Liberty STEAM Charter
Minutes
LSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACADEMIC COMMITTEE
AGENDA OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETING
Date and Time
Wednesday August 24, 2022 at 2:00 PM
Location
LSC Administrative Offices
117 North 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 (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.
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
Cameron Chandler (remote), Jenny Knopf, Trevor Ivey
Committee Members Absent
None
Guests Present
Tiffany Rhodes
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Jenny Knopf called a meeting of the Academic Excellence Committee of Liberty STEAM Charter to order on Wednesday Aug 24, 2022 at 2:08 PM.
C.
Invocation
D.
Reading of the Mission Statement
Cammy Chandler read aloud the mission statement.
E.
Reading of the Vision Statement
Dr. Ivey read aloud the vision statement.
F.
Pledge of Allegiance
Jenny Knopf led the committee in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
G.
Approve Today's Meeting Agenda
Jenny Knopf made a motion to approve the agenda as presented by the staff.
Cameron Chandler seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
H.
Approve Previous Meeting Minutes
Jenny Knopf made a motion to approve the minutes from LSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACADEMIC COMMITTEE on 06-16-22.
Cameron Chandler seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Academic Excellence
A.
Review of Old Business
There was no old business to discuss.
B.
Review of New Business
- Dr. Ivey went over the findings from the BOY Possip Survey and created the next steps with the board regarding feedback.
- Dr. Ivey provided the committee with a review of the first two weeks of the school including culture camp and the continued use of eagle bucks and starting another method to get scholars engaged and rewarded.
- Dr. Ivey provided an update regarding the curriculum including EL, Eureka, & Fly Five.
- Dr. Ivey went over the MTSS plan that was submitted to the district. The plan includes a schedule with meetings by Emily Hatfield with assessments included to track scholars every four weeks. The intervention started on the third day of school with Ms. Hatfield.
- Dr. Ivey shared with the academic committee the launch of Saturday School Plans - focusing on two different topics for cultural & academic success at Liberty.
- Dr. Ivey shared with the committee that the PTO has reached 100% participation.
- Dr. Ivey shared with the committee that the Million Word Challenge will kick off on 9/16.
- Liberty will launch the Social Emotional Learning curriculum after testing takes place the third week of September.
- Dr. Ivey shared with the Academic committee the proposed changes related to Site #2 and the enrollment expansion.
III. Other Business
A.
Agenda Items from Committee Members
The academic committee reviewed the dress code and current parent's concerns outlined in a report sent to the full board. The concerns will be addressed on Monday at the board meeting.
IV. Executive Session
A.
Discussion of Contractual and Personnel Matters
Cameron Chandler made a motion to enter into executive session at 2:50 pm for the purposes of Discussion of Contractual and Personnel Matters.
Jenny Knopf seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Purposes of Discussion for Negotiations Incident to Proposed Contractual Arrangements,
V. Action Related to Executive Session
A.
Action from Executive Session
Jenny Knopf made a motion to return from executive session at 3:00pm. Cameron Chandler seconded the motion.
Cameron Chandler seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Next Steps
Action Items
- The leadership team will follow up with staff members about feedback from Possip and send praises as well.
- Academic board committee members to follow up with concerned parents.
- Dr. Ivey will request a schedule for Mr. Reardon for mainstreaming SPED students.
- The board members will visit two (2) local charter schools to observe their preschool programs and discuss the funding (Dr. Ivey will schedule these visits for the fall).
- The committee will create a Preschool Taskforce for SY 24-25, as well as a Uniform Task Force to further explore any possible revisions to the current policy & design the elementary academy uniform.
- The calendar adoption is now recommended to be on a 2-year cycle - Dr. Ivey will circle bac k next month with the local school district administrators to align with them.
- LSC will create a series of video message updates to respond to some of the Possip feedback (how-to video for “pik my kid” to help parents understand the importance of safety & following Code of Conduct).
Board Recommendations - The board recommends full adoption of the academic operations policy to the board.
- The proposed changes to the uniform policy were recommended for full approval.
- Give each scholar one uniform at BOY celebration and families can donate it back to the cause if they do not need it (an annual reoccurring amount of $15K for uniform assistance to provide one free uniform to all scholars).
B.
Good of the Order
There was no discussion during this portion of the agenda.
C.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 3:20 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tiffany Rhodes
Cameron Chandler provided an invocation.