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Board renews Tall Pines STEM Academy charter for 10 years after review of academics and finances
Summary
The South Carolina Public Charter School District board approved a 10-year renewal for Tall Pines STEM Academy, citing steady academic ratings, high instructional spending and Clemson/YLI contractual backing for a reported shortfall in fund balance; trustees pressed the school on minority recruitment and a new military-dependent enrollment preference.
The South Carolina Public Charter School District board voted Nov. 20 to renew the 10-year charter for Tall Pines STEM Academy, a middle school located on Clemson University's Camp Long campus in Aiken.
Kristen Farmer, PCSD chief of authorization and development, presented staff’s recommendation after a comprehensive review of Tall Pines’ academic, operational and financial performance. Farmer said the school serves 398 students in grades 5–8, “has consistently met the state mandated 75% certified staffing requirement for the past 7 years,” and devotes 90.58% of expenditures directly to instruction. She added that the school “has operated with no debt throughout its tenure charter term” and that one prior audit finding has been addressed with corrective measures.
The renewal packet also documents program changes the school proposed, including adopting I-Ready Diagnostics as a universal screener and progress-monitoring tool and a new enrollment policy that gives a 10% preferential status to dependents of active-duty military members.
Trustees pressed school leaders on two principal concerns. One board member noted that the renewal report and the staff recommendation appear to conflict on compliance with South Carolina Code 59-40-50, saying the school was “about 5% off” the demographic target listed in that statute. Farmer introduced principal Laurie Mastramonico, who described Tall Pines’ outreach efforts to increase racial diversity and said the school has a recruitment plan and community outreach events aimed at minority populations. Mastramonico said the school has expanded the number of categories it meets each year through sustained community partnerships and programming.
Board members also sought clarity about the school's finances. Trustee questions highlighted a seeming discrepancy in the report: a cited cash balance of $892,000 alongside an ending fund balance reported as $76,000 (about 1.65% of general fund expenditures), where district guidance recommends an 8.33% reserve. A Clemson/Youth Learning Institute representative told the board that the Youth Learning Institute (YLI) provides operational support under a contractual agreement and “covers that shortfall” annually, noting the school pays a percentage to Clemson for services such as HR, legal and bookkeeping.
On those bases — academic ratings, instructional spending, governance and the contract relationship with YLI/Clemson — staff asked trustees to move to renew Tall Pines' charter. After members asked remaining questions and heard a short video about the school, the board moved, seconded and approved the renewal. The transcript records the motion carried with vocal affirmation from trustees; no recorded roll-call tally appears in the meeting record.
The renewal retains Tall Pines’ academic targets, its updated assessment tools, and the new preferential enrollment provision for military dependents. Board members encouraged the school to continue outreach to increase minority enrollment and to maintain transparent financial reporting as the contract with YLI continues.
