During their meeting Tuesday, the Anderson School District One Board discussed new safety programs and approved a new cell phone use policy. The Board also elected officers and heard the annual audit report.
Newly elected Board member J. C. Neel was sworn in along with returning board members Mike Wilson and Brenda Ellison.
Nancy Upton was re-elected to serve as Board Chair. Brenda Ellison was re-elected to serve as Vice Chair. Melissa Hood was elected Board Secretary.
Wilson was also elected to serve on the Renaissance (Alternative) School Board. Wendy Burgess and Nancy Upton will serve on the Anderson District One & Two Career and Technology School Board.
Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Becky Brady recognized newly hired teachers for school year 2025-26.
Members of the Pelzer Masonic Lodge presented $500 in donations to the special needs programs at Palmetto Elementary, Middle and High schools and West Pelzer Elementary.
Lori Cole, Director of the Adult Education program was recognized for accomplishments of the program.
New Board member JC Neel was also recognized.
Superintendent Dr. Seth Young reported that work is currently being done on the Concrete Primary renovation and new Oak Hill Elementary school.
District One Finance Director Travis Thomas reported that the Building fund had a balance of $27 million and expenses of $16.1 million, leaving a balance of $11.5 million.
The Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) report for October, Thomas said brought in $3.2 million fo Anderson County for the month of July. Of that, Anderson District One will receive $1.97 million. Twenty percent or $219,000 will go to property tax relief and 80 percent $878,000 will go toward Capital Projects.
The Fund Balance for the LOST fund is currently $21 million.
Chief Academic Officer Brad Moore and Spearman Elementary Principal Jason Lesley presented information on the Leader In Me program.
The program is now being used in all eight District One elementary schools and is being funded by the State.
Moore said the program provides a school improvement framework by providing a common language among teachers and students.
It is centered around Covey’s seven habits of highly effective people, adapted to be understandable and actionable for young students, he said.
Included are habits of “being proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek first to understand, then to be understood, synergize and sharpen the saw”.
Principal Lesley presented information about what the Leader In Me program looks like at Spearman and how it affects students including his own children.
He said students learn to develop skills, lead themselves and others, take ownership of their learning, set goals and track progress and learn how to manage conflicts.
Goal setting involves individual, class, and grade level goals, he said, including academic goal, behavioral goals and tracking their own progress.
He said all students are involved in “Leadership Roles” which help establish “pride in the classroom” and that teachers help find talents, gifts and strengths in each student.
A service project to come out of the program for the Spearman Student Council involves collecting stuffed animals for students at Avery Creek Elementary in Western NC, who were affected by Hurricane Helene.
“”Leader in Me” has helped students become really, really good people,” Lesley said.
Auditor Ken Meadows, of Greene, Finney and Cauley accounting firm reported that the District received an “unmodified opinion” which is “the best you can receive”.
Meadows said the General Fund Balance for District One increased by $5.3 million to $35.2 million. $2 million is appropriated for the 2025 budget expenditures and $4.4 million assigned for capital projects.
The Unassigned Fund Balance reserve is $28.5 million, Meadows said. That amounts to 27 percent of actual 2024 expenditures and 25 percent of 2025 budgeted expenditures. The GFOA recommends a minimum of 16.7 percent or two months be kept in reserve.
Additional information was presented from the audit.
A required single audit was done on IDEA and ESSER, Meadows said. It did show a material weakness related to procurement in which two education materials purchases should have had three quotes but didn’t. Meadows said in prior years educational materials were subject to local procurement exemptions but the State clarified that the exemptions are no longer allowed for federal funds. Several school districts had the same problem, he said. Meadows said he didn’t expect it to be a problem in the future.
Overall, Meadows said the District is in “very good financial condition”.
The Board approved second reading on seven Board Policies.
There was considerable discussion on JICJ, Prohibition of Personal Electronic Devices during the school day. The policy addresses cell phone and other electronic device use.
Dr. Jeff Wilson said the District policy presented was based on the State model policy but gives Administration the ability to allow some use while not violating school policy.
Superintendent Dr. Young said, “It gives administrators the ability to not create conflict.”
The District policy will be presented to the State for approval.
Districts that do not go along with the State policy are subject to a 10 percent cut in State funding, according to Dr. Wilson. That would amount to $6.6 million being cut from the District 1 budget.
An amendment presented by Boardmember Wendy Burgess was approved 6-0 with new Boardmember JC Neel abstaining. The original policy as amended was approved 7-0.
Also during the meeting there was discussion about new weapons detection devices being implemented in the District including a camera based system and mobile metal detectors. Also a new “Defenders” program with two former military police trained by SLED who will serve under school SROs.
A bid was approved for improvements to the Palmetto High Field house.
