Board approves PD exchange day and local board-approved course list for 2025-26

The Orangeburg County School Board voted Dec. 10 to approve a professional-development (PD) exchange and to accept the district's local board-approved course catalog for 2025'026.

Curriculum presenter (speaker 13) told trustees the district surveyed employees about trading two after-school sessions (proposed Feb. 25 and Mar. 25) so staff could take April 11 as a PD day. "Teachers were in favor of a 73% and 27% was not in favor for that exchange," the presenter said, and the board approved the exchange by voice vote.

The presenter reviewed the local board-approved courses packet and said there were no new courses being added for next year; course participation numbers have grown substantially, with the packet showing enrollment growth from roughly 424 students to 7,157 students benefiting from locally approved offerings over the year. Trustees asked clarifying questions about course credits, whether courses were semester- or year-long (for example, early American studies vs. U.S. History) and whether certified staff would teach EOC strategy-aligned courses; curriculum staff confirmed the courses are taught by certified personnel and that some offerings provide strategic preparation for state assessments.

Board members raised questions about deployment across schools (for example, marching band availability) and whether the board should formally record its annual approval of locally board-approved courses in the minutes; staff replied that local board-approved courses are reviewed annually and might require a formal action to be reflected in minutes. The motion to approve the 2025'026 local board-approved courses as presented carried.