During their November meeting the Anderson School District One Board heard the annual audit report, elected officers and approved several new policies and policy updates.
Nancy Upton was elected Board Chair, Brenda Ellison Vice-Chair and David Merritt Secretary. Mike Wilson will continue to serve on the Anderson County Alternative School Board. Nancy Upton and Wendy Burgess will continue to serve on the Anderson District One and Two Career and Technology Center Board.
The AAA State Champion Wren Volleyball team was recognized by the Board. The Hurricanes repeated their state volleyball championship recently with a win over Camden in Columbia. Amy Godfrey is Head Coach of the team.
Two AD1 schools, Hunt Meadows Elementary and West Pelzer Elementary were recognized for recently being named National Model Professional Learning Communities at Work® (PLC) schools.
The Board heard comments from Kasey Dipasquale. Before speaking, Board Chair Nancy Upton read Board policy regarding comments by public speakers during a board meeting. Comments are limited to five minutes.
Dipasquale questioned a new accountability system regarding the graduation rate and exit exam requirements and asked how many graduates are either not college or career ready. She also asked about a 2021 report which she said was available on the internet until recently. Dipasquale stated that her concerns expressed at recent meetings are not being recorded in the official minutes. Among the concerns she has brought up are PLC model schools and other programs being used in District One.
Finance Director Travis Thomas reported the 2019 Building program fund balance is $3.5 million with work still being completed on the Powdersville High Football Stadium and the Palmetto High Baseball Field.
The $27.8 million 2023 Building fund has had expenses of $6.1 million and has a current fund balance of $16.8 million. Work is currently underway on an addition at Powdersville Middle and the new Powdersville Elementary school.
The Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) receipts for Anderson County in July amounted to $3.1 million. Of that District One received 33.27 percent of $1,046,000. $209,000 went to property tax relief. $836,000 went to Capital projects. The LOST Fund Balance stands at $15.8 million.
Assistant Superintendent of Administration & Instruction Dr. Jeff Wilson reported District One is readying for fall SC Ready testing and will be recognizing students with perfect scores.
Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Becky Brady reported the Student Nutrition Program is serving 9221 meals per day. She said the goal is 10,000. A serving line at Palmetto High has been upgraded and older Nutrition Program offices at Palmetto Elementary, Cedar Grove Elementary, West Pelzer Elementary and Palmetto High have recently been upgraded.
Ken Meadows of Green, Finney and Cauley Accounting, reported that the annual audit “went very well” and that District One received an “Unmodified Opinion”, which is “the best you can get.”
The General Fund Balance saw an increase of $4.4 million and stands at $89.6 million. Meadows said that reflects two to three months of expenditures. “You have a healthy fund balance in the general fund,” he said. (Additional information on the audit will be detailed in a separate story)
The Board unanimously approved the following policies:
GBEBE – Gavins Law (Staff); JICFB – Gavins Law (Student); IKF Graduation Requirements; AR IKF-R (Graduation Requirements Administrative Rule); JFABD – Admission of Homeless Students and JFABD-R – Admission of Homeless Students Administrative Rule.
Also JFABH – Military Temporary Remote School Enrollment; JLCDB – Use of Lifesaving Medications; JLIG – Sun Safety and Policy EBCB regarding Safety Plans and Drills.
The Board also approved seven personnel recommendations and one administrative recommendation. The teacher recommendations are new hires for the 2024-25 school year.
Lauree Cole was approved for the Anderson District One & Two Adult Education program.
