Tuesday Dec. 17, the Colleton County School Board held a meeting to recognize citizens, to take action regarding Census assistance, and to discuss damaged baseball fields.
The board recognized the Colleton County Middle School Junior Cougars Volleyball Team for winning the title of 2019 I-95 Tournament Champions. This was the first time CCMS has won the championship. Hailey Craven, Shandi Brown, Lily Kilpatrick, Akeelyah Daniel, Savannah Thurston, Kaylee French, Kaniah Ferguson, Addison Crosby, Rosie Temple, Maggie Kennedy and Jenna Cox were congratulated by board members, as well as Head Coach Marrissa Jones and assistant coaches Keisha Brown and Katherine Edmondson.
Also recognized were Clean and Safe Schools of the month winners: In a first-place tie, Black Street Early Childhood Center represented by Joe Evans, and Colleton County High School; second place, Hendersonville Elementary, represented by Ms. Glaze; third place, Cottageville Elementary represented by Mr. Drawdy. Joe Evans also won the District’s Horizon Award for most improvement.
Jessica Williams, superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, presented Gail Thomas, a teacher at Colleton County Middle School, to the board for the 95% passing rate of her students in the End of Course test.
Robotics Instructor Ed Williams was recognized for the accomplishments of the district’s robotics team.
Baseball and softball fields at the high school are in need of renovation. The fields are saturated and drainage poor. Approximately $16,000 was spent hiring Hybrid Engineering to research the problem. Taking core samples and studying the issue, Hybrid recommended that pipes and gravel be constructed under the field, sloping to a drainage ditch. Bids would need to be advertised to find a company to fix the problem. Funds already allocation total $135,000 for repair, but more needs to be done.
In other business:
Michael Kroll, coordinator for the 2020 Census, requested that the school district partner with the federal program by sending handouts and reminders to encourage individuals to respond to census questions. Census reports provide much needed information regarding money needed for federal programs to be used in the county. Census questions can be answered on paper or online. The board passed a resolution agreeing to partner with the 2020 Census.
Bus drivers have been hired to cover vacancies. All routes are now covered.
The Office of Student Nutrition received a satisfactory rating on the Key Performance Indicator Report. They are introducing a “Two-Bite” Club to encourage students to eat healthier by choosing fruits and vegetables.
Technology staff members B.J. Humphries and Daryl Erwin obtained Edu-Certified Amplified Admin certifications.
Jeremy Shearer completed and received Amano Security Specialist certification.
Upon final inspection, the district hopes to occupy its new headquarters on Forest Circle Drive in January 2020.
Human Resources Department is in the process of preparing the 2020-2021 school calendar.
A district job fair will be held on February 8, 2020, to recruit new teachers to the district.
AmeriCorps and USC are partnering with the district to assist high school juniors and seniors in preparing for college. The USC partnership will sponsor the Carolina Transition-to-Teaching Fellowship which targets students interested in a teaching career.
Colleton School District Spelling Bee will be on January 14, 2020, at 6 p.m. at the Colleton County Middle School auditorium. Participants will be from all elementary schools and the middle school.
A stakeholders meeting will be on January 28, 2020, to discuss the district’s Strategic Plan.
