Daniel Prince
Administrator contracts to be handled at next meeting
The Union County Board of School Trustees met last night. The open sessions of the meeting lasted around half an hour, but two executive sessions were needed to work through the various personnel reports. The board approved the District Strategic Plan for 2023-2024. The vote was unanimous, with Beth Anthony abstaining. The original plan was formulated in 2021, and stakeholders meet each year to revise the plan based on current data. Dr. Lacresha Byrd stated that around 60 stakeholders, including many from the community, participated in the recent strategic planning meeting. She noted the K-2 MAP goal was updated to use more current data after the pandemic, and the high school end-of-course exam goals reflect mastery now rather than simply pass/fail.
The board unanimously approved three field trip requests. Some of the special education classes will be attending the annual fishing rodeo on Thursday, May 11, at Foster Park. The UCHS Stingers Rifle Team will be going to Griffin, GA, on April 21-22, and to Anderson, Alabama, on April 28-29.
Finance Director Linda Griffin stated the district has a net positive position of $4.9 million right now, with $23.4 million in revenue and $18.3 in expenses. She noted that next month, the state Senate will be taking up the budget, and she will have a better idea of what the final budget may look like as far as the state is concerned. She said the SC House passed the budget already, which did not change from the version passed by the House Ways and Means Committee. It includes a $2500 raise for teachers, an increase in the teacher supplies reimbursement check from $300 to $350, and a 3.7% insurance increase for employers but not for employees. Projected revenue for ’23-’24 from the state will be $24 million.
The board unanimously approved policies dealing with unencumbered time and support staff leaves and absences. We will have more information on that in the future.
The board awarded the bid for a weapons detection system for the district to A3 Communications from Irmo at a cost of just over $20,000 per unit. Two units will be utilized at Sims and at Jonesville, and three will be stationed at the high school, and they will also be used for events at the stadium, as well. The cost includes training, and the money is coming from capital funds.
The board also approved Salkehatchie Summer Service using Sims Middle School this summer from June 16-24, as they have for many years in the past. Salkehatchie comes in during the summer and brings youth and adults in to help with home improvements and other service work for a week during the summer.
After another executive session, the board came back into open session, where they approved the personnel report as well as the certified teacher contracts. They voted to separate the administrators from that report, and they will deal with those at the next meeting.