Ignite
Issue #12 | February 3, 2023
Hello February!
100 Days of School
Colleton County School District celebrated 100 Days of School On Monday., January 30th. Look at our 100 year old elementary school students and teachers!
Colleton County School District
Email: pwysong@colleton.k12.sc.us
Website: www.colleton.k12.sc.us
Location: 500 Forest Circle, Walterboro, SC, USA
Phone: 843-898-4761
Facebook: facebook.com/ColletonCountySchoolDistrict-CCSD
Twitter: @ColletonSchools
Finance
CCSD Receives Clean Audit
The district added about $3.2 million to the its fund balance in the 2021-22 fiscal year. Colleton County School District’s fund balance exceeds state requirements of one month (8.33%) of the average year’s expenses. The district’s long-term goal is two months (17%) of its budgeted general fund expenditures. The district's fund balance is at 25%.
“We still have an excess of $3 million dollars over
the district’s long-term goal." stated Ramona Barrett, CCSD Chief Financial Officer.
Congratulations and a round of applause go to Ramona and her team! And Thank you to Dr. Vanessa Reed and Federal Programs for supporting Finance with ESSER Programs!
Ramona Barrett, Chief Financial Officer, Sonya Grant, Amy Jessen,
Susan Crosby, and Becky Roy.
Operations and Student Nutrition
Supply Chain Assistance Funding Awarded
The South Carolina Department of Education Office of Health and Nutrition has awarded the Colleton County School District Office of Operations and Student Nutrition $245,816.79 since February 2022. These funds could be used to purchase minimally processed food and/or beverage for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. CCSD used the funds for all of our milk products for the Program in order to track the District's spending for milk as required by the State department as part of receiving the funds.
Ellen Fitch, Executive Director of Operations and Student Nutrition said, "These funds have helped us with our food costs for this year and allowed us more funds needed for the increase in Salaries and Fringe for the year."
Ellen Fitch, Executive Director of Operation and Student Nutrition, Teresa Roberson and Karen Finley.
Human Resources
Employee Engagement Survey
At the conclusion of the first quarter, the HR department launched an employee engagement survey in an effort to receive feedback from our employees about their daily work environment. The survey was insightful and provided district leadership with focal points moving forward.
The Survey Results are as follows:
CCSD Successes -
1. Salary Increase was nice
2. Having collaborative co-workers makes coming to work easy and enjoyable
3. Working with students and helping the district move forward gives me a sense of purpose
4. Implementation of iReady
5. Having instructional support from coaches is great
Recommended Areas of Improvements
1. Decrease in the # of PLC Days
2. Help with student discipline
3. Increase in salary for classified and certified employees
4. a.) Staff recognition for all employees
b.) Retention bonuses for all employees
5. Hire teachers to replace the ones who left
6. Less professional development sessions on teacher work days
7. Understanding the new SpEd Curriculum (TeachTown)
The District responded the Recommended Area of Improvements.
Response to Recommended Areas of Improvements -
1. Decrease in the # of PLC Days-Reduced from 4 to 3 days per week
2. Help with student discipline-Revisions to PDP (in progress)
3. Additional increase in salary for classified and certified employees
4. a.) Staff recognition for all employees-Superintendent Staff Recognitions at Board Meetings
b.) Retention bonuses for all employees-All employees received a bonus in December.
5. Hire teachers to replace the ones who left-Recruiting and hiring efforts continue throughout the year
6. Less professional development sessions on teacher work days-C & I has revised the district’s PD plan.
7. Understanding the new SpEd Curriculum (TeachTown)- OEL has provided PD to this subgroup of educators.
Thank you to Wilsey Hamilton, Director of Human Resources, and her staff Jean Nettles, Sharill Middleton, Elizabeth Stroble and Maytee Stephens for all of their hard work on this survey.
Colleton Takes Flight!
On Saturday, January 28, 2023, a few of our middle and high school students took flight at our local Walterboro Regional Airport with the following Chaperons: Kimberly Footman, Monica Adams, and Ronetta Williams. This event was sponsored by the EAA Young Eagles and the Hiram E. Mann Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen.
The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people ages 8-17 the opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. The volunteers who participate in the Young Eagles program are local members of the EAA who are volunteering their time and aircraft to make the flights possible.
Overall, it was a great event as our students explored their interest in the Aviation career path as they had a chance to fly for free as well.
A Night In The Valley
Chef Williams and his Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center Culinary Arts Senior Class had the pleasure of working the15th Annual Vintner's Dinner, "A Night in the Valley", hosted by the Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College. This event is sponsored by big name companies throughout the Charleston and surrounding areas. Donations and proceeds from the event totaled to $700,000.00 that night, ALL which is used for support of critical needs of the Institute and to sponsor scholarships for the culinary/ hospitality/and food and beverage students. The guest are served a three course meal, that is prepared by the culinary students of the College, and assistance in serving and plating dishes is provided by culinary students of various high schools.
CCSD Seniors Sign Letter of Intent
Colleton County High School hosted a National Letter of Intent signing ceremony for Makayla Chisolm (South Carolina State University - Softball) and Jordan Slocum (North Greenville University - Softball) on Wednesday February 1st in the Performing Arts Center. Family, friends and teammates were in attendance to help celebrate these two young athletes as they begin their transition to collegiate athletics.
Congratulations Makayla and Jordan!
Cottageville Elementary School Level Up
Cottageville Elementary School celebrated students who have completed their Level Up sheets in math or reading. These students have completed and passed at least 31 lessons on their i-Ready reading or math personalized instructional path.
University of South Carolina New Presidential Visit
Dr. Sharon Baddick, Dr. Michael Amiridis, Dr. Vallerie Cave and Jessica Williams
Operation Cougar Nation
Dear Principal Cannon –
I was very interested to read this article about your Operation Cougar Nation program and want to commend you and your team on the initiative you have taken to get it off the ground.
I firmly believe that these types of partnerships between our schools and their local community are vital to improve student learning and behavior, as well as to show our educators that they are appreciated and supported.
I would very much value the opportunity for my team and I to learn more about how you have structured your program, the training that you conduct for volunteers, and the early results and feedback you are seeing in your school.
I want to be an advocate to support and expand efforts like this for students across the state!
Warm Regards,
Ellen
Ellen E. Weaver State Superintendent of Education South Carolina Department of Education Office: 803-734-8491
E-mail: eweaver@ed.sc.gov
CCSD School Board
Board Retreat and Board Planning Session
The Colleton County School District School Board held a Board Retreat on Saturday, January 28th. Items on the agenda included The State of the District address from Dr. Cave, Board History from Attorney Bert Duffie and Board Member Roles and Responsibilities from speaker, Dr. Darrell Johnson.
The School Board also held a Work Session on Tuesday, January 31st to discuss the Progressive Discipline Plan. Administrators, District Staff, Principals, parents, students and members of the community were in attendance. In addition to the Progressive Discipline Plan data, opportunities for growth and the Alternative School were on the agenda. Teachers and staff were given the opportunity to give input as well.
Colleton County School District Board Retreat
Colleton County School District Board Work Session
Please follow us on Facebook , Colleton County School District-CCSD and Twitter , @ColletonSchools as well as our website, www.colleton.k12.sc.us.
Thank you for your continued support of the Colleton County School District!