School Board Connection

  •  

    A Summary of the Action Taken at the May 11, 2023 – Florence 1 Schools Board of Trustees Meeting

    Members Present: S. Porter Stewart, Chairman, Kimrey-Ann Haughn, Secretary, Dr. Gloria Bracey, Bryan Chapman, and Davy Gregg. Members Absent: Trisha C. Caulder, Vice-Chair, John Galloway, EJ McIver, and Barry Townsend.

    Superintendent’s Report

    Department of Education Risk Assessment

    Dr. O’Malley informed the Board of Trustees that Florence 1 Schools’ Risk Assessment Rating has improved over the past five years with a move from a rating of 28 (high risk in 2018) to a rating of 11 (low risk in 2023) with a score of 9 being the highest score. The performance rating measures items related to fiscal compliance and financial stability. Dr. O’Malley thanked and credited Chief Financial Officer Laura Showe for having worked diligently to improve the school district’s Risk Management Rating.

    JULL Settlement – E-cigarette company JUUL will pay Florence 1 Schools and other SC school districts settlement money for marketing vaping and nicotine to students. Attorney fees, case costs and other expenses in this litigation will be deducted from the amount of $377,034 resulting in a settlement of $274,869 to Florence 1 Schools.

    F1S Procurement Audit (Policy DJ) - Chief Financial Officer Laura Showe introduced Brian Nicholson, Senior Manager of the auditing firm of Mauldin and Jenkins, LLC, who provided information regarding procurement activity. Nicholson stated that based on the results of its audit,

    Florence 1 Schools is operating in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and the school

    district’s best practices, adding that that Florence 1 Schools is in compliance with standard auditing procedure.

    The Farm - Jeff Murrie, Florence 1 Schools Farm to School Coordinator, provided an overview of the programs that will be offered at the new Farm at Florence1 located at 2101 N. Williston Road. He indicated the Farm will serve as an epicenter for all things related to agriculture, sustainability, nutrition environment studies in the greater Florence community.

    Action Items

    √Financial statements, minutes of the April 6th Board of Trustees Meeting, the personnel report and out-of-state field trips (as requested by teachers/advisers of students at Moore, South Florence, West Florence and Williams) received approval.

    √The board approved second reading of Policies in Section J: JH-JLA (Student Policies).

    √The first reading of policies GCD Day Staff Vacations and Holidays and a continuation of Student Policies (JLC-JRA) were reviewed. These policies will be presented for second reading at the June 8th Board of Trustees meeting.

    √Chief Financial Officer Laura Showe presented the proposed budget for the 2023-2024 The proposed operating revenue budget for the 2023-2024 school year totals $190,737,906, which is an 8.395% increase over last year. The proposed operating expenditures for the 2023-2024 school year totals $190,737,906, which is approximately an 8.395% increase over last year. For FY22-23 the operating millage is 206.64. The millage tax revenue of $63,550,246 is included in the total proposed budgeted revenues for 2023-2024 and will require an operations millage of 213.35 mills.

    √Sale of District Property - Proviso 1.113 requires that a School District place for sale any property they own that has not been used for school instructional purposes for more than four years. The property located at 220 N. Pinckney Street in Timmonsville meets this requirement. The district has obtained an independent appraisal, and the Board of Trustees approved the property to be placed for sale at the appraised value.

    √Hazardous Bus Routes 2023-2024 - Annually, in compliance with the SC Code of Laws, the SC Department of Education requires a report of the number of routes within the mile-and-a-half radius that are unsafe for transporting students. Brockington Elementary has been added to the list due to the lack of sidewalks or safe crossing areas; therefore, Florence 1 will continue to transport students at Brockington within the 1.5-mile radius.

    √Fund Balance Distribution – The Board of Trustees approved a fund balance transfer of

    $2,376369 for renewal of the Chromebook refresh for high schools.

    Awards and Recognitions

    Best Vocalist Award winners received recognition: Miriam Welch, Carver Elementary; Paityn Daniels, John W. Moore Middle; and Maria Evans, Wilson High.
    Comments (-1)