During their meeting Tuesday, the Anderson School District One Board heard a budget preview and a strategic goals presentation.
Dr. Jeff Wilson recognized several students with perfect scores on SC Ready testing. School District One has approximately 60 students with perfect scores on the state test.
Palmetto High School was recognized for recently being named a Model PLC school. Principal Robbie Roache and teacher team members were recognized. Roache said teachers “far exceeded any expectations and did a great job with instructional learning.”
Finance Director Travis Thomas reported that the 2019 Building Fund has approximately $3.4 million in it with only one more payment due on the Palmetto baseball field improvements. The final payment will be made when punch list items are completed on the project. The remaining funds will be transferred to the 2022 building program.
In February, the 2022 Building Fund was at $23.1 million, with $8.5 million paid out expenses, leaving a balance of $14.8 million. Expenses included the Powdersville Middle School project, which is completed, some expense for work at the new Powdersville Elementary School site and Powdersville High School stadium expansion.
Thomas said the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST)for Anderson County brought in $3.2 million during November. District One receives 33.5 percent of taxes collected, or $1.92 million.$218,000 of that will go toward Property Tax relief and $874,000 will go to Capital Projects.
During a budget workshop preview, Thomas presented information on the State House spending plan and how it will affect expenditures for the District.
According to Thomas, the House passed a $1.3 billion spending plan, which will have to go before the Senate and the Governor for approval. (See separate story)
For the 2024-25 Budget, the Board will consider effects of an increase in expenditures for the District which will include a loss of ESSER funding; a minimum salary scale and step raises for teachers, bus drivers and other employees; a health insurance increase of 11.8 percent; tuition increase for the Anderson Career and Technology Center; substitute teacher cost increase and property and casualty insurance increase.
The State is providing additional funding in some areas. “There are a lot of needs to try to meet with all of that money as well,” Thomas said.
Superintendent Robbie Binnicker presented information on the draft salary scale being recommended by the State for 2025.
Binnicker said “We are already above the state minimum” on new teacher salaries. However he said the Governor is trying to get to starting salary for a new teacher to $50,000.
“The Anderson District One plan is to do something across the board,” Binnicker said. “We are in competition with those around us and will have to pick a number that will fit in our budget.”
A final budget for District One will be presented to the Board for public hearing and final approval at their May 28 meeting.
Dr. Seth Young presented information on the goals of the District One Strategic Plan, a five year plan which is updated annually.
Focus areas include: Early Childhood Education; Academic Achievement (SCReady ELA & Math; SCPASS Science; EOC–Eng2, Alg1, Biology, US History and Graduation Rate); College & Career Readiness; School Climate/Culture; Teacher Quality
The five year strategic plan for District One was done in 2021. Dr. young presented information on where the District stands and goals to be reached by 2026-27.
Dr. Young said that for most areas, “We are well above what our goals were and are above Anderson County and the Upstate. We are second or third in the State, which we are real proud of.”
On School Climate, Dr. Young said ninety-two percent of parents say they are satisfied with District One.
In other business, the Board approved state adopted textbooks for ELA and AP classes. Dr. Jeff Wilson said the textbooks are supplemental resources for the curriculum. Wilson said in the past the textbooks were the curriculum but now a variety of resources are used to teach state standards.
The Board also approved a change in the District Procurement Code spending limits to match the state approved limits.
Binnicker said the District had lower spending limits for some schools, but didn’t see savings for the amount of work at the District level and were making the change to the state recommended limits. The change will take place in the 2024-25 school year.
The Board approved thirty-seven administrative positions and six new teachers.
