Liberty STEAM Charter
Minutes
LSC Board of Directors Executive Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday September 22, 2026 at 9:30 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
Cameron Chandler, Greg Thompson, Shafara Douglas
Committee Members Absent
Rodney Thompson
Guests Present
Amy Hansen, Brenda Hafner, Jennifer Cribbs, LaShea Davis (Committee Non Director) (remote), LeAndrea Montgomery, Sally Harris, Trevor Ivey
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
D.
Reading of Mission and Vision Statements
Greg Thompson read the mission statement, and Cameron Chandler read the vision statement.
E.
Consent Agenda Approval of Meeting Agenda and Previous Meeting Minutes
With no objections, the consent agenda was approved.
II. Executive Committee Topics for Discussion
A.
Superintendent's Report
Academy Updates: Dr. Hafner welcomed LSC’s three Academy Directors to provide monthly updates highlighting progress, challenges, and leadership priorities.
- Primary Academy: LeAndrea Montgomery reported positive results from the charter school board visit, continued growth through PLCs and coaching cycles, and increased focus on instructional rigor. Challenges include establishing consistent common planning time and finalizing the MTSS structure. Continued emphasis will be placed on rigor across classrooms and strengthening lesson planning.
- Elementary Academy: Sally Harris highlighted strong community engagement, successful safety drills, teacher goal-setting conferences, and increased intentionality around rigor through PLCs, coaching cycles, and common formative assessments. Challenges include staffing transitions and the need for protective cases and appropriate charging carts for Chromebooks. Continued leadership focus will include strengthening knowledge of standards and instructional rigor.
- Junior Academy: Jennifer Cribbs reported progress in establishing intentional instructional systems, including weekly lesson plan submission and feedback, parent newsletters, PLCs, and MTSS data meetings. The Academy is also continuing to build its middle school culture. Challenges include ensuring lesson plans accurately reflect classroom instruction, maintaining appropriate levels of rigor and productive struggle, and strengthening distributed leadership.
Leadership also discussed collaboration and shared responsibilities between Academy leaders, with emphasis on supporting each campus while maintaining clear leadership responsibilities.
Annual Report and A.F.O. Update: Dr. Hafner informed the committee that the final Annual Report and FY26 A.F.O. report are posted on the school website. The A.F.O. report provides an overview of academics, operations, governance, and finance. Liberty met its charter academic goals, maintained 98% certified staffing, completed Board governance training at 100%, remained in good standing with federal and IDEA compliance, completed the annual audit without identified concerns, and remained compliant with website posting and FOIA requirements. Instruction represented 60.96% of expenditures.
Board and Committee Updates
Academic
- Positive feedback was shared regarding the coaching program and its alignment with instructional priorities. Special populations programming continues to expand, with ongoing attention to gifted and talented services.
- Culture: Updates were provided on beginning-of-year culture activities and plans for future implementation of a house system for sixth grade.
Development
- Family and community engagement events are continuing, with volunteer hours being monitored and opportunities to increase participation planned.
- Foundation: The Foundation transition is progressing, with continued development of its structure and initiatives.
Finance
- Finances are tracking appropriately. Cash on hand is currently below the desired level due in part to pending student-related funds, with receipts anticipated in October.
Governance
- Athletics: Committee members will explore potential facility space to support additional athletic opportunities for scholars.
- HR and Personnel Policy Update
The committee reviewed the need to align Liberty’s HR policies and personnel handbook with South Carolina’s new Civil Air Patrol Leave law, effective October 1, 2026. Proposed policy amendments will be presented to the Board for consideration at the September 28 meeting.
III. Executive Session
A.
Motion to Enter Into Executive Session Purposes of Discussion of Negotiations Incident to Proposed Property Contractual Agreements, Proposed Contractual Agreements, and/or Discussion of Personnel Matters.
No executive session was entered.
IV. New Business
A.
Requests for Future Agenda Topics/Committee Recommendations
No additional new business was presented. Committee members were asked to submit new business items to Dr. Hafner for future committee discussion consideration.
V. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- Executive LM LOOKING BACK & STRIVING FORWARD (3).png.pdf
- Executive Harris September 2026 Exec Committee.pdf
- Exec JCribbs 321 (1).pdf
- Academic_Math_Standards__Place_Value__CFA_1.pdf
- Academic_CFA_1.pdf
- Academic_Coaching_at_Liberty.pdf
- 2026-2027_Special_Pops_and_AEGT_Overview_for_Board_Academic_SubCommittee.pdf
- 20290921_Finance_Dashboard_organized.pdf
- Aug26__RevExp_New_Form__1_.pdf
- 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
Greg Thompson gave an invocation.