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School Board Meeting Highlights

11/15/2017

At 6 p.m. after calling the meeting to order, the Richland Two Board of Trustees convened in executive session to discuss student appeals; student admission requests into the district’s Adult Education program; student readmission requests; employment recommendations; and employment releases and in-district transfers. At 7 p.m., the Board reconvened in public session.

Student Focus
Summit Parkway Middle School Principal April Shell and several students highlighted the school’s Student 2 Student Ambassadors Program, which supports military students and their families. The group presented a slide show/video about the AVID Program, which is expanding school-wide to support the academic success of all students.

Voting Items
Consent Agenda
The Board approved the Consent Agenda that included the minutes from the previous meetings on Oct. 24 and Nov. 7 and the monthly Technology Report.

Executive Session Items
The Board approved motions related to Employment Recommendations; Student Readmission Request; Student Admission Request into the District's Adult Education Program; and Student Appeals.

Policy Revisions
The Board approved changes to policies: ADA (School District Goals and Objectives), CF (Hiring of School Principals/Building Administrators), CFA (School Principals/Building Administrators), CFC (Assignment and Transfer of School Administrators).

Reports
Proposal: Policy Revisions
The board received as proposed changes to policies for first reading: Policy CH (Policy Implementation), CHA/CHB (Development of Administrative Rules), CHD (Administration in Absence of Policy), CM (School District Annual Reports).

First quarter financial report and budget update
Dr. Harry Miley, Richland Two chief financial officer, presented the 2017-2018 First Quarter Financial Report.

Legislative Update
Board Member Amelia McKie and Chief Financial Officer Miley shared an update on pending legislative issues. The next session begins on January 9, 2018 and runs through May 14, 2018. Committees meeting now include several looking at education-related issues.

College and Career Readiness
Director of College and Career Initiatives Mary Paige Boyce updated the board about recent events including a College Fair that attracted more than 850 attendees. The report also highlighted ways the district prepares students for college and careers.

New magnet programs
Director of Magnet Programs Dawne Whitley shared information about the five-year $11.2 million grant MED Pro 21 Magnet grant. The district will use the money to make Bridge Creek, Rice Creek, Kelly Mill and Ridge View full school STEAM-M magnets (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, Medicine). The grant is funded by the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP).

The following honors and achievements were recognized during the board meeting:

Sonia Baxter, student at Round Top Elementary, for winning first place in the SC State Library’s “Young Minds Dreaming” Poetry Contest.
Samuel Cathcart and Abhimanyu Sailesh, students from Blythewood High, for winning the Overall TM Floyd Top Innovator Award from IT-ology and the S.C. Department of Education.
Deiontay Bookert, student at Blythewood High School, for being selected as the Outstanding Youth of the Year from the S.C. Division on Career Development and Transition.
Special Education Teacher Sarah Park from Blythewood High School for being selected the Special Educator of the Year Award by the S.C. Division on Career Development and Transition.
Jennifer Bartell from Spring Valley High School for being selected a Teacher Guild Fellow.
Catawba Trail Elementary, Conder Elementary, Lake Carolina Elementary Lower and Pontiac Elementary for earning designation as Certified S.C. Green Step Schools.
Richland Two, R2i2 and Jackson Creek Elementary for the Learning by design Magazines 2017 “Citation of Excellence Award” and “Green Globes Certification” received by LS3P Associations LTD.
Richland Two for receiving a $25,000 donation from Service Solutions for scholarships and the R2 Ready to Read

A complete recording of each board meeting airs on the district’s cable access Channel 12 R2TV on Spectrum and on demand anytime through the district’s YouTube channel.