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Superintendent urges budget focus on instruction, describes alternative-ed planning and staffing needs
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Brian Ratliff told the board the district will prioritize student learning and leadership in the budget process, said staff are still developing plans for a phased alternative-education program rather than immediately coding a separate school, and acknowledged the need for more social workers pending funding.
Dr. Brian Ratliff opened the superintendent’s report by reiterating that Anson County Schools’ primary priorities are student learning and leadership. Ratliff told the board he has heard positive feedback from the state-level board and emphasized a growth mindset and sustained strategic planning.
Ratliff asked the board to use the April 14 budget work session to align spending with instructional goals, suggesting the district move beyond only funding building operation needs to explicitly fund strategies that improve instruction and student outcomes. He proposed an intentional board retreat or strategic-planning activity to set priorities and channel resources toward instructional improvement.
On alternative education, Ratliff and other staff said the district is continuing planning work and staff meetings with partners; they do not recommend immediately creating a separately coded alternative school this summer due to programmatic needs and potential housing issues. Instead, staff suggested a phased approach, layering programs (credit recovery, temporary supports) before committing to a new school code.
Board members asked about mental-health staffing after recent tragic events; Ratliff said the district recognizes a need for more social workers and guidance personnel but that increasing headcount requires identifying funding sources or reallocating existing staffing. He noted some grant opportunities may help but that no specific staffing increase was finalized in open session.
The superintendent and staff also confirmed Super Saturday mentorship activities had been rescheduled, with the first event moved to May 3, and that mentor training (described as about two hours) had been completed.
