►
Description
Meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. (Executive Session) with Regular Session scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
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A
We
have
a
motion
in
a
second.
Is
there
any
discussion?
Hearing,
none
I'll
call
the
question
all
in
favor,
please
respond
by
saying
aye
aye
any
opposed
the
eyes
have
it.
The
next
agenda
item
is
to
enter
into
executive
session
for
the
stated
purposes
of
discussion
of
release
of
teachers
from
employment
contracts
and
or
appointment
of
Administrators
as
needed.
12
student
attendance
appeals
one
out
of
District
appeal
and
one
expulsion
appeal.
Do
we
have
a
motion
to
enter
into
executive
session
for
those
stated
purposes
so.
A
A
All
right,
I'll
now
entertain
a
motion
to
return
to
regular
session
yeah.
So
Mr
chairman,
we
have
a
motion.
Do
we
have
a
second?
Second,
we
have
a
motion,
a
second
to
return
to
regular
session.
Is
there
any
discussion,
I'll
State
for
the
record?
No
action
was
taken:
an
executive
session
hearing
no
further
discussion,
all
in
favor
of
returning
to
regular
session.
Please
respond
by
saying
aye
any
opposed
the
eyes.
Have
it.
Please
now
join
me
for
the
Pledge
of
Allegiance.
E
A
You,
the
next
agenda
item,
is
Citizens
comments
in
order
to
conduct
the
meeting
in
an
orderly
and
efficient
manner.
We
ask
that
you
honor
the
following
guidelines.
Stakeholder
comments
are
welcomed
and
encouraged.
However,
the
board
will
not
take
immediate
action
on
public
comments
at
this
meeting.
Any
person
wishing
to
address
the
board
must
register
prior
to
the
meeting.
Comments
must
be
regarding
programs,
policies
or
procedures.
Comments
regarding
complaints
against
employees
other
than
District
level
Executives
or
references
to
students
other
than
the
child
of
the
speaker
will
not
be
heard
in
public
session
groups.
A
Addressing
the
same
topic
should
select.
One
speaker
comments
will
be
limited
to
three
minutes
per
speaker.
The
board
chair
reserves
the
right
to
allot
additional
time
or
halt
public
comments
that
do
not
adhere
to
these
guidelines.
The
first
Speaker
this
evening
is
John
Jam
rogowitz
moment
of
silence.
F
I
am
quite
aware
that
there
are
instances
in
the
bible
where
jesus
endorsed
public
prayer-
all
I
will
say
further
on
this
aspect
of
our
ongoing
discussion
is
that
I
am
certain.
The
Pharisees
would
have
responded
that
they
were
righteous
as
well.
The
same
speaker
cited
numerous
references
to
founders
of
this
Republic
expressing
their
belief
in
prayer.
Certainly,
religious
preferences
are
made
in
our
Declaration
of
Independence.
However,
what
the
speaker
failed
to
mention
was
that
these
same
people
chose
not
to
include
religious
language
in,
nor
did
they
attribute
religious
origin
to
our
constitution.
F
F
Secondly,
so
too
is
our
right
to
be
protected
from
the
government's
establishment
of
religion,
our
Founders
knowledge
of
the
intermingling
of
religion
and
government
that
characterize
much
of
European.
History
made
them
leery
of
opening
the
door
to
the
same
here.
In
fact,
even
as
they
viewed
the
relatively
Short
history
of
the
American
colonies,
they
had
already
seen
issues
Roger
Williams
and
his
soon-to-be
named
Baptist
did
not
move
to
Rhode
Island,
because
the
cost
of
housing
or
taxes
were
too
high
in
Massachusetts.
F
They
moved
there
because
the
dominant
Puritans
were
not
particularly
open
to
changes
in
church
governance
models.
Similarly,
Catholics
have
congregated
in
Maryland
and
Quakers
had
founded
Pennsylvania
for
reasons
not
the
least
of
which
included
religious
freedom
board
members.
Your
business
is,
by
its
very
definition,
the
leadership
and
management
of
a
publicly
funded
School
District.
You
are
government,
you
have
at
least
temporarily
tabled
the
moment
of
silence.
F
While
you
consider
concerns
that
have
been
raised
about
it
being
used
for
prayer
recitation,
while
I
personally
would
not
object
to
its
permanent
removal
if
it
is
not
replaced
by
a
board-sponsored
prayer.
I
stand
by
my
initial
public
comments
on
this
matter.
That
is
a
moment
of
silence
that
is
indeed
silent,
is
a
reasonable
and
meaningful
compromise
that
neither
infringes
on
a
right
to
prayer,
nor
imposes
one
on
people
who
believe
or
practice.
Otherwise.
Thank
you.
A
G
Good
evening,
chair,
McQuillan
board
members
and
superintendent
Dr
Dixon.
As
you
know,
I'm
Cindy
Fisk,
a
certified
30-year
veteran
teacher
of
bcsd
and
I
am
here
to
read
a
statement
written
by
a
retiree
who
is
unable
to
attend
the
meeting
tonight.
My
name
is
Lynn
Sigman
foes,
I
retired,
from
Berkeley
County
School
District
in
2006.
G
After
eight
years
teaching
at
Berkeley
intermediate
Westview
Middle
West
View
Elementary
four
years
as
a
counselor
at
Westview,
Elementary
five
years
at
his
assistant
principal
at
Whitesville,
Elementary
10
years
as
a
principal
at
Hal,
Hall,
primary
and
finally
principal
at
Goose,
Creek
Primary
for
its
opening
to
2006.
when
I
had
to
retire
to
care.
For
my
mother
in
North
Carolina.
G
G
G
Please
hold
on
to
the
public
schools
for
all
mentality
that
has
made
this
country
a
beacon
of
light
for
so
many,
then
another
teacher
messaged
me
and
said
to
remind
you
all
to
please
know
that
though
it
may
not
matter,
but
many
Berkeley
County
School
teachers
are
watching
school
board
meetings,
religiously
pretty
much
online
every
time.
Thank
you.
H
Chair
McQuillen
and
board
members
and
superintendent
Dixon
for
the
past
three
meetings,
our
agenda
mandated
Moment
of
Silence,
has
been
disrupted.
Several
people
in
the
audience
have
taken
upon
themselves
to
say
a
Christian
prayer
out
loud
during
this
moment
of
silence.
These
ladies
are
old
enough
to
understand
the
meaning
of
Silence.
They
simply
chose
to
ignore
it
in
the
process.
They
told
you
and
the
rest
of
us
that
they
feel
Superior
to
us
and
will
do
as
they
please.
H
Please
remember
that.
The
reason
we
have
a
moment
of
silence
now,
instead
of
a
prayer,
can
be
traced
back
to
the
public
invocation
Act
of
2016..
It
says
that
prayer
at
public
meetings
must
not
Advance
any
one
belief
or
faith,
or
course,
participation
by
observers.
The,
Lord's
Prayer
is
clearly
a
Christian
prayer
and
advances
that
faith.
H
H
I
Even
chairman
McQuillen
school
board
members,
superintendent,
Dixon
I,
want
to
start
this
actually
I
need
to
set
the
context.
I
want
to
speak
to
you
first
before
going
to
the
board.
I
want
to
remind
us
on
May
6
2020,
the
then
head
of
HR
for
Berkeley
County
School
District
without
HR
qualifications
walked
into
the
Oakley
facility
and
put
a
a
an
ultimatum
to
a
28-year
employee
who
was
supervisor
of
all
custodians
and
he
had
a
choice.
Either
gold
be
demoted
and
become
a
custodian
or
resign.
I
He
had
two
daughters,
one
about
to
go
to
college
had
no
idea
what
to
do,
and
he
called
me.
He
called
me
and
I
told
him.
I
said:
if
you
want
to
fight
this,
you
can,
and
if
you
do,
I'll
stand
with
you
and
I'm
so
glad
that
he
chose
to
fight
because
oftentimes.
This
is
I
know
that
this
is
not
the
only
time
that
that
has
happened.
Why
is
that
the
necessary
area?
I
Context
is
because
that
person
is
now
the
the
deputy
superintendent
of
Berkeley
County
School
District,
and
these
recent
moves
that
have
been
made
are
are
like
what
happened.
Then
it
is
not
with
regard
to
what
is
best
for
our
students.
It
is
not
with
regard
with
what
is
best
for
our
faculty.
It
is
to
actually
appease
and
limited
agenda
of
a
limited
few
people,
and
we
are
not
standing
for
that
right.
So
I
want
to
say
to
you,
superintendent,
Dixon
and
I
want
to
speak
clearly
to
you.
I
Out
of
the
big
house,
I
want
to
talk
to
you
about
faith.
The
faith
that
you
purport
is
a
faith.
You
are
dealing
with
people
of
Faith
right,
not
chess
moves,
not
appeasement
to
personal
agendas,
but
people
of
faith
and
woe
unto
you
my
brother,
woe
unto
you
because
not
just
them,
but
you
have
not
activated
even
more
people
of
Faith
who
believe
that
I
don't
care
what
it
looks
like
today.
I
What
you
have
done,
what
you
have
participated
in
the
way
that
you've
hurt
people
by
the
sake
of
saying
that
you
are
progressing
education
by
the
way
these
moves,
my
brother
I'm
praying
for
prayerful
for
you,
because
the
Vengeance
that
come
don't
come
from
us
and
I
promise
you
there
is
no
amount
of
paycheck
or
title
that
will
justify
this,
be
careful
how
you
get
in
bed
with
evil
and
what
evil
will
lead
you
to
do.
My
brother.
J
Good
evening
my
name
is
Serena
Haynes
I
am
a
resident
of
Berkeley
County.
Well,
forgive
me
dear
board,
members
chair
and
superintendent
Dixon
I
also
serve
as
the
president
of
the
Goose
Creek
NAACP
I'm
here
today,
to
speak
to
the
board
and
to
the
superintendent
about
some
concerns
about
the
lack
of
transparency
with
the
board
in
terms
of
your
hiring
and
transitioning
of
employees.
J
This
includes
multiple
resignations
and
hirings
that
have
disproportionately
affected
African-American
women
in
the
district.
It
is
essential
that
every
child
has
access
to
a
safe
and
inclusive
learning
environment
that
Fosters
diversity,
as
one
of
the
largest
districts
in
the
state.
A
chief
diversity
officer
is
essential
to
our
youth.
I
would
hope
that
this
board
and
superintendent
knows
that
that
is
a
priority
for
our
children.
I
am
here
to
ask
the
board
to
prioritize
the
children
and
keep
politics
out
of
public
education.
J
C
K
Feel
somewhat
as
if
my
issue
doesn't
bear
as
much
weight
as
some
of
these
fine
community
members
and
I
simply
lack
the
knowledge
of
the
process
of
the
attendance
appeals.
My
son
is
about
to
enter
kindergarten.
K
This
is
a
huge
moment
for
our
family
and
we
have
submitted
an
appeal
which
was
I,
understand.
Denied
I
was
not
given
any
basis
for
the
denial,
so
I
would
just
simply
ask
that
I
think
it's
Mr
McDowell
provide
me
with
the
basis
for
that
denial.
K
L
Retaining
teachers
and
recruiting
teachers
is
an
essential
part
of
the
solution
to
our
current
educational
system,
emergency
which,
which
you
understand
I,
know
that
and
we
need
to
invest
more
in
our
teachers
now
for
the
future
and
I
think
you
agree
that
no
job
is
more
important
and
I
look
forward
to
your
progress
report.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
A
A
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J
A
Any
opposed,
congratulations,
Mr,
Laney
all
right.
The
next
agenda
item
is
temporary
committee
assignments.
Chair
Ramsey
is
not
here
for
the
finance
committee
and
I
will
allow
Joe
Baker
to
serve
as
chair
of
the
finance
committee.
We
will
now
recess
for
committee
assignments,
Miss
Littleton,
the
committee.
Well,
actually,
the
only
committee
we
have
is
finance
tonight
right,
yeah,
Mr,
Baker.
Take
it
away.
N
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P
Tonight
we're
requesting
a
budget
amendment
for
our
SRT
funding.
We
had
some
remaining
funds
in
certain
in
the
certain
areas
of
the
plan
where
we
came
in
under
budget
and
we'd
like
to
move
those
funds
in
for
the
purpose
of
Recruitment
and
Retention,
and
the
total
is
about
3.7
million
dollars.
P
It
was
part
of
the
sr2
plan.
We
had
some
unused
salaries
and
some
other
items
that
came
in
under
budget
and
we're
just
reallocating
those
funds,
because
we
have
to
use
them
by
September
30th.
P
P
It's
for
the
purpose
of
Recruitment
and
Retention,
and
we're
going
to
hopefully
bring
a
motion
back
to
you
in
August
to
use
any
remaining
funds
to
do
another
one-time
incentive
for
our
employees.
I'm.
D
Q
Recruitment
or
intention
that
miss
abrahamson
is
talking
about,
is
it's
not
a
program?
It
is
she's
talking
about
recruiting
and
retaining
our
employees
that
we
have
here
at
this
point,
and
and
so
the
other
piece
that
you're
talking
about
is
that
another?
It's.
J
N
B
N
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C
A
N
A
N
Also,
on
recommendation
of
the
committee
I
moved
to
approve
the
issuance
and
sale
of
General
obligation,
bonds
of
the
school
district
and
the
principal
amount
not
to
exceed
95
million
for
the
purposes
of
repayment
of
existing
debt
funding
capital
projects,
funding
other
initiatives
of
the
school
district
and
paying
the
cost
of
issuance
of
the
bonds.
We.
A
E
D
P
Yes,
sir,
every
year
at
the
end
of
the
year,
we
have
special
Revenue
funds
that
we
are
able
to
flex
into
the
general
fund.
So
it's
remaining
funds
and
we
have
to
present
a
do
not
exceed
amount,
so
we
always
go
a
little
higher.
P
So
our
do
not
exceed
amount
was
about
200
and
2.6
million
dollars,
and
we
expect
it
to
be
much
lower
once
we
pay
out
salaries
and
everything,
but
this
will
be
coming
from
at-risk
funds
and
our
summer
reading
program
and
that
money
will
just
get
flexed
over
to
the
general
fund.
E
Some
months
back,
Miss
abrahamson
made
a
presentation
to
you
that
explained
that,
due
to
the
last
year's
General
Appropriations
budget
that
the
governor
had
signed
for
us
to
backpack
certain
special
Revenue
funds
into
the
general
fund,
one
of
those
was
the
state
at
risk
funds
which
we
call
act.
338
These
funds
that
we
will
Flex
back
into
the
general
fund
are
the
last
issuance
of
those
funds
that
had
not
been
spent.
E
At
this
point,
most
of
those
programs
have
been
housed
in
the
academics
and
Innovation
Division,
and
we
increased
our
request
to
the
general
fund
budget
to
continue
to
fund
those
same
line
items
that
had
been
funded
with
at-risk
funds.
We
requested
those
programs
to
now
be
funded
by
the
general
fund
because
the
general
fund
will
be
absorbing
the
at-risk
funds
that
we
used
to
get
separate.
D
D
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D
Sir,
just
just
to
comment
and
so
I'm
assuming
rightfully
so
the
first
reading.
This
is
talking
about
a
6.5
percent
increase
for
teachers
and
a
move
from
the
28
to
30-year
step.
Is
that
correct?
D
As
I'm
sure?
Most
of
you
are
aware,
I
made
a
I
made
a
motion
and
a
proposal
early
in
the
budget
process
to
do
a
10
across
the
board
and
a
35-year
step
increase
I
never
saw
those
numbers.
Perhaps
it
was
because
I
was
not
here
last
week,
but
I
have
no
no
issue
with
a
with
a
vote
to
approve
this
at
this
point,
but
I'd
like
to
have
some
numbers
for
the
second
reading.
A
D
A
A
D
Q
And
I
also
like
to
add
that
this
recommendation
provides
for
a
balanced
budget
as
well.
A
P
Q
The
plan
of
a
two
three
year,
a
plan
financial
plan
that
we
will
have
a
base
salary
of
fifty
thousand
dollars
right.
D
Get
me
wrong:
I'm
gonna
vote
for
the
pay
raise
because
the
teachers
need
it.
I
just
think
it's
you
know
and
and
I
get
it.
We
need
to
deal
with
what
we
have
and
what
we
may
have,
and
maybe
we
can
retroactively,
but
we've
got
to
we've
got
to
do
what
we
can
now,
because
teachers
and
administrators
are.
C
D
And
going
to
places
that
are
paying
more
I
mean
that's
the
reality.
Everybody
knows
that
it's
not
a
it's,
not
a
a
secret.
So
did
you
do
the
numbers
and
would
would
the
10
and
the
35?
If
we,
if
we
let's
say
we
did
the
10
now,
would
that
require
a
millage
increase.
P
D
You
did
you
con.
Did
you
calculate
what
Miller's
increases,
because
the
reason
I'm
saying
that
is
over
the
the
Berkeley
County
school
district
has
not
imposed
a
millage
increase
in
seven
years,
unlike
most
of
the
other
local
districts?
In
fact,
three
years
ago
we
reduced
millage
by
12.
D
D
Q
You
I
said
a
6.5
increase
with
the
the
cost
of
living
for
the
state,
which
is
the
two
point
percent
and
which
is
about
an
8.5.
It
has
a
projected
plan
for
us
to
it
doesn't
increase
millage.
It
has
a
balanced
budget
with
a
projection
of
getting
a
fifty
thousand
dollar
base
salary
and
the
financial
plan
that
we
presented
to
you
was
what
we
believe
is
the
strongest
you
know
at
this
time,
but
in
the
administrative
packet
that
information
was.
D
There
understand
Dr
Dixon,
but
but
with
due
respect
you
don't
control
the
millage
I
mean
the
board
does
and
we
have
to
determine
what's
best
for
our
for
our
employees
in
order
to
retain
and
attract.
We
have
a
program
of
Recruitment
and
Retention.
Okay,
we're
going
to
put
some
three
point:
something
million
dollars
in
there.
But
how
are
you
going
to
retain
them
when
you
don't
get
them?
How
are
you
going
to
keep
them
when
you
don't
give
them
the
money
that
they
deserve
and
keep
them
here?
D
D
D
D
P
A
N
D
A
question:
why
was
the
Hanahan
project
the
first
for
us
to
to
approve,
because
we
had
three
high
schools
with
expansion
of
Goose,
Creek,
Berkeley
and
Cane
Bay
in
the
addition
of
some
also
brand
new
facilities?
So
I'm?
Just
it's
just
a
question
was:
was
there
a
study
done
to
determine
this
was
the
most
needed
needed
project
at
this
time
or
I?
Don't
I,
don't
see
a
I,
don't
see
Mr
Roberts
here
to
answer
the
question,
but
we.
Q
Did
a
presentation
earlier
this
year
that
shared
it
was
a
presentation:
I
stepped
off
the
Deus
and
shared
those
reasons
that
we
had
to
send
the
board
packets.
N
N
A
D
N
A
P
The
average
share
for
Berkeley
County
School
District
per
year
is
28
700,
and
so
the
overall
five-year
contract
term
for
our
district
would
be
143
500.
F
M
P
M
A
O
O
A
A
N
A
Q
Thank
you
board,
chair
McQuillen
and
fellow
board
members
and,
ladies
and
gentlemen
of
Berkeley
County
Schools
I
wanted
to.
First
of
all,
we
always
recognize
our
teacher
Forum
members.
Today,
I
thought
we
had
two,
but
we
have
one
with
us
today
and
that's
our
our
actual
teacher
of
the
year
is
for
the
district
Casey
gidden.
So
thank
you
for
coming.
Q
Always
appreciate
your
your
hard
work
and
your
service
to
our
district
I
wanted
to
just
share
a
few
things
with
everyone,
and
one
is
coming
from
our
HR.
As
of
June
1,
the
HR
team
reported
hiring
310
teachers
and
Counting
daily
around
this
same
time.
Last
year,
specifically
May
24th,
the
team
reported
hiring
240
teachers.
Q
So
we
applaud
the
efforts
of
our
HR
team
and
school
administrators
to
increase
the
hiring
of
teachers
this
year
and
also
thank
you
to
our
board
for
approving
your
allocations,
early,
which
directly
impacted
our
ability
to
hire
teachers
and
I,
asked
for
an
updated
number
from
HR
and
the
team
reported
hiring
358
teachers
as
of
today.
So
I
would
thank
that
team
for
their
hard
work
and
that
doesn't
include
our
classified
employees
as
well.
Q
So
we
will
continue
to
hire
teachers
throughout
the
summer
and,
as
we
go
into
our
year,
we
will
be
presenting
upcoming,
we're
finalizing
our
three-year
plan
to
strengthen
academic
Excellence.
Q
That's
coming
out
of
academics
and
Innovation,
and
then
our
executive
directors
of
schools
will
be
sharing
their
plan
with
their
rollout
to
our
principals
as
principal
supervisors
in
terms
of
supervision
and
coaching
of
principals
and
finally,
in
a
serious
moment
today
is
Juneteenth
the
day
federal
troops
finally
notified
enslaved
black
people
in
Galveston
Texas
of
their
freedom
in
18
165,
a
full
two
and
a
half
years
after
the
signing
of
the
Emancipation
Proclamation.
Q
Q
Finally,
we
commemorate
the
lies
of
the
Charleston
9
firefighter
Brandon
Thompson
engineer,
Bradford
Brad,
Beatty,
Captain,
Louis,
Mulkey,
engineer,
Mark
Kelsey
Captain,
Mike,
Captain,
William,
Hutchinson,
firefighter
Melvin
champagne,
assistant,
engineer,
Michael
French
and
firefighter
James
Earl
drankton
on
Monday
June,
18
2007,
the
Charleston
Fire
Department
lost
these
nine
brief
firefighters
while
battling
a
devastating
Blaze
at
a
furniture
store.
Both
Brandon
Thompson
and
Michael.
Q
French
were
sons
of
Berkeley
County,
School
District
employees
who
have
since
retired
the
unwavering
commitment
of
these
nine
Heroes
to
their
neighbors
to
Berkeley
County
and
to
the
City
of
Charleston
is
an
inspiration
to
all
Americans
with
respect
honor
and
gratitude.
We
remember
and
reflect,
and
that
concludes
my
update.
A
Thank
you
in
terms
of
the
board
chair,
update
just
a
reminder
that
on
Monday
June
26
2023,
we
will
have
the
2023-2024
general
fund
budget
public
hearing
and
that
will
begin
at
4
pm.
So
please
mark
your
calendars
board.
Members
for
that
and
the
board
meeting
will
follow
at
this
time.
I
will
entertain
a
motion
to
adjourn.