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Consolidation update, new programs, and policy approval were topics of discussion at the Barnwell County School District (BCSD) meeting on February 27.
New Programs
Blackville-Hilda High School (BHHS) will welcome a barber/master hair care program in the 2024-2025 school year. This program will be open to all students in the county.
The district recently closed applications for a program instructor. Administrators will be visiting Lexington School District Two on March 15 to see their barber/master hair care program.
An early childhood education pathway will also be offered in the 2024-2025 school year. BHHS has a space which already meets the state requirements for this program.
Administrators are visiting the Orangeburg Career & Technology Center on March 21 to see their child development program.
At Barnwell County School District 45 (BSD45), the S.C. Department of Education (SCDE) has allowed a multi-age Montessori classroom as an expansion of the Child Early Reading and Development Education Program (CERDEP) program already in place.
BSD45 requested additional funding for this classroom that will serve three and four-year-olds. Funding approval is still pending.
CERDEP programs were expanded this past fall at Macedonia Elementary-Middle School (MEMS).
These programs are through the Barnwell County Career Center (BCCC), but will be housed at their respective schools.
Consolidation Update
The process of combining budgets is underway. Chief Financial Officer Holly Hutto is working with financial management software to merge data from all three districts; BSD45, the Barnwell County Consolidated School District (BCCSD), and BCCC.
In March, meetings will be held to determine budget needs for the 2024-2025 year from each school. According to superintendent Dr. Crissie Stapleton, this is a critical step prior to bringing a proposed budget before the board for approval.
In other consolidation news, BSD45 Director of Operations Mike Beasley has begun coordinating with transportation and maintenance supervisors regarding operations and needs moving forward.
Approved ELA Materials
Four English Language Arts (ELA) instructional materials for the 2024-2025 school year have been approved by the board.
Materials were chosen by teacher representatives from each different grade span across the county. These representatives learned of state-approved, available options at the recent Instructional Materials Caravan held by SCDE.
The four programs were Zaner-Bloser Handwriting for K and K3, South Carolina Wonders by McGraw Hill for grades K-5, South Carolina StudySync by McGraw Hill for grades six to eight, and HMH Into Literature for grades nine through 12.
Policy Approvals
Policies regarding general school administration and fiscal management were passed on the second reading at the meeting.
The board also read additional policies relating to fiscal management for the first time.
Policies on their first reading include establishing the basic structure for budget transfers, ensuring federal funds are processed correctly, collection of tuition for non-resident students, structure for signing checks and credit card use, payment procedures, and more.
The next BCSD meeting will be held on March 26 at the Barnwell County Career Center.
