Aiken County Public School District

The meeting's agenda was approved as submitted. Key discussions involved personnel appointments for the 2025-2026 school year, including administrative, certified, and classified staff. The Board approved a proposed one-time use of fund balance, with one dissenting vote. Consent items ratified student expulsions, approved non-resident transfer requests, approved release from district transfer requests, and approved items to be declared surplus and their method of disposal. Informational items reviewed included the Aiken County Board of Education Accreditation Update, School Improvement Designations, and the Monthly Financial Report for the period ended November 30, 2025. The Board convened an Executive Session to consider employment matters concerning Weapon Detection Systems Equipment and Staffing, with no action taken in the subsequent regular session regarding this item.

The key discussions and actions taken during this meeting included the approval of personnel appointments for the 2025-2026 school year, the approval of the annual review for the five-year facility improvement plan, and the unanimous approval of several consent items. These consent items covered approving student releases for out-of-district transfers, approving the request to admit foreign exchange students, accepting multiple donations to various high schools, and approving Change Order Number 1 related to baseball and softball field lighting replacement at two high schools. Additionally, the Board reviewed an update on the SC Measles Outbreak. The meeting included an Executive Session to consider a student appeal concerning Area Three, resulting in the decision to uphold the district's recommendation regarding the appeal.

The Board Retreat featured presentations from several principals who provided an overview of their respective schools' testing and data results. Principals from Ridge Spring Monetta Elementary School, Warrenville Elementary School, Aiken High School, ACCTC, Aiken Scholars Academy, Midland Valley High School, North Augusta High School, South Aiken High School, Silver Bluff High School, Wagener-Salley High School, Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle and High School, Kennedy Middle School, Aiken Intermediate School, Highland Springs Middle School, and Jackson Middle School all presented their data summaries.

The board retreat included several presentations focusing on data review and strategic planning. Multiple principals provided overviews of their respective middle and elementary schools' testing and data results. Additionally, a budget work session was presented to the Board of Education, followed by a strategic planning session.

Key discussions during the meeting included personnel appointments for the 2025-2026 school year and consideration of a pay increase for special education bus monitors. Athletic trainer compensation shifts and sign-on bonuses were approved. Under Consent Items, the Board recommended approving out-of-district transfer requests, a request for proposals for an afterschool care program, and several partnerships and grant applications, including the Savannah River Mission Completion Tutoring/Mentoring Program at North Augusta High School and grant donations for various elementary school libraries. Construction-related items included approval for district-wide tree services, a change order for gymnasium floor scrubbing and coating, and the approval of construction documents and guaranteed maximum prices (GMPs) for the North Augusta High School Auditorium Renovation and Addition Project and the Aiken Intermediate Area One Bus Parking Facility. The Board also reviewed and accepted informational reports concerning sole source/emergency purchases, Minority Business Enterprise utilization, and a procurement process review.