001for this meeting of Dorchester School District 2 Board of Trustees for January 12th, 2026. And so we'll start tonight before the meeting um with Miss Cynthia Powell. >> Okay, those of you that would join me in prayer. Father, in the name of your son Jesus, we want to thank you for the opportunity to serve in the capacity of school board members. We do not take this assignment lightly. You promise in your word that if we lack wisdom, we can ask you for that wisdom regarding anything that concerns us. So this evening, we want to thank you for the wisdom needed to make decisions regarding our DD2 families, our leaders, local, county, state, national, and international. connections because we in turn are affected by the decisions that they make. We also want to say to the
002families, members individually, our school educators, we daily lift you up in prayer and we thank God for meeting the need that you may have. We thank you that as we enter the second half of the school year, bigger and better things lay in front of us. So, we just want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And now I ask that you stand and um we're going to do the pledge of allegiance. I'm sorry. I apologize. Totally lost. 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. >> Okay, we call this meeting to order and until the board elects a board chair, I will preside over this meeting. So we will begin
003with the approval of the consent agenda and meeting minutes. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> First by Mr. Guthrie. Second. >> Second by Dr. Wimberly. Call for a vote. The vote is six and zero with one board member absent and it passes. So at this time I'll accept motions for the election of the board chair. >> Mr. DHY. I motion to nominate Dr. Ashley Wimberly for board chair. >> I have a first. Do I have a second? Mrs. Pal second. >> Okay, we'll go ahead and take a call for a vote for Mrs. Dr. uh Dr. Ashley Wimberly as the board chair. And the vote is six in favor and one absent. So congratulations Dr. Wimberly as the board chair. [applause] >> Thank you for that vote of confidence. I certainly appreciate
004it and I will do my best to serve. It's an honor. All right. So, at this time, um, we will proceed to the election of our board vice chair. And at this time, I'd ask if I have any motions. >> I make a motion to nominate Kelly Bates as vice chair. >> All right. Mr. Guthri has made a motion to nominate Miss Bates. Do I have a second? >> Second. All right. Seconded by Miss King. Any questions or discussion? Hearing none, we will call for the vote. All right. And the motion carries. Six in favor, one absent. Congratulations, Miss Bates. [applause] All right. Next item on our agenda is our appointment of board committee chairs. And so um we will go ahead and proceed with this as much as possible. Um I have had some
005individual discussions with each of you and it does um I do believe that we all are in agreement that things are going very well. We have a lot of things happening and we have great momentum and so I think we are all interested in continuing that. Um so we'll go ahead and start with policy committee. Um, and I would ask Miss Bates if she would continue to chair that and Miss King if she would continue to work with her on that. >> Okay. All right. Excellent. Um, and then next we will move to our finance committee. Um, Mr. Lee, I would appreciate it if you would be willing to chair that committee for us. And Mr. Guthrie, if you would continue to work with him. Okay. Excellent. Um, and Mr. Farnsworth is not here this
006evening, but um I intended to and will ask him if he would continue to chair our facilities committee. He's done a great job and Miss Powell, if you will continue to work with him in that regard. Okay, excellent. Um two other committees that we have on rotation is our skip board. Um Miss Powell, you have been doing that and I'd love for you to continue. >> All right, that'd be excellent. And then we also have the education foundation. And this is one where I know we like to rotate so that everyone has an opportunity to be involved and see the great work that our foundation does here. And so Mr. Lee, I would love it if you would um represent us on that. All right. Great. Thank you very much. Okay. Um and I believe
007that is all of the appointments that we need to make this evening. So, thank you all very much for your continued service and I look forward to another great year working together. All right, with that um housekeeping stuff out of the way, we will move on to our district highlights and we've got Mr. Bohan up to bring us those. Perfect. Thank you, Dr. Wley, Mr. Dhy, board member who's got a great lineup of highlights this evening highlighting both staff and student achievement. First up, a story. Monday, December 1st, was an exciting morning at the district office. Fresh off of Thanksgiving break, every principal in the district received an urgent communication from Mr. Dhy that they needed to attend a meeting in this room. Details were vague. Something about SCAZA giving important updates on pending legislation.
008It was all the more surprising when Dr. Quincy Moore, executive director for SCAZA, arrived and took the microphone. It was only then that we learned we were actually there to award Bentley Lewis as the SCAZA Middle Principal of the Year. [applause] Miss Lewis's tenure as principal at MS has seen achievements that include a 46% decrease in student discipline, a 12point increase in their state report card rating, earning excellent this year, and has seen parent climate survey results climb from 52% to over 82% in satisfaction. Miss Lewis will now have the opportunity to compete for national honors through the National Association of Secondary School Principles. Congratulations, Miss Lewis. [applause] >> [applause] >> For our next highlight, I'd like to welcome District Athletic Director, Mr. Tyrone Drake. >> [clears throat] >> Madame Chair, Superintendent D, and Board
009of Trustees, the swim program at Ashley Ridge High School enjoyed an outstanding season highlighted by championship success and individual excellence. The boys team completed an undefeated season, captured its eighth consecutive region championship, set multiple school records, and earned several ping finishes at the state level, including second place finish by Nathan Lindsay in the 500 freestyle, Carter Glattis in the 100 breaststroke, and the boys 400 freestyle relay. [clears throat] Lindsay was named male region swimmer of the year and finished as the 5A state runnup. The girls team finished the season with only two losses and secured its eighth straight region championship, broke multiple school records, and placed 11th in the state meet. The team was led by Grace Marcel, who won the state championship in the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke while setting a new
010state 100 breaststroke record. In recognition of the boys program success, head coach Victoria Merritt was named South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association boys coach of the year. On behalf of the Dorchester School District two board of trustees and the district athletic department, we're pleased to present coach Merritt with a certificate of appreciation and recognition of her hard work, dedication, commitment to continued success of Ashley Ridge High School swim program. >> [applause] [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Drake. Our next highlight brings back another moment of surprise. On December 8th, the South Carolina Association of School Librarians with Principal Vincent Joy snuck into the media center of Sand Hill Elementary School to surprise Melissa Young as the Low Country School Librarian of the Year. This award recognizes certified school librarians who build exemplary library programs grounded in collaboration,
011leadership, and technology integration as outlined in the National School Library Standards. These programs reflect outstanding support for student learning, strong instructional partnerships with teachers, and innovative access to information. As a regional winner, Miss Young now advances as a finalist for the South Carolina School Librarian of the Year. Miss Young, thank you for the joy, leadership, and literacy you bring to Sand Hill Elementary. And congratulations on this well-deserved honor. [applause] [laughter] >> [applause] >> For our final highlight of the evening, I'd like to welcome assistant director of CTE, Dr. Emily Duplantis. [applause] >> Good evening. Tonight, I would like to start by thanking the board, the district, and our school administration for your continued support of our innovative CTE programs and the opportunities they create for our students. Esports is about much more than gaming. These
012programs develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving skills while preparing students for academic and career success. Across the district, strong programs at Ashley Ridge and Fort Dorchester High School, along with the launch of a new middle school esports pilot at River Oaks, demonstrate the continued growth of esports in Dorchester School District 2. Tonight, we are especially proud to recognize Somerville High School's Greenwave esports team for being ranked 20th in the nation by USA Today. a remarkable achievement and a point of pride for our school district. Can the members of the SHS Green Wave esports team please come forward to be recognized at this time? [applause] [cheering] [applause] Don't stop. All the moms, >> thumbs up, moms. >> Moms are good. All right. [applause] [applause] >> This concludes tonight's district highlights. Thank you. If you're going
013to make a graceful exit, now would be a perfect time to do that. Students or anybody All right, we will continue with our agenda. Next item this evening is our board committee reports and we will begin with our policy committee. Miss Bates. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. We have a few policies up for second reading today. That's GCOA, evaluation of instructional staff. GCO AR, evaluation of instructional staff, the rule, and ECA security. >> Thank you, Miss Bates. As these are coming out of committee, we will not need a second. So, at this time, I would just ask if we have any questions or discussion. >> Okay. Hearing none, we will call for the vote. Motion carries. Six in favor, one absent. >> Okay. Next, we have our finance committee. So, uh, Mr. Lee, I'll start
014with you. Do you have anything for this evening? >> Nothing to report tonight. will be getting together to put the schedule for the finance committee meeting going forward and of course beginning some of the preliminary work as we begin to move towards planning for the budget for next year. >> All right, great. Thank you very much. Uh facilities committee, Mr. Farnsworth is not here. Miss Powell, do you have anything to report for us this evening? Currently we do not but things are continuing to advance and so um we just continue to look forward to whatever progress we can make with all the powers that be >> lots going on with facilities. All right. Thank you for that. Okay. The next item on our evening this um on our agenda this evening is our public comments
015on agenda items. So before we begin these, I'm just going to review just with the start of the new year. I'm going to do a little brief review of our public comment procedures. Um we do welcome and appreciate public comments, but there are we have a policy that goes along with those. And so um there are some rules that I just want to review. Public comments are welcomed and encouraged. However, the board will not take immediate action or respond to public comments at this meeting. In order that the board may conduct the meeting in a civil manner, public comments should not include gossip, defamatory words, or abusive and vulgar language. The board reserves the right to terminate any presentation which does not adhere to these guidelines. Any person wishing to address the board must submit
016the comment card five minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Comments must be regarding programs, policies, or procedures, and comments must be issue oriented. No specific names or identifying information which includes positions may be used in comments. Comments regarding an employee or a student will not be heard in public session. Groups addressing the same topic should select one speaker. Comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker. All right, thank you for that. So, we will go ahead and begin. And our first um comment on an agenda item this evening is Mr. Jason Brockard. I was going to talk about something different tonight, but then I read the agenda and uh so we're in 2026 and there were a lot of highlights and awards and how incredible is it that the Oakbrook Middle principal
017was principal of the Those numbers were quite impressive. Very impressive for the improvement at Oakbrook Middle School. That was Julian's principal. So those numbers were great, but I mean it hasn't even been two years since there was a student lost under that principal's watch. >> Mr. Brocker, I'm going to stop you right there. I made it very clear that you may not mention positions. It's that's an identifying >> the agenda, was it not? >> Yes, it was. But as I made it clear, you may may not as per our policy. >> Are you silencing me to your agenda? >> I am asking you I am asking you to follow the policy regarding our public comments >> and I'm commenting on the award >> and you may do that. You may comment on the award. Please
018keep your remarks to the award. you signed up for that agenda item and you may discuss the award as much as you would like. >> I can feel the love in this room. Thank you. So, should I just come back up for three minutes later tonight or when can I speak about this agenda item but freely about this agenda item? I'm okay if you start my timer back up. I want to speak about the middle school principal of the year who is also my son's principal. That's a factual statement. Pure facts. In 2024, the principal responsible for the care of children, this is a fact, this year was named the best that South Carolina has to offer. That is a factual statement. It's on your agenda. It's fantastic. The improvement is massive because have we
019lost another student? I don't know because that's not transparent, but we did not two years ago at that same school. So that doesn't affect the score. I don't know what the score actually comes into. I don't know if the board has anything to do with putting this person up there, but imagine my surprise seeing my son's principal who never could explain how my child >> Mr. Brocker I will have you given I will have you will you must you must stop enough. >> Can I come back up for my minute 23 later? >> If you are unable to follow the policy you will not be allowed to speak. >> Understood. Can I come back up for my minute and 23 later? Apparently, this is off topic, too much. >> It is not that it is
020off topic. You are not following the policy. You may not mention specific employees or identifying items regarding those employees in a negative way. >> Why not in a negative way? It's >> Mr. Please, please sit down. Your your time is up. >> I will sit down. I am complying. I was told to sit. I am sitting. What else should I do? >> Don't do what? I hear you. What would you What would you like? I've been told to sit and I'm sitting. I'm complying. >> Okay. You're Mr. Mr. Brocker, you're disrupting our meeting at this time. I'm going to ask you if you could please return to your seat or step out of the meeting. Right. Our next public comment on an agenda item is Mrs. Diana Rush. >> Good afternoon everyone. Um, given how
021that just went, I'm not really sure how my comments are going to go, but esteemed board of trustees, madame chair, there is a quiet fear that lives in autism parenting that never fully goes away. It's the fear about the future, about who will love, protect, and understand your child when you are not able to. It sits in your chest even on the good days. I have been an autism mom for 12 years. That is 144 months or 626 weeks or 4,383 days. And in those 12 years, never once did I think I would be addressing a school board so that my child would no longer be subjected to abuse and mistreatment at the hands of those who were tasked with protecting and teaching. And yet here I am. On September 11th, 2025, I personally witnessed
022my non-verbal, intellectually disabled, autistic 5-year-old being drugged and flugged down the stairwell at Austin Bailey Elementary by whom was supposed to be a trusted and trained personnel. My child was left to permeate in his own excrement. His jeans and his undergarments were soaking wet. There is no words to describe the pain you feel as a parent to walk into what is supposed to be a safe space for your child and stumble on to them being abused and mistreated. In that moment, it took everything in me to remain poised and calm and reach out to school administration to rectify the situation, only to be placated and dismissed. Reluctantly, I sent my child back to school. I foolishly trusted that admin would put the security of my child at the forefront of their efforts, but I couldn't
023have been more wrong. On Thursday, November 20th, 2025, I received a call from the school claiming that my child fell at PE and sustained a knot on his head, only to get to the school and discover a giant bite mark on his back. When I demanded answers, only then was I informed that my child was attacked by another student. I was shocked and enraged. How could this have happened? And no one reported it. There was no call home. There was no incident report, no notification of any kind. Only after sending a message in parent square was I notified. This is unacceptable. And as a parent of a special needs child, the most vulnerable personnel on this planet, I find it irrehensible. There needs to be better safeguards. I have more to say, but of course,
024my time is up. And I welcome any suggestions that you guys could give to ensure that my child will be treated with respect and dignity. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Rush. Right. The next item on our agenda this evening is our board chair's report and we will begin this with some recognition. So we received a letter from the um South Carolina School Board Association. Um and I will just go ahead and read this. Congratulations Mr. Evan Guthrie on achieving 10 years of school board service for Dorchester School District 2. On behalf of the officers and staff of the South Carolina School Boards Association, thank you. And on behalf of your board, too. You have played a critical role in guiding your district and have invested countless hours to improve public education. Um they it
025says that the SCSBA is happy to provide a lapel pin for you to wear and um we also have this certificate to give you and if you would um we would like to go down and take a picture that would be great that we can share with them. [applause] All right. Thank you again, Mr. Guffrey, for your service 10 years. Impressive. All right. Next, under the board chairs report, we have the signing of the South Carolina School Boards Association board member ethical principles. So, um I am going to read this these ethical principles aloud and then we will all go down sign the poster and take a picture. I think my glasses all right. As a member of my district's school board, I pledge my efforts to improve public education in my community and will
026solemnly try to represent the interests of the entire district when making decisions and to rely on available facts and on our judgment rather than on individuals or special interest groups. Understand the proper role of the board to set policies governing the district and to hire the chief administrative officer to carry out these policies. Encourage an open exchange of ideas by all board members during the decision-making process. Seek regular communications between the board and students, staff, and all segments of the community. attend all board meetings to study issues facing the board and to enact policies and official actions only after full discussion at such meetings. Work with other board members in a conscientious and courteous manner benefiting the public trust placed in the position of school board trustee. Communicate concerns and public reaction to board policies
027and school programs to the superintendent and other board members in a professional manner. Support employment of the persons best qualified for staff positions and to ensure a regular and impartial evaluation of all staff. Avoid conflicts of interest and to refrain from using my board position for personal or partisan gain. Encourage recognition of the achievements of students and staff and the involvement of community residents. Support legislation and funding which will improve the educational opportunities and environment for students and staff. Take no individual action which would compromise the integrity of the board or administration and to respect the confidentiality of information that is privileged under the Freedom of Information Act. study current educational issues and to participate in training programs such as those offered through the South Carolina School Boards Association and the National School Boards Association
028and make our district's educational setting the best possible to encourage all students to achieve and to love learning. All right, board members, if you will join me down, we will sign and take a picture. While the board is signing and taking that picture, I'm going to read the state of South Carolina governor's proclamation. Whereas education is the foundation upon which the economic, intellectual, and social capital of our state is built. And whereas school boards directly influence instruction in South Carolina's public schools, and whereas the decisions of local school boards affect the present and future lives of children while setting the direction to prepare all students to be competitive in a local, state, national, and global 21st century knowledge economy. And whereas local school board members work with parents, businesses, education professionals, and other community members
029to represent their views and create the ideal educational vision for their public schools and students. And whereas schoolboard recognition month highlights [clears throat] the unique role school boards play in representing their constituents by promoting quality public education. Now therefore, I, Henry McMaster, Governor of the great state of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim January 2026 as school board recognition month throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to recognize the contributions of local school boards to the academic success of public school students across the Palmetto State. All right. And I believe that concludes the board chair's report for this evening. So we will move on to our next agenda item, which is our superintendent report. And I will turn it over to Mr. Dhy. >> Thank you, Dr. Wimberly. We have several items on our agenda
030tonight for the superintendent report. Our first is our junior scholars and gate update presentation and we'll have um right now Miss Amanda Wilkins, our coordinator of gifted program. She's going to come up and uh give you a little bit of uh update on our gifted and talented. So Miss Wilkins, thank you. >> Good evening Dr. Wimberly, Mr. Doherty, and esteemed members of the board. In this fall, we had our eighth grade students take the PSAT, the PSAT assessment. And with that, we had several of our Doorchester 2 eighth graders qualify as junior scholars of South Carolina. By the numbers, eighth graders take this assessment. The median score on the math assessment is a 268 and junior scholars must have a 530 qualifying score in that area or a 550 on the evidence-based reading and writing
031area. The median score for that is 254. So, this just shows you what a true honor it is to qualify for this title. Only 2% of eighth graders take this assessment. And just looking at the DD2 numbers, we have to be really proud to say that last year, 23% of our eighth graders took this assessment. And it upped this year to 24% the year before. 20% of those who took the assessment qualified as a South Carolina Junior Scholar. And this year we had 110 Doorchester 2 eighth graders who qualified, upping that to 23% of test takers. [applause] In other news, we had our first Gate parent night this fall. It was a huge success and you can see by the photos the turnout we had at Rise Academy. This was a wonderful night just really
032explaining the program to parents, community members, and school staff in qualifications, how Doorchester 2 serves our students. In fact, it was such a great turnout that we are have hosting another one this spring. With that being said, we also for those who could not attend in the fall or will not be able to attend in the you can see the gate 101 for parents up there. If you go to Doorchester 2 gate um the link on the website, you'll be able to see the entire presentation in its entirety um spoken I speak through it and kind of hopefully answer questions for parents, community members, students um and staff alike. So, that's another great resource that was added to our website. Some featured partnerships we have going on right now are with Riverside Insights. And this
033assessment is the cognitive abilities assessment. They also host the Iowa assessment. And this partnership has been really wonderful because I have been able to go out to elementary schools and speak with our second grade teachers who give this assessment and really tap into that powerful data they can use to drive their instruction. Because of that partnership, Riverside Insights and myself have partnered to create a proposal for the national conference um for gifted children that will be in November. We have submitted a proposal but also with them I will be hosting a national webinar February 19th discussing how to utilize their data and really showing off how we use it here in DD2. And that's all we have for tonight. Thank you so much. >> Any questions for the board? Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you.
034Thank you, Mrs. Wilkins. And now we'll turn it over. I will come down to the podium. We'll talk a little bit about our redistricting a little bit for 2627 for East Edone Sireers. Okay. What you can see here in front of you, um, so when we decided to repurpose, uh, Span Elementary, we decided to send over 202 students to, um, Syers Elementary. And you can kind of see the enrollment right now is 807 students at sireers. Uh for the 2627 when we shift 202 students from span we'll have 1,09 students. So that'll bring our capacity to 92%. And so when we looked at this um and moving students to Oakbrook right now through the tiff dollars we're actually adding on nine classrooms at Oakbrook Elementary School. And so when we move 85 students and that's
035our proposal again 85 students to Oak Brook Elementary the results of redistricting on sireers enrollment will go down to 924 which is 84% capacity and that's kind of that sweet spot in there uh and the 80% capacities in case we need to add programming uh to sireers and those things of special education uh results of redistrics on Oakbrook um elementary uh enrollment will be up to 70 721 one students and 71% capacity and that is with adding in that addition of those nine additional classrooms that we'll be doing with the tiff dollars. Um then moving on as you can see the picture there um you can see at the very top that is um Sireers Elementary and you can see the square or rectangular shape there that is part of Sireers's original um attendance zone.
036That attendance zone incorporates 83 students and those 83 students would be going to Oakbrook and you can see the Oakbrook attendance zone is in the brown and that school is circled in red. And so Ladson Road will now be the dividing line for Oakbrook Elementary School and Eugene Sireers Elementary School. So, we are our proposal is allowing uh rising fifth grader students to still have the choice to remain if transportation is provided by parents. And then moving on to our next piece is East Edestto Middle School. As you know, we've talked a lot about growth in our community. Our growth is out toward Ashley Ridge. Um East Edison Middle School and Beach Hill Elementary. Um and Sand Hill Elementary. As you said, we just finished our Sand Hill uh edition. Um and also when you
037look at East Edisono right now current capacity is a thousand students right now their enrollment is 140 42 students which is right now they're currently at uh 104% capacity. Um so our proposal is projected capacity or increase enrollment over the next four years is 184 students. In five years that jumps to 236 students in the next five years. So when you look at that, just adding that 184, you're at 122% capacity and every room is being used right now currently, East Edison Middle School. And so our proposal is recommended action is to reduce the and stabilize that enrollment, move those 184 students from um to Oakbrook Middle School to keep to keep the capacity stable at East Edestto Middle School. um with the tiff dollars as well on that Oakbrook campus, we are adding seven
038additional classrooms there as well. So the results on Oakbrook, the current enrollment is 869 students. If we increase that student capacity by adding those seven classrooms, the result redistricting would be 1,53 students and 89% capacity. Again, those areas when we look at those schools down there, that is not where we're seeing a lot of growth. Again, our growth is out toward Beach Hill, um East Edestto, Sand Hill, um and Ashley Ridge area. Again, when you're looking at Summer's Corner in those areas with the houses being built, um I'll just give you an example. Um over break, we had uh 20 new students enroll at Sand Hill over Christmas break. And so, again, we just moved into that new facility. Again, that was where all of our growth is coming from. So when you look at
039this uh this is the map you can see this we're using Bacon's Bridge Road is kind of used as that dividing line with the river. Uh we are going to allow seventh and eighth grade students have the choice to remain if transportation is provided by parents. We would like for those students to be able to again finish the school year there. They started there. However, rising sixth grade students zone for East Edestto Middle School, they will need to go to Oakbrook Middle School regardless that they are a sibling because again, we're trying to reduce um the capacity right now. They're already over capacity right now at East Edestto Middle School. And you can see that area there's 160 students there. Uh they're going to be zoned. And again, tonight we're looking at about 249 students
040that we're redistricting. We're trying to do the bare minimum um to give uh our schools uh a little bit of area for breathing room so uh to stabilize some of those enrollments in those high areas. And so you can see that. Um so what is the timeline on that? Again, this is for board information only tonight. We will have a parent meeting for our sireers parents going to Oakbrook Elementary School on 6 pm at Oakbrook. Um we will send out uh letters to those being affected this evening. Um and then on February 3rd, there will be a parent night for East Edest Middle School parents going to Oakbrook Middle School at 6 PM um at Oakbrook Middle School. And then again, uh we'll listen to feedback, get information from the board, gain that feedback and
041input, and then we will um bring that back to the board on February 23rd. And so again, trying again trying to minimize the number of students and families that we're impacting, but again trying to make sure that we have room at some of these schools. We do not have the ability um at East Edestto even put trailers out there on on that uh at that school right now. And so um I think when we first moved into that school, I think Mr. Hammer could probably tell you that it was full when they first moved into there into that school. And so again, we are trying to stabilize um the enrollment and capacities at that school. and then also trying to move some students from sireers into uh the Oakbrook campus which has additional classrooms as
042well. So is there any questions that I can take at this time? Okay, thank you. >> Thank you. Great information. Appreciate all the work put into that. Okay, we'll move on to our next item. Uh, Miss Beignet is here to talk about um our approval for of an agenda item this evening on an RFQ for construction firm for the addition of Knightsville Elementary School and also asking for board for approval RFQ for architectural services for addition uh at Knightsville Elementary School. So, I will turn it over to Miss Manet. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Dhy. Um, good evening, board members. Um, Madame Chair, Mr. Dhy pretty much summarized everything that I was going to say. Um, before the break, we um issued RFQS for two projects that um are dealing with the Knightsville edition um
043and re um construction of and and renovations, pardon me, for Knightsville Elementary School. So, in your packet, we uploaded the um recommendation that came from the evaluation committee um for the CM at risk services, the construction management at risk services for Nightsville Elementary, and then also for the approval for the architectural and engineering services for that um addition and renovation. So this is just the approval for those two firms or those two vendors and then later we will bring you the um gross maximum price the GMP contract for that construction project as well as the contract with total cost for the um architectural architecture and engineering services contract. >> Right. Thank you Miss Manet. So board members first at this time I'd ask for a motion to approve the RFQ for the construction services for
044the addition at night school. All right. Motion made by Mr. Guthrie, >> seconded by Mr. Lee. Um, any questions or discussion? >> Just one question to refresh the memory of folks. What is the scope again of the addition there at Knightsville so folks understand what we're approving, what we're not approving? >> Yeah. Basically, what we're doing at Knightsville, we're basically going to do a total renovation. We are going to add almost uh you're looking at 25 classrooms um at Knightsville. um what we are going to have to do and that is reallocating the referendum dollars. We'll be doing a renovation project there and putting on classrooms and additions and then also we'll be doing that at Reeves um adding 10 there. So we're equivalent of about 35 classrooms which was equivalent to an elementary school.
045And so this is a the the big project for us because they do have the Orangeberg Road uh project that's going be to be happening pretty quick. And so we want to get ahead of that, get our architect firm um and get all those things in in place and also get that GMP especially in place because we know there's going to be cost escalation. And so, um, again, what'll happen is is we I think we talked a little bit with all the number of trailers that are at, um, uh, Knightsville where we'll be moving out adult education out of those trailers and then we'll be able to put students in those trailers while we go ahead and do that project. So, it's a pretty extensive project and I know Tina and the team went through
046a big process and when they looked at the number the the companies that put in for this did they have experience of doing things like that while school's going on and we're trying to do a project. And so that's very very big for us to do and for that company to do because we want to make sure they're doing it right when we have students on campus while we're doing this. And so those students will be displaced into trailers, as we call them, learning cottages, but they will be in classrooms there um while they do that work. So it's a it's a huge extensive project and again um we're crossing our fingers when we get that GMP that we'll get a good good price on that. >> Less of a a question and more of
047a comment about this. You know, when when I ran for the school board, one of the things that I wanted to see was for us to get more proactive and start looking more forward ahead. and we've been throwing some curveballs uh and whatnot and I'm happy to see this all coming together relatively quickly and pretty well thought out and gets us in front of the whole Orangeberg uh road expansion uh that will go a long way to making that a lot more tenable uh for the students and teachers who are going to be there uh after these additions are done. >> Yeah, thank you. And also when you look at the FFN as as well then that's included in that project when you're looking at Knightsville. Again, it's one of our oldest schools. Um, again,
048we are not going to touch uh the historic part, that's the front and the auditorium. Um, but we will be expanding the the kitchen and some of the things that it's very hard for us to feed students of the number of students that go through their uh cafeteria. So, we're very excited uh to be able to expand that and it'll be a a win-win for everybody, teachers and students. So, we're very excited about it. >> All right. Any other questions or comments? Okay. Then hearing none, we will call for the vote. Motion carries. Six in favor, one absent. All right. Next, I will ask for a motion to approve the RFQ for the architectural services for the addition at Knightsville Elementary School. Motion made by Miss Bates. Seconded by Miss Powell. Any questions or discussion?
049Okay. Hearing none, we will call for the vote. >> Motion carries. Six in favor, one absent. >> The next item on our agenda is uh about our facilities. Since we didn't have a facilities committee meeting um uh before our meeting, we decided we wanted to come up and talk about all the projects that are going on. We have a lot of updates to to give the board. And so to this evening, we have Mr. Jeff Smith, director of facilities maintenance, and Mr. Tony Souls who oversees our referendum capital projects. So, uh Tony's going to talk about some positive things here that are going on. So, Tony, >> good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board, Mr. Dy. uh want to go through the referendum projects that are going on right now. The Sand Hill Elementary
050wing, we've got that one completed. It's just a matter of some paperwork close out we're going to be doing over the next couple weeks. Uh elementary school, the ponds, we're still having those conversations and uh still trying to get on the side of uh conveyance on that at Somerville Elementary right back here. Uh we've the picture taken that was taken on the bottom corner that was on December the 7th. The one above that was last week and we are way behind on the picture taken because they started hanging steel today and I didn't get any pictures of that. So they got most of the steel going in today for the second floor floor the decking. Uh we're should be pouring that slab for the second floor uh sometime in the middle of next week. That's
051what we're shooting for. So it's it's a it's a rapid progression back there and a lot of moving parts to keep that thing going as rapidly as it is. The next project we have is the Ashley Ridge High School additions and renovations. That stuff. The band room is area A and you could see down on the bottom corner that was the footings that they were digging last month. This month they've got about 12 feet of block on one wall and a six feet of block on the other wall. So they're they're also making a rapid progression and and things are moving at a very high rate of speed. So if we miss some pictures in somewhere in between, we'll uh we'll we'll definitely share those with you. But, uh, things are going well on both
052of those projects. Uh, Somerville High School gym, we still have the fire and egress modeling analysis in progress. We got a company out of, uh, the upstate doing that for us. We did have the OSF design review last week with uh, OSF and the design team and myself and that went well. It was u pretty pretty much just informative for OSF and very few comments to incorporate into the construction documents and and those construction documents should be uh turned over to OSF by about June is what uh the architect is telling us. Uh Fort Chester High School classroom edition, the permitting is complete. the prefalified contractors. Uh we start this week with that process. We're going to meet with the contractors out at the fort on Thursday to to share with them uh the full
053design, all the permits, everything so we can get pricing back from those three pre-qualified three or four pre-qualified contractors that we have. And uh we'll start that pricing uh this week. So hopefully within the next few weeks, we'll have uh have the contract in in hand and construction can begin shortly thereafter. [clears throat] On other CIP uh Oakbrook Middle School edition, it it's uh it's all but finished. I mean, everything is there. We just got uh one final inspection we have to have with the state fire marshall's office, and we could turn that over to Miss Lewis. Uh what those seven classrooms are, that's fine arts. It's a It's a new band room. It's It's upgraded. It's and a new dance room with an actual sprung dance floor in it. Uh drum room, chorus room,
054piano room. It's it's everything that is uh fine arts is is in that building. So, we don't have the sound reverberation going from the band room to another classroom down the hallway or in the gym. So, that that one's uh wrapping up really quick. uh the elementary school right behind it. Uh we've got uh uh the brick going up that all the MEP is going on the inside. The duck work is being finished. The fire sprinker systems being finished. I don't have any pictures of that one because there was so much activity going on in that building when I went out there to take pictures. I didn't want to get anybody's way get hurt. So So I I just stood off at a distance in amazement and watched that happen. Uh the bus maintenance facility
055at Oakbrook, we do have the pre-engineered B metal building is is it has been purchased. It's on order. It will be delivered on February the 7th or 17th, some somewhere in that neighborhood. I think it's it will be finished on the 7th and delivered on the 17th. So, we're excited to get that project started. Uh, we worked with the GC, had a meeting with the GC and the design firm last week to nail down a few loose ends, and we're getting ready to start putting concrete on the ground for that one very soon. Any questions about any of that? I think Jeff's got the rest. Good evening. Um, we had a really busy Christmas break, but actually it was it was quite nice because I think I was home three days and my son was
056like, "Are you not working?" Um, so, you know, it was I actually got a couple days off, which was nice and we don't usually get time off during breaks. Um, couple updates. Windsor Hill, we have a date, I think, scheduled for next week to do the final inspection with the roofing manufacturer. It's taking us a couple weeks with the the holidays to get that set up. So, we'll, you know, finish that project up and close it out. the Greg Middle School gym reservicing project that started over the break and we ran a short on materials so we are finishing it today and tomorrow. So hopefully we'll have it turned back over to the school on Wednesday. The tennis courts. So we have looked at that and we are going to possibly use the Austin Middle
057School location. We're looking at it currently and uh seeing you know if that design will work. So we're you know looking at that project. So hopefully have some information on that in the next couple of months. And currently also in in in progress, Newington, we are putting in a playground for Miss Cage, filling the mulch, turning it back over to her, moving to a ne the next one. So that's all going on currently as well. Um it just seems like we had a lot of pro a lot of problems this year as far as scheduling the uh Windsor Hill HVAC replacement. got all the units put in. Didn't have all the parts to do the controls. So, they're all running in what you'd say contractor mode. All running just fine. And so, we're going to
058start probably next week installing the controls. Uh last thing is we did quite a bit of work at Beach Chill over the break. They were actually able to reamp the entire building, all classrooms, all hallways, all that got done. So, everything has been converted to LED now. We also got all of the areas that do not have a grid replacement, uh, all the sealant tile changed out. So, that was all done in um, two weeks. Uh, pretty pretty large scale amount of work to be done in that little bit of time frame. And then we'll probably not pick that project up again until spring break. A little bit of work and then the bulk of it will happen over the summer. The some upcoming projects to be aware of. I think I've seen some stuff
059going back and forth with procurement where we're getting our contracts signed for Beach Hill and Austin Middle School's roofing projects. So hopefully we'll have kickoff meetings this month for those projects. And then Austin Middle School restroom renovation. Not a whole lot we're going to plan on doing that there until uh the summertime, but they are awarded and the contractor is um already got a contract, I think, in place and bid bond and all that good stuff. So ready to hit the ground running as soon as June 1st gets here. And I think I saw some finalized documents uh should be coming back this week for Greg Middle School's roofing and exterior envelope project. So that'll also start, I would imagine, probably sometime in March and carry out through the summer. And that's really all I
060wanted to update on today, but any questions be happy to answer. The one thing I would add on the Somerville High School tennis courts, I know that's something that we've been trying to look and see how we could get that project done. um if we were going to use um and put the tennis courts back to where they are at Somerville High School, it's in an area where it could flood and we just don't think that'd be a very good spot. I believe they only have five courts right now. Uh it'll be hard to get a six court in there. Um moving it to Austin Middle School. Um we're able to use TIF dollars there. Um when we can get six courts and then also lights on that. And then also what's great about that
061is there's already restrooms, outdoor restrooms there and also a concession stand. So it makes sense to put that there. Half the project uh or a little bit more than the quarter or two is going to be paid through tiff dollars, which is very nice to be able to use that and be able to help us to get these tennis courts before we thought we could because of the tiff using the tiff dollars. So uh if we weren't able to use those tiff dollar, we wouldn't be able to uh to get those courts. And so, uh, kudos to Jeff and Tina and and, uh, the team, uh, trying to find a location and Mr. Frell as well. Um, I know they worked hard to try to figure out how to make that work, um, because we've
062had some constant cracking on those, uh, courts and sometimes they've been unplayable and so, uh, we're excited to be able to to put a plan finally together. So, appreciate them doing that. And that's all we have. Uh the last item we have on the superintendent report would be approval of student enrollment recommendations for 2526 as presented in your board packet. >> All right, board members, that was included in our packet. As Mr. Doherty said, is everyone okay with proceeding in open session? All right. So then at this time, I would ask for a motion to approve the student enrollment recommendations or requests, excuse me, as presented. >> So moved. >> Motion made by Mr. Guthrie, seconded by Miss Bates. Any questions or discussion? All right. Hearing none, we will call for the vote. All right.
063Motion carries. Six in favor, one absent. Thank you, Mr. Dohy and team. Okay. Um, next item on our agenda this evening is our public comments. um on non-aggenda items and um these comments follow the same rules um that I read earlier. So the same expectations um and this evening we have one Mr. Christian Dubo did I say that correct Yeah, you said it correctly. >> Correct. >> How is everybody doing? >> I'm sorry. Um, it's kind of difficult because it's kind of you want to say certain things. It's kind of I don't want to damper certain things, but then you say you put stipulations on how you say it. And I just wanted to voice my opinion because I'm a parent here in this district and I just wanted to tell exactly what transpired with
064me and a person that works at the district. But I didn't want to have an issue because I've actually met with the superintendent. I met with investigators and I wanted to have a dialogue because now that you see I don't know if individuals see on the doors here, we have notes on the doors now saying authorized personnel only. I came in here on December 16th and I wanted to just get my nine-year-old to film me coming down the aisle. Now, I've been living in Dorchester County. I've been in my home over 23 years in Ashboro. Actually, Miss Wilkins, um, when you saw that clip you had, my son's engaged right there. He's in gate program. He's actually in the same class with the assistant superintendent's child. didn't come here for an issue because I understand
065that I live here and I don't want an issue with you. I'm not calling your name, but maybe it was a bad day that day. >> Mr. Duboce, if you would direct your comments to the board, please. >> I I I get it. I I understand that, but I just wanted him to know. I didn't come here for that. I want to be when when people that work for the district, when you look at us, I want people to look at me, not just some some people may look at my social media and may look at rhetoric, and I get it. I do comedy, but you don't see the fact that I'm sitting in on expulsion hearings for children and families that are not articulate or maybe indigit. You don't see when I'm calling emergency
066hearings with some of you last year with Ashley Ridge basketball. You don't see when schools are calling me in. I own a barber shop. They call me in to cut hair for free and mentor the kids. And I do this on my own dime. So when I come in here and I'm having a conversation with someone, I don't want to be disrespected the same way you don't want me to disrespect you. And I didn't want to gen I didn't want to direct this to anyone. But this happened December 16th. And I just needed to get this off my chest because this maybe is the only format. And I had a lot of stuff written here, but but I just wanted to come off from my heart. So this may be the only format that I
067have to get my voice off other than social media. But maybe you guys don't look at that and my some some of my crap is just you don't need to look at anyway. But I just wanted to wholeheartedly tell you that I felt as though I was mistreated. Not here to get anyone's job. I understand. I'm not insensitive. I just think that we can have a conversation. That's it. And the conversation needs to be had. And I don't want to be the angry black guy. Okay. Thank you so much for listening to what I had to say. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. >> All right. The next item on our agenda this evening is our um executive session. So board members >> at board members at this time I would ask for
068a motion >> to convene >> board members at this time I would ask for a motion to convene into executive session for the purpose of hearing a student discipline appeal as well as for the purpose of receipt of legal advice on potential litigation. >> So moved motion made by Miss King. Do I have a second? Right. Seconded by Miss Powell. Any questions or discussion? Right. Hearing none, then we'll proceed with a vote. >> Okay. Mr. Brocker, you are interrupting the business of our meeting and so if you continue that, I will ask for you to leave. >> Okay. >> Motion carries. >> Five. Six in favor, one absent. We are in executive session and we will return. All right, board members, at this time I would ask for a motion to return to open session.
069>> So moved. >> Motion made by Mr. Guthrie. Do I have a second? Seconded by Miss King. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, we will call for the vote. Motion carries. Six in favor, one absent. We are back in open session. All right, board members. At this time, I would ask for a motion for any action as required from our executive session. Madam Chairwoman, I move that the board uphold with modification the district's recommendation that student A be placed at Rise Academy in a tier one designation. >> All right, we have a motion from Mr. Lee. Do I have a second? Okay. Could you please repeat the motion, Mr. Lee? >> Happy to. >> I move that the board uphold with modification the district's recommendation that student A be placed at Rise Academy in a
070tier one designation. >> All right. Thank you. Do I have a second? All right. At this time, it appears we do not have a second for that motion. So, do I have another motion? Madam Chair, I move that the board uphold the district decision with modification of a tier two at rise. >> All right, we have a motion from Miss Bates. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right, we have a second from Mr. Lee. Any questions or discussion? >> Okay, hearing none, we will call for the vote. All right. So, at this time we have three in favor, three against, and one absent. So, the motion does not carry. All right. Do I have another motion? I make a motion to uphold the student disciplinary matter. All right. Motion from Mr. Guthrie.
071Do we have a second? >> I'll second it. >> All right. Seconded by Miss Bates. Any questions or discussion? Um my discussion is that I really feel like the motion that I made is a happy medium between the two that we cannot agree on. So um that's what I'll just leave. I'll leave it there. All right. Any other discussion? All right. Hearing now we'll call for the vote. All right, we have Sorry, I'm trying to see. Thank you. >> I know. I'm like I can't. >> Okay. Three opposed, two in favor. I'm sorry. Two opposed, two in favor, one abstension. So the Thank you. I'm sorry. So the motion fails. I apologize. >> All right. Motion fails. >> Madam chair, I motion that the board uphold the district decision with a modification of tier 2
072at rise. >> All right, we have a motion from Miss Bates. Do I have a second? >> Seconded by Mr. Lee. Any questions or discussion? >> All right, hearing none, we'll call for the vote. All right, we have four in favor, two opposed, and one not present. The motion carries. Okay, at this time, I would ask for a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Motion made by Miss Bates, seconded by Miss Powell. Any questions or discussion? hearing. None. We will call for the vote. Hopefully y'all will make this one easy for me. I'm tired. [laughter] My eyes are tired. So, all right. Looks like we have six in favor, one not present. The motion carries. We are ajourned. Thank you.