Liberty STEAM Charter
Minutes
LSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACADEMIC COMMITTEE
NOTIFICATION OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETING
Date and Time
Thursday January 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Location
117 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 (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, Jenny Knopf, Marion Newton, Trevor Ivey
Committee Members Absent
None
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 Thursday Jan 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM.
C.
Invocation
D.
Reading of the Mission Statement
Mrs. Knopf read aloud the mission statement.
E.
Reading of the Vision Statement
Dr. Ivey read aloud the vision statement.
F.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mrs. Knopf led the pledge of allegiance.
G.
Approve Today's Meeting Agenda
Cameron Chandler made a motion to approve the agenda as presented.
Marion Newton seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
H.
Approve Previous Meeting Minutes
Cameron Chandler made a motion to approve the minutes from LSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE COMMITTEE on 11-22-24.
Marion Newton seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Academic Excellence
A.
Review of Old Business
B.
Review of New Business
- Dr. Ivey provided a presentation to the committee that included all data points collected for the mid-year to assess progress towards organizational goals. Committee members engaged in a discussion on each topic.
- Winter Reading, Math, & Language Academic Achievement Data
- Mid-Year Staff & Parent Satisfaction Survey Results
- Dr. Ivey presented the Spring 2025 Rally Cry and discussed each of the pillar’s metrics for the network, primary, & elementary academy teams.
- Dr. Ivey shared the intervention boot camp plan to utilize the services of 10-12 local retired teachers to assist in small group instruction that will benefit 247 scholars at the Elementary Academy.
- Dr. Ivey shared a preliminary hiring guidance document with new requirements for positions going forward and asked for the academic committee’s recommendation to the full board.
- Dr. Ivey provided year-end giving updates and next steps on:
- Connected Communities Grant
- Charter School Growth Fund Milestone Document
- Williams-Brice-Edwards Charitable Trust
- Dr. Ivey provided an update to the committee on the mid-year offsite with our Table Group Leadership Coach. The committee reviewed team assessment profiles for each campus leader team.
- The committee engaged in a discussion around the progress the team is making in implementing the revised scholar enrollment policy. Dr. Ivey provided preliminary demographic updates on the new incoming class of kindergarten scholars and that roughly 60% of the 133 fully enrolled scholars identify as a minority. Dr. Ivey reminded the committee of the demographic requirements in the SC Charter Act of 1996.
- Dr. Ivey presented the proposed 2025-26 salary schedules to the committee for consideration and shared that the 3% across the board increase was already approved by the working committee that prepared the 10-year Charter School Growth Fund budget. Dr. Ivey shared that he has already informed the staff before Christmas Break of the shift in LSC’s compensation philosophy with 6% being split - 3% in an automatic increase on a staff member’s annual salary and the other 3% added to each staff member’s total bonus eligibility.
III. Other Business
A.
Updates from Other Board Members
None.
IV. Executive Session
A.
Discussion of Contractual and Personnel Matters
None.
B.
Purposes of Discussion for Negotiations Incident to Proposed Contractual Arrangements,
None.
V. Action Related to Executive Session
A.
Action from Executive Session
None.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Next Steps
- Dr. Ivey will send the mid-year MAP comparison proficiency averages from last year to the committee for comparison as requested by Mrs. Knopf.
- Dr. Ivey will share the parent volunteer hour follow-up letter with Mrs. Chandler for feedback.
- The committee approved the hiring guidance recommendations and the new staff salary schedule of a 3% increase.
B.
Good of the Order
None.
C.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jenny Knopf
Mrs. Chandler provided an invocation.