VIP Newsletter

April 27, 2011 Edition

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Education Plan Goal Areas
One: Raise the academic challenge and performance of each student
Two: Ensure quality personnel in all positions
Three: Provide a school environment supportive of learning
Four: Effectively manage and further develop necessary financial resources
Five: Improve public understanding and support of schools

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News

Six High Schools, Three Career Centers Earn Gold and Silver Awards for Performance

Six Greenville County schools and three career centers have earned recognition for academic achievement in 2010. The Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver awards program honors schools for attaining high levels of student achievement, high rates of growth, and/or substantial progress in closing achievement gaps between groups of students.

Three high schools and three career centers earned either a Palmetto Gold or Palmetto Silver award for general performance: Mauldin High - Silver; Riverside High - Gold; Wade Hampton High - Gold; Enoree Career - Gold; Golden Strip Career - Gold; J. Harley Bonds Career - Gold.

Six Greenville County high schools earned a Gold or Silver award for closing the achievement gap: Eastside - Silver; Greenville - Silver; Mauldin - Gold; Riverside - Silver; Wade Hampton - Gold; Woodmont - Silver.

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
April 26, 2011

Board Members Present (10): Debi Bush, Vice-Chairman; Glenda Morrison-Fair, Secretary; Megan Hickerson, Lynda Leventis-Wells, Dr. Crystal Ball O'Connor, Tommie Reece, Leola Robinson-Simpson, Danna Rohleder, Pat Sudduth, Lisa Wells. Absent (2): Roger Meek, Chairman; Chuck Saylors.

Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance - Mrs. Rohleder

Adoption of Consent Calendar - Approved

Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - March 22, 2011
Minutes, Special Called Meeting - April 12, 2011
Minutes, Special Called Meeting - April 12, 2011
3 Home School Applications
Personnel Recommendations
- Dr. Melissa B. Burns, Principal, Sara Collins Elementary (effective July, 2011)
- Kenneth D. Ashworth, Assistant Principal, Hillcrest High (effective July, 2011)
- Linard T. Kindall, Assistant Principal, Berea High (effective July, 2011)

Appearance of Visitors - Mrs. April Fowler, Mr. Ralph Belcher
Students from Furman University and Greenville Technical College were recognized.

Superintendent's Report - Mrs. Brenda Byrd, principal of Bethel Elementary School, presented an overview about the school in recognition of the school's selection as a Palmetto's Finest School.

Action Items

Strategic Plan Annual Review - Approved the Committee of the Whole's recommendation to approve the 2011 Strategic Plan as presented. The Strategic Plan is updated annually and, after approval by the Board, forwarded to the South Carolina State Department of Education. This plan is a fluid, living document, and presents the strategies to advance the five goals of the Education Plan.Additions to Strategic Plan - Page 29 - Beliefs - A free, comprehensive, adequately funded public education is a right; Page 81 - 5.c. - Advocate for a free, adequately funded, comprehensive public education system.

SCSBA Officer / Board of Directors Nomination - Approved the Committee of the Whole's recommendation to nominate Mrs. Danna Rohleder for the SCSBA Board of Directors.

Renewal of Legacy Charter - Approved the Committee of the Whole's recommendation to approve the renewal of the charter contract for Legacy Charter School. The charter application for Legacy Charter School was originally approved under the name "Fuller Normal Advanced Technology Charter School" on August 10, 2004. A charter school agreement between Greenville County Schools and Fuller Normal Advanced Technology Charter School was signed on May 18, 2006. A request for a name change to "Legacy Charter School" was approved through voice vote by the Board of Trustees on April 13, 2010. Per the South Carolina Charter Schools Act, approval of the renewal charter will extend the contract to 2021.

Right of Way Easements at J.L. Mann High School Athletic Site and New South Elementary School - Approved the Committee of the Whole's recommendation to approve right-of-way easements at the J.L. Mann High School athletic site and New South Elementary School. Duke Energy is replacing its transmission line on Ridge Road, adjacent to the remote athletic site for J.L. Mann High School, to increase electric service capacity in the area. Greenville County Schools requires a right-of-way to connect to Metropolitan Sewer for the New South Elementary School.The property owner has agreed to convey to the school district, for the amount of $2,500, a right-of-way easement of 167 feet by 25 feet.

Naming of Armstrong Elementary Media Center - Approved the Committee of the Whole's recommendation to accept the request of the Armstrong Elementary PTA and SIC to name the schools' media center the Jacqueline "Jackie" V. Goggins Media Center and to waive policy FBC. Ms. Goggins will retire as principal of Armstrong Elementary in June, 2011. The school's community is asking the Board of Trustees to vote in favor of their request at this time, so that the honor can be announced at a school-wide event.

Lease Agreement with Greenville Literacy (J. Harley Bonds) - Approved the Committee of the Whole's recommendation to approve the lease agreement renewal at J. Harley Bonds Career Center. The Greenville Literacy Association entered into a partnership lease agreement with the school district at the J. Harley Bonds Career Center in 2001 and is requesting to renew the lease agreement for a period of five years. The school district will provide space of 3,364 SF at an annual rental fee of $1.00 per square foot or $3,364. Annual costs for utilities shall be $3,094.88 ($.92/SF), paid quarterly. The current lease agreement will expire in April, 2011.

Lease Agreement with Greenville Little League (Hughes Middle Academy) - Approved the Committee of the Whole's recommendation to approve the lease agreement renewal at Hughes Middle Academy. The Greenville Little League is requesting to renew their current lease agreement to use the baseball field at Hughes Academy for a period of five years for baseball practice and coaches' pitch games. The annual lease rate will be $1.00 per year.

Lease Agreement with City of Greenville (Blythe Elementary Academy) - Approved the Committee of the Whole's recommendation to approve the lease agreement renewal at Blythe Elementary Academy. The City of Greenville is requesting to renew their current lease agreement at Blythe Academy for a period of one year, beginning on May 24, 2011 and terminating on May 23, 2012 provided that they shall have the right to extend the lease agreement for four successive one-year terms by notice. This lease agreement is for recreational purposes after school hours and in conjunction with students attending Blythe Academy. The annual lease rate will be $1.00 per year.

Lease Agreement with a Child's Haven (Riley CDC) - Approved the Committee of the Whole's recommendation to approve the lease agreement renewal at Riley Child Development Center. A Child's Haven is requesting to renew their current lease agreement for a period of five years for use of one classroom (1,000 SF) at Riley Child Development Center for their program. A Child's Haven has agreed to pay $1.00 per square foot annually as the lease fee, as well as, $1.50 per square foot annually for utilities. A Child's Haven provides in-kind contributions to students in Greenville County Schools via parenting and therapeutic child treatment services. These services assist in preparing these children for a smooth transition into school district programs and decreasing the need for special education services.

FY 11 Debt Service Budget Update - Approved the Administration's recommendation to approve the "FY 11 Debt Service Budget Update." During FY 11, the District issued $88.2 million in General Obligations Bonds (GO) and $14.3 million in Qualified School Construction Bonds. The Administration has updated the Debt Service Budget's Local and State Revenues, "Expenditures" and "Other Financing Sources (Uses)" sections to reflect changes in projected revenue, bond payments, bond proceeds, and transfers of these proceeds.

FY 11 Building Fund Budget Update - Approved the Administration's recommendation to approve the "FY 11 Building Fund Budget Update." During FY 11, the Building Fund Budget has generated additional local revenue through investments, sale of surplus property and energy grants. This budget is also receiving proceeds from the issuance of the Qualified School Construction Bonds. The Administration presented an updated Building Fund Budget to reflect the revenue adjustments and changes in the expenditure budgets of Major Construction Projects, Energy Grant Projects, Investment Fees and the GRETIL software project.