 and in 25-26 were at 14.2. So you can see the substantial improvement we made over the last 5 years from 53 down to 14. That's a substantial change. Um at the middle school uh negatively we were at 58% in 21-22 and just like at the other schools we've improved as we've gone along. Uh the 22-23 school
011year was at 39% the 23-24 school year we were at 34 24-25 school year were at 29 and lastly this year that we're currently just wrapped up we were 21.7. So you can see how much change there is uh 36.3% difference in during that uh 5-year uh time frame. So I thought that was good. Um in regards to the high school um in during the 21-22 uh was at 46% uh 22-23 school year it improved to 38% uh during the 20-23-24 school year it went back up to 39% just a 1% increase and we're starting this trend the other way. Um 24-25 we were at 33% uh chronically absent and this year we were at 29.5. So we've improved uh 16.5% over those 5 years. So I think we really done a uh took took
012great strides to improve in that area. So I really think so. So Um anybody have any questions or concerns? >> Just for people uh watching and and refresh my memory what is counting as at as chronic absenteeism now? >> Okay. Okay. Well, chronic absenteeism now is if your child misses 18 days of school in a normal school year, that's 10% of a school year regardless if it's doctor's excuses, parent excuses, whatever the reason is. Basically, that's if you miss 10% of the school year, you make the chronic absenteeism list. >> And there isn't any excuses don't count. >> Right. Yeah. Whatever your excuse is, unfortunately, it still counts as an absence against chronic. So, what we're basically saying as a collective group, let's just go back to our numbers here. That 21.8 district-wide for the
013year, that means 21% of the students or almost 22% of the students missed at least 18 days of school if they went the whole year regardless of the reason. Yeah. That's what their goal is to get every kid here at least 162 days of school year ideally. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Smith. >> I thank you. >> Okay. We have no delegations this evening, so we're down to the agenda. At this time, I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda of regular meeting of May 19th, 2028. >> So moved. >> Any corrections, comments, concerns on the minutes? That 26, 20 not 2028. I said 28, didn't I? I don't know why or that even came from. No questions? Okay. We have motion to approve the regular meeting minutes
014of May 19th, 2026. All in favor, say I. >> I. >> Those saying nay? I said motion carries. >> Yeah, that wasn't even a transpose. It was just out of the brain. >> Okay. We're down to payment invoices. Need a motion to approve invoices amounting $55,093.07. >> Second. >> Mr. McCollum. >> So, Mrs. Collins is going to not be with us this evening, but I've got the basket of expenditures. It's closing out the year, so there's not a whole lot in there. Just two runs of expenditures for your consideration this evening. The first on 5/28/2026, totaling $21,840.13. Noteworthy on this is Grand Pointe Conference Center. Um the middle school changed its venue from the Blennerhassett um to the Grand Pointe Conference Center. I think the last time or two they had it there, I think
015they weren't as happy as well pleased with the food with that, but I think some of the board members have attended that in the past where they the kids get to eat a dinner and they get to go over etiquette and um the right silverware to use for the right thing and it's kind of a really neat activity for the kids, but pointing out that they had that at the Grand Pointe Conference Center this year in Vienna instead of the Blennerhassett Hotel. Also noteworthy in this one of expenditures is United Dairy for milk. The last run for your consideration is also on 5/28/2026 and it totals $33,252.94. We had Education System Solutions for staff development and um summer school books from Treasure Bay and some various travel and other other various and sundry things in
016that run. Those two runs together total $55,093.07 and I'm happy to entertain any questions you have about any expenditure. >> Any questions on invoices? >> Lower amount. >> Not very much. They get grumpy if people try to buy stuff when the books are getting closed out. So, not a lot of expenditures this this time. >> Okay, no questions. We have a motion to approve the payment of invoices in the amount of $55,093.07. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed say nay. >> Eyes have it. Motion carries. >> Then the budget supplements. Need a motion to approve the budget supplements in the amount of $5,215. >> So moved. >> Mr. Carroll. >> So, there are five supplements. Some grant money's coming in that Carroll is approving and asking the board to accept. The first
017in the amount of board of reimbursement. The next in the amount of $360 is a state grant for CPR instruction. The next in the amount of $1,100 is a federal special ed grant for new special ed teacher training. The next in the amount of $1,070 is a federal special ed grant for high cost reimbursement. And then finally, in the amount of $1,660 is a state special ed grant for high cost reimbursement. These supplements total $5,215. >> Any questions? Hearing none, we have a motion to approve the budget supplements in the amount of $5,215. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed say nay. >> Eyes have it. Motion carries. >> Okay, we have no budget transfers this evening. And then, need a motion to approve the finalized letter from the auditor for fiscal year
0182025. >> So moved. >> Push my button. >> So, each year Mrs. Cummings brings to you the report from the auditors themselves, and we've already went over that and got a clean bill of health, zero findings. But then, the state's Department of Education looks through the audit report and generates a letter, and it is in your packet, but I'll just quickly summarize. It says, "Um as the primary recipient of federal funds, the State Department of Education is required under the provision of the Single Audit Act and Office of Management and Budget Uniform Grant Guidance to review the audit reports of all subrecipients and to follow up on any findings noted to ensure that such findings are resolved. We have completed our review of the audit report for York County Board of Education for the fiscal
019year ending June 30, 2025. Either no findings were noted by the auditors or any findings were category appropriately addressed by corrective action plan contained within the report. Therefore, the audit file for the fiscal year 2025 is considered closed." So, and that is from Jocelyn Elmer, coordinator of school finance, South Carolina Department of Education. So, again, good job to the school secretaries and Mrs. Cummings and and her crew for another good audit report. >> Questions? Hearing none, we have a motion to approve the fiscal year 2025 finalized audit letter from the state. All in favor, say aye. >> Aye. >> Those who say nay? I say the motion carries. Okay, we have no policies, so that's why we're down to personnel matters. Resignations and leave of absence. But okay with the board, A, B, C, and
020D are all one person. So, uh it's okay with the board we'll take all those as one motion. Unless you wish to do it different. >> That's fine. >> Okay, need a motion to approve the resignation of Nathan Edwards for the following. Eighth grade science teacher War Kenny Middle School effective end of the 25-26 school year. Nathan Edwards head cross country coach War Kenny High School effective at the end of the 2025 school year. Nathan Edwards head track coach War Kenny High School effective at the end of the 25-26 school year. And Nathan Edwards athletic director War Kenny Middle School effective at the end of the 25-26 school year. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Mr. McCauley take the vote. >> So, his letter was in your packet I think. He's moving
021closer where his family and I totally get that. But, as you can see from all these agenda items he did a great deal for us and he did a fantastic job with all of those. And um we will miss him. Um he's a fantastic teacher, coach, athletic director. Um he will he will leave a big pair of shoes for folks to fill. >> Yeah. I was talking to him earlier this week. He's leaving when he's on top. He had state champion in track, okay? So, he's leaving when it when you can't get it any better off than that. Any questions? Any comments? Hearing none, we have a motion to approve the resignation of Nathan Edwards as eighth grade science teacher War Kenny Middle School. Nathan Edwards head cross country coach War Kenny High School. Nathan
022Edwards head track coach War Kenny High School. Nathan Edwards athletic director War Kenny Middle School. And all those are at the conclusion of the 25-26 school year. All in favor say I. I. Those saying nay. Eyes have motion carried. Okay, we're two e. Need a motion to approve the resignation of Gabriel Beck, first grade teacher at York County Primary Center, effective June 30th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Mr. McCowan? >> Her letter is in your packet. I believe her family is moving out of state. Another good teacher. Sad to see her leave. >> I just have a comment. Is it Is this one that we might be able to use attrition for so that we're going down one person? >> The first grade had that big group of kindergarten that moved into into first grade.
023So I'm not sure that we will be able to just absorb that one. >> So you'll take a look at >> I will take a look at it. Yes, sir. >> Cuz it's always easier if we go down a teacher, it's easier during a resignation than it is during a rep. >> Yeah, but I I will. >> I was just wondering how many third grade teachers we had in there. But that's a bigger group coming in that it'll be a group every year we'll probably have to put a person in. So. >> Okay. Just always want to look at it. Any questions? Hearing none, we have a motion to approve the resignation of Gabriel Beck, first grade teacher at York County Primary Center, effective June 30th, 2026. All in favor say I. >> I oppose
024saying nay. I'd say the motion carries. Okay, we need a motion to approve these are FMLA, right? >> Yes. >> Okay, need a motion to approve the FMLA um extended leave of absence for Jamie Kirby. And that now will be June through June the 2nd, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> Second it. >> We we approved this last time. Remember Mr. McCowan and told us her mom had to change the date. >> Yeah, so we got updated paperwork from her doctor, which is in your packet, extending that date. >> Okay. Any questions for Mr. Calhoun? Hearing none, we'll have motion to approve the FMLA extended leave of absence for Jamie Kirby uh through June 2nd, 2026. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed say nay. Eyes have it, motion carries. Any motion
025to approve the FMLA for Nora Kelly, and that is June 1st, 2026 through September 1st, 2026. >> So moved. >> Mr. McCown? >> Yeah, her her request is in the packet and she's having to undergo surgery, which hopefully goes very well for her and a speedy wish her a speedy recovery. >> Very good. Any questions? Hearing none, we'll have motion to approve the FMLA uh request for Nora Kelly, June 1st, 2026 through September 1st, 2026. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed say nay. Eyes have it, motion carries. Down to employment. Any motion to approve the employment Susan Ellison, summer program teacher K5, uh Work Camp Primary Center, as needed, effective June 15th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Mr. McCown? >> As you recall, we posted for four of those and we only
026got two of them, so we put the two back out and current classroom teachers that are already on employees stepped up, uh Mrs. Allison and Mrs. Campbell, and I'm bringing them to you to fill the remaining two summer school positions. >> Any questions? I do not know Mrs. Ellison. Uh I I know her, but I saw her, but I don't know her. But I was talking with a parent the other day and they were singing her praises. Okay, and it's always nice when you talk to a parent and they have good things to say about our teachers, okay? So, I'll just pass that along. Um Okay, excuse me. We have motion to approve the employment summer program employment Susan Allison. Uh and that is teacher K5 uh War Camp Primary Center as needed then it's
027effective June 15th, 2026. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Those saying nay, I say with motion carries. Need a motion to approve the employment of LA Campbell summer program teacher K5 War Camp Primary Center as needed effective June 15th, 2026. >> So moved. >> I'll second that. >> Second that. >> Questions for Mr. McCown. Hearing none, we have motion to approve the employment of LA Campbell summer program teacher K5 War Camp Primary Center as needed effective June 15th, 2026. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Those saying nay, I say with motion carries. Any motion, we have no new action business, new business uh to take care of, so we're down to out of county open enrollment applications. Need a motion to approve the out of county open enrollment applications for 2026-2027
028school year. That is one from Jackson, one from Pleasants, and one from Wood. >> So Mr. McCown. >> So, we automated this and put it online and almost all of those came through the last board meeting. We do have a few stragglers that missed that window for the online and did paper and likely the next board meeting we'll have to pick up a few too, but >> That's good. >> of these are are currently students that are renewing their request. >> We'll take all we can get. Any questions? Hearing none, we have motion to approve the out of county open enrollment applications for 2026-2027 school year. And that is one from Jackson, one from Pleasants, and one from Wood. All in favor say I. >> I. >> say nay. I have a motion carries. So,
029we're down to we have no volunteer chaperones. We'll move on to the next one. Uh so, we're down to board concerns and we'll start Mr. Wade. >> Yeah, I I was uh I If I understand correctly, there was a new law passed in January about having the 8 and 5 in uh classrooms uh of the fourth grade, the eighth grade, or the 10th grades. Are you familiar with that? >> I've read that. I and I believe that um in similar fashion to the In God We Trust posters, that those were to be donated by somebody. I don't believe we've received those yet, but um and I think it was to be like a classroom resource for those history classes. >> Okay. So, would you see to it make sure that they're in them classes or
030I mean if I I mean I'll I'll see to it they're they're donated if somebody don't, you know. >> Well, I I will check on that. I know that with the posters in business just donated for the whole state. I will double check on that to see if that is the plan or if we need to make alternative arrangements. >> Okay, that's that's all I want. Thank you. Mr. Mr. Moore. >> Um I just like to uh I think sometimes it gets lost in the wash that um at the high school, I know we all attended the graduation and they the the uh award ceremonies and then at the middle school award ceremonies and middle school just did a lot of stuff with students in in the year. High school did, too. And the primary
031center is different. Uh they did it more as individual, but lots of stuff. Okay, honor and our students and allow them parents to come in and and sometimes we take these things for granted. Okay, and don't realize how much work uh goes into planning those things. And I just want to tell our teachers and our administrators how much we appreciate it because it really is it be easier to go in the classroom and close the door. Okay, but but they don't do that. They really at the end of the year from what I can tell was actually graduation was excellent. Um we have to have a board meeting on Monday, July 6th. Uh there's no way around it. We have to have it's the organizational meeting. Our regular meeting is July 7th. So, it's in
032my mind that we just uh have July 6th, we'll just have our regular meeting one day before. And we'll have our regular meeting at that time and that's when we you know, uh board members are sworn in and and all that stuff goes on. >> Yeah, I do have a concern. >> Yeah. >> Uh I noticed you sent out an email saying about uh for to uh do the board concerns and evaluate the >> self-evaluation, yes. >> Okay, is that due when's that due? >> that's due August the 15th. It truly will take you about >> Yeah, it don't take 4 minutes. >> I I [laughter] already did mine. They came out I was waiting to pick up the grandchild and I sat there and and did it in that amount of time. So, yeah.
033Um and that's all I have, but it really was a good end of the school year. Uh teachers and and administrators did a just a fantastic job. Um okay, with that being said, our next >> I just dawned on me. You think we ought to have a sign down at the end of the road boarded off? >> Yeah. >> I mean, what are your thoughts on it? >> Yeah, we'll probably have I know the one time I tried to put up signs I got in trouble with the state highway. So, we'll probably have to go state. I'm sure state highway will do that. Yeah, I put >> Well, I I know like when they put the family resource center right there, they put the signage up for that and so, probably I think they've already
034got a a stake out there with a sign pointing to the senior center that we could just ask permission to get a sign put up for that. >> Yep, absolutely. >> Well, Mrs. Davis is on the board. She wanted the signs put up for Point of View School. So, we went ahead and had those made and actually the prisons uh they made them for us. They were just saying mistake, but I uh the state road did not take kindly to me putting those signs up on their posts. >> Oops. >> Uh so, anyway, we won't do that. And we let them put them up on their posts. >> And I will tell you the metal shop used their plasma cutter >> Uh-huh. >> to make a big Work County Board of Education sign for Alpha.
035>> Very good. Okay, with nothing else, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> We're adjourned. Thank you, gentlemen. >> Thank you.