[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6522363,"mediaKeyId","5071112-c8a9585e08dc469051403c2d6469e1f2","parentId",5071112,"title","CART and facilities staff report progress on referendum projects; pond land conveyance remains unsettled","audioSeconds",3191,"startMs",2568000,"endMs",5759000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071112-c8a9585e08dc469051403c2d6469e1f2&start=2568&end=5759","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071112-c8a9585e08dc469051403c2d6469e1f2/thumbnail_2568000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6522363/South-Carolina/CART-and-facilities-staff-report-progress-on-referendum-projects-pond-land-conveyance-remains-unsettled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522363-0944828ff98c311bddf81613d20d5dd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181445&Signature=Pg0ONOeRuaVFK-76fs48kx~xJC0D2aAqrFG-Zxh-oF~qQ-JkY3-MjxrJM2x4JWSUMUN76MrrPt5Uob9m7oFeX7S6wptuB4AKnCFcCMOa3EL9YtTevED0oSFFXhXazTljlI8AnX2N1lPDK-DTb5lvz55BDMVCcrGzLa58reIP6PQVlt2ZqP32G4GSuu-e6RTr-ku836QDVxHowlJjMOB4dzGa1cxOXf4wM5jq0pU89jSMAgd7TWF7n0263sh~hSGeYP-ozOOQn0pfxpabx87oisuWJ3RwYYokR-cagB~9Rr9sAXzY1Y~FVzn4lmAMzl85osHZCW3xCE3dRWHgQ3Sc9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dorchester School District Two","date","2025-06-24T14:18:00Z","article","The Citizens Advisory Review Team (CART) and district facilities staff updated trustees on the status of referendum projects and other capital work at the June 23 meeting, saying dozens of projects are active but that at least one major site — the ponds/Yerby elementary conveyance — remains incomplete and could increase costs or affect schedules.

Jane Lombardo, chair of the CART, told the board the master project list shows safety and security projects advancing: radios are largely operational, cameras are active at all schools, weapon-detection and vestibule renovations are in progress, and shatter-resistant film and other items are expected to be completed before the school year. Lombardo said the CART had identified 68 active projects totaling roughly $19.3 million in work at various stages.

\"Ponds, as you all know, is still behind for an August 2026 opening. And with the land conveyance still between the county and the developer, it is questionable that the cost will not rise,\" Lombardo said, recommending that the community raise concerns with county officials if cost increases threaten schedules.

Facilities director staff Jeff Smith and Tony Soules outlined summer construction at several sites, including HVAC, flooring and asbestos abatement at Knightsville and Flower Town, unit replacements at Oak Brook Middle and an Oakbrook addition funded by TIF. They reported milestones such as poured slabs at Sand Hill and phased construction at Ashley Ridge High School (band room and classroom consolidations). Facilities staff said many projects remain on schedule and noted heavy summer activity on paving and HVAC work.

During the update the district said referendum spending to date totals about $19 million and that the referendum projects list still includes two elementary schools as a priority contingent on land conveyance and permitting. Staff listed a number of projects in design or early construction phases and said the board’s referendum timeline requires completion by 2030.

The board also voted to approve a bid award for Summerville High School restroom renovations that is part of the referendum program. The motion to award the Summerville High restroom renovations contract was made by Board Member Guthrie, seconded by Board Member Bates, and carried 6 in favor, 1 absent.

Facilities staff and CART representatives encouraged public engagement on the ponds and land‑conveyance items and said they will continue weekly project management meetings to monitor schedules and contracts.

\"A big thanks to Tony and Jeff and Kenny, Rhonda and their team,\" Superintendent Doherty said. \"We meet every Monday and go over all these projects to make sure we have all the right documents signed to make sure we're continuing to move through this.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 23, 2025 - 6:00 PM - Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","District facilities staff and the Citizens Advisory Review Team reported progress on 68 active referendum and maintenance projects on June 23, but CART warned that land conveyance for a major site (the ponds/Yerby elementary) remains unresolved and could raise costs and delay openings.","taxTitle","Dorchester 02, School Districts, South Carolina","taxId",14918,"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},6522366,"Dorchester 02 reports modest gains in digital learning environment, ITS team to present at national conference",406,2828000,3234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071112-c8a9585e08dc469051403c2d6469e1f2&start=2828&end=3234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071112-c8a9585e08dc469051403c2d6469e1f2/thumbnail_2828000.jpg","/articles/6522366/South-Carolina/Dorchester-02-reports-modest-gains-in-digital-learning-environment-ITS-team-to-present-at-national-conference","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522366-a196ac6f250b2b42ff934f0d8016b39d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181445&Signature=LtBq~0reErVxdsyeRQJ1ISYyqv~wMFcuB-X5LkoJYr3pGFdayyBP22H-jowKk6-Vzx9IsimNOjRxxVgzgmPquiKEHZIG8NNPfGujQKJIrAEX0A0gBBEXpgOoL4as21qqe1E8o~wHDFgnjcMSYG0aZuqGJoFKbdjKldfmJLHBfpzcQ6qT1uqV3h6sNj71Q-IBVbQdrH-ddee6at11LfNhE87MkeYAhM3m1MvwF1twAZ61Mot6n5frJuwI0UEnoHpJwLHiYls5Lxna9QM85CrTl37jdIogsqVE19wSZ765Rt1hhRrKhym14q5T2kg-hisyRpNu1Mh73Tge~9OVSoKMjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dorchester School District Two leaders presented a year-end update on the district’s digital learning environment at the June 23 board meeting, saying incremental gains show progress but that more work is needed to meet multi-year goals.

The presentation, led by district digital-learning staff, summarized the district’s goals established in 2022–23: raise the digital learning environment (DLE) rating from roughly 2.1 to 3.0 by 2028, increase observations that include DLE measures from 42 percent to 75 percent, and boost student engagement measures in the Cognia student survey by two percentage points annually.

Presenters said the district’s current DLE rating sits at 2.3 and that walk-through observations capturing DLE indicators have reached roughly 66 percent—exceeding the district’s observation goal but falling short of the target rating. The update described eight action steps: revising DLE reference documents, restructuring personnel (moving from professional-development coaches to instructional-technology specialists and adding an Apple specialist), auditing and streamlining digital tools, targeted professional development for teachers and administrators, and a data-driven review cadence that includes biweekly communications.

District staff said that the instructional-technology specialist team’s practices were accepted for presentation at ISTE in San Antonio, Texas, where they will share a 45-minute session and micro‑PD; staff expressed pride that an application was accepted to the national conference.

Board members asked whether the objective was to increase digital-tool usage or to make existing usage more effective in classrooms, particularly at the elementary level. Presenters emphasized that the goal is pedagogical: use digital tools to support discovery, creation and communication while preserving foundational skills like handwriting and paper reading. Staff offered concrete classroom examples—using digital platforms to collect responses from all students so teachers can give immediate feedback and to enable students who are less likely to speak out in large groups to participate.

\"It's not so much about the computers. It's about improving student achievement by increasing student engagement and critical thinking skills in our digital learning environment,\" a presenter said.

The district said it will continue targeted PD and data collection and will adjust resources to reach the 2028 DLE target.","District staff reported incremental improvements in Dorchester School District Two's digital learning environment: district-wide rating rose to 2.3, classroom walkthrough coverage increased to about 66 percent, and instructional technology specialists will present at ISTE; district set goals to reach a 3.0 rating by 2028.",{"_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},6522373,"Dorchester 02 unveils new K–12 discipline matrix, will pilot first semester and move to Simple Discipline coding",576,3473000,4049000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071112-c8a9585e08dc469051403c2d6469e1f2&start=3473&end=4049","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071112-c8a9585e08dc469051403c2d6469e1f2/thumbnail_3473000.jpg","/articles/6522373/South-Carolina/Dorchester-02-unveils-new-K12-discipline-matrix-will-pilot-first-semester-and-move-to-Simple-Discipline-coding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522373-16d846b6ec55289e8710764e2b25039f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181445&Signature=d4MWa3fy7Vphas6uj6Eqkl6opEAbcsTWGSIGhh-Azv0DH2DO6VHTiJyKaDdgjf5~4qT~gcgeg718BoEIGkzOSZY5vNNaAoOzGqaY9ZzGFrTyQYsa4nzbytk9WZvTyBLT53ypAj4GPzye~o5GZ88d6oFlp9Rl4mKHTiXudSgacOHQ~cTlDU70fqjR3veSkcdmXrPDCa3cgkrIbel7wKiHwg3jCJLVqjFIyVMyLIteTY9TZPdoiABYoiNB7o1WVrCvng-KOgWsMvsdygyJi6KboKhO6HBIEDD8hlKvE0Tzlp7HUzVwSiWnmatF1oZZoxTDShQ9avF4WZsHzGWfQQScGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dorchester School District Two leaders presented a new, districtwide discipline matrix at the June 23, 2025 board meeting, saying the tool is designed to make consequences and coding more consistent across elementary, middle and high schools.

Directors of secondary and elementary education, Maurice Cannon and Carrie Ball Hodge, told trustees the matrix was developed after a needs assessment, reviews of neighboring districts, and collaboration with school teams. The presenters said the matrix maps infractions onto a three-stage progression of responses to support transparency, fairness and alignment with the district’s student code of conduct.

\"If they see that continuum, then hopefully, that'll allow them to understand our desire to help them change behaviors,\" Director Maurice Cannon said, describing the goals of equity, transparency and accountability that guided the work.

District staff said elementary schools in particular lacked consistent coding and that standardizing offense categories (for example, coding \"inappropriate language\" rather than a catchall \"disrespect\") will make interventions and data analysis more actionable. Staff described a multi-step development process: research into neighboring districts (Berkeley and Charleston counties), soft-matrix pilots at school level, principal and administrator feedback at a February board advance, and district-level legal and administrative review.

Administrators said next steps include targeted professional development for principals and teachers, development of action plans at each school, and stakeholder communications during the first week of the 2025–26 school year. The presenters said they would present finalized plans to assistant principals and principals first, then to teachers.

Implementation details the presenters gave at the meeting included a one-semester pilot period, after which the district will review coding fidelity and the matrix’s effectiveness and adjust consequences or codes as needed. The district also announced it will transition away from its current \"educator's handbook\" coding system and adopt the Simple Discipline platform to standardize incident coding and simplify data extraction.

\"We're going to try this first semester, and, of course, we're going to come back and evaluate where we are,\" Carrie Ball Hodge said. \"If we need to come back, revisit, and change our process or change the consequence, we are going to do that.\"

Board members praised the work for clarity and consistency; one board member said the tool would help make expectations and consequences clear to students and families and reduce administrator workload.

Administrators said the matrix will explicitly align with ASCA (American School Counselor Association) standards, PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports), and Jostens Renaissance initiatives to ensure tiered behavioral supports are consistent with counseling and school culture programs.

The item was presented as an informational update; no formal vote was required at the meeting.","District leaders presented a new K–12 discipline matrix intended to standardize consequences, align with PBIS and ASCA standards, and improve coding for district-wide data; the board heard the plan and administrators said they will pilot the system in the first semester and evaluate.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6522378,"Dorchester School District Two adopts $300.0 million FY26 budget, board approves staff pay increases",673,4491000,5164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071112-c8a9585e08dc469051403c2d6469e1f2&start=4491&end=5164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071112-c8a9585e08dc469051403c2d6469e1f2/thumbnail_4491000.jpg","/articles/6522378/South-Carolina/Dorchester-School-District-Two-adopts-3000-million-FY26-budget-board-approves-staff-pay-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522378-f5723e320c30fb812caf9e391eb29f2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181445&Signature=RQfXLzgj~zVbcuTBQ2mliPrjm9QbLFVEDVODoTYOaHRFlWeEGpr559VZcjAY5EaYgYI779Dnrxcp48Om7Gk3UD75XDBJMuAapbfvMqB7ecXtEiTOpOCwAtfaiM1kXzugwalFCqec1WJ6Dsn25kDQcd4UK8L1Dzz57d5xWa-3Ec4pTReHHtBVzT7UiLY7ED4K3rD-7P9YUgVMo5e5UYYV8nYvXo2zaMca8d7TreUCq0tDsekgj-T-67sd8Gj19TQZe7M8y2qvrEJuJGFDAANQyPsk~esfDJRjnExdpLFSea1MqtMuWx237lcK3JxvAKH1cW7oW~jP03hHSb4jf3rqsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Dorchester School District Two Board of Trustees approved a $300,041,140 fiscal year 2026 budget on June 23, 2025, with the board voting 6 in favor and 1 member absent.

Board chair Dr. Wimberly opened a presentation by Chief Finance Officer Tina Mignet outlining revenue changes since the board’s preliminary proposal, including additional local millage revenue and state conference-committee allocations that the district said together increased available funds enough to balance the budget.

Mignet said the revised revenue picture included extra millage receipts and state allocations, and that the board was able to add funding for personnel raises and other items while balancing the proposed expenditures and revenues at $300,041,140. She told the board officials had built $1 million into the FY26 budget to cover a newly enacted paid parental-leave mandate and employer health-insurance costs tied to recent state action.

The administration said the budget includes changes to employee pay scales. Mignet reported a new district starting teacher salary of $51,500. In the presentation staff also referenced multiple figures for step and scale changes: language in the presentation mentioned an \"additional $500\" and that the budget would \"include $2,500 on each step of the teacher salary scale.\" Later comments described that eligible teachers would see roughly 4–6 percent increases depending on step; non-teaching classified and certified staff not on the teacher scale were shown a 3 percent increase plus step movement that the district estimated would equal roughly a 4 percent raise for many employees. The district emphasized that exact amounts for individual employees depend on each person’s step and years of service.

Board members and Superintendent Doherty praised the budget as prioritizing people and thanked Dorchester County Council for supporting the millage increase. The board formally moved to adopt the budget; the motion was made by Board Member Guthrie and seconded by Board Member Bates. Powell announced her yes vote; the chair said the motion carried 6 in favor, 1 absent.

The budget package also included a small list of specific expense allocations presented during the meeting: two school resource officers at Fort Dorchester High School (requested by the City of North Charleston) were included at an estimated $134,000; the budget also set aside an estimate for parental-leave costs and reallocated funds to restore prior fund-balance draws.

The board approved the budget in the open meeting; the administration said staff will begin implementation and continue to provide details to school leaders and employees.

Votes and next steps: the district will finalize implementation details for pay adjustments and administer the adopted FY26 appropriations through the remainder of the summer and into the fall.

\"We are definitely pouring into our people,\" Superintendent Doherty said during the presentation, thanking staff and the county for their support.

Details the board provided verbally at the meeting about the precise per-step dollar changes contained some inconsistent phrasing in the presentation; the district provided the fixed total budget figure and the starting salary of $51,500 as definitive numbers in the packet and on the record.","The Dorchester School District Two board approved a $300,041,140 fiscal year 2026 budget on June 23, 2025, moving forward a millage increase and state funding that the district said will fund staff pay increases and mandates; vote was 6–0 with one member absent.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

CART and facilities staff report progress on referendum projects; pond land conveyance remains unsettled

Dorchester 02 reports modest gains in digital learning environment, ITS team to present at national conference

Dorchester 02 unveils new K–12 discipline matrix, will pilot first semester and move to Simple Discipline coding

Dorchester School District Two adopts $300.0 million FY26 budget, board approves staff pay increases