Summerville, SC – August 12, 2024: The Dorchester District Two (DD2) School Board held its regular meeting tonight, focusing on a wide range of topics from student recognitions to crucial updates on school safety, attendance, and infrastructure.
Honoring Local Talent
The meeting commenced with the recognition of P.J. Morlando, a standout baseball player from Summerville High School, who was recently drafted by the Miami Marlins. Morlando was also named the Gatorade South Carolina Baseball Player of the Year, making his community proud. A video message from Morlando was shared, expressing his gratitude and excitement for the future.
In addition, the board honored a student from Joseph Pye Elementary School who was awarded the Lt. Governor's Scholarship, showcasing the district’s commitment to academic excellence.
Board Member Recognitions
Gail Hughes, the South Carolina School Board Association representative on the DD2 School Board, presented awards to board members Cynthia Powell, Kellie Bates, and Evan Guthrie for reaching Level 2 in the SCSBA Boardmanship Institute. Hughes praised these members for their dedication to continuous learning, emphasizing the importance of their efforts to better serve the district's students.
Committee Updates
Kellie Bates provided an update from the Policy Committee, noting that there were no new policies to report. She reminded attendees of the upcoming policy committee meetings scheduled for August 26th and September 23rd at 5:00 PM, which will be the last meetings before the upcoming November 5th election.
Evan Guthrie briefly mentioned that the budget had been passed but did not have any new updates from the Finance Committee.
Justin Farnsworth from the Facilities Committee handed the floor to Superintendent Dr. Shane Robbins for a comprehensive update on ongoing infrastructure projects.
Superintendent's Report
Dr. Robbins provided several important updates:
Emergency Operations: Dr. Robbins highlighted his recent visit to the Dorchester County Emergency Operations Center and expressed his appreciation for the district’s first responders. He also reported on the recent flooding in the area due to Hurricane Debby, noting that water levels have crested, and runoff is beginning, though travel issues on some roads, including 165, 61, and 17A, are expected in the coming days.
Meet the Teacher Events: Despite the challenging weather, elementary schools successfully held “Meet the Teacher” events. Dr. Robbins commended the schools for their adaptability and mentioned that alternative arrangements have been made for families who were unable to attend.
Bond Resolution: The board approved a bond resolution for $37.5 million, presented by CFO Tina Meunier, to cover equipment acquisition and other capital costs. The bond sale is set for September, with funds expected to be available in October.
Construction Projects: Dr. Robbins announced plans to hire a construction project manager to oversee the projects funded by the referendum over the next 36 months. He assured the board that the hiring process would be thorough and that an Independent Citizens Advisory Review Team (CART) will provide oversight, ensuring transparency throughout the process. This is part of a larger plan funded by the May 2024 bond referendum, which passed with 74% of the vote.
Safety Measures: Deputy Superintendent Chad Daugherty discussed the district’s adherence to seat time requirements and compulsory attendance laws, stressing the importance of early intervention for students nearing attendance thresholds. Additionally, Preston Giet, head of the district's safety department, detailed the implementation of new weapons detection units and the role of Chester, a weapons-detection dog, in enhancing school safety. Giet highlighted that since these measures were put in place, there have been no firearm incidents in the district’s schools.
Employee Recommendations and Superintendent Evaluation
The board accepted Dr. Robbins’ employee recommendations with a unanimous 7-0 vote.
The meeting concluded with the board entering an executive session to evaluate the superintendent and discuss personnel matters. Any actions resulting from the executive session were to be addressed before the meeting adjourned, we'll provide an update on the Superintendent's evaluation when more information is available.
Upcoming Meetings
The next policy committee meetings are scheduled for August 26th and September 23rd at 5:00 PM. The board will continue to provide updates on the referendum and school infrastructure projects in future meetings.
Community members are encouraged to attend and stay engaged in the ongoing developments within the district. Stay engaged in our local community Summerville News Facebook group by clicking here.
Rewatch the meeting below:
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