During their meeting Tuesday, the Anderson School District One Board heard an report on the opening of school and approved the purchase of property in Powdersville for a new elementary school.
They also heard comments from a community member and a report from the District Book Review Committee on nine book challenges.
Superintendent Robbie Binnicker said that “school opening was phenomenal.” He said there were some traffic issues but it was a great opening. Binnicker said there were 10,992 students enrolled in the District as of Tuesday and that he expects six or eight more to reach 11,000.
The Board amended the agenda to add the consideration of hiring New South Associates Inc. for cultural resource management services that are required for a property purchase. The service includes looking for artifacts and cultural related items, such as a cemetery, that should be preserved.
Superintendent Binnicker recommended the item be added so as not to delay the property purchase process. The Board unanimously approved adding the item to the agenda and later approved the hiring recommendation.
Board members Melissa Hood, Brenda Ellison, Mike Wilson and Wendy Burgess were recognized for achieving Level 3 training through the SC School Board Association. The certification requires 100 hours of training.
Community member Kasey DiPasquale addressed the Board with additional concerns regarding transformational programs and Marxist ideology being in some of the programs being used in the District.
Superintendent Binnicker told the Board that he has asked DiPasquale, who has spoken at several meetings, to give specific examples of what she has concerns with, but she has not provided one. Binnicker said “I am sorry for wasting your time.”
Board member Wendy Burgess stated that “no one is here for the pay. We are here for the students, the teachers and the community.” She said she is “very proud of all the work poured into our children by our faculty and staff.” She pointed out that Anderson District One has out performed other districts and is ranked number three in the state.
Board member Mike Wilson said that one measure of success is feedback from peers. He said he often hears comments from board members of other school districts stating that they benchmark against District One.
In his financial report, Financial Director Travis Thomas said the Local Option Sales Tax in May brought in $3.1 million to Anderson County. The payment was made in July and amounted to $1.062 million for District One. Of that $212,587 will go toward Capital Projects and $850,000 will go to property tax relief.
Instructional Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson gave a report from the District Book Review on recommendations on challenges on nine books in District One school libraries.
He said committee members read each book in its entirety and provided their thoughts, perspectives and concerns. Wilson said “the committee agreed that the content in the challenged books express some heavy and mature themes and content that certainly may not be appropriate for all students.”
It was recommended that “a parental permission options would be the most appropriate way to address concerns for students and to honor the role of parent while respecting the varied perspectives and backgrounds of all students we serve.”
He said one challenged book, “And They Lived” was removed from school libraries and one, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian will remain in the school library without restrictions.”
The others will require parent permission or remain with no restrictions.
Superintendent Binnicker reported that 9000 reimbursable meals have been served in the District.
He also reported that a stainless steel countertop for the Palmetto High baseball field concession stand has been installed and that only a small number of punch list items remain for the project.
Binnicker said the twelve-room addition at Powdersville Middle “is going exceptionally well” and should be finished by December. “We hope it will take a couple of years to fill up those rooms.”
The Board approved the purchase of approximately 25 acres in the Powdersville area for a new elementary school. Binnicker said the District has been looking for suitable property for about nine months. The new elementary school will draw about one third of the students each from Concrete Primary and Powdersville Elementary which Binnicker said are “extremely overcrowded.”
Binnicker said the District looked at over 50 parcels of land. The most suitable was the first they looked at which he said “Is perfect for our elementary school.” The property is being purchased at $60,000 per acre.
The October school board meeting will he held on Oct. 24 due to fall break being the following week.
