Allendale School Board recognizes students, staff, parents for excellence

Allendale County School District ignited the enthusiasm of faculty, educators, and students at their September 26 school board/community meeting.

Beginning with The Pledge of Allegiance recited by sixth grader Lucy Krebs and a greeting from District Teacher of the Year Willie Johnson, the meeting covered a variety of topics essential to the growth and development of the district.

Audrey Patterson, Director of Federal, State Testing & Accountability Programs, explained Allendale-Fairfax students are “definitely on the move,” in the realm of state assessment results.

Patterson broke down SC Pass, SC Ready, End of Course Examination Program (EOCEP), and WorkKeys results as well as graduation rates.

“Grades third through eighth increased in English Language Arts (ELA) and math on SC Ready, apart from fifth grade who maintained their percentage from the previous year in ELA and slightly regressed in math,” stated Patterson’s PowerPoint on the topic.

Also, almost half of the students who were tested received certificates in WorkKeys in either silver, gold, or platinum levels.

“We have to celebrate where there is room to celebrate,” said Patterson. “We’re excited about the growth.”

Overall, the graduation rate from Allendale-Fairfax High School (AFHS) increased from 76.3% in 2021 to 78.3% graduation rate in 2022.

During the Superintendent’s Report, Superintendent Dr. Margaret Gilmore unveiled Allendale County School District’s purchase of an online, 24/7 chat-based, program tutoring system called Paper Education.

The Paper Education tutoring system costs the district $37,000 for 500 licenses to be distributed amongst students to start. Superintendent Dr. Gilmore explained the district will purchase more licenses if interest in the program grows.

Dr. Gilmore also detailed facility renovations like a new kitchen and men’s restroom both in the district office, as well as the upcoming $1,000 retention bonus for returning educators on October 25.

“Retention is important in this district because our students need consistency,” said Dr. Gilmore.

During the technology report, technology director Darren Cook explained the growing threat of ransomware, a software designed to block access to a computer system until a ransom is paid by the owner to the hacker.

Cook explained the threat of ransomware is only worsening in both frequency and complexity especially when targeting school districts, and Allendale County Schools are taking all necessary precautions to prevent their networks from being compromised.

Thomas Varghese from the IT Department explained 250 Chromebooks were issued to students, the CATE Lab at AFHS got 20 desktop computers, and set up devices for students in the AP Statistics class at AFHS.

“We want to give them the resources to be successful in and out of the classroom,” said Varghese.

The fine arts report was given by Ferdinand Cooper who detailed the CARE Project, a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to widen access to arts in Allendale County.

“This grant allows us to give our students that bridge to what some larger schools have,” said Cooper, who is an administrative assistant at Allendale County Schools and a Program Manager at Winthrop University.

This grant is hoped to provide, “equitable education through the lens of fine arts,” according to Cooper.

Cooper also explained the visual arts program has been reinstated and is being developed alongside a music technology class at AFHS. Both were possible due to the CARE Project.

Awards

Allendale-Fairfax Elementary School (AFES) third grade teacher Tameika Tinsley was awarded the Golden Apple Award for exemplary teaching. School board member Katrina Youmans said Tinsely is an “extraordinary teacher.”

Students and educators of the month each received a certificate and a $25 gift card at the meeting and were honored by the board members.

In AFES, Christain Housey was awarded as Student of the Month, and Brenda Pringle was awarded as Teacher of the Month.

In Allendale-Fairfax Middle School (AFMS), Xavier Thomas was named Student of the Month and Shernette Morgan was awarded as Teacher of the Month.

In AFHS, Bryce Loadholt was awarded Student of the Month and Vanassa Robinson was named Teacher of the Month.

In the evening school, Destiny Corley was named Student of the Month.

The district’s Parent of the Month was distributed to grandparents that have gone above and beyond for their students.

Delores Wright was described as the ‘neighborhood auntie’ by Dr. Gilmore and awarded the AFES Grandparent of the Month for “checking on a plethora of students,” said Dr. Gilmore.

In AFMS, Christina Parker was awarded as Grandparent of the Month for being the “first person to ask about being a volunteer,” said Dr. Gilmore. Parker currently has two grandchildren in AFMS.

In AFHS, Evone Johnson is a grandmother to three seniors and was applauded for her continued support for Allendale County Schools. Dr. Gilmore explained Johnson attends all school and sporting events to support every child.

The district also recognized Sedalia Sanders (Outstanding Support Staff of the Month), Thomas Varghese (Outstanding District Office Employee of the Month), Kendra Moore (Outstanding Bus Driver of the Month), Charlie Elmore (Outstanding Custodian of the Month), and Erica Jones (Outstanding Food Service Employee of the Month).

Once the monthly awards were through, the principal of each school took to the podium to award students who met and/or exceeded fall iReady diagnostic criteria. Each student was awarded $10 for this accomplishment. iReady assessments are given three times per year.

Each student who came up to receive their award was told by Superintendent Dr. Gilmore that she was proud of them, and how smart they were.

School Updates

Each principal provided updates on what is happening in their respective schools.

In AFES, Principal Sheila Leath explained the $10,000 Savannah River Mission Completion grant to maintain STEAM programs in the school.

Elementary students are participating in Positive Behaviors, Interventions, and Supports (PBIS). This allows them to accumulate points for good actions throughout the month in exchange for a reward like a pizza or ice cream sundae party.

Principal Leath has also implemented the Good News Call of the Day, where she calls a student’s guardian to tell them what a good job their student is doing.

This year, the AFMS is a leadership school and Principal Dr. Willie Robinson is dedicated to preparing his students for high school.

Although Principal Dr. Robinson wants his students to be ready to tackle high school, he also wants them to remember their time in AFMS. To do this, the school has reinstated publishing a middle school yearbook.

AFHS Principal Darlene Hall explained students are in an ‘early college high school,’ meaning they have the opportunity to graduate high school with college credit, an associates degree, or a certification in a career path of their choosing.

“They get the true rigor of college,” said Principal Hall.

This is possible through partnerships with USC Salkehatchie, Denmark Technical College, AP Classes, and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in automotive technology, business education, construction technology, cosmetology, HVAC, health science, and welding.