A Summary of the Action Taken at the March 11, 2021 Board of Trustees Meeting

Members Present: S. Porter Stewart, Chairman, Trisha C. Caulder, Vice-Chairman, Bryan Chapman, Secretary, John Galloway, Davy Greg, Kimrey-Ann Haughn, Alexis D. Pipkins, Sr. and Barry Townsend Member Absent: EJ McIver

Superintendent’s Update 

COVID-19 – Dr. O’Malley indicated that 1,000 employees were vaccinated on March 5th at the Darlington Raceway. In order to accommodate the plan for employees’ second dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine, April 1st will be an e-learning day. Superintendent O’Malley announced that the survey seeking parental preference of the option for virtual or face-to-face instruction should be completed by March 15th at noon. The five-day instructional model begins April 12th.

Dr. O’Malley informed the Board that Florence 1 Schools had explored the possibility of contract services for bus transportation through a bidding process. All bids submitted exceeded the Florence 1 Schools transportation budget. One of the transportation services has been selected to conduct an efficiency study of the Florence 1 Schools Transportation Department to determine how routing services in Florence 1 schools may be improved.

As a follow-up to State Superintendent Molly Spearman’s announcement of the consolidation of Florence 1 and 4, scheduled for July 1, 2022, Dr. O’Malley said that Florence 1 Schools will wait to receive information regarding this process from the South Carolina Department of Education. A discussion followed. Dr. O Malley
said that he hoped the board would learn more in the coming months after a committee is organized and the district has more conversations with Superintendent Spearman.

Additional Updates
The College Board AP recently announced that Wilson High School was a recipient of its Computer Science Female Diversity Award for 2020, an award given to a school whose percentage of female computer science exam takers meets/exceeds the school’s female population or a school that achieves a 50 percent or higher female representation in exam takers for AP computer science courses. Dr. O ’Malley announced w inner s and student semifinalist s in the Vocal Star 2021 program.

Action Items - The Board of Trustees approved the following items:
•2021-22 Middle School configuration.
•the recommendation to maintain the current fee for Out-of-District Tuition 2021-2022: $3,000 for new students and $1500 for returning students.
•a Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Florence and Florence 1 Schools to create the Farm-to-School Program utilizing property located near the Florence Tennis Center.
•the recommendation to allow Marching Band to serve as a credit for Physical Education. The implementation of a new Aviation course which will be offered at the Florence Career Center was also approved.
•Other items approved by the Board include financial statements, minutes, personnel, second reading of policies, and the change of the April Board Meeting date from April 8th to April 15th.

Presentations and Recognition - The Board recognized Southside Middle School students (SCEA art winners) and South Florence High School (undefeated academic team members).