During their meeting Tuesday, Anderson School District One Board heard a presentation on board member area remapping, approved 2024-25 school calendar and heard positive news about the District graduation rate. Three District 1 schools were also recognized during the meeting.
Powdersville Elementary was recognized for being the first PLC Model School in the District, Palmetto Middle was recognized for being the second PLC Model School in the District and Wren Elementary was recognized for recently being named the third PLC Model School in the District. Wren Elementary was also recognized for recently being named a National Blue Ribbon School.
Anna Spencer was also recognized for being the first new hire for the 2024-25 school year.
Anderson County resident Kasey DiPasquale spoke during public comments. Before she spoke, Boardmember Brenda Ellison, Chairing the meeting in the absence of Nancy Upton, read Board policy regarding public comments.
DiPasquale stated that current policy requires persons who want to address the Board to sign up for public comment prior to the unpublished agenda being set, which she said does not allow people who may wish to address a specific item that may be on the agenda. She suggested the Board consider allowing persons who wish to speak to sign up when they enter and be allowed to speak at the meeting. She also questioned whether the Board was acting in the best interest of families they serve or for the World agenda.
DiPasquale also commented on the District’s e-learning program results during and following COVID, stating that District One had their e-learning program up and running before COVID. She also asked the Board to change the start time of meeting to a later time to allow people who work to attend.
The Board has met at 6 p.m. for a number of years and addressed the start time with a Board policy change later in the meeting. The Board policy, which stated the start time for meetings is 7 pm, had not been updated, which was pointed out by DiPasquale at an earlier meeting.
Financial Director Travis Thomas reported that no Local Option Sales Tax Payment has been made to the District by the County for September as of the meeting date.
The 2019 Building Fund had $3.6 million left in it. The 2022 Building Fund had a balance of $18.1 million. There have been expenses of $4 million for work underway on the twelve room addition at Powdersville Middle and preliminary expenses for the new elementary school in Powdersville.
During the Instructional report, Superintendent Robbie Binnicker announced that the graduation rate for District One is 94.2 percent, the highest it has ever been.
He explained that the rate is based on four years and that any student coming into the District at the ninth grade has four years to graduate, whether they are on the same level as they should be or not. He said the elementary and middle schools give students the foundation they need. The average graduation rate for the State is 83.8 percent, he said.
According to Becky Brady, the Student Nutrition Program has seen a 1,208 per day increase in meals served over last year. She said the increasing cost of food items and equipment is affecting the program. A lot of renovations are being done at the older elementary schools, according to Brady.
Binnicker reported that the Palmetto High School Baseball Field passed final inspection, however there is still a problem with louvers being installed incorrectly. Work is continuing on the 12 room upper addition at Powdersville Middle. The Powdersville High School stadium expansion is set to bid out in November, he said.
Dru S. Gregory, Assistant Director of Legislative Cartography for the South Carolina General Assembly ‑ Legislative Council presented information on the revised remapping of District One Board Areas.
According to Gregory, every ten years voting areas have to be looked at to insure that there is approximately the same number of people in each area. District One has seven areas. Gregory said that some population in the fast growing northern areas of the District will be adjusted so that the slower growing southern areas have about the same representation.
Binnicker added that the entire District votes on each Board member and that “Board members represent the entire district.” “It is an excellent way for the school board to be chosen,” he said.
The Anderson County Legislative Delegation is expected to vote on the revisions at their November meeting.
The Board approved West Cox Law Firm to provide professional legal service for the District, primarily related to the land purchase, permitting and legal service related to the new elementary school being constructed in Powdersville. Binnicker said that in the past the District has had a Construction Manager who provided those type services for new building projects.
The Board approved Burdette Electrical Service to design HVAC systems for Powdersville Middle School.
The Board approved Walker and Whiteside, Inc. to install electrical additions for Powdersville Elementary School. Binnicker said the District has five new portables at the school which have to have a transformer.
The Board approved revisions to two policies including ADC Tobacco Alternative/Nicotine Free School District, GBED Tobacco Free Workplace to reflect e-smoking devices and vapes.
The BE School Board Meetings policy was updated to reflect the current 6 pm meeting time.
The Board approved second reading on the 2024-25 School Calendar which includes a week off for Thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas, a professional development day, Spring Break Mar. 31-Apr. 4 and Good Friday April 18 off. Graduation dates have not been set.
