Liberty STEAM Charter
Minutes
LSC FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Date and Time
Wednesday March 9, 2022 at 8:00 AM
Location
LSC Administrative Offices
117 North Main Street
Sumter, SC 29150
Google Map of Meeting Location
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
Ben Griffith, Jr. (remote), Dexter WJ Davis (remote), Greg Thompson (remote), Khalil Graham (remote), Kimberly Rauschenbach (remote)
Committee Members Absent
None
Guests Present
Trevor Ivey (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Invocation
D.
Pledge of Allegiance
Kimberly Rauschenbach led the committee in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
E.
Reading of the Mission Statement
Chairman Thompson read aloud the mission statement.
F.
Reading of the Vision Statement
Ben Griffith read aloud the vision statement.
G.
Approve Agenda
H.
Approve Minutes from the Previous Meeting
II. Executive Session
A.
Discussion of Appointments to a Public Body
III. Actions Related to Executive Session
A.
Action from Discussion of Appointent to a Public Body
Candidates include Rev. Dr. Marion Newton, Ken Lee, Kimberly Rauschenbach, Shereza Middleton, Jenny Knopf, Elayne Brunson, & James Ardis.
IV. Closing Items
A.
Next Steps
Chairman Thompson read aloud the following statement:
Liberty STEAM Charter School, in its inaugural year serving 192 founding scholars in kindergarten & first grade, is excited to announce that it will soon be holding its first elections for the nine-member board. A total of 11 individuals filed for appointment & election:
- Greg A. Thompson (Current Director/Original Member of the Charter Planning Committee)
- Dexter Davis (Current Director/Original Member of the Charter Planning Committee)
- Kimberly Rauschenbach (Current Director/Original Member of the Charter Planning Committee)
- Dr. Rodney Thompson (Current Director/Original Member of the Charter Planning Committee)
- Cammy Chandler (Current Director/Original Member of the Charter Planning Committee)
- Rev. Dr. Marion Newton (Current Director/Original Member of the Charter Planning Committee)
- Ken Lee (Current Director)
- Elayne Brunson (Parent)
- Jenny Knopf (Parent)
- Shereza Middleton (Parent)
- James Ardis
According to LSC’s governing by-laws, the executive committee is charged with vetting all applications received for board candidates and to then determine whose candidacy moves forward for appointment or election. Further, LSC’s governing by-laws state that there are a total of four appointed seats by the Executive Committee (two, 2 year terms and two, 1 year terms) in addition to five elected seats (three, 2 year terms and two, 1 year terms) that are voted on by the parents & staff of LSC. Staggered terms ensure there is continuity on the board. Since this is the first election, The Public Charter Alliance of South Carolina is charged with overseeing the entire process. In a recent executive committee meeting, the following individuals were unanimously appointed: Greg A. Thompson (2 year term ending in 2024), Dexter Davis (2 year term ending in 2024), Cammy Chandler (1 year term ending in 2023), and Dr. Rodney Thompson (1 year term ending in 2023). All remaining individuals listed above will stand for election, via electronic ballot. In an effort to raise awareness of individuals that will be listed on the electronic ballot, a Meet the Candidates Forum will be held virtually on March 15th from 6:30-7:30 pm. LSC families & staff members will be invited to participate.
Each scholar’s family and staff member will receive one email containing a special code to activate their ballot beginning at 8 am on March 22 and ending at 5 pm on March 24. The Public Charter Alliance of South Carolina will certify the results of the election on March 25 and release the information publicly. All appointed and elected directors will formally be sworn in for their office by Chris Neeley, Superintendent of the SC Public Charter School District in a special ceremony on March 28 from 5:30-6:00 pm at the CCTC Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (853 Broad Street). During the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors that same evening, the first act of business will be to elect officers of the board.
B.
Good of the Order
Dr. Ivey announced during this portion of the agenda that he would be organizing a Meet the Candidates Forum to take place virtually on March 15 from 6:30-7:30 pm.
Dexter Davis provided an invocation.