Liberty STEAM Charter
Minutes
LSC Board of Directors Executive Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday October 22, 2026 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.
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. BOARD CORE VALUES: Commit to Excellence, Lead with Integrity, Welcome and Expect Accountability.
Committee Members Present
Brenda Hafner, Cameron Chandler, Greg Thompson, Shafara Douglas
Committee Members Absent
Rodney Thompson
Guests Present
Amy Hansen, Jennifer Cribbs, LaShea Davis (Committee Non Director), LeAndrea Montgomery, Sally Harris, Trevor Ivey
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Mission and Vision Statements, Board Core Values
D.
Consent Agenda Approval (Agenda and Previous Meeting Minutes)
With no objections, the consent agenda consisting of the meeting agenda and minutes from the previous meeting was approved.
II. Executive Committee Topics for Discussion
A.
Superintendent's Report
Academy Directors’ Reports
The academy directors provided updates on scholar progress, instructional priorities, and school activities.
- Primary Academy: LeAndrea Montgomery reported on common formative assessments, reading growth, family engagement, and Hispanic Heritage Month activities. Current mastery rates were reported at 62% in English language arts and 42% in mathematics. Continued focus areas include increasing mastery, strengthening rigor, and using assessment data to guide instruction.
- Elementary Academy: Sally Harris highlighted the national recognition of Tameko Wilson as Project Lead the Way Launch Teacher of the Year, community partnerships, educational experiences, and professional development in mathematics. Also discussed was the importance of protecting core instructional time, reviewing assessment data, and exploring ways to recognize scholars who met or exceeded state assessment expectations.
- Junior School Academy: Jennifer Cribbs reported on the launch of scholar houses, continued development of a growth mindset, and first-quarter academic and attendance results. Twenty-three percent of scholars earned honor roll recognition, and 17% achieved perfect attendance. Priorities include strengthening mathematics performance, balancing instructional rigor with organizational skill development, and improving systems based on assessment data.
Annual Financial Audit
Dr. Hafner provided an update on the independent audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The auditors issued an unmodified opinion, concluding that the school’s financial statements fairly present its financial position in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The committee received an update on school activities and upcoming events.
Committee Updates
The committee received updates from the Academic, Development, Finance, and Governance Committees.
- Academic Committee: Dr. Michelle McDonald presented an analysis of state assessment results and instructional priorities. Micah Vaughn provided an overview of the school’s social-emotional learning curriculum. The committee discussed having both presentations delivered to the full board at the October 26 meeting.
- Development Committee: Provided updates on family and community engagement, recruitment, and upcoming block walks. The committee also received a foundation update and its ongoing fundraising efforts and support for the Liberty's strategic priorities.
- Finance Committee: Reviewed the financial dashboard and monthly financial reports. The Finance Committee completed its review of the FY26 Draft Audit and will recommend acceptance of the audit at the October 26 board meeting.
- Governance Committee: Received an athletics update from Coach Butler regarding potential program development and future expansion.
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.
Upon conclusion of executive session, the committee returned to open session. No action was taken as a result of executive session.
IV. New Business
A.
Requests for Future Agenda Topics/Committee Recommendations
Directors were reminded to submit new business item requests for future agenda topics to Dr. Hafner.
Follow-Up Items
- Place acceptance of the FY26 independent audit on the October 26 board meeting agenda.
- Coordinate the instructional assessment and social-emotional learning presentations for the full board.
- Continue monitoring academic performance, assessment results, and instructional priorities across the academies.
- Continue planning for recruitment, family engagement, and potential athletics expansion.
V. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- Exec. Cmte LM PA October (1).pdf
- Exec Cmte SH EA October Update 3-2-1 (1).pdf
- Exec. Cmte JC JA October Update.pdf
- Academic Cmte SC READY Data Review.pdf
- ALL SEL Break down 2026-27 School year.pdf
- Dev_Cmte._LC_FACES_October_Mtg.pdf
- Dev._Cmte._Foundation_Board_Report_10.18.26.pdf
- Dev._Cmte._TI_Foundation_October_Board_Update_August_2026.pdf
- ALL_FY26_Audit_Liberty_STEAM_Charter_2026_Financial_Statements.pdf
- 2026 Audit at a Glance.pdf
- Sept 26 Dash Board 1.0 (1).pdf
- Sept26 RevExp New Form_PDF.pdf
- Sept 26 Dash Board 1.0 (1).pdf
- Gov_Athletics_Multi_Year_Budget.pdf
- ALL 202610 Committee School Updates (1).pdf
The invocation was given, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the school’s mission, vision, and core values were reviewed.