During their meeting Tuesday, the Anderson School District One School Board recognized students receiving a perfect score on the SC Ready Assessments and their respective schools for receiving either good or excellent on their SC Department of Education (SCDE) report card ratings.
They also approved the school calendar for 2025-26.
Students from the following schools and staff members were recognized for the performance:
Cedar Grove Elementary – Average; Concrete Primary N/A; Hunt Meadows Elementary – Good, Palmetto Silver; Palmetto Elementary – Average; Palmetto Middle – Good; Palmetto High – Good; Powdersville Elementary – Excellent, Palmetto Gold; Powdersville Middle – excellent, Palmetto Silver; Powdersville High – Excellent, Palmetto Silver; Spearman Elementary – Good, Palmetto Silver; West Pelzer Elementary – Excellent, Palmetto Gold; Wren Elementary – Good; Wren Middle – Good; Wren High – Excellent, Palmetto Silver.
District One had 42 students with perfect scores on the SC Ready testing this past year.
All grade levels of Anderson School District One ranked among the top in the state on the SC Ready Assessments for grades 3 through 8 in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.
Eleven schools in Anderson One received a report card rating of Excellent (substantially exceeding the criteria) or Good (exceeding the criteria).
Seven schools in Anderson One also received a Palmetto Gold or Silver designation for their success in the classroom.
Following the presentations, Kasey DiPasquale brought up concerns to the Board regarding programs in District One which reflect Federal Government and Marxist agendas. She specifically referenced a new cell phone/electronic device policy the District is in the process of adopting and related state funding which is available. DiPasquale warned of the “trojan horse programs which are used to open the door” and urged the Board to “push back on this.”
District One Financial Director Travis Thomas reported that the building fund has a fund balance of $12.8 million.
Ongoing projects include Concrete Primary renovations and construction on the new Oak Hill Elementary school. The twelve room addition at Powdersville Middle and the Powdersville High School expansion have recently been completed.
The Local Option Sales Tax currently has a fund balance of $20.2 million, Thomas said.
District One Superintendent Dr. Seth Young told the Board that the District One General Fund Balance is currently very healthy and stands at 28 to 29 percent and is over the 25 percent recommended by accountants. He recommended the Board transfer the excess amount to the Building Fund to be used for ongoing projects and work at Oak Hill Elementary. Thomas said that amount is approximately $5 million.
The Board unanimously approved the transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Building Fund.
Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Becky Brady reported that the Student Nutrition program experienced a setback in meals served and loss of food due to the power outage associated with Hurricane Helene in September.
Brady said revenues for the program were down by $15,000 because schools were closed for two days. She also reported that there was a loss of $51,000 from discarded food due to the power outage.
Dr. Young said some food was donated to church volunteers who provided hot meals to out of state linemen who were in the area helping restore power. He said the District is looking at purchasing generators in the future.
The Board agenda for the meeting called for second reading on eight policies. Dr. Wilson recommended they be addressed at next Board meeting.
The Board approved the new school calendar for 2025-26 with a 6-1 vote. Board member Mike Wilson was opposed, stating that he did not like having a week off during Thanksgiving Holiday, which he said is just prior to testing.
Assistant Superintendent of Administration Dr. Jeff Wilson said four of the five school districts in Anderson County had already approved the calendar and recommended it be approved.
The Board also approved required registration forms for the Palmetto High Athletic Booster Club, Powdersville Elementary PTSO and West Pelzer Elementary PTO.
Dr. Wilson presented information on the ALICE active school shooter safety program and two new programs the District is looking at to provide more safety and security.
The ALICE program includes yearly training for teachers and students in how to handle an intruder or other danger. It includes guides on the following: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate.
Dr. Wilson said the ALICE process has been in place for a number of years and had “made us somewhat safer.”
He also said that District One was proactive on school safety and had placed resource officers in all schools “early” compared to most school districts in the state. He also said the secure vestibules and camera systems were installed as part of the last two building programs.
The District recently began using two new systems, OMILERT and RAPTOR.
OMILERT is a weapons detection system which uses AI and cameras to detect guns inside and outside school buildings. It can be used with the District’s current camera system.
The District recently implemented the RAPTOR system, which is a phone based alert system.
District officials are looking at two new systems to provide additional security.
A new OPENGATE weapons detection system can be moved to various schools and used at ballgames. A Defender System includes using former law enforcement and military personnel who are trained and can make arrests.
Dr. Young said that the District is looking at cost of maintenance for the OPENGATE metal detection system and that it is affordable. He said that LOST funds could be used for the purchase.
Dr. Wilson said that two of the systems will be approximately $40,000.
The Board unanimously approved moving forward on the OPENGATE and DEFENDER security programs.
In the building program update, Dr. Young told the Board that the District is working with Anderson County on road infrastructure at the new Oak Hill Elementary School and they are making a request for CFunds to help with road improvements.
He said walls are already going up on the new school.
Dr. Young thanked Board member David Merritt for his help with a resident who has brick from the original Oak Hill School on their property.
The property where the original school was located is across I-85. “You can look across the interstate to our site,” Dr. Young said.
The brick will be donated and used in some manner at the entrance to the new school, he said.
