Liberty STEAM Charter
Minutes
LSC Board of Directors Governance Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday September 22, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Location
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.
MISSION: Liberty STEAM Charter works to provide all students with equal access to a world-class K-12 education in an academically rigorous and student-centered learning environment, creating graduates who will be thoughtful and engaged citizens prepared to take on the leadership challenges of the 21st century. VISION: In partnership with our families and community, our vision is to provide real-world interdisciplinary, 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
Brenda Hafner, Cameron Chandler, Greg Thompson, Kimberly Rauschenbach
Committee Members Absent
None
Guests Present
Amy Hansen, Dexter Butler, Kyle Kelly (Committee Non Director), Trevor Ivey
I. Opening Items
A.
Record of Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Invocation
D.
Pledge of Allegiance
Cameron Chandler led the Pledge of Allegiance.
E.
Reading of Mission and Vision Statement
Cameron Chandler read the mission statement, and Kimberly Rauschenbach read the vision statement.
II. Consent Agenda
A.
Consent Agenda Approval of Meeting Agenda and Previous Minutes
With no objections, the consent agenda was approved.
III. Governance Committee Topics for Discussion
A.
Superintendent's Report
Governance Update: Dr. Hafner provided an update on governance priorities from the annual Board retreat. All directors have completed required annual training. Oath of Office and conflict of interest documentation are complete. The committee was informed that charter school board members are not required to file Statements of Economic Interest with the South Carolina Public Charter School District.
The remaining item is required ethics training, which is due by December 31, 2026. The district will provide additional information regarding the training timeline. Continued focus will be placed on board development, trustee expectations, and governance compliance.
Athletics Report
Dr. Hafner welcomed Coach Dexter Butler to provide an update on current athletics partnerships and future plans. Liberty scholars currently participate in community-based sports through partnerships with Parks and Recreation, Next Level, and Frozen Elite, with approximately 120 to 130 scholars participating across all campuses.
The committee discussed the requirement allowing Liberty scholars entering seventh grade to participate in athletics at their assigned home school when Liberty does not offer the sport. A draft communication will be reviewed by the Board, legal counsel, and the South Carolina High School League before distribution.
Future athletics planning may include expanded sports offerings, including golf and other programs.
The committee discussed surveying scholar interests to help guide future offerings and considering transportation and facility costs associated with joining the South Carolina High School League.
A potential partnership involving the renovation and use of an existing gymnasium was also discussed. The Board Chair will initiate conversations with the appropriate representatives and provide an update at a future meeting.
Civil Air Patrol Leave: Dr. Hafner provided an update regarding South Carolina’s Civil Air Patrol leave law, effective October 1, 2026. Liberty is aligning its HR policies and personnel handbook with the new requirements. Proposed amendments will be presented to the Board for approval on September 28, 2026.
A.F.O. Report and Annual Report: Dr. Hafner informed the committee that the Annual Report and FY26 A.F.O. Report are posted on the school website. The A.F.O. reports include financial information and highlights from the past year, along with updates on academics, operations, governance, and finance.
Liberty met its charter academic goals, maintained 98% certified staffing, completed 100% of board governance training, and completed its annual audit without identified concerns. The school also remains compliant with federal requirements, website postings, and FOIA requirements. Instructional expenditures accounted for 60.96% of total expenditures.
Liberty Forward in Action: Dr. Hafner shared a snapshot of recent and upcoming events across Liberty. The information is intended to provide directors with convenient opportunities to engage with school activities as their schedules allow. Administration is working toward developing a more interactive, centralized calendar to provide a broader view of events throughout the year.
IV. New Business
A.
Requests for Future Agenda Topics/Committee Recommendations
Follow-Up Items
- Administration will finalize Civil Air Patrol leave amendments for Board consideration on September 28, 2026.
- The committee members will explore potential partnerships for athletic facilities and report back to the committee.
- Committee members may submit future agenda items to Dr. Hafner before the next scheduled meeting.
V. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- Gov DRAFT Athletic Policy.pdf
- Gov Liberty_Athletics_Final_Infographic.pdf
- 20260825 Governance Retreat Tracker (3).pdf
- Gov SC Ethics Commission Response - Charter Board Members SEI.pdf
- Gov 20260922 Civil Air Patrol Leave Policy Amendment to Military Section .pdf
- ALL 20260921-22 Committee Week AFO (3).pdf
- ALL 2025 AFOLiberty STEAM Charter School (5) (1)_page-0001.jpg (2).pdf
- ALL 202609 Committee School Updates (3) (2).pdf
Cameron Chandler gave an invocation.