Liberty STEAM Charter

Minutes

LSC Board of Directors Executive Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Friday November 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM

Location

LSC Network Office 
108 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.

Committee Members Present

(Tajma) LaShea Davis (remote), Cameron Chandler, Greg Thompson, Rodney Thompson (remote)

Committee Members Absent

None

Guests Present

Amy Hansen, Rachel Suchecki, Trevor Ivey

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Greg Thompson called a meeting of the Executive Committee Committee of Liberty STEAM Charter to order on Friday Nov 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM.

C.

Invocation

Greg Thompson gave an invocation.

D.

Pledge of Allegiance

Greg Thompson led the Pledge of Allegiance.

E.

Reading of Vision and Mission Statements

Greg Thompson read the vision and mission statements. 

F.

Consent Agenda Approval of Meeting Agenda and Previous Meeting Minutes

Motion to approve the minutes from LSC Board of Directors Executive Committee Meeting on 10-23-25.

With no objections, the consent agenda was approved that consisted of the meeting agenda and the previous meeting's minutes.

The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Executive Committee Topics for Discussion

A.

Executive Director's Report

  1. Academy Updates
    1. November EA Academy Update: Sally Harris
  2. Executive Coaching - What Success Looks Like 
  3. Committee Reports
    1. Governance 
      1. LSC Bylaws Amendment (Committee Appointee Requirements) (To be Presented for Approval December 1)
      2. School Updates (Use of local gymnasium expected to begin in January)
      3. Williams-Brice-Edwards Charitable Trust Giving Update ($150k with $50k designated for non-funded curriculum and $100k designated for nonrecurring funds.)
    2. Finance 
      1. Dashboard/November Financials
      2. Update on Current Line of Credit - First Citizens Bank (Closed November 19; recommendation that loan costs be spread out over the term of the loan with option to pay off early.)
      3. Facilities Supervisor 30-60-90 Plan
      4. Expansion Update (A funding source will  be identified to complete the tiling at the PA through the expansion project. The plan is for 6 of the 14 identified classrooms to be completed over the Christmas break, with the remaining classrooms to be scheduled accordingly. To be Recommended for Approval December 1)
    3. Academic Excellence
      1. Refining our Approach to Science Instruction
      2. Current State of the Achievement Gap at LSC
      3. 2026-27 School Calendar Amendment (To be Presented for Approval December 1)
      4. 2027-28 School Calendar (To be Presented for Approval December 1)
      5. ED's Academy Best Practices Task Force Update (Uniform Philosophy to be Presented for Approval December 1)
    4. Development 
      1. The career cluster breakdown included the top rated choices were hospitality, financial, and agriculture. Future plans will assess adjustments to scholar career path choices.
      2. Currently nearly half of the county's approximate 1,000 four-year-old's are in the lottery, putting LSC very close to achieving the 3:1 goal for kindergarten. 
      3. Grant and Fundraising Initiatives
        1. South Carolina Children's Fund (Confirmed $125K)
        2. Walton Foundation (Efforts ongoing as well as Brown and Levine Foundations)
        3. Charter School Growth Fund- Next Steps (Milestone Met to Receive $100k in Dec.)
        4. Yass Alumni Award (Dr. Ivey will join the YASS Prize Alumni Contenders at the Power of Innovation Summit in Washington, DC December 3-4)
        5. ATI Grant (30K Received)
        6. Quixote Foundation Golf Tournament ($350k Received)
        7. Festival of Windmills - (Activities resume in January) 
        8. Dabo’s All In Foundation ($4k Received)
        9. American Heart Association ($2,500 Received)
        10. Williams-Edwards-Brice ($150k with $50k designated for nonfunded curriculum needs and $100k for non-recurring expenses)
        11. Outstanding Grants (Honda Grant Submitted)
      4. LIFT Initiative-Dr. Ivey continues to meet with business and industry leaders and incorporated personal visits to PATH partners.
      5. 2025 Eagle Giving Tree (Flyers Provided for Each Director to Share to garner support for kindergarten scholars selected in the 2026-2027 school year lottery)
      6. 2026-2027 School Calendar Proposed Amendments (To be Presented for Approval December 1) 
      7. 2027-2028 Proposed School Calendar (To be Presented for Approval December 1) 
      8. School Updates - Uniform Philosophy (To be Presented for Acceptance December 1)
      9. PATH Initiative (Planning Appreciation Event December 11)

III. New Business

A.

Director Requested Agenda Topics for Future Presentation

Committee members will contact Dr. Ivey with request for future presentations.

IV. Executive Session

A.

Purposes of Discussion of Negotiations Incident to Proposed Property Contractual Agreements, Proposed Contractual Agreements, and/or Discussion of Personnel Matters

Cameron Chandler made a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussion of a personnel matter.
Greg Thompson seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

With no objections, the committee returned to open session.

B.

Any Action Related to Executive Session Item(s)

There was no action.

V. Closing Items

A.

Committee Recommendations

Dr. Ivey and Gifford Shaw will align with Rachel Suchecki on a review of the year-to-date financials.

 

Dr. Ivey will look into quotes for classroom storage options (three level shelves). With the importance to model cleanliness and respect for scholars, a recommendation was made to schedule observations surrounding organization on a sixty-day schedule.  

 

  1. 2026-2027 School Calendar Proposed Amendments (To be Presented for Approval December 1) 
  2. 2027-2028 Proposed School Calendar (To be Presented for Approval December 1) 
  3. Uniform Philosophy Amendment (To be Presented for Acceptance December 1) 
  4. LSC Bylaws Amendment (Committee Appointee Requirements) (To be Presented for Approval December 1)
  5. Expansion Update - A funding source will  be identified to complete the tiling project at the PA through the expansion update. The plan is for 6 of the 14 identified classrooms to be completed over the Christmas break, with the remaining classrooms to be scheduled accordingly. (To be Presented for Approval December 1) 
  6. Update on Current Line of Credit - First Citizens Bank (Closed November 19; recommendation that loan costs be spread out over the term of the loan with option to pay off early.)

B.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Hansen
Documents used during the meeting
  • Executive November exec board presentation.pdf
  • Exec Site Assessment PA LSC .pdf
  • Exec Site Assessment EA LSC (1).pdf
  • Governance_Executive_Board ByLaws Amendment -Community Committee Appointees.pdf
  • Finance November Report Out.pdf
  • 20251120 Finance -Executive Add Student Weightings Report.pdf
  • Finance_LSCS_Maintenance.docx__1_.pdf
  • Development - ALL SC Children's Fund .pdf
  • Development Nov 25-26 FACE Update.pdf
  • Academic LSC_2026-27_Academic_Calendar (1).pdf
  • Academic LSC 2027-28 Academic Calendar (1).pdf
  • Copy of Copy of Balanced Assessment System (4) (1).pdf
  • Achievement Gap Presentation for Academic Committee.pdf
  • NEW Giving Tree Flyer (3).pdf
  • Assessment Specifications_Grade 4_2025_2026.pdf
  • Presentation - SC READY Scores (1).pdf