Liberty STEAM Charter
Minutes
LSC Board of Directors Academic Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday June 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Location
100 N. Main Street
Sumter, SC 29150
This meeting is held in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. A copy of the agenda has been made available to the local media & general public.
Mission: Liberty STEAM Charter (LSC) works to provide all students equal access to a world-class K-12 education in an academically rigorous & student-centered learning environment, creating graduates to be thoughtful & engaged citizens prepared to take on the leadership challenges of the 21st century.
Vision: In partnership with our families & the community, Liberty STEAM Charter (LSC) will provide interdisciplinary, real-world, personalized, and project-based learning experiences through a STEAM-based academic program where graduates become the next generation of leaders, employers, and employees who contribute to the economic well-being of their communities and families.
Committee Members Present
(Tajma) LaShea Davis, Cameron Chandler, Jenny Knopf (remote), Shafara Douglas (remote)
Committee Members Absent
None
Guests Present
Amy Hansen, Shasta Smith (remote), Trevor Ivey
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Invocation
D.
Pledge of Allegiance
Ms. Knopf led the Pledge of Allegiance.
E.
Reading of the Mission Statement
Ms. Knopf read the Mission Statement.
F.
Reading of the Vision Statement
Ms. Davis read the Vision Statement.
G.
Approval of Consent Agenda
II. Academic Excellence
A.
Topics for Discussion
The Academic Excellence Committee met to review year-end performance data, FY26 academic goals, leadership development efforts, and policy updates. A special presentation opened the meeting to highlight Liberty’s internal leadership pipeline and strategic staff development needs.
Shasta Smith presented the LSC Leadership Development Program, emphasizing:
- The goal: Teach others to know themselves so they can develop their skills.
- Building internal capacity for leaders to self-assess and improve performance.
- Over the past three years:
- 82% of founding leadership has transitioned out.
- 42% overall turnover, primarily due to leadership advancement.
- Importance was stressed to sustain both instructional quality and leadership growth.
Dr. Ivey presented updates on the following topics:
- Reviewed AFO Accountability Rating System from SCPCSD: LSC is 100% compliant.
- Discussed Promotion & Retention Trends
- Provided FY26 Hiring Update: LSC is fully staffed.
- Reviewed Proposed Core Values
- Presented results of the Collective Leadership Efficacy Survey: Positive Staff Participation Across Academies.
- Reviewed FY25 End-of-Year Organizational Goal Progress
- Discussed FY26 Org Goals Proposals
- Highlighted LSC’s Top 10 Wins for the school year
- Delivered EOY Goal Update Data Presentation
The committee reviewed the topics to be Presented for Board Approval June 23:
- FY26 Budget – Third Reading
- Insurance Policy Update
- FY26 Organizational Chart
- FY26 Organizational Goals, Policies, and Handbook Updates
- Title I, II, III, IV Federal Program Authorization
- Proposed FY26 Board and Committee Meeting Schedule
III. Other Business
A.
New Business
There was none.
B.
Old Business
There was none.
C.
Agenda Items from Committee Members
There was none.
IV. Executive Session
A.
Purposes of Discussion of Negotiations Incident to Proposed Property Contractual Agreements, Proposed Contractual Agreements, and/or Discussion of Personnel Matters
There was no executive session.
V. Committee Action
A.
Any Action Related to Executive Session Item(s)
There was no executive session.
B.
Committee Recommendations
There was no discussion.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Next Steps
There was no discussion.
B.
Good of the Order
There was no discussion.
Ms. Knopf gave an invocation.