Inside Schools
A quick news break for employees
Recent KCSD Honors
Camden High School is one of two high school finalists in the 2014 Palmetto's Finest competition. The winner will be announced March 26.
The last public session for the Anne Frank display at Lugoff-Elgin High School will be Thursday, Feb. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Doby's Mill Elementary School's SIC is one of seven School Improvement Councils to be named to this year’s SIC Honor Roll for the Dick and Tunky Riley Award for School Improvement Council Excellence.
Midway Elementary School received a $272,000 Education and Economic Development Act grant to start an afterschool and summer PAWS (Positive Achievement with Students) program for approximately 50 3rd-5th graders.
Camden High School's drill team has been invited to the Best of the Best Regional Competition in Winston Salem, NC, later this month. The group was selected over 400 other drill teams.
Procurement Coordinator Ed Estridge has earned his Certified Professional Public Buyer credential from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council.
Watershed Poster Winners
Midway Elementary students won multiple awards in the “Where Does Your Watershed” poster competition, sponsored by the Kershaw County Conservation District. Pictured from left to right are Johnathan Gullard (1st place, 4th and 5th grade category), Juan Sanchez (honorable mention, 2nd and 3rd grade category), Nick Jones (3rd place, 4th and 5th grade category), and Maggie Carter (honorable mention, 4th and 5th grade category).
100th Day of School!
Wateree Elementary kindergarten students taught by Mrs. Poeta and Mrs. Catoe celebrate the 100th day of school.
Don't Quit Your Day Job
KCSD Superintendent Dr. Frank Morgan serves members of the Junior Leadership Kershaw County class during a social and dinner etiquette session at the Millpond Restaurant in Boykin.
Golden Apple Award honorees for November and December 2013:
The Kershaw County Teacher Forum’s Golden Apple program honors employees who are doing outstanding jobs.
Golden Apple Award honorees for November and December, 2013:
ATEC: Laura Marshall & Gordon Morris
Baron DeKalb Elementary: Kimberly Simon & Cynthia Atkinson
Bethune Elementary: Amanda Woodard & David Branham
Blaney Elementary: Jennifer Nelson & Jenny Corder / Allison Burnham & Jennifer Fowler
Camden Elementary: Brandy Bragg & Darlene Cantey
Camden High: Nicole Wilson & Catherine Robinson
Camden Middle: Susan Prettyman & Julie Creel / Priscilla Gary & Breck Laschanzky
Doby’s Mill Elementary: April Dixon & Vonda Romanyszyn / Carla Lowder & Katy Wood
Jackson: Monica Barber & Paula Farmer
Lugoff Elementary: Lynn Looney & John Winfield / Robin Courson & Eric Martin
Lugoff-Elgin High: Sharon White & Tim Davis / Terri McManus & Tina Alexander
Lugoff-Elgin Middle: Sarah Lawson & Rhonda Eckenroth / Rob Evans & Alison Barr
Midway Elementary: Kathy Wright & Marie Mattox / Denee Hayes & Denise Phillips
Mt. Pisgah Elementary: Wanda Mosley & Drew Bosco / Sheryl Barrett & Amy Rivers
North Central High: Vincent Smith & Robert McDaniel / Kim Truesdale & Vicki Nelson
North Central Middle: Ellie Gandy & Keisha Clay / Jodie Kahler & Denise Marshall
Pine Tree Hill Elementary: Julie Smith & Christina Webb
Stover Middle: Amy Graves & Katherine Long / Mornique Dozier & Keith Benggio
Wateree Elementary: Julia DuBose & Wendy Post / Rhonda Moye & Christy Allen
Laura Marshall (ATEC) and Keith Benggio, (Leslie M. Stover Middle) were the winners of the district drawing to receive $20 gift certificates from Fatz Café.
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.
Are there any plans to reinstate the $5000 stipend for National Board certified teachers? Although we hope to increase the National Board stipend again this year, it is highly unlikely that the increase will take this stipend back to 2008 levels. Dr. Morgan’s short-term goal is to get the stipend to the same level as that of a Master’s Degree.
Is there a deadline for requesting reimbursement for fees that were incurred with the December 30 paycheck delay? Yes, paperwork showing any fees incurred because of this delay should be sent to Tori Smith (victoria.smith@kcsdschools.net) by Friday, Feb. 14.
Why were employees not allowed to keep printers that were purchased from grant money or by PTOs? These printers are the property of KCSD, just like the ones that are purchased with district funds. Prior to the recent replacement of printers and toners, there were 220 different types of printers across the district, many of which had significant toner costs. Standardizing these machines allows all schools to have the most efficient and cost effective copiers and printers.
As the number of school shootings increases across the country, what is our district doing to improve student safety? What kind of training will faculty and staff have on this? We are going to continue to make security improvements to buildings as funds permit and through Phase 2 of the Facilities Equalization Program. In addition, we will be working with the County and the City to maintain and increase the presence of School Resource Officers as well as working with a variety of community providers to maintain and increase mental health services, which we think are key to preventing such incidents. Our Crisis Plan will continue to be updated yearly based on feedback from public safety experts. We will also continue to conduct a variety of crisis related drills.
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.kershaw.k12.sc.us
Location: 2029 W Dekalb St, Camden, SC
Phone: (803) 432-8416
Facebook: facebook.com/KershawCountySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @kcsdschools