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Board approves special-education and transportation contracts, extends early-dismissal model and ratifies personnel actions
Summary
Berkeley County Schools approved multiple contract renewals for special-education services, contracted transportation with projected route-optimization savings of about $1.8 million, adopted a 2½-hour early-dismissal model for teacher prep, and ratified a wide slate of personnel actions including one contract termination after an executive session.
At its statutory meeting the Berkeley County Board of Education approved a package of operational items: renewal of special-education contracts, contracting transportation for 2026–27, an adjustment to the calendar’s early-dismissal model for teacher preparation, and a large personnel slate.
Special-education contracts: Executive Director of Special Education David Dillard (Speaker 12) explained the recommended renewals for occupational and physical therapists, board-certified behavior analysts, registered behavior technicians, psychologists, sign-language interpreters, speech-language pathologists and related nursing supports. Dillard said contract renewals maintain continuity for students with IEPs while the district recruits for hard-to-fill positions.
Transportation: Executive Director of Transportation Eric Piesecker (Speaker 13) described contracted services for specialized routes and charters and reported that route optimization and bolstering the EPIC van fleet added seven special-education routes that the district projects will save about $1.8 million. The board moved and approved contracting transportation services for the coming year.
Calendar change: Staff surveyed stakeholders on delay days vs. early dismissals; approximately 89% preferred early dismissals. Because elementary dismissal takes longer, elementary principals recommended shifting from a two-hour to a two-and-a-half-hour early dismissal to preserve faculty senate/teacher-prep time. The board accepted that recommendation.
Personnel: The board approved a large personnel slate presented by the deputy superintendent (Speaker 17) covering professional and service appointments, coaching hires, transfers, resignations, and summer hires (roughly 205 actions). The board also held an executive session on a personnel matter; after reconvening the board ratified an unpaid suspension and voted to terminate the contract of Carl M. Mazin Jr.
What’s next: Staff will proceed with contract execution, implement route and service adjustments, finalize calendar language for adoption, and complete required notifications for personnel actions. The administration emphasized that many special-education services are funded through the operating budget and that contract renewals are intended to maintain compliance with federal and state requirements.
Key quote: "Contract providers remain essential to ensure Berkeley County Schools can meet the needs and remain compliant with federal and state special education requirements," David Dillard said.
The board approved the items by voice votes following discussion.
