The District 4 Board of Trustees held its regular meeting Monday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Board
Room. Agenda notices were distributed to Spartanburg Herald Journal, the Woodruff City Bulletin
and the agenda was listed on the District website at spartanburg4.org/do/agenda.
Special Presentation
The following students were recognized as William L. Howell Art Purchase Award Winners and
received monetary gifts for their art pieces:
Cadence Huckabee – WPS Grade 1 for “Tropical Toucan”
Colin McJunkin – WES Grade 5 for “Tribute to Georgia O’Keeffe”
Sierra Thoreson – WMS Grade 8 for “Struttin’ Rooster”
Tiffany Bogan – WHS Grade 12 for “Delicatee Rosís”
The following reports were given:
Woodruff Primary School
Mrs. Hodge gave the following report:
1. Calendar of Events for May 2015 was provided.
2. On April 23, we celebrated NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child by holding a Trike-a-Thon to
raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Students, who did not have helmets,
were given donated helmets that they were allowed to keep. We are ecstatic that we will be
able to send St. Jude a donation of $5300.00.
3. Andrew Taylor was selected as the Terrific Kid of the Year. He is a second grader in Mrs.
Erin Gambrell’s class. Andrew and his family were honored by the Kiwanis club at the
Terrific Kid luncheon. Coach Mike Ayers from Wofford spoke at the luncheon.
4. The students loved the Stone Soup storytellers who came on April 17.
5. Gifted Art and Music screening was conducted in April. Students chosen to participate in
those programs at WES will be notified before the end of school.
6. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we provided some type of treat for the staff every
day to express gratitude for what they do for the students.
7. Christy Henderson, from Channel 7, spoke to our second graders about being a
meteorologist. Second grade was concluding their unit on weather.
8. JoAnn Brasington graciously agreed to do our SIC Report to Parents brochure. The
brochure contains a variety of information about the 2014-15 school year and goals for the
upcoming school year.
9. The SC Young Lawyers group would like to come read to WPS students, talk to students
about what the young lawyers do, and give all students a book.
Enrollment for WPS as of 4/1/15:
Early Head Start Childcare
4
Family Literacy Childcare
5
Preschool 3K Half-Day
9 plus Babynet transitions
Preschool 3K Full-Day
64
Preschool 4K
175 (minus Turner’s total)
Kindergarten
208
1st Grade
214
2nd Grade
204
Special Education
8
Total Enrollment
891
May Calendar of Events
Character Value Emphasis: Responsibility and the Power of Intention: Mistakes are opportunities
to learn.
Career Focus: “What’s Up Doc?” (Health Services)
4 – 15 – MAP testing – First and Second Grades
6 – School Nurses’ Day
21 – Last full day for 3K
21 – “Night of the Stars” – 6:00 p.m.
22 – 3K Program (teachers will do home visits May 26 – 29)
25 – Memorial Day Holiday
26 – 4K Program
27 – Kindergarten Graduation (8:30 and 9:30) – half day for students
28 – First Grade Awards Day (8:30) – half day for students
29 – Second Grade Awards Day (8:30) – half day for students
Woodruff Elementary School
Mrs. Brewton gave the following report:
Current Enrollment 3rd Grade – 186
4th Grade – 195
5th Grade – 193
Total
574
1. April 2: Plans are underway to implement the Read to Succeed Summer Reading Camp for
third grade students. Students identified by MAP scores will attend a six week program taught
by literacy endorsed and gifted teacher, Dana Grant. The focus of the program is to improve
literacy rates of the students in South Carolina.
2. April 6 – 10: Spring Break was observed in the District.
3. April 12: WES hosted teachers from surrounding Spartanburg County School Districts as part
of the monthly Read to Succeed Training. Twelve reading coaches from the area observed
classes at WPS as well as WES as part of ongoing literacy training and support for District 4
teachers.
4. April 20: The Eighteenth Annual Star Seekers Program was conducted in the District 4 Activity
Center. During the medal award ceremony, WES students from each homeroom were
recognized as outstanding readers and writers.
5. April 22: Interim Reports were distributed to students and parents.
6. April 22: The Spring After-School Focus Program concluded. The reading and mathematics
program served approximately 80 students three days a week for six weeks in conjunction with
the Morning Computer Club.
7. April 23: D J Stewart, a fifth grade student in Mrs. Eden Young’s class, represented WES at
the Terrific Kid of the Year Banquet. D J, family members, and administrators gathered with
his teacher at the Summit Pointe in Spartanburg for this honor. The event is sponsored by the
Boiling Springs and Spartanburg Kiwanis Clubs. DJ received a plague and other award gifts
as the recipient of the Terrific Kid of the Year award.
8. April 28 – May 1: Students participated in the ACT Aspire State Standardized Testing
Program. Fourth and fifth grade students will take the PASS science and social studies test in
May.
9. April 30: At the conclusion of state assessments students participated in Inflatable and Rock
Wall Activities. The event was sponsored by Spartan Marketing.
Woodruff Middle School
Mrs. Brown gave the following report:
Current enrollment figures:
6th grade: 202
7th grade: 186
8th grade: 215
1. Final report cards will be mailed home at the end of the school year.
2. Forty 6th graders received a tDap immunization on April 21. DHEC provided for these services.
3. The E.N.G.A.G.E. Banquet is rescheduled for Tuesday, May 12. Girls and their guests will enjoy
in fellowship and a meal, and comments from Mrs. Carrie Potter, former guidance counselor at
WMS who began the girls club, and the current Miss Spartanburg.
4. 18 of the 59 students identified as DUKE TIP Scholars participated in either SAT or ACT testing
as part of the talent identification program. Two students earned state recognition for their scores,
7th graders Marissa Emerson and Semira Jones.
5. All IGP’s (individual graduation plans) for current 8th graders have been completed and recorded
in the PowerSchool database. Guidance counselors offered conferences to all 8 th grade parents
and conducted 85 meetings.
6. The Edwards Jones Investment Company sponsors WMS’s Athlete of the Week selections.
Spring sport honorees include Katherine Thompson, track; and Kaliyah Gilliam, jv girls soccer.
7. As part of the Strategic Planning process, committees were established. One of the plans to
come out of the committees was to change WMS colors from Red and White to Maroon and
White. The theme is “On the Prowl.” This encourages students to become Proud, Responsible,
Outstanding, Wolverine Leaders. Eighth grade students will be encouraged to “Go for the Gold.”
The new colors will be implemented for the 2015-16 school year.
Calendar of Events:
Friday, May 1
Tuesday, May 5
Thursday, May 7
Friday, May 8
Monday, May 11
Tuesday, May 12
Wednesday, May 13
May 13-15
Thursday, May 14
Tuesday, May 19
Thursday, May 21
Friday, May 22
Wednesday, May 27
Thursday, May 28
Friday, May 29
ACT Aspire Science
Rotary Choral Concert, 7 pm, Activity Center
PASS Science
PASS Social Studies
Eng I EOC
Academic Awards Banquet, 6 pm, WMS Gym
Alg I EOC
E.G.A.G.E. Banquet, 5 pm, WMS Cafe
Make up 8th grade Aspire Science
Cheer Try Outs, WMS Gym
Gifted Art Show, Woodruff Public Library, 6-7 pm
Drama Production, 7 pm, Activity Center
Cheer Camp, 3-4:45 pm, WMS campus
Drama Production, 7 pm, Activity Center
School choral and band concert, 1:30 pm
6th Awards Day
7th and 8th grade exams
7th Awards Day
6th and 8th grade exams
8th Awards Day
6th and 7th grade exams
Woodruff High School
Dr. Aaron Fulmer reported the following:
1. On April 18, the Woodruff High Chorus attended the music festival held at Carowinds and
received an Excellent Rating on their performance.
2. The Most Improved banquet was held on April 20 with approximately 200 students, parents,
and teachers in attendance.
3. Woodruff High School has again been identified as one of America’s Most Challenging High
Schools The Washington Post. Woodruff High School ranked 17th in the state and first in
Spartanburg County.
4. The NAHS held a Color Run on April 18. The run had approximately 100 participants and
raised $1000.00 for the Howell Scholarship Fund.
5. The 2015 Prom was held on April 25. The Prom theme was “Great Gatsby” and was attended
by 311 people. Anna Davis was crowned Homecoming Queen. Brandon Stites was crowned
Homecoming King and Whitt Ramey accepted in his honor as the first runner up.
6. All third year WHS students took the ACT on April 28 and the Work Keys test on April 29. The
ACT and Work Keys tests are two of the new state standardized tests.
7. The President of East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and some of his staff visited WHS.
They are very interested in recruiting WHS students. Students that score at least a 22 on the
ACT and have a 3.4 GPA will be given in-state tuition rates at ETSU. In-state tuition rates at
ETSU are currently just under $10,000/year.
Instructional Reports
Ms. Karen Neal provided the following information:
1. Fresh Start is fully functioning at the Workman Center with Plato software as the curriculum.
Current enrollment is 24. Enrollment in Project HELP is 13. State testing is being provided to
applicable students at Fresh Start and HELP. Currently, 3 Express students have completed
diploma requirements, and three more are projected to complete diploma requirements.
2. ACT and WorkKeys were administered to Woodruff High School juniors on April 28 and 29.
ACT Aspire was administered to grades 3-8 on April 28-- May 1. End-of-course exams will be
administered in English I, Algebra I, U.S. History, and Biology I. The testing schedule has been
shared with principals, counselors, and teachers and includes the testing of HELP, Fresh Start,
homebased, SCAS, Scholars Academy, and Adult Ed diploma students as applicable. In
addition, Advanced Placement exams will be administered to appropriate students at WHS
from May 4—May 13.
3. The MAP testing window is open for the testing of grades 1 and 2 at Woodruff Primary.
Students at all other schools have completed the spring MAP testing window. Principals and
district administrators are in the process of analyzing data.
4. Plans are being made for “Great Start” on August 8 at the District 4 Activity Center. Vouchers
will be given to students during school registration which will entitle them to receive free school
supplies and services donated by local churches and community organizations.
5. Future testing plans are uncertain. A new RFP is being prepared by the State Department of
Education for release by a yet-to-be determined entity. The legislature is still in session and
should rectify this process at some point.
6. All schools and Spartanburg 4 as a district received an “ALL CLEAR” accreditation status.
7. All schools continue the scheduling process for 15-16 with course requests and grade level
assignments. District administrators are meeting with principals to discuss staffing, curriculum,
and other resource needs for next school year.
8. Final reports on teachers undergoing ADEPT evaluations are being completed and teachers to
be evaluated next year have been notified. Also, all teachers who certificates are to expire on
June 30 have been notified regarding recertification needs on multiple occasions. In addition, a
new ADEPT plan for Spartanburg 4 is being prepared for submission by June 30 to include an
achievement rating of 20 percent of the evaluation.
9. Plans for summer school at all four schools have been finalized. All extended year programs
will begin on June 8th. In addition, WES will provide a Summer Reading Camp for selected
third graders in an effort to enable them to read on grade level.
10. The Federal and State Accountability Committee met on April 30 to review all federal and state
programs.
Dr. Kim McAbee provided the following report:
1. District and school strategic plans for 2015 – 2020 were submitted to the SC Department of
Education on April 30. The SCDE will review the district plan and provide feedback.
2. Schools will administer AdvancED surveys for staff, parents, and students in May. Follow-up
surveys will be administered in the fall.
3. Principals are scheduling curriculum meetings with district administrators to discuss plans for
the 2015-16 school year.
4. Screenings for gifted and talented music and art have been taking place over the last couple of
weeks and will be completed on May 6.
5. Woodruff Friends of the Library Reception is scheduled for May 14. It will highlight artwork
from Woodruff Middle School and Woodruff High School.
6. “DSS Orientation for New CDEP Administrators” will be held in Columbia on May 12. The
CDEP Director and Administrative Assistant from Woodruff Primary will attend this meeting to
learn of any new guidelines or changes for the upcoming year.
7. “Improving 7th Grade Social Studies PASS Scores” will be held at Whitlock Flexible Learning
Center on May 12. A group from Woodruff Middle School will be attending.
8. “Implementing the SC CCR Standards for ELA and Math 2015” will be held at Whitlock Flexible
Learning Center on May 13. Administrators are registered to attend.
9. A Read to Succeed cohort (reading coaches from Spartanburg 4 and 6) met in District Four on
April 21. Coaches were excited about their observations and very complimentary of Woodruff
Elementary and Woodruff Primary. District 6 coaches have asked to return to conduct
additional observations and talk with teachers about their lessons.
10. The Spartanburg Academic Movement will release SAM Chapter 1 “Faces of Change” on May
4, as it continues to report on academic progress in Spartanburg County. This year, the
Kindergarten Success Collaborative Action Network has concentrated on school readiness.
Additional Collaborative Action Networks will be formed to focus on other benchmarks for
academic achievement, such as third grade reading, eighth grade math, high school
completion, and post-secondary completion.
11. The Healthy Schools Summit, sponsored by the Mary Black Foundation and the Spartanburg
Community Indicators Project and hosted by Partners for Active Living and the SRHS
Corporate Education, will be held at the Whitlock Flexible Learning Center on June 4 from 8
am to 4:15 pm. We are encouraging nurses and PE teachers to attend.
Mrs. Mary Johnson provided the following report:
1. During the months of April and May I will attend the Annual Review Meetings of all 21 of the
Spartanburg District 4 students served in 3 Satellite Programs; McCarthy Teszler in
Spartanburg District 7, Abner Creek in Spartanburg District 5, and Fairforest Middle in
Spartanburg District 6. After each meetings I visit the student’s classroom to meet him/her, so
I'll be able to recognize my students when I attend programs at their schools.
2. The countywide committee, which I served on with 4 other Spartanburg County Special
Education Directors to revise our guidelines for enrollment in McCarthy, Teszler, the
Alternative School, and Brookwood Academy, accomplished our goal. We completed the
revision of the guideline for enrollment at McCarthy in January, Teszler in February, and
Brookwood Academy and the Alternative School in April.
3. On April 7, during Spring Break, I took our new psychologists, Dr. Jackie Babcock and Thomas
Goodwin on a tour our schools, they were very impressed. Next year Jackie will work 2 days at
Woodruff Primary School and 2 days at Woodruff Middle School. Thomas will work 2 days at
Woodruff Elementary School and 2 days at Woodruff High School. They will have one day to
collaborate and write reports.
Facilities
Board members received a printed update of facilities projects.
Superintendent
1. Board sponsored end-of-the-year teacher luncheons have been scheduled at all schools.
Board members are invited and encouraged to attend any and all luncheons. The luncheons
will be held on the following dates/times:
a. WES – May 27 12:30 p.m.
b. WPS – May 28 – 12 noon
c. WHS – May 28 – 12:30 p.m.
d. WMS – May 28 – 1:00 p.m.
2. Teacher/Employee Appreciation Week was celebrated in District Four the week of April 20-24
because of heavy testing schedules this week. Muffins and bagels were provided for all
employees.
3. Retirees will be recognized at the June meeting.
4. Would like to schedule the Public Hearing and Budget Meeting for June 16. Board
unanimously agreed to the recommended date.
5. No board meeting in July.
6. Still have not received Palmetto Gold/Silver Awards flags.
7. Henry Laye from the Election Commission will be visiting the Activity Center to look at possibly
using the facility as a voting precinct.
8. District Four had 89.2% of graduates enrolled in either a 2-year or a 4-year post-secondary
educational program.
9. Board members were emailed a copy of an article from The State Newspaper on the cost of
athletic facilities across the state.
10. Gave an update on the reclassification/amendments at the SC High School League.
Board Approval
a. Installation of concrete pad and bleachers on visitors’ side of WMS football field.
b. Replacement windows for WMS.
c. The following personnel for the 2015-16 school year:
i. Jennifer Brown – WPS Teacher
ii. Crystal Hornick – WPS Teacher
iii. Kia’ra Geter – WES Teacher
iv. Heather Abrams – WHS Guidance Counselor
v. Rodney Mooney – WHS Teacher