School Improvement Council

Hello PRES Community!

The 2026-2027 school year is off to a great start! I hope to see you all at the Open House on Monday, August 24. I have the honor of serving as the current Chair of the School Improvement Council alongside Gabby Lollis who is fulfilling the Secretary role this year. Gabby will step up to fulfill the role of Chair next year and we will elect a new Secretary this coming Spring. Gabby and I would like to extend an invitation to any interested PRES Community member to join us at our first SIC meeting of the school year at Noon on Wednesday, August 26. Just check in at the front office a few minutes beforehand and join us in the conference room beside the library.

The SC State Legislature legally mandates that each school in the State maintain an active School Improvement Council. SIC is a committee that brings together parents, teachers, and community members to collaborate with the school’s principal on long-term academic planning, school quality, and student success. One of our main initiatives last year was to prepare for and host the first annual Bridge to Middle School event. I am very proud of this initiative and expect it to be a long-standing tradition at PRES.

More information about your PRES SIC can be found on the PRES website under the “Parents” drop-down menu. With many thanks to Stephanie Hedge, our bylaws, election and appointment procedures, meeting minutes, and upcoming meeting dates are all available for review.

I’ll see you all on Monday…..and Wednesday hopefully!

Let’s go Allstars!

Austin Eckles
pelhamroadsic@gmail.com
2026-2027 PRES SIC Chair

SIC Meeting Minutes

Report to the Community

Purpose of SIC

PRES SIC Bylaws

The purpose of the Pelham Road Elementary School Improvement Council will be to:

  •  Assist in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the 5-year comprehensive  school improvement plan.
  • Assist in the preparation of yearly plan updates; assist with the development and monitoring of school improvement and innovation.
  • Provide advice on the use of school incentive funds.
  • Assist with the development of the narrative to the school report card.
  •  Participate in the revision of the school improvement plan if the school is rated unsatisfactory on the school report card.
  • Serve as a liaison between the school, school organizations, the community, and the  local school board by collecting and disseminating information about school improvement.
  • Provide other assistance that the Principal and /or local school board may request.

Representation and Membership

The Pelham Road Elementary School Improvement Council shall be composed as follows:

  • Two parents of students in the school, elected by the parents of the students enrolled in the  school.
  • Two teachers from the school, elected by the faculty.
  • Two community/business representatives, who are not parents of students enrolled at  Pelham Road Elementary School, appointed by the Principal.
  • Two or more ex-officio members to include the Principal, assistant Principal, and/or a  representative from the PTA board.
  • Each member, including ex-officio members, will have one vote, and absentee ballots or proxy voting will not be permitted.
  • Elected members must comprise at least two-thirds of the School Improvement Council (not including ex-officio members).

SSIC officers and Members

Kristy Qualls (Ex-Officio Member - Principal)

Heather Sherman (Ex-Officio Member – Asst. Principal)

Julie Chappell (Ex-Officio Member - PTA President)

Austin Eckles (Elected Parent Member - Chair)

Gabby Lollis (Elected Parent Member - Secretary)

Natalie Jones (Elected Teacher Member)

Kristy Buchanan (Elected Teacher Member)

Steven Huffman (Appointed Community Member)

Kathryn Pavia (Appointed Community Member)

SIC Meetings

  • 08/26/26
  • 09/23/26
  • 10/28/26
  • 12/02/26
  • 01/27/27
  • 02/24/27
  • 03/31/27
  • 04/28/27

Election and Appointment Procedures

An Election will be held during the Spring PTA Meeting to have the newly elected parent  member in place, ready to assume their responsibilities as Secretary at the beginning of the following school year. The previous school year’s Secretary will assume the role of  Chairperson the following school year. Information about the upcoming election of a parent representative will be distributed prior to the Spring PTA Meeting. The Principal will confirm  the existing appointments, or make new ones, prior to the end of the school year, after consulting with the Council. 

The new Teacher Representative to the Council will be elected by the faculty during a regularly scheduled faculty meeting in the Spring to begin service the following Fall.

The names and addresses of all Council members will be forwarded to School Improvement Council Assistance (SICA) at the University of South Carolina within 30 days following the elections.

The names of all Council members will be published in the first school newsletter following the election.