During their meeting Tuesday, the Anderson School District One Board chose a name for the new Powdersville Elementary School, approved an increase in the price of meals served at schools and heard an updated budget presentation.
The Board also recognized several groups of students and athletes including the Powdersville Patriots 3A Basketball State Champions and the Anderson School District 1 & 2 Career Technology Center Broadcast Program.
The CTC Broadcast program, under John Boone, was recognized as National Champions for having the top intercollegiate (IBF)radio station and also the two top national radio personalities. CTC students were also recognized for their performance at the State Culinary Competition.
Students that were part of the Seal of Biliteracy Program for AD1 in Fall 2023 for English and World Language were recognized.
Several SC Teaching Fellows were recognized.
Board member Mike Wilson noted that District One has had state and national champions in athletics, arts, academics and other areas and during the time Robbie Binnicker has served as the District Superintendent.
The Board went into executive session for approximately 15 minutes to discuss a personnel item. Upon returning to open session, Board member Brenda Ellison took over for Board Chair Nancy Upton who had to leave for a concert.
Finance Director Travis Thomas reported that the 2019 building program is completed and there is $3.5 million left in the building fund for the program. He said the remaining funds will be transferred into the new building program fund.
Thomas said the new building fund has a $14.5 million balance after $9 million in expenses have been paid out, primarily on the new Powdersville Elementary School.
The District received payments for December and January for the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST). Thomas reported that Anderson County received $6.5 million for the two month period. Of that 33.5 percent, or $2.2 million, went to District One. $440,000 will go toward property tax relief and $1.7 to capital improvements. The LOST fund balance currently stands at $19.6 million.
In his instructional report, Dr. Jeff Wilson noted that a recent special education audit ranked District One as number one in the state for compliance and performance.
Dr. Wilson said the District should look good when the SCReady test results are made available in July. He also noted that this is School Bus Driver week and thanked the District’s bus drivers.
Becky Brady reported that District One recently had several people with the Student Nutrition program attend a conference in Washington, DC. She said the highlights from the conference included the announcement that there will be an increase in the reimbursement rate for meals served, changes limiting the amount of sugar and other things that can be served and the importance of serving healthy meals.
Brady also said that District One has not had an increase in the price of breakfast and lunch meals in eight years. Current prices are $1.20 for breakfast, $2.25 for lunch in elementary schools and $2.40 for lunch in middle and high schools.
Following her presentation, Superintendent Robbie Binnicker recommended a ten cents increase in the cost of meals. “Food costs are soaring,” he said. “We are looking at a $400,000 increase in costs this year.”
New prices for 2024-25 school year will be $1.30 for breakfast, $2.35 for elementary lunch and $2.50 for secondary school lunches.
Binnicker said the prices with the increase are “still a bargain”.
The Board unanimously approved the ten cents increase.
In his Building Program update, Binnicker said the bids are out for the new elementary school in Powdersville and the stadium expansion at Powdersville High is “going great”. “Those are the two big projects now underway,” he said.
Binnicker then told the Board they needed to select a name for the new Powdersville elementary school. He said surveys had been sent to the community, parents and on social media. “There were approximately 93 or 94 responses,” he said. “There were some really thoughtful names” suggested and some people “did a lot of research” for names or themes for the new school.
One recurring suggestion was “Oak” with variations. The one that stood out, according to Binnicker, was “Oak Hill”.
Binnicker said there was a school in the area in the mid 1950s that was named Oak Hill.
Board member Melissa Hood stated she liked “Oak Hill”. Board member Mike Wilson said that name would fit in with others in the District, namely Cedar Grove and Hunt Meadows. Board member Wendy Burgess, present by phone, agreed that Oak Hill would honor that area and community.
Hood made a motion to name the new school “Oak Hill Elementary”. The motion was unanimously approved.
“I think that is a great recommendation”, Binnicker said. “I think the community will be very glad.” Binnicker added that they will be looking for old pictures of the original school to place in the new school when it is finished.
Board members were presented information on a draft budget for the 2024-25 school year.
The District currently operates on a $106,344,364 budget with a millage rate of 158.05, which is the lowest in Anderson County.
Meeting increased state mandated costs, keeping employee raises competitive and a loss of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds, results in a revenue shortage of approximately $2.5 million at the current level. (See separate story)
