Barnwell County Career Center Board holds their final meeting

The Barnwell County Career Center (BCCC) board held their final meeting on June 3.

Effective July 1, the BCCC, Barnwell School District 45 and Barnwell County Consolidated School District (Blackville-Hilda and Williston-Elko schools) will consolidate into one district. Once school district consolidation takes effect, those boards will dissolve as the Barnwell County School District (BCSD) board assumes oversight of all the county’s public schools.

“I know the heart you all have for our kids. You have shown a lot of service and dedication,” said BCCC director David Augustine to the board. “Thank you for trusting me to lead this school.”

Augustine especially cited board member Teresa Hughes of Blackville who has served on the board for close to 22 years. Other board members include Becky Huggins, David Reuis, Cathy Smith, Shelby Broomfield, Felicia Devore, and Teresa Hughes.

Though they won’t be serving on the BCCC board after June 30, Augustine said he knows they will still be involved in the school system in some capacity.

Each member was  presented a plaque made by the welding students.

Budget Amendments
At the May 20 meeting, the board approved the reallocation of approximately $7,000 in federal funds.

“With consolidation, the State Department of Education asked us to get all federal money spent before consolidation happens so that with the new district we are starting everything fresh,” said Augustine of Perkins and EIA funds. Those federal funds were originally intended to pay for things in the summer, such as camps and conferences.

However, the BCCC will now use those funds to buy equipment. Other funds that were originally intended for equipment will now be used for the conferences and camps since they don’t have to be spent before the July 1 consolidation.

“We are just swapping what we are using those funds for,” said Augustine. The reallocation of funds was unanimously approved.

In Other News:
• Work on the building that houses the building construction program is underway and expected to take 4-6 weeks to complete.

“When it rains, it leaks really bad. There are holes in it. They have been sealing the metal roof this week and will be working on the back side roof this week,” said Augustine at the June 3 meeting.

• The IT department is running new cables throughout the entire school building with the help of M&M Glass. PRTC is installing new switches, access points, and firewall. This will move the internet service from a 100-megabite circuit to a 250-megabite circuit. “This will provide a little better coverage for our students out here,” said Augustine on June 3 of how the improved system will better go through brick walls.

• Several BCCC students attended the first ever Hire Summit at Aiken High on April 23, joining students from Aiken and Edgefield counties. This event was for seniors looking for jobs after high school or who didn't know what they want to do next. "There were a couple of students hired on the spot at the event. I thought it was a successful event with over 40 present and over 400 student candidates," Augustine said on May 20.

• On May 2,  140 students completed their respective programs and particiapted in the completer ceremony. Augustine said this was one of the larger classes of completers they've had recently. 
• Augustine recently met with EMD Electronics in Allendale County. "They wanted to know about the career centers in Barnwell and Allendale counties and what we offer our students. They are looking for potential candidates," said Augustine, who wants to set up tours and interviews next year with seniors who don't have a plan for after high school. 
• AirGas, a supplier industiral, medical, and specialty gases, donated around $6,000 worth of equpitment and supplies to help keep the welding program running. 
• Every health science student who took the patient care technican exam passes. "It's a really rigorous exam," said Augustine.