FCSD3 extends superintendent's contract, recogizes employee attendance

Dr. Keith Callicut, interim superintendent for Florence County School District Three will remain as such for another year.

After an executive session during the Jan. 19 board of directors meeting, the board unanimously extended Callicut’s contract for an additional year with the current terms and conditions.

The motion came at the end of a meeting that highlighted and recognized more than 40 district members for their perfect attendance in July through December period. Each of the employees recognized earn a monetary award for their work dedication.

Those individuals include:

Food service:

Betty Wright-Smith, Hattie Singletary, Monica Chandler, Julia Cooper, Delore Fulmore, Pricilla Timmons, Peggy Haygood, Elaine Myer, Sandra Hannah, Betsy Clemmons, Jacklyn Burgess, Yvonne Cave, Lottie Nelson, Cynthia McElveen, Gwen Edwards, Charlotte Morris, Sandra Pringle, Nemoia Burgess, Precious Graham, Joann Graham , Judy Wallace.

Bus drivers:

Gloria Frierson, Sarah Brown, Hattie McElveen, Andrea Henneghan, Ella Graham, Mary Wise, Lorenzo McFadden, Celestine Burgess.

Maintenance:

Luther Anderson, Isaiah Brown, McCurry Brown, Calvin Burgess, Mary Ann Burgess, Benjamin Fulmore, Carvin Fulmore, Bruce Henneghan, Raleigh James, Paul Mack, Frank Singletary, Jerome Singletary.

Food service supervisor Donald Navorska said that “Loyalty and attendance in labor force is is huge – particularly in a school where our customers are little kids - and the students get to see the same faces day in and day out. It gives them security, it gives them a good feeling, it gives them a safe environment.”

“We try to reward employees for good attendance,” said interim district superintendant Dr. Keith Callicut. “We tell students we can’t teach you if you’re not here; it’s kind of hard to get quality work out of employees who aren’t at work.”

Callicut said “it’s really wonderful to have this many employees being recognized.”

Jay Alexander, director of operations with the district also recognized a long-time member of his staff who recently retired after 20 years as a district tradesman with the district.

Alexander said that Sam Cameron “not only is Sam a good person and dedicated employee; he helps people.”

“You will not replace Sam Cameron,” said Alexander.

Donna D. Sullivan, senior director for finance, said that 69 district employees are also receiving additional $500 rewards for reaching a five-year milestone. Two hundred ninety of such additional milestone payments for uninterrupted service time have been made since the longevity program was implemented in 2007 with a total cost for this year of $37,139.25.

In addition to awards and recognitions, the board heard reports from district members who attended the black educators’ conference in Myrtle Beach.

Ned Blake, principal of J. Paul Truluck Middle School said the event was a good opportunity to see a lot of really motivational speakers.

“Our kids need to understand a level of expectations,” said Blake, “knowing that it’s not where you came from – your poverty level, how much money your parents make, and things along those lines – that you can really be successful.”

Blake said that one thing that is really important is “having the community come together and form a strong effective partnership, mentorship, and to just provide guidance for kids.”

Yvonne Scott, senior director of student services, also gave an update on the Education Foundation and the Button Program.

“The purpose of the button program is to raise tax deductible funds for the operation of schools throughout South Carolina,” said Scott.

“Donations through the button program are not district specific,” she said, “they are school specific and teacher specific.”

In her report on Common Core State Standards, Barbara Woodbury, senior director of curriculum and staff development, said the standards are adopted by the states so all “states will be working on the same standards and we can start comparing scores and see how we are doing among the other states.”

“This is not something that the US Department of Ed is requiring,” said Woodbury. Five states chose not to adopt them, South Carolina has.

The standards “represent a set of expectations that high school graduates need to master in order to be successful in college and in their careers,” said Woodbury.

Full implementation of the Common Core standards is set for the 2014-2015 school year.

Woodbury said there are currently concerns about assessment and right now it “is in the process of being discussed; they’re surveying teachers and administrators and employees.”

“We should know, hopefully soon, which direction that we’re going to go with the assessment,” said Woodbury.

“We all know comparisons are made from state to state when it comes to testing,” said Callicut.

“When you are doing that you really ought to be comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges. This may provide the platform for that to take place,” he said,

“The rigor is certainly significantly higher. So our teachers, all of us, are going to be challenged,” said Callicut. “We just need to stay on top of it,” he said.

In other business, Callicut noted that the board members have been reviewing and recommending revisions to the board policy.

“As long as it’s within the confines of state law, we can change our policies to say whatever we want them to say; that’s the very reason we’re going through this process now,” said Callicut.

Callicut said there will be at least two public meetings before changes to any policies are implemented.

Two new policies, Tobacco Use by Students and Tobacco-Free Schools/Staff, unanimously passed first reading without discussion, unanimously passed first reading, and if pass in the second reading, would go into effect immediately.