Inside Schools
A quick news break for employees
Recent KCSD Honors
Baron DeKalb Elementary received the 21st century Community Learning Center grant again this year to operate an afterschool program. The grant writing team consisted of Robin Sowell, Betty Turner, Kim Simon, Lucinda Howell and Donna Harre.
Baron DeKalb Elementary Reading Coach Donna Harre received a $200 grant to be used for membership into the Kershaw County Reading Council.
Wateree Elementary teacher Della Johnson received funding for her "Bringing Technology to First - Step 2" program from Donors Choose.
Five teachers received Classroom Enrichment Grants from the Camden Junior Welfare League: Donna Watts, Blaney Elementary, Let's Boogie; Marti Wallace, Camden High, Ceramics Class; Hope Robinson, Lugoff Elementary, Literacy Learning Luggage; Judi Mills, Doby's Mill Elementary, Grocery Store Reading; and Mary Catoe, Doby's Mill Elementary, Once Upon a Time.
INVISTA Supports KC Robotics Team
The KC Robotics Team had a visit from four INVISTA representatives to learn more about our group's activities and present the team with a check for $5,000.
BES Wild Kittens
Bethune Elementary School is going wild over their Wild Kittens and mural being painted by the school's new art teacher Justice Littlejohn.
JES Leadership Pageant
Jackson School hosted its fifth leadership pageant with the theme Love, Learn, Lead... Leave a Legacy. Thirty Jackson Leaders participated, and the pageant raised over $3,500.
Golden Apple Award honorees for August/September
The Kershaw County Teacher Forum’s Golden Apple program honors employees who are doing outstanding jobs.
Golden Apple Award honorees for August and September 2017:
ATEC: Katie Nixon and Eric Branham
Baron DeKalb Elementary: Audrey Burroughs and Lucinda Howell
Bethune Elementary: Cindi Gordon
Blaney Elementary: Tammy Duszynski and Robin Mathis
Camden Elementary: Laura Borowski and Donna Driggers
Camden High: Arisleida DeGuzman and Jackie Timmons
Camden Middle: Cora Waterfield and Cynthia Addison / Lydia Moore and Maria Canetto
Continuous Learning Center: Jackie Johnson
Doby’s Mill Elementary: Holly Kirkland and Caroline Gross
Jackson: Jennifer Infinger and Thomasina Barngrover / Sharon Bond and Brooke McLeod
Lugoff Elementary: Jenna Atkinson and Kimberly Bradshaw-McLeod
Lugoff-Elgin High: Gina Bruce and Robin Reeves
Lugoff-Elgin Middle: Jolie Rumple and Eric Johnson
Midway Elementary: Lindsay Catoe and Jessica Bittner
Mt. Pisgah Elementary: Martha Mason and Cindy Gordon
North Central High: Liana Ghibu and Regina Bowers / Cheryl Helms and Lana Broughton
North Central Middle: Jodie Kahler and Wendy Jones / Lesli Pate and Jennifer Gibson
Pine Tree Hill Elementary: Dianne Farlett and Melisa Miles / Angie Lawson and Lucinda Rhame
Stover Middle: Krystal Catoe and Debbie Hinson
Wateree Elementary: Christie Turbyfill and Christi Wadford
Tammy Duszynski (Blaney Elementary) and Cindi Gordon (Bethune Elementary) were the winners of the district drawing to receive $20 gift certificates from Moe's Southwest Grill.
Q and A with Dr. Morgan and Staff
Questions for this column are questions of general interest submitted each month in Superintendent's Cabinet meetings.
Why there is such a difference in stipend amounts in regards to teachers/coaches that lead art activities after school compared to athletic activities? Although the school district was able to implement the first phase of a comprehensive salary study in 2008, the economic downturn has prevented the school district from implementing the study’s other recommendations including addressing stipends. The priority has been to address base salaries and the National Board Certification supplement, which has been restored to $2,500.
What steps are being considered to match Richland 2's salary scale for TERI employees and NBCT teachers? As the school district continues to recover from the cuts that had to be made with the economic downturn, it also struggles with the fact that there is no longer an agreed upon funding model with the county for growth. After providing all employees a 2% increase, addressing growth and a few additional administrative positions, there was very little money left to address other issues. Addressing employee salaries continues to be a priority in each budget setting process.
When is the next pay increase for transportation? Pay raises for all employees will be considered during the next budget setting process, set to begin in early 2018.
When parents pay the student fee at registration, where does that money go? The fees go directly in the General Fund. If fees are eliminated, the district would need an additional 2.5 mills to replace the funding.
Why can't retired teachers be exempted from paying into the retirement system since it will not benefit them? This decision is made at the state level. You may want to address your concerns with the SC Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA).
Why were drivers’ education classes taken out of the schools? This was done as a cost-saving measure during the economic downturn. It used to cost the district $1,000/student to run the program. If it were to be brought back, it would likely be as a contract with a private provider.
Why are CLC students riding back with LEHS students from ATEC and why isn't there an extra adult on the bus if they have to ride together? There is extra room on the buses that are already running those routes; to run separate buses would cost more money for mileage and drivers. The only buses with additional adults riding on them are buses carrying special needs students and a few elementary routes.
Why we are not having a representative sent from the District Office for our benefits as we do each October? Benefits representatives are ALWAYS available. Please make an appointment first, if at all possible. We must strive to incorporate more technology into our services, which will allow our department to work more efficiently with limited resources. Most employees in KCSD have multifaceted jobs. HR is no different. We strive to meet the needs of over 1,000 employees in the District while also meeting state and federal mandates.
What is the purpose of the school phones being set up where teachers still have to call the front office to connect to another teacher's classroom or special services like the library? This is done to not interrupt instructional time in the classroom where the call is being received.
Was cost the driving factor in using the Cisco IP Phone 7911 for teachers with no speakerphone ability? Yes. There are other phones in school buildings with speaker phones that can be used if needed.
The school district has set forth guidelines about major and minor grades and the minimum number of grades teachers should have per grading period, but what is the district's policy on when teachers use points instead of percentages and manipulate how much specific assignments are weighted? Ex. One quiz worth 20 points as a minor grade and another quiz worth 100 points as a minor grade. The district does not have a specific policy on the use of a point system for scoring specific assignments. Teachers who use a point system should seek approval from their principal and explain their grading systems to parents at the beginning of the grading period as the point system does not show up in Parent Portal and may be confusing. If a parent should challenge a teacher who uses a point system for grading, it is the teacher's responsibility to articulate the value of such a scoring system to parents.
Next year, is there any way that we could have a late start or early release day during the week to have professional development? This is something that the districtwide committee working on the recommendation for the 2018-19 calendar can consider. They will be collecting feedback on the drafts they have developed through November 1.
Has there been more discussion on finishing up first semester before we leave in December for winter break? Is this a possibility? Yes, one of the drafts that the districtwide committee working on a recommendation for the 2018-19 calendar has developed shows this as an option. There is no way with the state-mandated start date for students being no earlier than the third Monday in August to have semesters of equal length; the first semester would have to be shorter if it ends before the winter break.
Why can’t the weather make-up days be moved from January to other months when there is not a day off? The weather make up days for this year are coupled with teacher workdays. High schools prefer two teacher workdays after the first semester to get ready for the second semester since with block scheduling, it is like starting all over again with new students. If the weather make up days were separated from the teacher work days, the length of the school year would extend beyond June 1, which seems to be unpopular with many persons.
When a call is made through the Blackboard system, why isn't there an option to press a number for Hispanic parents to hear the message in Spanish? Families who have indicated that Spanish is their primary language receive these messages in Spanish if the text-to-talk feature is used.
Could the district furnish employees with IDs? This is something that can be considered during the next budget setting process.
What is the replacement cycle for teachers’ computers? Every four + years.
Is Summer Reading really beneficial? Can the Summer Reading Project be retooled to not have an assessment paired with it? As educators, we need to constantly emphasize to students that learning is a lifelong process, and that reading during their time away from school is important for future success. Based upon the data the district has collected over the years concerning our One Book, Everyone Reads high school summer reading program, students do read the selected book and perform well on the assessment. Thus, the question of taking an assessment has not been identified as a major issue. The district feels that we have a successful model that works well for our community and a program that has become a source of pride as other school districts have asked about it so that they could replicate it in their community. We are always striving to improve what we have traditionally done and welcome comments from teachers on how we could make our summer reading program even better. If there are suggestions on how to improve the program, please feel free to share your ideas with the committee. You can email your thoughts to the One Book, Everyone Reads committee through our webmaster link at webmaster@kcsdschools.net.
When will you start working on the band room at Camden High? When will we be contacted about getting new uniforms since both North Central High and Lugoff-Elgin High have gotten theirs? The Construction Team (architects, engineers and general contractor) are continuing to work on due diligence issues as well as consult with the administration/staff to formulate and fine tune the project details. Construction is scheduled to begin the end of May as soon as school as out. We are going to try to address the uniform situation in next year's budget.
We have problems being able to purchase necessary items before the $5,000 monthly limit for the school credit card is reached. Can this limit be raised? The finance office is investigating this situation.
Our kindergarten classes have less PE times than other grades. Is that legal? Yes, the state provides flexibility with kindergarten PE times.
Kershaw County School District
Nestled in the heart of the Palmetto State, KCSD is home to over 10,300 students and more than 1,200 employees.
Email: maryanne.byrd@kcsdschools.net
Website: www.kcsdschools.net
Location: 2029 W Dekalb St, Camden, SC
Phone: (803) 432-8416
Facebook: facebook.com/KershawCountySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @kcsdschools