District board approves sick-leave bank, hears construction and safety-technology updates

Anderson School District One’s board on June 24 approved a new sick-leave bank policy and heard detailed updates on construction progress and campus safety-technology pilots.

Dr. Wilson presented the sick-leave bank policy for final reading and said it applies to employees who work 30 hours or more and is intended for catastrophic illness. Employees may volunteer days to the bank and an appointed board will consider applications; individuals may not use more than 60 days from the bank in a calendar year. The board moved, seconded and approved the policy by voice vote.

Administration then described construction projects across the district, showing images of concrete renovations and an Oakill site that administration said is moving toward enclosure and will receive windows in August. Dr. Wilson noted new parking and car-line adjustments to improve arrival and dismissal flow and said classroom renovations are already being completed in some halls.

On safety, staff reported meetings with vendors offering wearable alert devices and detection systems (named vendors included Cintiix and Raptor, and an Omni Alert system is being tested). Administration said it is exploring state safety-grant funds to help pay for equipment and announced a live test on July 7 with SROs and sheriff’s deputies to evaluate the technology’s ability to detect weapons and concerning body language. "We're actually testing those with law enforcement on July 7th," an administrator said, adding that officials will report back after the pilot.

The board received the updates and approved personnel and other routine items before adjourning.