District Leadership

Dorchester School District Two

Classified/Support Staff Advisory

Minutes November 21, 2024

Classified/Support Staff Advisory Minutes

January 17, 2025

• Welcome: Dr. Kenneth Wilson, Assistant Superintendent
• Notetaker: Selected
• Concern:

  One concern addressed was the January 6th Staff Workday change to a regular School/Weather Make-up Day. Feedback indicated that it detracted from staff’s ability to prepare for students’ return from Winter Break. Dr. Wilson acknowledged that there are limited date options on the calendar to accommodate Weather Days.

• Breakout Sessions: Work in groups on classified job descriptions (30 minutes):
  • TA/FTAS
  • Finance
  • Secretaries
• Full Group Review: Job descriptions comments and suggestions (30 minutes):
  • TA/FTAS:

    The TA job description is comprehensive. However, the FTAS job description needs to be more student-focused, emphasizing the support FTAS provides to students. This description should also vary by age/grade level and the specific needs of students.

  • Finance:

    The Bookkeeper description should be removed as it is identical to the Finance Secretary. A recommendation was made to add a list of software and programs currently used, such as PowerSchool, CSI, Frontline, Papercut, and Raptor.

  • Secretaries:

    There was consensus that the job descriptions are accurate but vary greatly by school. The recommendation was to move Registrars to a 245-day contract due to their year-long responsibilities.

  Overall, the group agreed that duties and responsibilities for all job descriptions varied by school and whether the jobs were at the primary or secondary level. A suggestion was made to add an explanation of the different contract lengths to the DD2 website. Dr. Wilson noted that the Contract Work Dates Schedule is issued by Finance and is generally not released to the public. Dr. Wilson said he would bring the group’s suggestions for job descriptions to Personnel.

• Next Meeting: Thursday, February 20, 2025 @ 4:15 p.m.
  • Link to Job Descriptions for Review (Others will be added)
  • Meeting Topics Link

Dorchester School District Two

Classified/Support Staff Advisory

February 20, 2025

Theme: “One Team, One Vision, One Goal”

Agenda

• Welcome by Dr. Kenneth Wilson, Assistant Superintendent
• Notetaker Selected
• Submitted Topics via Link
• Letter of Intent for Classified (Non-Administrative Personnel)
• Other Business & Questions
• Next Meeting
  • March 20, 2025 @ 4:15 p.m.

Dorchester School District Two

Classified/Support Staff Advisory

Minutes February 20, 2025

Meeting Minutes

1. Welcome by Dr. Kenneth Wilson, Assistant Superintendent

2. Notetaker Selected: Heather Kemble, BHES

3. There were no submitted questions prior to the meeting via the online link, so Dr. Wilson opened the meeting up for general conversation and questions. He also apologized for his tardiness to the meeting.

4. Staff Question: Why is there a difference between sick/personal time?

   Answer: DD2 has personal, sick, and annual leave. Sick and annual leave are the options considered at retirement.

5. Staff Question: Has DD2 leadership discussed traditional year-round school or is the modified schedule the end goal?

   Answer: Currently sticking with modified year-round schedule. Topic of more discussion has been 4-day work week. How would that look? How long would the school day be? Childcare concerns for that 5th day (LEAP option on 5th day?) are noted. The district must find the balance that works for students, teachers, and parents. Currently, state regulations do not really provide an option for a 4-day work week. Any attempt to modify the work week will require a culture shift (remember the time change for elementary/middle/high schools a number of years back?) and, as with any major change, the district must present solid reasoning to the public for why the change is good and a viable option for students.

6. Staff Question: Internet issues seem more prevalent after updates. Wi-Fi is more limited.

   Answer: The district is always working on it. Personal devices cannot connect to the secure server, and the guest server is limited. DO is looking for a balance that keeps security and safety at the forefront while addressing current challenges such as uncertainty over email delivery status.

7. Question from Dr. Wilson: In considering the upcoming 2025-26 school year, what would you like to see changed?

   Answers:

   1. More money for faculty and staff.
   2. End to the 1:45 p.m. PLC Wednesdays, which present challenges for parents and office staff. Office staff and sometimes teachers miss the beginnings of PD, celebrations, or meetings because of increased numbers of students in the car line, delays from bus returns, and late bus arrivals delaying dismissal. Dr. Wilson noted that logistics are a challenge and the current model was the best option given early morning challenges such as bus scheduling and staff availability. There is a need to consider if the intent of the PLC days is being met. Additionally, 11 a.m. dismissals are used for district-wide trainings.

8. Question from Dr. Wilson: Letter of Intent updated to address culture of distrust – clarified that pay would not be less for returning employees than the current year. Any thoughts/suggestions for additional updates?

   Answer: No updates suggested.

9. Updates from Dr. Wilson regarding Spann Elementary:

   • The newer part of Spann (front area) is to stay, while the older areas affected by age will be torn down after the 2025-26 school year.
   • Schools of thought for future repurposing of space include:
     • Use space for staff members currently working out of houses owned by DD2—Sodexo, Ed Tech, Special Services. The proposal includes selling the houses and consolidating staff at Spann.
     • Establish an Early Childcare Center—not to replace LEAP but to serve younger children. The goal is to create three spaces (Spann, FES, and TBD) while addressing questions about cost, pricing, staffing, and allocation (lottery or other criteria).
     • Develop an Elementary Alternative site—similar to RISE but for elementary school, with a possibility to house BREW (currently at FDES) alongside BREW’s own ongoing improvements and successes. The district is showcasing BREW this summer.
   • Check out the facilities meetings that have been live streamed for more details.

10. Budget – talks beginning in March.

11. Question from Dr. Wilson: What is a budget item you would like to see?

    Answer: Increased budget for security, specifically at the FES office entrance and the road/back loop behind NES (to determine if a gate can be installed so that deliveries, parents, and visitors don’t have access to the loop).

12. Sodexo Staff Meals: Pilot program at RMSA and SHES. A survey has been sent out, and results are still being compiled and reviewed. One common comment is that the cost of lunch is too high – it is set at the state minimum price for an adult lunch ($5.30). The lunch program will have to pay for itself, and no funds from student lunches can be used for adult lunches, meaning free staff meals cannot be offered. Survey results will determine whether a bar-style or pre-order option is implemented.

13. Next Meeting: Thursday, March 20, 2025 @ 4:15 p.m.

    • Check out the Teacher Cabinet notes found on the DD2 website; they may have answers to some of your questions—or even questions you hadn’t thought of.
    • Link to Job Descriptions for Review (Others will be added)
    • Link for Meeting Topics

Classified/Support Staff Advisory Meeting

March 20, 2025

Agenda

• Welcome – Dr. Kenneth Wilson, Assistant Superintendent
• Notetaker Selected
• Submitted Topics
• Superintendent’s Office
• FY’26 Budget Process
• Other Business & Questions

Budget Calendar – Fiscal Year 2025-2026

Dorchester School District Two
Classified/Support Staff Advisory Minutes

March 20, 2025

Attendees

Present: Dr. Wilson, Ms. Rogers, Ms. Adams, Ms. Hutto, Ms. Redick, Ms. Daley, Ms. Daniels, Ms. White, Ms. Waitt, Ms. Pearce-Contrearaz, Ms. Kasch, Ms. Gravot, Ms. Larbi, Ms. Isgett, Ms. Kemble

Agenda Topics

• Notetaker: Ms. Kemble
• Submitted Topics: None submitted

Superintendent’s Office

• Dr. Robbins has retired. Mr. Daugherty is the Acting Superintendent.
• Board's plans for a new superintendent search are currently unknown.
• March 31: Called Board Meeting, Budget Workshop, and County Council Consolidation Meeting (should be livestreamed).

Budget Calendar

• First review scheduled for March 31.
• Final budget approval expected by June 9.
• Including all wishlist items would result in a $19 million deficit.

Group Discussions

1. What is going well in DD2?

   • Parent Square
   • Young AP staff with positive district impact
   • Improved communication
   • Monthly group collaboration
   • Sick Bank reinstated
   • Fort Dorchester High School – Palmetto’s Finest Finalist
   • Summerville High – Platinum School of Distinction
   • Fewer vacancies
   • Dubose Middle – AP Josten’s Renaissance Member of the Month
   • Alston Middle School building upgrades
   • FDES – Vision to Learn eyeglasses program
   • FDES – Brew program success
   • District resilience
   • Substitute staffing improvements

2. What needs to change and how?

   • Transportation: retrain staff, improve driver/sub consistency
   • Raptor system: gather feedback from users for training and best practices
   • Teacher support: clearer behavior expectations and increased parent accountability
   • Hire more staff, especially for 1-on-1 SPED support
   • Salary increases: inform community on pay and spending; encourage public support
   • Cell phone policy: establish and enforce a consistent policy
   • Attendance: engage families and schools to prioritize it
   • Elementary early release: if needed, apply a consistent schedule
   • Registrar at high schools: consider 245-day calendar

Member Questions

• Employee Verification: Contact Cheryl Flowers for questions about school placement for employee children.
• Front Office Coverage During Breaks:
  • FDHS/SHS: co-op, receptionist, or teacher coverage
  • OES/BHES: portable camera or doorbell system
  • Check with administration for school-specific options

Next Meeting

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 4:15 p.m.

Additional Resources

• Teacher Cabinet Notes – available on DD2 website
• Link to Job Descriptions for Review – more will be added
• Meeting Topics Link

Happy Spring Break!

Classified/Support Staff Advisory Meeting

April 17, 2025

Agenda

• Welcome – Dr. Kenneth Wilson, Assistant Superintendent
• Notetaker Selected
• Submitted Topics
• Superintendent’s Office
• FY’26 Budget Process
  • Budget Presentation

Budget Calendar – Fiscal Year 2025-2026