Orangeburg school board approves two-year calendars, waives makeup day and records personnel actions

Orangeburg County School District trustees on Feb. 11 approved academic calendar “Option B” for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years on first reading, voted to waive a Jan. 23, 2025 makeup day under district Policy IC, and accepted several executive-session recommendations on administrative salaries and personnel.

The calendar vote, presented as a first reading, adopts two years of schedules that include early-release professional development days on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The board approved the measure after discussion about instructional time and family burdens; two trustees recorded opposition when the vote was called. “Has anybody figured out how many hours that an extra day getting out early all year long amounts to for students as far as taking them out of the classroom,” asked Board member Dr. Quinn during the discussion. Superintendent Dr. Foster replied, “That’s the age old question, doctor Quinn. Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Because if we’re not preparing our teachers to give quality instruction… it’s not beneficial at all.”

The board moved to waive one weather makeup day — Jan. 23, 2025 — under Policy IC after administration said the district had exhausted five e-learning days and other makeup days. The motion to waive the day carried with no recorded opposition.

After an executive session the board unanimously approved revisions to the administrative salary schedule effective Feb. 11, 2025, and accepted the superintendent’s recommendations on employment, reassignments, resignations and nonrenewals.

Votes and formal motions recorded at the meeting (as announced on the record): - Motion to accept academic calendar Option B for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 academic years (first reading). Mover and seconder: board members (names not specified on the record). Vote: 2 opposed; remainder in favor (vote tallies for yes not specified on record). Outcome: approved (first reading). - Motion to waive one school day (01/23/2025) in accordance with Policy IC. Mover and seconder: board members (names not specified). Vote: none opposed on the record. Outcome: approved. - Motion to accept superintendent’s recommendation for revisions to the administrative salary schedule, effective 02/11/2025. Mover and seconder: board members (names not specified). Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Motion to approve superintendent’s recommendations for employment, reassignments, resignations and nonrenewals as presented in executive session. Mover and seconder: board members (names not specified). Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

The calendar item will return for a second reading and final adoption at a later meeting; administration said approved calendars will be posted on the district website and distributed to schools for parents who do not use the web.

Provenance: Board discussion of the academic calendars begins in the communications/calendar presentation and continues through the motion and vote recorded on the meeting transcript. Topic opening excerpt: “Madam Chair, members of the Board, I’ll be giving the communications policy update today… we sent out 2 years… calendar B, 70% voted for calendar B” (transcript excerpt beginning 2697.07). Topic finish excerpt: “All those opposed? 2. Thank you. Calendar passes.” (transcript excerpt ending 3130.91).

Ending: The board scheduled the next regular meeting for March 2025 at 6:30 p.m.; administration also announced two community meetings on attendance lines for the 2025–26 year on Feb. 18 and Feb. 24 at Advanced Providence Elementary School.