Darlington County school board approves bid for Hartsville gym

The Darlington County School District Board of Education conducted a quick final meeting for the year on Monday at Rosenwald Elementary/Middle in Society Hill. The board approved the bid for the new Hartsville High gym, the new 2010-11 calendar and a memorandum to apply for a federal grant.

The board reviewed an analysis of the 10 bids received for the Hartsville High School gym. The approved budget for the project is $6 million, and all bids were under $5 million. The bids included alternate additions of a new scoreboard, display case and sprinkler system.

“[The gym’s] awfully small, so it’ll be good to have a new gym over there,” Tommy Jeffords said.

The board unanimously approved a motion to accept the lowest bid by Edison Foard Inc. The company has previously done work for school districts in Rock Hill and York.

The board approved a motion to allow Superintendent Dr. Rainey Knight to sign a memorandum agreement to apply for a federal grant through the state department of education. The S.C. Department of Education is applying for a Race to the Top grant from the U.S. Department of Education to increase student achievement. The state intends to complete the Phase I application by Jan. 15 for the best chance at the funding. Knight will report back to the board with details as they become available.

The board unanimously approved the 2010-11 calendar with no discussion. Feedback was received from the schools prior to the vote.

In the superintendent’s update, Knight informed the board of several developments in the district. The district completed flag etiquette training. The district has given 2,600 H1N1 vaccines and is going into the second round of booster shots at the elementary school level.

In the spring, Knight would like to review the dress code for district employees formally “so everyone looks professional.”

“It’s wonderful if we want to streamline it,” Jeffords said. He added that he wanted to be sure the current rules were being enforced before making a whole new code.

“As a former teacher, I believe there ought to be a dress code, but it must be enforced uniformly,” Charles Govan said.

He noted that he often sees custodial staff walking the halls of schools wearing hats while students are not allowed to wear hats indoors.

“We want to be consistent across all schools,” Knight said. “We’ll review that this spring with the schools and district office to find something agreeable to everyone.”

Knight also submitted two articles for information on the index of taxpaying ability.

“The reason it’s so important is that it’s changing,” Knight said. The change would mean $346,000 less in state funding based on homeowner-assessed property values.

Knight also reported that the General Assembly is working with SLED to reduce the fees for the district's use of criminal background checks. The proviso will allow SLED to charge school districts the same amount as non-profit groups, $25 instead of $80.

Knight recognized Lamar and Mayo High schools for being named to the U.S. News & World Reports’ America’s Best High Schools list.

During the board’s comments, Govan said the district basketball schedule would need to be addressed prior to next season.

He also asked that anyone with the names and ages of needy children to submit them to Hines Funeral Home. The Hartsville Omegas and Kappas will be collecting toys to deliver to those children on Christmas Eve.

Joyce Thomas thanked Knight and Public Information Officer Audrey Childers for their work “to get the word out of all the good things happening in the school district.”

Darlington County School District Teacher of the Year Lisa Rix recently appeared on the radio during Renny Lunn-McAlister’s Pulse of the Pee Dee on WCMG Magic 94.3 FM. The program airs 6 p.m. Sundays, and Knight or Childers work to get district news on the show each week.

In other business, Operations Director Larry Stegner recognized the Clean Schools of the Month for November Rosenwald Elementary/Middle and North Hartsville Elementary School. Both of the custodians are new to the schools, being with the schools six months or less. This is the second consecutive month for North Hartsville to be recognized.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Linda Graham recognized the 2009 Holiday Card Art Winner Hagen Collins, a senior at Lamar High. The competition was among the district’s high school students.

Collins’s art was featured on this year’s district holiday card, and she received a certificate of accomplishment, $100 savings bond and packet of cards with her artwork. Graham also recognized Sean Cockrell, Collins’ teacher. He received $100 for art supplies for his classes.

The board also recognized Knight, Dr. B. Jane Hursey and Childers for the publication of their article “Leadership – Charting the Course for Success in Uncertain Waters” in the fall edition of Palmetto Administrator.

The board received the monthly financial statement and adult education report card as information.

“It’s been a rocky year for us,” Chairman Connell Delaine said. “And we are not out of the woods yet.”

The board also thanked the district employees, staff and faculty for a successful year and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

The next regular meeting will be held 6 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Darlington County School District Administrative Annex I in Darlington.