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By David Stephens
HOMETOWN NEWS
Following the dedication of new facilities at Chesnee High School on November 11, 2009, the District Two Board of Trustees met in regular monthly session in the school’s media center. District Superintendent Dr. Scott Mercer and all trustees except Don McKinney were in attendance. Leading off the department presentations was Dr. Quincie Moore, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services. Dr. Moore provided an update on MAP testing dates and results. Moore then stated that the Scholars Academy was taking applications through January for their next term and that the top 25 from all 7 districts will be selected to attend.
Moore then stated that the Gateway to College program with Spartanburg Community College has 20 students still enrolled and several more applications to the program pending. Dr. Moore said that as an initiative several schools had been visited to review and evaluate how curriculums in the fine arts and gifted and talented programs were working. Dr. Moore presented some statistics from the Upstate Family Resource Center showing that this year 3019 adults and children had received food and other assistance through the center and that 700 had received financial aid. Moore also listed several fund raising activities occurring to benefit the center.
Next, lead architect John Gilmore gave an update on projects still underway at various schools in the district and stated that construction on Rainbow Lake Middle School had been hampered some by the rain, but that things still looked good for on - time completion.
Director of Student Services John King then presented to the trustees projects for remodeling at Chesnee and Boiling Springs High School in the space created by the schools receiving new facilities through new construction. It was proposed that at Chesnee High some now - vacant space be converted to rooms for a literacy coach, the SASI operator, guidance, nurse and mental health, a computer lab, and a small meeting room for students. For Boiling Springs High it was recommended that some space be converted into 5 additional classrooms and a teacher work area. These proposals were unanimously approved pending final cost figures to be presented at the January 2010 trustee meeting.
King then presented different proposals for tennis courts for Boiling Springs High School with the trustees deciding on refurbishing/rebuilding the five courts that currently exist at the school but that are in disrepair and unplayable for competition. King also presented a plan that would add 191 new parking spaces near the new athletic facility at Boiling Springs High. This plan also received approval pending pricing approval.
King next received approval for one student trip and one student release to another district.
Director of Personnel, Dr. Kristi Woodall, informed the trustees of several certified resignations and classified appointments and announced that Donnie Barnette, current principal at the Junior High had been selected to lead Rainbow Lake Middle School.
Assistant Superinten-dent for Finance and Operations, Don Denton, then provided financial reports to the trustees. Denton said the budget was “on target” and no unexpected expenditures had occurred. Denton informed the trustees that the district’s new procurement code had been approved by the state and that it would be brought to the board in January for their approval. Lastly, Denton stated that the audit review presentation to the board would be on November 19, 2009.
In her report, Director of Public Relations Rhonda Henderson updated the board on 2010 dates for the South Carolina Boardsmanship Institute. Henderson stated that H1N1 vaccination clinics are being scheduled at District Two schools to be administered by DHEC and that parental consent forms were being sent home with students now. Henderson then requested that Chairman McDowell call for delegates to attend the upcoming SCSBA Legislative and Advocacy and Delegate Assembly. Selected to attend were Jack Mabry, Connie Smith, Sarah Simmons, and Danny McDowell.
Next, Board Chairman Danny McDowell called for nominations for new board officers. Elected were Connie Smith, Chairperson, Sara Simmons, Vice Chair, and Harriette Hipp will serve another term as secretary.
The district transportation department then showed a brief DVD demonstrating the video recording system installed on school buses which showed a clear picture of what was going on in all parts of the bus.
In the Superintendent’s report, Dr. Mercer said that he had received a note of thanks from the voting precinct workers at Boiling Springs Elementary School for the support the school staff had provided on Election Day. Mercer also said that Representative Steve Parker had identified an area at Oakland Elementary that could be used for improved access for handicapped voters and had offered to pay for it. Mercer said that at the January 2010 meeting he would provide information about a plan to provide the Upstate Family Resource Center with some funding assistance from federal stabilization funds.
Dr. Mercer then talked about a recent survey done by the United States Chamber of Commerce that ranks South Carolina 17th in the nation in education management innovation.
With no further business the board of trustees adjourned and reconvened in executive session to discuss personnel matters. The board does not meet in December and will next meet in regular session on January 12, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at the administrative offices of District Two near Carlisle Crossing. For information contact Rhonda Henderson at 864-578-0128, ext 1114.
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