[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6611718,"mediaKeyId","2893004-92ce696b8a4e590773fdccd8d0471ab3","parentId",2893004,"title","District recommends i‑Ready for elementary math despite teacher runoff favoring Eureka","audioSeconds",129,"startMs",3255000,"endMs",3384000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2893004-92ce696b8a4e590773fdccd8d0471ab3&start=3255&end=3384","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2893004-92ce696b8a4e590773fdccd8d0471ab3/thumbnail_3255000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6611718/South-Carolina/District-recommends-iReady-for-elementary-math-despite-teacher-runoff-favoring-Eureka","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611718-e8b6d6521781a1e3bdfcc28113466d1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928317&Signature=MTLq5Up5bBPe~hHCeelvIXzOUI8ik1--V~NQe5vweZ4kVkUo2SKLFvXEU-HP4rthd6RrPbuJlyRLmUYoRziovZXd9pOMCbmdCkDBo~WsFeDnj~i9fTl1mKw5FOuaqcHChjhOsHNDzsf8xWLbnURYDwpN7ryG7SL~B8ont4~VqZ-wXqX31TpSicSHjGw77PCFuN1BTUOpxkFo~Y7T4jSBbeEnRaE0T269e3uZWXUHr7Ir~N6i6PcZDzcmdkGxqKQRFlnb441t9tSPzlYf65~wSQry14-ShoPDr~Ywij4MQhpXn6AYWm7dDT3Xp4mW4ebRK~x15i0fLVyi-M4DX0sfZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Berkeley 01","date","2025-04-08T00:19:14.92Z","article","The Berkeley County School District’s academics and innovation committee on April 7 advanced a first reading of spring 2025 textbook adoptions and heard a substantive recommendation on K–5 elementary math.

Jennifer Crowley, director of curriculum and instruction, and Dr. Gilman described the local adoption process, which the district performed under the South Carolina Department of Education’s instructional materials rules and board policy IFAA. Committees of classroom teachers, school administrators and instructional coaches reviewed state‑adopted materials and each school submitted votes.

Crowley reported that for elementary math a runoff left teacher preference for the program Eureka, but the Department of Curriculum and Instruction recommended adopting i‑Ready for K–5. In explaining the recommendation, administration cited financial and academic factors: the district already invests in i‑Ready (noted in the presentation as $292,778 for the diagnostic and personalized learning platform), i‑Ready’s package includes teacher tools and diagnostics, and district analysis found Eureka would require substantial local modifications to fully align with South Carolina standards. The presentation said adopting Eureka would also require additional investment for math manipulatives; the specific dollar amount given in the spoken record was unclear in the transcript and is therefore not specified here.

Dr. Gilman told the committee that for secondary mathematics and Physics 2 the department’s recommendation aligns with the teacher vote and those adoptions were presented without reservation. Committee members approved moving the recommended list forward as a first reading; Dr. Gilman noted the adoption process will include two committee readings before final board approval and that printed review copies are available in the boardroom for the public to examine during the reading period.

Administration emphasized that the state funded the math instructional materials adoption this cycle and that the district’s recommendation considered ease of implementation, alignment to South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards and long‑term financial implications. The committee recorded the first reading and will consider a final recommendation after the required review period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Berkeley County School District Board Meeting - April 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a committee meeting the district’s curriculum office presented a recommendation to adopt i‑Ready for K–5 math, citing alignment and cost considerations, although teacher votes favored Eureka in a runoff. The adoption will continue through required readings before final board approval.","taxTitle","Berkeley 01, School Districts, South Carolina","taxId",14916,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611722,"Parents urge district action on bullying, special‑education procedures at school board meeting",232,4451000,4683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2893004-92ce696b8a4e590773fdccd8d0471ab3&start=4451&end=4683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2893004-92ce696b8a4e590773fdccd8d0471ab3/thumbnail_4451000.jpg","/articles/6611722/South-Carolina/Parents-urge-district-action-on-bullying-specialeducation-procedures-at-school-board-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611722-89039e1f6dbee4e69c74c30583c10116/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928317&Signature=TPamu-9ZldrglWNH2Cz0sRmGTP-ABOvl1HGdJEKZEUyQ5kcj1b5B3uZJ9zZiEx9QqE-C1Vxx5dvS8vaRCc1I-LImxJgZqZwvcqg2f~dYxSMr5cR~lNWWTH-aXaEfeFa2kzWbQLD5Tu8xEo979R0y6lSAUVT4TIHrM~TZXQY2WsRXq7YvGQ58vAp~smsQVfUoAs8LUnCdTgMwRvGDAwyHhUt0IAtq3xtygDF4D5wz3OJ4lIMmoEajkkNRs45T4c1wqzdq-cBi-8UnBHRIqHQoaFFU0C16m71--xYo4uKXTiePmlDW3zmFL4ww2MJIQeA41bV9NI0Ug2PpMtDcWhYMMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the public comment portion of the April 7 Berkeley County Board of Education meeting, multiple speakers described ongoing problems with bullying and the district’s handling of students with individualized education plans (IEPs). Speakers asked the board to acknowledge failures, explain enforcement practices and propose improvements.

“More specifically, how we've seen repeatedly ... enforcement of these policies,” said Jason Brockett, who identified himself as a recurring public commenter. “My own son's story has been intentionally pushed under the rug for almost a year now.” Brockett said he has cataloged his appearances and interactions publicly and urged families and staff to speak up so the district can “present a plan for doing it better.”

Another parent who identified herself as Sarah raised multiple questions about services and safety for students with special needs: “What is your training for crisis prevention institutions for kids with IEPs and BIDs? What happened to the music teacher and the other teachers that are leaving? Why is a fourth grade teacher not returning? Why is a teacher who struck my son still working inside the school?” She also asked whether seclusion and restraints are being used and whether there are cameras in special‑education classrooms. Sarah said she had filed police reports and described her child coming home injured.

Both commenters said fear of retaliation keeps many families from speaking in public. Brockett said some families “are reluctant to come up here … for fear of repercussions” and urged the board to acknowledge problems and explain how it will enforce its policies. Sarah told the board she had repeatedly tried to resolve issues with school staff and said a principal had called the Department of Social Services on her, which she described as “a bogus call.”

The board did not take immediate action on public comments during the meeting; the district’s public comment rules read aloud at the start of the session note that the board will not take immediate action and that complaints about employees other than district‑level executives will not be heard in public session.

The superintendent and other administrators were present later in the meeting and made routine reports on district programs and events; no publicly announced immediate remedies or investigative steps were presented on record in response to the commenters’ allegations during the open meeting.","Multiple parents told the Berkeley County School Board that bullying complaints and concerns about how the district handles students with special needs have gone unaddressed, urging clearer enforcement, transparency and remedies.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611726,"Board approves expulsions appeals, multiple vendor contracts and new school names",2884,5165000,8049000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2893004-92ce696b8a4e590773fdccd8d0471ab3&start=5165&end=8049","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2893004-92ce696b8a4e590773fdccd8d0471ab3/thumbnail_5165000.jpg","/articles/6611726/South-Carolina/Board-approves-expulsions-appeals-multiple-vendor-contracts-and-new-school-names","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611726-26efeaccc6c6b19e6848d6983ea056c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928317&Signature=lfwua47o~0q69vZDPthOtYOgr4IWpcjDSfFvp3QRmoZBi7LFxlJOCba8YiXoByr30wrzFfVKQEjwnO0AWnD4Ojq6ByP5sqIij89RN66xHJNCDbC~PZEQewDPOdwmvZvTARDNuBbSVnw5jVq7QS1Vwwjyro841cDMbxbtqJzUvEFPxFRm0BT1kJuR2nNu986zMYLWpC3o5Gc7F7xZb-9OWgmW7Q1UN6b2fArj~8~D8GM9M5Z3SqSjzVv09P2VIjr~KZst~h8udMQ7aBKEFHPOJ5a2rULetqK9juNRKv55WEr~Pvx5ID8hIelIqSK0IiIzBMf9dbHzHs9Zzz3L3-3Y1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Berkeley County Board of Education on April 7 approved a series of motions stemming from an earlier executive session, voted to award multiple competitive contracts, advanced textbook adoptions and adopted names for two new schools.

The board returned from executive session and voted to grant two student expulsion appeals and place both students in an alternative virtual setting known as Edmentum. The board also accepted personnel recommendations discussed in executive session.

In committee and full-board actions, the board approved: awarding RFP 722-2425 for band uniforms to Stanbury Uniforms LLC (initial one-year term valued at $191,370 with potential renewals); RFP 727-2425 for insurance brokerage services to Arthur J. Gallagher RMS LLC (initial one-year term valued at $65,000 with potential renewals); RFP 728-2425 for employee benefit enrollment services to First Financial Administrators (no cost to the district); and RFQ 716-2425 for HVAC consulting services for H.E. Bonner and Boulder Bluff elementary projects to DWG Incorporated Consulting Engineers (total project price $482,406 split $273,003 for H.E. Bonner and $209,403 for Boulder Bluff).

Committees voted to approve Head Start budget expenditures for February and advanced the spring 2025 textbook adoption selections (first reading) following the process required by the South Carolina Department of Education. The board approved second reading of policy JDE (student expulsions).

The board’s special committee recommendations on school names were carried to the full board. The full board voted to name the new elementary school Bee Tree Elementary and the new middle school Midtown Middle.

Votes recorded in committee minutes included multiple unanimous or near‑unanimous committee votes (examples: committee approvals recorded as 3–0 or 2–0 as noted in committee sessions). The board documented that no votes were taken while in executive session and that formal actions described above were taken after the board returned to open session.

Actions listed here reflect motions and approvals recorded in the meeting record and committee minutes.","At its April 7 meeting the Berkeley County Board of Education granted two student expulsion appeal requests, approved several vendor contracts and finalized names for a new elementary and middle school; multiple committee votes also advanced textbook adoptions and policy updates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District recommends i‑Ready for elementary math despite teacher runoff favoring Eureka

Parents urge district action on bullying, special‑education procedures at school board meeting

Board approves expulsions appeals, multiple vendor contracts and new school names