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Tag: Superintendent J.R. Green

  • School budget talks heat up

    WINNSBORO – An apparently routine budget vote turned into a heated debate about how to address salaries in the Fairfield County School District.

    During discussion of the proposed $41.3 million budget, trustee Annie McDaniel said she wanted a deeper discussion about increasing salaries for support staff, some of whom she said make less than $20,000 a year.

    That led to confusion, followed by frustration, over determining exactly what the scope of that discussion should entail.

    Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green said his long-term goal is to assemble a comprehensive salary review for all employees.

    Green said he wants to present something sometime next year, but estimated the plan would potentially cost several million dollars.

    “Obviously I would love to see us make an adjustment to our salary schedule that positively impacts all of our employees,” Green said. “I would love to see teachers make more, I would love to see custodial staff make more, clerical staff and bus drivers.”

    McDaniel didn’t discount that, but also said support staff deserves particular attention.

    “I thought we were just going to talk about it and give you the opportunity to review it,” McDaniel said, responding to Green.

    Board chairman William Frick said he was having difficulty discerning exactly what salary information McDaniel was seeking.

    “I just want to be clear about what we want to do,” Frick said. “We say we want to have a meeting about salaries. What do we want to look at? I don’t know what you’re asking.”

    “Because you’re trying to make it complicated,” McDaniel replied.

    “No. Ms. McDaniel. I’ve been on this board for five years, and every time someone gives you information, you tell them that’s not what you wanted,” Frick fired back. “So I want to make sure we’ve got the information that you want.”

    “No, no you need to take that back,” McDaniel answered. “Since you’ve been on this board, you have not been giving us information.

    “I don’t understand why we make a federal issue out of just looking at information, which may not warrant any recommendation for an increase,” McDaniel continued.

    In the end, the board voted 5-2 to approve second reading of the budget.

    As it stands, the proposed budget does not include a tax increase.

    Included in the budget are step increases and a 2 percent, across the board salary increase for all employees. It also includes funding for additional school resource officers.

    The proposed budget also increases the annual band stipend by $10,000. It also includes $1,500 stipend increases for boys’ and girls’ basketball coaches.

    Lastly, estimated health insurance costs dropped $13,000.

    Third and final reading is expected during the June board meeting. McDaniel also insisted that a deeper discussion of support staff salaries be added to the agenda.

  • FCSD Board moves parent conferences

    WINNSBORO – Fairfield County school board members will take a second look at the 2018-2019 academic calendar next month, with changes in parent conference days potentially impacting how next year’s calendar unfolds.

    For the 2017-2018 school year, the school district decided to schedule spring parent conferences on Thursday instead of Friday, prompting questions from some board members.

    “This week we’re out on Thursday [for conferences], but come back on Friday. Next year we are doing the same thing,” said board we are doing the same thing,” said board member Henry Miller. “Why did we do that rather than do [conferences] on a Friday?”

    “We felt if we put it in the middle of the week, we’d have better participation,” answered Dr. Claudia Avery, the district’s deputy superintendent of academics. “It wouldn’t conflict with school performances or anything of that nature.”

    Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green concurred.

    “When you plan parent conferences on a Friday afternoon, many parents are busy planning their weekends,” Green said. “Many teachers are not excited about staying until 7 p.m. for parent conferences.”

    Thursday was the first time conferences were scheduled in the middle of the week.

    Board chairman William Frick said the board could use feedback from schools to determine whether to keep or abandon holding conferences on a Thursday.

    “At least that way we’ll have more information to go on,” Frick said. “Surely Dr. Avery can tell us if there was a better participation rate this go-around than in the past. We don’t have that information to make that decision right now.”

    Green cautioned about making too many changes to the calendar, noting it was developed with significant community input.

    “There are lots of people who feel this is preferable. Sometimes we tend to forget that,” he said.

    Board members approved first reading of the calendar by unanimous vote. Second reading will take place in May.

    As it stands, the proposed calendar includes three makeup days for inclement weather in 2017-2018. Makeup days have been scheduled for Nov. 19, Feb. 18 and May 27.

    Other calendar dates of note include:

    • First day for teachers: Aug. 13.
    • First day for students: Aug. 20.
    • Christmas break: Dec. 21 to Jan. 4.
    • Fall break: Nov. 19-23.
    • Spring break: April 15-19.
    • Last day for students: June 7.
    • Graduation: June 8.

    State assessment dates have not yet been released.

  • FCSD Board spars over employee salaries

    WINNSBORO – Next year’s proposed budget includes pay raises for all school district employees, but some Fairfield County Board of Education members want to spend more.

    The board held a lively discussion Tuesday evening before unanimously passing first reading on the $41.2 million budget.

    Among the most vocal was board member Annie McDaniel, who took issue with comparatively high supplements she says some coaches are paid versus salaries of classified employees, such as cafeteria workers and bus drivers.

    “Before we give another supplement, we need to look at it on the table what we’re paying classified people,” McDaniel said. “It was sad looking at the supplements compared to what we were paying employees who work 180 or 190 days a year.”

    The proposed $41.2 million budget is about $2.5 million higher than the one approved last year. Millage would remain at 203.1 mills. Fairfield County Schools hasn’t raised millage since 2010, said Kevin Robinson, the district’s finance director.

    Robinson said the district is anticipating an increase in non-residential property tax revenue. Because of that, the draft budget recommends step increases as well as a 2 percent across the board raise for all employees.

    District Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green said there’s been talk at the state level about budgeting higher pay for educators, but nothing definite.

    “We recognize the state probably won’t mandate 2 percent and they probably won’t mandate the classified employees,” Green said. “We’re doing 2 percent across the board to make salary increases effective for all employees.”

    While board members were happy to increase pay, some took issue with implementing a percentage increase, saying it disproportionately favors higher paying employees.

    “When you’re looking at 2 percent on $20,000 versus 2 percent on $110,000, that’s a big difference,” McDaniel said.

    Board member Paula Hartman agreed.

    “We should do straight amounts. That’s more fair to me,” Hartman said. “The people working in the cafeterias and cleaning up don’t make as much so they don’t get as much.”

    Green said he favored raises by percentages.

    “To suggest we use a specific number instead of a percentage doesn’t seem to be very realistic, in my opinion,” he said.

    Robinson said the budget also includes $325,000 for five new school resource officers, which works to about $65,000 per officer. Green said the funding covers the officers’ salaries and benefits, while Fairfield County would cover vehicle, equipment and training costs.

    “We wanted to have enough money to cover the additional cost of five officers,” Green said.

    Gov. Henry McMaster has said he wants to invest millions of dollars statewide on SROs, a request that comes in the wake of recent school shootings elsewhere in the country, but no bills have been passed.

    “As much as people have talked about that at the state level, the funding of resource officers have filtered down to the local level,” Green said. “It doesn’t look like the state will be providing any money.”

    Board members also reopened debate on an old topic – a 2010 law that allows students in the Mitford community of northeast Fairfield County to attend Chester County schools at Fairfield County school district’s expense. The proposed budget for 2018-2019 estimates student transfer costs at $626,436, a nearly $75,000 increase over this year, according to Fairfield County School District budget figures.

    Some board members said they want more accountability of the money it sends to Chester County. Others want an attorney to take a second look at the Chester ruling.

    “I don’t think they intended for it to go on and on forever,” McDaniel said. “We need to look at that, we’re sending a lot of money over there.”

  • Winnsboro man shot in Five Points

    WINNSBORO – A Winnsboro man was gunned down along with two other innocent bystanders in Five Points Saturday night, following the annual St. Pat’s Day celebration.

    Deal

    Kidron Amaziah Deal, 20, was in a crowd that lingered after the celebration when he was shot in the face. A Hopkins man, Arthur Jones, Jr., 27, is charged with three counts of attempted murder after firing shots into the crowd. According to officials, none of the victims or the shooter knew each other.

    Deal, a 2015 graduate of Fairfield Central High School, was a wide receiver for the Griffins football team.

    “The kid is the epitome of a student athlete,” said coach Demetrius Davis. “He was a very good football and baseball player. However, he was a better student and an even better young man. His work ethic and smile were so contagious that it rubbed off his classmates and teammates.”

    “Kidron is a great young man and we are saddened by this tragic occurrence,” Fairfield Central Superintendent Dr. J. R. Green said. “We will keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”

    According to a victim’s advocate during the bond hearing, Deal remains on a ventilator in critical condition.

    Jones, Jr. faces three counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime and remains in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center under a $3 million bond.

  • Green appointed to Board of Education

    WINNSBORO – Fairfield County School District Superintendent Dr. J. R. Green has been appointed to the State Board of Education by the Fairfield, Chester and Lancaster legislative delegation.

    Green

    “In December, we were notified by Molly Spearman, S.C. Secretary of Education, that a seat was coming open on the Board effective Jan. 31,” Rep. MaryGail Douglas said last week. “The seat rotates between Fairfield, Lancaster and Chester School Districts, and it was Fairfield’s turn to fill it. Senator Fanning and I felt, of course, that Dr. Green is an excellent choice for this appointment.”

    “We were looking for someone to be a voice for teachers in our district and in our state,” Douglas said. “They don’t really have a strong voice on the state level.”

    “It is an honor to be provided an opportunity to serve on the State Board of Education,” Green said.  “I look forward to contributing to the crafting of education policy in South Carolina.”

    The State School Board seat is for a four-year term.

  • FCHS hosts funeral service for student

    WINNSBORO – More than 700 students, friends and family members attended the funeral for a 15-year-old Fairfield Central High School student that was held on Tuesday at the high school.

    Beaufort

    Mykel Rodriqus Hampton Beaufort died when the car he was driving collided with another car on Highway 34 near Pine Top Road on Dec. 26, around 5:20 p.m.

    “I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Mykel in the Griffin Bow Tie Club,” School Superintendent J. R. Green said. “Two words exemplify Mykel – humble spirit. He was a very respectful young man. His parents did an exceptional job raising him.”

    Green said Beaufort was also a member of the band and played football, soccer, basketball and baseball.

    “It is very hard to say goodbye to a student. I love every one of them,” FCHS Principal Tracie Swilley said. “Mykel was a model student who exemplified Griffin P.R.I.D.E. in the school, on the court, on the field and in the community. We will miss him terribly and will never forget him.”