Two special groups involving both Anderson County students and educators were recognized for their recent accomplishments during the board meeting on April 8.
Superintendent Sheila Mitchell, along with Robert B. Turner Elementary principal Jason Alexander, gave recognition to the RBT academic team for its recent accomplishments at both the district and regional competitions that took place in March.
In the Regional Competition, the RBT academic team won fourth place overall out of 17 schools, as well as winning the sportsmanship award which was voted on by the participating teams in the competition.
Both the district and regional competition consisted of competing as a team and as individuals in math, science, social studies, and future problem solving.
“These kids represented us so well, and we couldn’t be prouder of you all and your accomplishments, especially the sportsmanship award, that was awesome,” Alexander stated, “I am just grateful for you guys, you made it look easy, you’re a good team, you had fun, and that is what it is all about. You’ll remember this for the rest of your lives.”
The RBT 2024 academic team consists of coaches Sarah Wallace, Kaitlyn Smith, Elizabeth Harris along with team members Kyle Lewis, Addison Hagen, Lilian Wilcher, Josiah Wells, and Wyatt Chiflett, Lane Henderson, Piper Sanders, Kenzie Gough, Katie Beckman, Carly Meritt, Anna Warren Nesbit, and Avery Drury.
Mitchell also recognized several ACS educators for the 2024 annual teachers of the year recognition where a teacher from each school within the district is selected as teacher of the year.
The Anderson County teachers of the year selected among the ACS master teachers exhibit a strong work ethic, build strong student relationships, teach students through their actions everyday how to be good people, work collaboratively with students, staff, and families, and take pride in being educators.
The 2024 Anderson County teachers of the year are Beth Murphy, SECC, Shelby Stratton, RBT, Lauren Koeller, ACHS, Heather Case, ACMS, Katie Gonzolaz, SSE, and Maggie Smith, EBW.
Each teacher was called to be recognized and given a plaque while they each had their principals stand up and say a few words about the hardworking educator they are.
In other business:
* Considerations were proposed to the board regarding the Saffell Street Elementary cafeteria structural repairs project.
The considerations included to approve award of contract for the base bid of $438,890 to B&R Construction LLC; to approve alternate number one in the amount of $117,558 to B&R Construction LLC; to reject the bid, redesign the documents, and rebid, which would cause an approximate two month delay; or lastly, vote to enter post bid negotiations with B&R Construction LLC with the intent to value engineer portions of the project were presented to the board.
Board chairman Jason Collins stated to the project manager that the bids proposed were big numbers to which she replied, “They are very big numbers, and I am very sorry to be the bearer of such disappointing news for this project.”
The project manager mentioned there was only one bidder for the project, after discussion with two other contractors who declined to submit a bid with concerns of the size of the project, being small and tedious. She added the contractor had stated due to the increase in costs for concrete and with some concrete needed for this project, the base bid reflects those costs.
She added she has been in conversation with their structural engineer to talk about other ways they could go about this project which was discussed at length and ultimately decided there are not many other options that would save money. She stated another concern with redesigning and rebidding the project is that with the number of projects going on during this time of year they would fear they would not get a bid.
Collins and vice chairman Scott Brown agreed there are possibly other ways to go about the project that have not yet been thought through entirely. Collins added he doesn't want a two-month delay with worry of who is going to bid on the project, therefore he is leaning toward the post-bid negotiations to work with the contractor to see where they can cut and change things around to lessen the cost.
The board motioned and approved post bid negotiation to allow possible changes to be made and a potential change in costs to be presented to the board at a work session meeting to be scheduled within the next couple of weeks.
* Special Education Director, Beth Morgan Cook requested the addition of a behavioral consultant stipend of $3,000 for lead special education teachers at the elementary level.
This creation will provide support to teachers with behavioral needs and assist overall. Mitchell stated to the board that this stipend will help many teachers and students with behavioral needs.
Cook stated they have been providing these services with extra funding that is now ending and they want to continue providing the support to students and teachers but do so in a more physically responsible way to add a stipend to allow a staff member to utilize it.
* Purchases over $10,000 included 11 HP workstations and monitors for ACHS Career and Technical Education program funding in the amount of $19,096 in addition to the 15 received last year to allow more students to take part in the CTE classes. The purchase was approved by the board.
* ACS Chief Information Officer Blake Drury presented the annual technology plan to the board.
Drury stated their goals from the prior year that were met included network upgrade, maintaining student computer ratio of 1 to 1 or greater, continuing to monitor and improve the network, continue to support of STLP in all schools, limited reliance on copper, expand the technology district professional development offerings, and implementing student technology internship and help desk program at ACHS.
Drury added that their areas of improvement include gathering more robust student voice data, incorporating networking technology skills pathway into ACHS, and enhancing cyber security.
* Consideration to extend the monitoring of cracks at Anderson County Middle School and Saffell Street Elementary by six more visits for a total cost of $7,200 was presented to the board.
It was stated that the initial contract with the special inspections group ran out of time when they were coming on site to inspect and take documentation of the cracks that had recently ended.
In talking with the structural engineer, they felt three more months of documentation would be helpful to inspect the cracks throughout all seasons to determine if the movements causing the cracks is a seasonal problem or a progressive structural movement. The board approved the extended visits to allow determination of the structural cracks at ACMS and SSE.
* Construction regarding the HVAC work at ACMS has been finished in the classroom pods and the team has now moved on to the multipurpose room. They worked with principal Jeanna Rose to seal off any school traffic through the area.
They reported to still be ahead of schedule and this area should be complete within the next 30 days. The rest of the work will take place over summer to allow minimal disruptions during the rest of the school year.
* The creation of a five-hour nutrition services team member position at Emma B. Ward Elementary was presented by Ronnie Fields.
Fields stated right now, EBW is working at maximum capacity at 18.25 percent meals per labor hour with the suggestion being between 14 and 18 percent. This position was presented to the board with the intent of helping alleviate the labor for the remaining amount of this school year and for the next upcoming school year. The board approved to create the extra nutrition services position at EBW.
* The second reading of the 2025-26 school calendar was read by Assistant Superintendent Travis Harley. The calendar reviewed and approved by the board at the previous month’s board meeting was presented to them again for consideration for second approval. The board approved of the presented calendar for the upcoming school year.
The next ACS board meeting will take place on Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m. in the Central Office Training room. The public is welcome to attend or watch via livestream through the ACS website.