Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Monday, July 28, 2008
6:00 p.m. – District Office Board Room
MINUTES
I.
Call to Order
The Rock Hill School District Three Board of Trustees met this date at 6:00 p.m.
with members present as follows: Bob Norwood, Chairman; Walter Brown; Mildred
Douglas; Ann Reid; Mikki Rentschler; Jason Silverman; and Jim Vining. Mr. Norwood
called the meeting to order and asked Mr. Brown to say a prayer. He noted that the local
news media had been notified about the meeting, in writing, on Thursday, July 24, 2008.
Shawn Cetrone was present from The Herald. Mr. Brown requested County Delegation
Issues be added under Other Business on the agenda. A motion was made by Walter
Brown, and seconded by Jason Silverman, that the agenda be approved with this change.
The agenda was unanimously approved as amended.
II.
Executive Session
A motion was made by Jason Silverman, seconded by Walter Brown, to adjourn
to Executive Session to discuss personnel matters.
The board reconvened in open session at 6:10 p.m. A motion was made by Jason
Silverman, seconded by Walter Brown, and unanimously passed to accept the
administration's recommendation of Jason Johns as Assistant Principal at Northwestern.
III.
Citizen Participation - None
IV.
Special Business - None
V.
VI.
VII.
Consent Action Agenda
Upon a motion by Mikki Rentschler, seconded by Ann Reid, the following topics
on the consent action agenda were unanimously approved: the minutes of the June 23,
2008, business meeting; the personnel recommendations submitted by the administration;
three overnight field trip requests; distribution of Jim Vining’s July compensation.
Communications - None
Report of the Superintendent
A. Announcements
Superintendent Moody made the following announcements:
 On June 27, Rock Hill Schools sponsored the second annual Power of
Mentoring Golf Tournament at the Waterford Golf Club. Through the support
and generosity of the Rock Hill business community who donated money and
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contributed door prizes, more than $10,000 was raised to benefit our
mentoring program.
Three of the five grants submitted to the state for Education Improvement Act
awards received funding in the amount totaling $13,885. Congratulations to
the following winners: Kelli Ferment at Lesslie Elementary; Pat Smith at
Northwestern High School; Stephanie DiStasio at South Pointe High School.
Orientation for first-year teachers will be held in the Cyber Café at the
Flexible Learning Center August 4-8 from 9:00 – 4:00 daily. Orientation for
teachers new to the district will be held August 11-12 in the Training Room of
the district office.
The schools board’s next work session will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the district
office on August 11.
All teachers, new and experienced, will report for their first workday of the
new school year on Wednesday, August 13. Teachers will have five
workdays before students report to school.
The back-to-school celebration for all district employees will be held in the
gymnasium at South Pointe High School on Friday morning, August 15,
beginning at 8:50 a.m. The Teacher of the Year for Rock Hill Schools will be
announced at this meeting. Following the celebration, employees will attend
job-alike sessions.
As in recent years, sixth-grade and ninth-grade students will begin their school
year one day earlier than other students to allow them to become familiar with
their larger school setting. Their first day will be Tuesday, August 19.
Students in other grades will report for their first day on Wednesday, August
20.
On August 1 at 6:30 p.m., Troy Evans, a nationally known motivational
speaker, will be in the auditorium at South Pointe High School to present his
life story on how he found himself in trouble and incarcerated after making
many poor choices. He will tell how he turned his life around with the help of
his family, coaches, teachers, and community leaders. The Rock Hill School
District Foundation is sponsoring his visit to Rock Hill, and the presentation is
free and open to the public.
Summer Bridge, an innovative program for rising ninth-graders at each high
school, will be held July 28 through August 1.
B. Leadership Training
Harriet Jaworowski provided the schedule for leadership training, which
begins July 28 and ends with a full-day administrative retreat on July 31. Throughout the
week participants will receive staff development on topics such as special education,
literacy, ADEPT, curriculum mapping, and changes in the Education Accountability Act
(EAA).
C. New Teacher Induction
Beckye Partlow discussed the induction program for new teachers.
Ms. Partlow stated that 55 first-year teachers will meet for a full week of activities the
week of August 4-8 at the Cyber Café. Teachers new to the district will meet on August
11-12 at the district office. A fabulous week has been planned to help new teachers
become familiar with Rock Hill Schools and the community.
D. Construction Update
John Hair and Clyde Mitchell, with Rock Hill Schools, and Bill Myers, with
M.B. Kahn Construction Company, discussed a number of construction projects. They
informed the Board that Mount Holly Elementary and Dutchman Creek Middle, the two
newest schools, will be ready on time for the beginning of school and both schools were
slightly under budget.
E. Innovation Report
Harriet Jaworowski and Luanne Kokolis provided data and a summary of the
innovations introduced and piloted during the 2007-08 school year.
VIII. Review of Work Session
There was no work session in July.
IX.
Action Agenda
A motion was made by Walter Brown, seconded by Jason Silverman,
and passed unanimously to approve the administration’s recommendation to increase the
school lunch prices as follows: The cost of lunch for elementary students will be
increased from $1.50 to $2.00; the cost of lunch for secondary students will be increased
from $1.75 to $2.25. Elementary and secondary breakfast costs will remain the same at
$1.00. The cost of an adult breakfast will be increased from $1.50 to $1.95 and the cost
of an adult lunch will be increased from $3.00 to $3.25. These increases, which are the
first in six years, are due to the rising cost of food.
X.
Other Business
A. Board Retreat
Mr. Norwood stated he would like the following items, pertaining to the
Board retreat, discussed at the August 11 work session: consensus items, summary of the
self-assessment, format of the retreat and date of the retreat.
B. County Delegation Issues
The Board requested that the administration draft a letter to send to the
York County Delegation to specify what the board went through in determining its
2008-09 budget and its efforts to avoid using the fund balance as a result of Act 388.
The letter will be discussed at the August 11 work session.
A motion was made by Walter Brown, and seconded by Jason Silverman, to
adjourn to Executive Session to discuss the Superintendent’s evaluation. Open session
adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
XI.
Executive Session
During an Executive Session at tonight's board meeting, the board completed its annual
evaluation of Supt. Lynn Moody. The board returned to Open Session on a motion by
Walter Brown, seconded by Mildred Douglas, at 9:37 p.m.
A motion was then made by Walter Brown, seconded by Jason Silverman, and
unanimously approved that the following statement be approved to reflect the board's
sentiment toward the job Dr. Moody is doing.
Statement from Robert "Bob" Norwood, Board Chairman
Rock Hill Schools
July 28, 2008
During tonight's meeting, the Board met in Executive Session to conduct
its annual evaluation of its Superintendent, Dr. Lynn Moody. The Board
is pleased to report that Dr. Moody received a very positive evaluation.
We are extremely pleased with the progress the District has made during
the past school year under Dr. Moody's leadership. Last year, the Board
identified improving student achievement and lowering the dropout rate
as two primary goals on which the District should focus. While the
Board and Superintendent realize that the District will not experience a
significant improvement in one year, Dr. Moody embraced these goals
and established several effective programs to address them, including,
among others, the Renaissance Academy, the Saturday School, the
Phoenix Bound Program for overage 8th graders, and a mentoring
program. The District has also created a Professional Code for all
employees. We are pleased that we are on schedule to open Mount Holly
Elementary School and Dutchman Creek Middle School. In the process
of opening the new schools, we also rezoned the elementary, middle and
high schools.
The Board wishes to express publicly its full support of Dr. Moody and
her staff. The District has difficult challenges ahead which must continue
to be addressed, and the challenges will remain difficult, particularly
with the uncertainty of State and local funding. We will continue to
monitor new and existing programs and maintain those that are working
and discontinue those which are not. We are grateful for Dr. Moody's
outstanding leadership, work ethic, and her commitment to the success of
our District.
As a result of her positive evaluation, Dr. Moody's contract will be extended two years,
or through June 30, 2013. Additionally, as provided in her contract and based on her
positive evaluation, Dr. Moody will receive a salary increase, bringing her annual salary
to $161,275.
XII.
Adjourn
A motion was made by Mikki Rentschler, seconded by Walter Brown, to adjourn
the business meeting at 9:45 p.m.
_________________________________
Secretary
APPROVED: ________________________________
Chairman
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Monday, July 28, 2008
PERSONNEL MATTERS – JULY 2008
The board accepted resignations from the following administrative employees:
David Adam Swearingen ......District Office - Finance
Desmond Cato .......................Northwestern
The board affirmed contracts for the following administrative employees:
Katherine Frailey ...................District Office - Instruction
Karen Owens .........................District Office – Instruction
The board accepted transfers of the following administrative employees:
Anthony Thomas ...................South Pointe
The board accepted resignations from the following certified employees:
Tommy Leonard ....................Castle Heights
Yolanda Adams .....................The Children’s School
Julie Gabriel ..........................Ebenezer
Terah Smith ...........................Ebinport
Karen DuBard .......................Finley Road
Donna LaPrad........................Finley Road
Sylvia Renwick .....................Northwestern
Natasha Williams ..................Rosewood
Judith Lewis ..........................South Pointe
Juanita Porter .........................York Road
The board affirmed contracts for the following certified employees:
DreNe’ Bolinger ....................Castle Heights
Megan Fielden .......................Castle Heights
Keasha Grant .........................Castle Heights
Graham Hayes .......................Castle Heights
LaShunda Hill .......................Castle Heights
Maureen Stetson ....................Castle Heights
Jessica Waters .......................Central Child Development
Amanda Leaphart ..................The Children’s School
G. Toyota Douglas ................Dutchman Creek
Emily Harper .........................Dutchman Creek
Cynthia O’Sullivan................Dutchman Creek
Roger Sanders .......................Dutchman Creek
Meredith Jenkins ...................Ebenezer Avenue
Tieshka Gourdine ..................Exceptional Student Education
Michael Deckert ....................Finley Road
Michelle McGuiness .............Finley Road
Corrie Holiday .......................Independence/Oakdale
Aron Rougeou .......................Northside
Hengameh Heywood .............Northwestern
Lindsay Nance .......................Northwestern
Sylvia Renwick .....................Northwestern
Shannon Kuhl ........................Northwestern
Rebecca Mack .......................Northwestern
Gwyndoln Miller ...................Northwestern
Laura Kick .............................Rock Hill High
Cindy Bradley .......................Saluda Trail
Alice “Kaylan” Brown ..........Saluda Trail
Margie Clark .........................Saluda Trail
Andrean Cottle ......................Saluda Trail
Carol Ann Davis ....................Saluda Trail
Jennifer LeVally ....................Saluda Trail
Graham Thomas ....................Saluda Trail
Major Walter Anderson, Jr. ...South Pointe
Carmen Brittain .....................South Pointe
Julia Cheeks ..........................South Pointe
Alexander Cooper .................South Pointe
Tiffany DeBose .....................South Pointe
Charles Pendarvis ..................South Pointe
Laura Ball ..............................Sullivan
Teresa Hauss .........................Sullivan
Kimberly Liscoe ....................Sullivan
Richard Priode .......................Sullivan
Juanita Porter .........................York Road
The board accepted transfers of the following certified employees:
McKeeta Allen ......................Dutchman Creek
Patrice Barlotta ......................Dutchman Creek
Charlotte “Beth” Bramlett .....Dutchman Creek
Vickie Burkins ......................Dutchman Creek
Christina Campbell ................Dutchman Creek
Clyde Cope ............................Dutchman Creek
Melissa Creech ......................Dutchman Creek
Amy Dellinger .......................Dutchman Creek
Jessica Epps ...........................Dutchman Creek
Davonia Freeman ..................Dutchman Creek
Monique Gaither ...................Dutchman Creek
Lynn Hammond.....................Dutchman Creek
Brian Hollingsworth ..............Dutchman Creek
Tina Infinger..........................Dutchman Creek
Stephanie Long......................Dutchman Creek
Andrew Majors......................Dutchman Creek
Sharon Mayo .........................Dutchman Creek
Charles Newton .....................Dutchman Creek
Melissa Phipps ......................Dutchman Creek
Tim Robinson ........................Dutchman Creek
Steve Sanford ........................Dutchman Creek
Stacey Shope .........................Dutchman Creek
Carla White ...........................Dutchman Creek
Amy Williams .......................Dutchman Creek
Pam Zimmerman ...................Dutchman Creek
Heidi Hitchcock.....................Ebenezer Avenue
Belinda Rinehart....................Ebenezer Avenue
Nancy Thomason...................Exceptional Student Education
Heather Wilson......................India Hook / Mt. Gallant
Meaghan Pawley ...................Lesslie
Phuong Amiel........................Northside / Oakdale / Sunset Park
Melissa Scott .........................Northwestern
Nancy DeStephano ................Rock Hill High
Yudy Prada Ardila.................Saluda Trail
Robert Hamm ........................Saluda Trail
Robin Madden .......................Saluda Trail
Jennifer Moore ......................South Pointe
Robertretta Patterson .............South Pointe
Debra Bostic ..........................Sunset Park
The board accepted resignations from the following non-certified employees:
Sheila Hill..............................Castle Heights
Stephen Ramey.....................Castle Heights
Tiffany Ximines ....................The Children’s School
Teressa Moore .......................Lesslie
Rhonda Bayer ........................Northwestern
Craig Crisp ............................Operations
Mary Smith............................Rock Hill High
Etta Gist .................................South Pointe
Candace Richards ..................South Pointe
The board affirmed the employment of the following non-certified employees:
Rose McCullough..................Dutchman Creek
Jo Ann Walkup ......................Dutchman Creek
Donna Bradley ......................Finley Road
Joanne Stogner ......................Mt. Gallant
Willie Crisco .........................Operations
Jennifer Stillwell ...................Rawlinson Road
Ginger Warren .......................Rawlinson Road
Gina Wright ...........................Saluda Trail
The board accepted transfers of the following non-certified employees:
Teresa Ezell .......................Dutchman Creek
Kimberly Fennell ...............Dutchman Creek
LeeAnne Howington .........Mt. Holly
Lorri Lawrence ..................Mt. Holly