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Liberty STEAM Charter

Minutes

LSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Date and Time

Thursday January 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM

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. 

Committee Members Present

(Tajma) LaShea Davis, Elayne Brunson, Heather Bass

Committee Members Absent

None

Guests Present

Trevor Ivey

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Heather Bass called a meeting of the Development Committee of Liberty STEAM Charter to order on Thursday Jan 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM.

C.

Invocation

Mrs. Bass provided an invocation. 

D.

Pledge of Allegiance

Ms. Brunson led the pledge of allegiance. 

E.

Reading of the Mission Statement

Mrs. Davis read aloud the mission statement. 

F.

Reading of the Vision Statement

Mrs. Davis read aloud the vision statement. 

G.

Approve Agenda

(Tajma) LaShea Davis made a motion to approve the agenda as presented.
Heather Bass seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

H.

Approve Meeting Minutes

(Tajma) LaShea Davis made a motion to approve the minutes from LSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE on 11-21-24.
Elayne Brunson seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Development

A.

Old Business from Previous Meeting

None. 

B.

New Business

  • Dr. Ivey provided year-end giving updates and next steps on:
    1. Connected Communities Grant 
    2. Charter School Growth Fund Milestone Document
    3. Williams-Brice-Edwards 
  • Other giving opportunities that were discussed included:
    1. IBM (Ms. Brunson will share additional information)
    2. LSC Community Classmates (Ms. Bass pitches to various groups at the upcoming Sumter Chamber of Commerce Retreat & Mr. Shaw sends giving material fliers to Ms. Bass). 
    3. Dr. Ivey expressed the need for 150 additional chromebooks now at the PA to help with the full implementation of the HMH curriculum & gave a heads up for the recommendation to finance for the funds now of $70,000 to make this happen with the trade-off that it would be a budgeted item next year already for the first purchased group of chromebooks to be traded out and we would delay the trading out of year 1 chromebook. 
    4. Dr. Ivey shared updates on the phase 2 of STEAM Workforce Development Initiative field learning experiences. 
      1. Kinder-McCleod: Ms. Bass will follow up with CCTC on possibly having scholars visiting their health sciences center instead of going to McCleod (health sciences). 
      2. 1st Grade: Mr. Norton of eVac can’t host scholars until April. Ms. Bass will follow up with Mr. Norton to get a confirmed commitment and explore other partner visits if needed (engineering technology). 
      3. 2nd Grade: Confirmed for City of Sumter tour of water plant facilities and the focus will be geared towards city planning (business technology). Dr. Ivey will follow up to confirm dates with Mr. Kelly. 
      4. 3rd Grade: Confirmed for Continental, but Dr. Ivey will follow-up to confirm dates with Emily (industrial technology). 
      5. 4th Grade: Confirmed to visit Nephron in West Columbia in early Columbia. 
  • The rest of the time was used to give other school updates 
    1. Mid-Year Organizational Report Card 
    2. Mid-Year MAP Academic Achievement Data 
    3. Mid-Year Parent & Staff Satisfaction Data 
    4. Mid-Year 2x2 Performance Reviews 
    5. Spring Semester 2 Org Rally Cry & Score Card 

III. Other Business

A.

Agenda Items from Committee Members

None. 

IV. Executive Session

A.

Discussion of Contractual and Personnel Matters

None. 

V. Action Related to Executive Session

A.

Action from Executive Session

None. 

VI. Closing Items

A.

Next Steps

Final Action Items

  1. Ms. Bass follows up with Mr. Norton & Emily for field trips. 
  2. Mr. Shaw gives updated marketing materials to Ms. Bass (community classmates). 
  3. Ms. Bass pitches to various partners attending the upcoming chamber retreat to consider becoming a Liberty community classmate. 
  4. Dr. Ivey looks into funding opportunities from Quest Foundation. 
  5. Mr. Shaw shares info received from Ms. Owen regarding the Connected Communities grant with the full board. 
  6. Mr. Shaw presents quote for an additional 150 chrome books to finance committee. 
  7. Ms. Bass looks into possible contacts for kindergarten scholars to visit CTC. 

Board Recommendations

  • Dr. Ivey presented initial hiring guidance for the spring 2025 hiring cycle and the development committee approved its recommendation with academic committee having jurisdiction of the final proposal made at Monday night’s meeting. 
  • Dr. Ivey shared the initial teacher salary schedule for the 2025-26 school year reflecting a 3% salary increase. Development committee gives its approval in line with the CSGF budget with the finance committee having jurisdiction of the final proposal made at Monday night’s meeting. 

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 9:00 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Tiffany Rhodes