Ms. Knopf provided an invocation.

Ms. Davis read the mission statement.

Ms. Chandler read the vision statement.

Ms. Knopf led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Dr. Ivey shared opening remarks that included how to leverage Ms. Hansen to be more efficient and how we can work smarter in between meetings moving them in the direction of what each committee chair wants to focus on.  Committee members have been challenged to consider suggesting and adopting CORE values, such as if we are not focusing on children, we should not be talking. He thanked directors who were able to attend the Staff of the Year event and noted for those unable to attend, there will be plenty of opportunities for future events to celebrate the great people and great things happening at Liberty. He was pleased that the Teacher of the Year process has produced two state finalists, Dr. Michelle McDonald and Ms. Adria Vaughn.

Dr. Ivey provided information on the 2025-26 school year hiring updates noting, while there is one outstanding position, he is encouraged that urgency will be given to fill that position in order to open school for FY26. All welcome to Liberty events for new staff have been scheduled and invitations shared.     

Dr. Ivey provided an update on the Spring Rally Cry. He shared encouraging information regarding the parent/guardian climate survey results for learning environment, social and physical environment, and home school relations. These results along with the student and staff survey results that will be completed in June or July will be included on the State Report Card.    

Dr. Ivey noted the GT scholars were originally scheduled to present STEAM Workforce Development findings at this meeting; however, the student presentations from STEAM day will take place during a field trip on May 20 at the Sumter Economic Development Building, and directors are invited to attend.  Additional details are forthcoming.

Dr. Ivey shared the Spring MAP student achievement review and the action plan push to SC READY.  

He was pleased to report that Liberty is on track to meet three of the four goals that have never historically been met, breakfast and lunch participation, average daily scholar attendance, and parent volunteer hours. The remaining goal, academic proficiency for reading and math, currently shows 5 out of 10 scholars at the EA are reading on grade level and 6 out of 10 are doing math on grade level.

Upcoming potential policy changes include promotion and retention, the grading manual, and attendance policy. While the attendance goal is on track, and the truancy rate decreased by two-thirds, there is concern regarding an increase in medical absences.

Welcome to Liberty is Saturday, April 26. There are only 14 out of 150 students who still need to RSVP for this mandatory event for new scholars and parents as part of the Enrollment Roadmap.

Dr. Ivey and LaQuana Chambers visited Movement School in Charlotte, NC. This charter school serves students in grades k-five and is similar to Liberty.  Movement, which is expanding to Atlanta and Charleston, is the closest school to LSC that is a member of the Charter School Growth Fund portfolio. 

Dr. Ivey welcomed Network Scholar Intervention Specialist Lara McAlister and SPED Populations Coordinator Nicky Pack who shared an update on MTSS, or Multi-Tiered System of Supports, a framework used by schools to provide targeted support to students who are struggling academically, behaviorally, or socially. MTSS is organized into tiers of support, with Tier 1 being the most basic and universal support for all students, and Tier 2 and 3 providing more intensive interventions for students who need additional help. Ms. McAlister stressed the need to review the data around the need for support, e.g., is it an individual scholar, a class, is it a grouping of boys or girls, from a sector of town, etc., to ensure that Tier 1 is being met prior to recommending students to Tier 2. 

There were no agenda items from committee members.

There was no executive session.

There was no action.

Ms. McAlister was tasked to investigate progress monitoring for SEL, to look into Panorama Education, which offers a comprehensive, actionable view of every student in one system, to see if it is a good fit for Liberty or propose the easiest method of a measurable component of Tier I fidelity of implementation, and to schedule a strategic meeting with Mr. Vaugh to review Tier I for the elementary academy.