Florence County School District 3 board approves budget timeline, extends auditor contract and enters executive session
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Summary
At its Feb. 20 meeting the board approved the FY25-26 general fund budget timeline, extended its auditor contract through Dec. 2026, approved routine agenda items and entered executive session to discuss personnel and student-discipline matters; all motions carried.
The Florence County School District 3 Board of Trustees voted unanimously on routine agenda items and on administrative actions at its Feb. 20 meeting, approving a timeline for the fiscal year 2025-26 general fund budget process and extending the district’s auditor contract for two years through Dec. 2026.
Board Chair Brown opened the meeting and the board approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda without discussion. The board then approved a timeline for the FY25-26 general fund budget process; the timeline calls for a first reading of the proposed budget on March 20, 2025; the first public hearing on April 10, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.; a second reading on May 15, 2025; a second public hearing on May 16, 2025 at noon; and final reading on June 19, 2025.
The board also voted to extend its contract with Malden Jenkins, CPAs and Advisors, the district’s current auditor, for two years to end December 2026. Superintendent Laura Hickson reported the current contract runs through December 2025 and the extension will provide time to prepare an RFP for future auditors.
Finally, the board voted to exit open session and enter executive session to discuss student-discipline or potential legal matters, personnel matters including possible hiring, termination, resignation or placement on leave, and the superintendent’s evaluation. The motion to enter executive session passed with no public opposition noted.
Votes at a glance - Approve meeting agenda: Motion by Rutha Frierson; second by Maddie Thomas; outcome: approved. - Approve consent agenda: Motion by Paula Morris; second by Dr. Julia Mims; outcome: approved. - Approve FY25-26 general fund budget timeline: Motion by Dr. Julia Mims; second by Jason Kirby; outcome: approved. Timeline: first reading 03/20/2025; first public hearing 04/10/2025 5:00 PM; second reading 05/15/2025; second public hearing 05/16/2025 12:00 PM; final reading 06/19/2025. - Extend contract with Malden Jenkins, CPAs and Advisors for two years to end Dec. 2026: Motion by Rutha Frierson; second by Rebecca Yates; outcome: approved. Current contract runs through Dec. 2025; extension to Dec. 2026. - Enter executive session to discuss student discipline, personnel and superintendent evaluation: Motion by Dr. Julia Mims; second by "Miss Ruth the price"; outcome: approved.
All motions carried with no recorded opposition. The meeting opened with a notice that "in accordance with the South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976, Section 30-4-809(d) is amended" as part of routine meeting notifications, and no public commenters were registered for this session.