[{"_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",6575124,"mediaKeyId","3142720-aa8546ff80eb6bf3af6ded5766ac39be","parentId",3142720,"title","Board adopts strategic plan, several policy updates and a $600,000 fund-balance request; tables public-participation language","audioSeconds",5126,"startMs",8036000,"endMs",2910000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142720-aa8546ff80eb6bf3af6ded5766ac39be&start=8036&end=2910","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142720-aa8546ff80eb6bf3af6ded5766ac39be/thumbnail_8036000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6575124/South-Carolina/Board-adopts-strategic-plan-several-policy-updates-and-a-600000-fund-balance-request-tables-public-participation-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575124-5454f30c4bea1f92e85ccc695e25ac2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172150&Signature=A3e42a3Bz~4ORO9j9Bs7ViwtOYnSJPf8zHZiBAAzt31I7PBUuKSdSdzIVEOwQJYjMrNVm~lZzaL2Ja4X9sGVWUUOXsQo0AX-l8FzdcD1uls9J3OXGIeJxC3HURldIvEipkuNHhI-fLjDED1Z9Oy0T9g9xXgbZnIbpZppsQIpdBZbhEJaNCqu5SuyOAr7O7NcCizp3iZ3r5~4ysbmk7064qQfgAaDlN7AG46T-iCL-6WvqUzqAbnMJRoCgKEyFa38odLbbvqXHnBMIFr~9GGBqD6Scyrk9IQkrV83juYSwz~nIgHs1yqk2k6LZJoXjxHxdyB97TLydOd3UXxY6Eo9vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newberry 01","date","2025-04-29T02:04:03.273Z","article","The Newberry County Board of Trustees on April 28 approved the district’s annual strategic-plan update, adopted multiple policy changes, approved a $600,000 appropriation from the fund balance for repairs and safety equipment, and accepted personnel actions recommended in executive session.

Key votes at the meeting included approval of Policy KA (School-Parent-Community Relations) and the second reading of Policy AC (Nondiscrimination, updated contact emails). The board approved Policy DIEA (anti-fraud) on second reading after a board member requested insertion of the term “whistleblower” in parenthesis after language protecting persons who report wrongdoing. The board tabled Policy BEDH (public participation at meetings) for further wording clarification of a final paragraph that board members said could be misinterpreted.

The board approved the district strategic plan update, which the administration described as revised to focus resources on specific performance goals identified by a needs analysis (for example, shifting some academic emphasis to biology and U.S. History and adding targeted goals for fifth-grade reading and special education reading supports). Administration presenters said the plan was rewritten with guidance from the State Department of Education and local data.

Fiscal vote: the board approved the administration’s request to draw $600,000 from the district fund balance for (1) painting improvements to Little Mountain Elementary School’s interior/exterior, (2) security fencing at Newberry Elementary School and New Carolina High School, and (3) additional radios and cameras to improve bus-fleet communications and safety. The request was described by staff as already itemized in the budget work-session materials; the transcript did not list per-item dollar breakdowns.

Personnel: following executive session the board approved hiring and transfer recommendations and accepted resignations from the administration; those personnel actions were moved and seconded and adopted by voice vote (no roll-call tallies appear in the transcript).

Procedure and next steps: the administration will implement the approved strategic-plan items and proceed with the procurement and reporting steps required by each policy action. The board asked staff to redraft the public-participation language (Policy BEDH) and present a revised draft; board members also asked that the district produce clearer backup for future fund-balance requests that break down line-item amounts.

Votes at a glance

- Policy KA (School Parent Community Relations): approved on second reading (motion to accept policy KA). Presenter: Dr. Ware.
- Policy AC (Nondiscrimination): second reading approved (emails updated). Presenter: Dr. Ware.
- Policy BEDH (Public participation at meetings): tabled for further revision, board requested clearer wording for last paragraph.
- Policy DIEA (Anti-fraud / whistleblower protections): approved on second reading with amendment to explicitly reference whistleblower protections (member requested insertion of 'whistleblower' in parenthesis).
- District strategic plan (annual update): approved. Presenter: Dr. Carey.
- Fund-balance appropriation: $600,000 approved to cover painting, fencing, and bus radios/cameras; detailed per-item allocations were referenced in the budget packet but not read aloud.
- Personnel actions: administration hires, transfers and resignations accepted (motions from executive session).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/28/2025 NCSD School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Newberry County Board of Trustees on April 28 adopted the district’s updated strategic plan, approved multiple policy changes, authorized a $600,000 fund-balance request for school repairs and safety equipment, and accepted personnel actions from executive session.","taxTitle","Newberry 01, School Districts, South Carolina","taxId",58962,"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},6575131,"Parent raises repeated ceiling collapses at Little Mountain Elementary; facilities staff report work-order backlog",7160,3461000,10621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142720-aa8546ff80eb6bf3af6ded5766ac39be&start=3461&end=10621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142720-aa8546ff80eb6bf3af6ded5766ac39be/thumbnail_3461000.jpg","/articles/6575131/South-Carolina/Parent-raises-repeated-ceiling-collapses-at-Little-Mountain-Elementary-facilities-staff-report-work-order-backlog","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575131-cb9c5e98a4a2040c8fb785df61f01f8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172150&Signature=En1m6ykqVWHdUlzPt593mEOgm8p79yXHpsBlYzqkNzrvV77llsUBu6~UK2KMNOEPCDm3o8CklWY8C~nV9Gld1xvyOjSTwnqha-CKqeBYTA5IcwggeSSfGm4TSddyDCMiS6gbfltaarAbYk0wkUUzeuBXlzwYV~GVHV-ZMpq-wxrijHDRIEj6iZwzBFH2zfxi~TY3XWqRp5FkdA6XzkQAb60f~YC3ZAdNY9H3xLLZCJ3GORd9bhyutyp-jbF3t4-jtq-JNBrMnb8jbbGmysxz8A3owjhGgXIJ4XfLkFnK8hkLpw3cVvAiu4c7wp-tIIZuE2EPtYxfaP3Ld9FIsIeADQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the board’s public forum on April 28, resident Jaron Cannon urged the board to address repeated building failures at Little Mountain Elementary School, saying roughly 10 classrooms experienced ceilings falling this school year and several staff members have been displaced.

\"It's almost like you walk into a school like Russian roulette, if you're gonna have a ceiling that day,\" Cannon said, describing a ceiling collapse he witnessed. He said the district had installed a new fire alarm system and door alarms but called ceiling failures “major” and requested faster repairs. Cannon said three staff members had been displaced by flooding and ceiling collapses and that equipment from a remediation contractor (Servpro) had been moved into the nurses’ office, displacing the nurse.

Facilities staff later reported to the board that repair timing depends on the damage. In the work-orders report, the district recorded 19 new requests for March, 340 work orders completed with an average completion time of five days, and 104 open work orders averaging 36 days in age as of April 22. Facilities said some repairs require drying and assessment before replacement; carpeted rooms need more remediation than hard floors and scope varies with cause (sprinkler, storm damage, etc.).

Why it matters: repeated ceiling collapses and displaced staff affect daily instruction, student and staff safety, and the district’s ability to deliver consistent services. Public commenters and board members tied facility complaints to custodial performance and the need for clearer tracking and faster remediation.

Board follow-up and context: custodial management described a notebook system placed in buildings so teachers can record recurring cleaning or maintenance concerns; the facilities supervisor said the notebooks help identify which shifts or staff assignments are missing tasks. Board members asked for more specific timelines for extensive repairs (for example, full ceiling or roof replacements) and raised questions about whether classrooms remain usable while drying and repairs occur. Facilities staff said replacement timing “depends on the circumstance” and may take multiple days to a week or longer when drying and flooring replacement are required.

","A community member told the board the district experienced about 10 classrooms with ceilings fall this school year due to flooding; custodial and facilities staff reported open work orders and said repair time varies by damage type.",{"_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},6575136,"Trustees approve design notice for four tennis courts at Whitmire Community School",57,2890000,2947000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142720-aa8546ff80eb6bf3af6ded5766ac39be&start=2890&end=2947","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142720-aa8546ff80eb6bf3af6ded5766ac39be/thumbnail_2890000.jpg","/articles/6575136/South-Carolina/Trustees-approve-design-notice-for-four-tennis-courts-at-Whitmire-Community-School","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575136-c0cf63a879dac2b297ec149b58a3c415/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172150&Signature=Ma3Kgs3cJQ4o3cswO~~Q~v9Wtdb9iNX9qSdXe7eatB-BQUxwlJnt9Loz0bxxzFf7QNejZDBD8K2vstvuMJVFEeUCRi9Qaz3Y8BcO17VU9gns6XQmKdRnBdC-mk9wjeWOJkhOSvuP2h~793pwEBjxn0yl~hTXLGhbSuQIt43-JeA5msugNF2kYrsVFK6GyQ6aKJI~Yn28HsrS67aR9EIt7vcNv2dCjibzD~PGdj0qv7GE5HYAPw515myoZyXnB3dNpdL9jaImYPlHLbKUPXSMUrH6qV8t5c40SLC~EG9YnTinR5yxMkQSr6wtaff9uduYsN~V-q4xDQtNgejsu8WMWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newberry County Board of Trustees on April 28 approved a notice to proceed for design of four new tennis courts at Whitmire Community School.

A district staff member told the board, “It is the recommendation of the administration to enter into a contract with MAR Construction under the design-build solicitation for the design and OSF approval of 4 new tennis courts at Whitmire Community School, with a design cost of $44,770.” The staff member said MAR Construction will present a guaranteed maximum price for the full project after the Office of School Facilities (OSF) approval and that the price will be presented to the board before any construction begins.

The board voted to accept the administration’s recommendation and issue a notice to proceed for design. Board members moved and seconded the motion and approved it by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. The motion authorizes only the design phase and does not obligate the district to construction until the board receives and votes on a guaranteed maximum price.

Why it matters: the vote allows the district to move forward with planning and to secure OSF approval, a step the administration said is required before a construction cost is guaranteed. The district emphasized that the construction cost will be returned to the board for approval once OSF review and the guaranteed maximum price are complete.

Implementation and next steps: the administration will proceed with design under the MAR Construction design-build package, pursue OSF approval, and bring back the guaranteed maximum price for a subsequent board vote before any on-site construction begins.

","The Newberry County Board of Trustees approved a notice to proceed for design of four tennis courts at Whitmire Community School, authorizing design work at a cost of $44,770 and directing staff to seek OSF approval before presenting a guaranteed maximum price for construction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board adopts strategic plan, several policy updates and a $600,000 fund-balance request; tables public-participation language

Parent raises repeated ceiling collapses at Little Mountain Elementary; facilities staff report work-order backlog

Trustees approve design notice for four tennis courts at Whitmire Community School