Paula Alexander

The strategic plan for the School District of Pickens County aims to achieve several key educational outcomes by 2023. Its main pillars include enhancing student achievement by increasing college and career readiness, improving graduation rates, and boosting AP exam scores. The plan also prioritizes fostering a positive school climate, improving early literacy and math proficiency, recruiting and retaining qualified and diverse teachers and administrators, and enhancing academic performance and self-efficacy for gifted and talented students. The strategy involves data-driven instruction, personalized learning, professional development, and community engagement.

The 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, known as Innovate '28, for the School District of Pickens County (SDPC) outlines the district's fundamental beliefs, mission, vision, goals, and strategies for achieving academic excellence over the next five years. The plan is anchored in three SDPC Board of Trustees' foundation pillars: Early Childhood Education, Career and Technology Education, and Innovation. It features five interconnected aspirational goals: People-Focused Supportive Culture, Visionary Future-Focused Innovation, Productive Service-Oriented Operations, Academic Growth and Excellence, and Partnerships for Student Success. The plan aims to guide the school system's work, foster parent and community partnerships, and provide a visionary, future-focused framework for student success.

The meeting included presentations, such as the unveiling of a student's artwork for the Superintendent's Art Gallery. Key actions involved approving the 2019 SCAGO GO Program Resolution, the General Fund Budget FY 19-20, EPIC Grants for various school programs, local board-approved courses and honors rubric courses, a course application to the SDE for Band/PE, and a grade reconfiguration for Liberty Elementary and Chastain Road Elementary. An executive session addressed personnel matters, property matters, contractual matters, school safety, Act 155 requests, and legal matters, resulting in actions such as approving personnel matters, a contractual matter regarding VOIP, Act 155 applicants, and an amendment to the Superintendent's contract. The Superintendent's evaluation and contract extension were also discussed.

The meeting included work sessions on school start times for 2020-2021 and the Early Childhood Plan. Presentations covered celebrations of success and a 5-year General Fund Budget Plan. Public input was received, and the agenda was amended. The board elected officers for 2019-2020. Policy revisions were approved, along with the Early Childhood Plan and the FY20 General Fund Budget Update. The FY21 Budget Calendar was also approved. Discussion included mental health services and the disposal of surplus items. An executive session covered personnel, property, school safety, and legal matters.

The meeting included a budget update indicating a positive balance and the expectation of continued state funding into the next fiscal year. Key actions included approval of the SCAGO GO Program Resolution and Debt Service Budget, modifications to the 2019 EPIC Grant, and approval of textbooks for the 2020-21 school year. An executive session addressed personnel, property, school safety, and legal matters, resulting in actions related to personnel and property.