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Board approves school improvement plans for underperforming schools; parents to be notified and documentation requested
Summary
Orangeburg County School Board approved by vote the district and school improvement plans required by the state for schools rated below average or unsatisfactory and committed to provide documentation of parent notifications.
The Orangeburg County School Board voted on Jan. 14 to approve the district and individual school designation plans required by the South Carolina state department of education for schools identified as “below average” or “unsatisfactory.” Board members were told the plans must be submitted to the state by Jan. 30, 2025.
Dr. Frost (Curriculum & Instruction) told the board the district has one school rated unsatisfactory and several rated below average; the district’s overall share of underperforming schools is 30 percent, below the 65 percent threshold that would categorize the district itself as underperforming. Principals whose schools are affected were present and have submitted improvement plans that will be forwarded to the state department.
Board members requested copies of the parent-notification letters that principals used to inform families of their schools’ ratings. Several members asked for confirmation of how parents were contacted — letters, phone calls, meetings — and asked that the district provide a copy of the notification. Dr. Frost confirmed school principals had held parent meetings and that the district will provide copies of letters upon request.
After questions about interventions and family engagement, a motion to approve the school designation plans was made and seconded; the board voted in favor. One board member requested that the requested documentation of parent notification be provided to the board.
The approved plans include a mix of district-level actions (instructional frameworks, learning walks, boot camps and PLC refinements) and school-level interventions (after-school programs, WIN intervention blocks, intensified data coaching). Dr. Frost described new supports including an instructional framework, winter learning-walks, DRC Beacon formative assessments, and monthly content-leader meetings.
The board action was procedural and required under state rules for schools identified as below average or unsatisfactory; the district will submit the plans to the state department by the statutory deadline.
