Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Board Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Anson County Schools Board authorizes budget amendments, approves sole-source Renaissance contract and conditions CTE application; strategic plan tabled
Summary
The Anson County Schools Board authorized staff to carry out limited budget amendments, approved a sole-source contract consolidating supplemental programs under Renaissance, and approved the CTE local application provided any new hire is funded by the awarded grant; the strategic plan (C02) was tabled to July 13 at 9:00 a.m.
The Anson County Schools Board authorized staff to complete budget amendments to reallocate existing state categorical funds, approved a sole-source contract with Renaissance for consolidated supplemental instructional programs, and approved the local Career and Technical Education (CTE) application with a condition that any new position be paid from grant funds, the board said at its meeting.
Board members debated whether they had adequate time to review materials before voting. "I can't vote for that at this time because we received it yesterday at noon and we're supposed to have four days to review and I haven't been able to review that adequately," one board member said, arguing the packet arrived too late for a considered vote. The board nevertheless voted to allow staff to perform the limited budget amendments; the chair announced the motion carried with one member opposed.
The vote on the sole-source procurement (item C03) approved consolidating multiple supplemental programs into a single annual package with Renaissance. Staff said the district had previously used multiple products — Star Reading and Star Math, i-Ready, EXL, Lexia and others — and that the new contract packages those services into a single, negotiated annual price. Board members publicly praised staff for negotiating a lower cost and "cleaning up" redundant purchases; the board approved the sole-source contract.
Item C04, the local CTE application, prompted questions after board members noted a page in the packet calling for a new CTE position. Staff stated the district applied for and received an expansion grant that would cover the position, but the board said that detail was not clearly documented in the 12-page packet. To address the concern, the board approved the 2026–2027 CTE local application with an amendment and condition that any additional position be funded by the grant and that the district remain within CTE and grant allocations.
The board tabled its strategic plan (C02) until July 13 at 9:00 a.m. after members said they had only received the plan the previous day and needed more time to review. Members discussed an earlier start time for the July 13 meeting and agreed on a 9:00 a.m. start to help community participation.
On calendar items, the board directed questions to Dr. Ratliff or Miss Hayyatt and reiterated that the school year will not start before August 24. The meeting adjourned after the votes and calendar discussion.
Votes at a glance: - Motion to allow Miss Drake to process budget amendments (limited reallocation of existing state categorical funds): carried (one member opposed). Notes: authorization limited to using state-provided funds; not new spending. - Strategic Plan (C02): motion to table until July 13 at 9:00 a.m.: carried (one member opposed to tabling). - Sole-source procurement (C03) with Renaissance (consolidated supplemental programs): approved. - CTE local application (C04): approved as amended and conditioned on using grant funds for any new position and remaining within CTE allocations.
Next steps: C02 will be reconsidered at the July 13 meeting at 9:00 a.m.; staff will proceed with the budget amendments within the existing fund limits and implement the approved Renaissance contract and CTE plan according to the conditions the board set.
