08/29/2026
🗞️August 28, 2026 Board Brief 🗞️
⬇️Highlights ⬇️
Communications:
•White Knoll Middle School Featured in 9/11 Exhibit at the South Carolina State Museum- Back in 2001, WKMS staff and students campaigned throughout the community to raise over $500,000 to replace a Brooklyn fire truck - Ladder 101, destroyed on 9/11. WKMS was gifted a piece of the original Ladder 101 truck door that was recovered from Ground Zero. This, along with White Knoll's story are part of the SC Remembers 9/11: 25 Years Later exhibition now at the State Museum. Further information on the exhibit can be found here on the museum's website.
https://scmuseum.org/explore/exhibitions/south-carolina-remembers-911-25-years-later
Instructional Services:
•Data Deliverable - 2026 School Program Annual Report- The August 2026 School Program Annual Report (pictured behind the board brief below ⬇️) provides a breakdown of how our district supports students across four programs: Dual Language Immersion, Gifted and Talented services, The College Center, and Title I. The Dual Language Immersion program, across 16 schools, continues to yield high proficiency, with 70% of the 2026 immersion completers earning the Seal of Biliteracy. The report also showcases the district's Gifted and Talented pathways, which offer advanced coursework from elementary enrichment to high school Honors, Advanced Placement, IB, and Dual Enrollment, alongside the exceptional success of The College Center, where 96% of graduates earned Associate Degrees. Finally, it details the strategic use Title I funding across 14 schools to ensure all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities.
•Lexington School District One Named Esports Coaching Clinic Location- Because of the incredible momentum and hard work taking place within our esports program in Lexington School District One and across the state, we have been selected as a Clinic location for esports coaches in the state and this will be the first time this training has been offered in SC.
The National Association of Esports Coaches & Directors (NAECAD) has decided to head to the East Coast and will be making a stop right here at Lexington
Technology Center to host a live Level 1 Esports Coaching Clinic on Friday, October 9.
This clinic is a fantastic opportunity to further support our coaches and build on the great foundation we have established. Key highlights of the workshop include:
* 6 Hours of Professional Development: Providing actionable strategies to lead more effective practices and a deeper understanding of the coaching role.
* Building Collegiate Pathways: Connecting high school coaches with regional college programs and surrounding area coaches.
* Local Collaboration: Helping our coaches establish network connections and find new local practice partners.
This clinic provides a great opportunity to grow our coaches and provide an even better experience for our students. You can find more details on the event page here:
https://naecad.org/level-1-clinic-columbia-sc-10-09-26/
NAECAD Level 1 Clinic - Columbia Area (Oct 9)
Operations & Student Services:
•Data Deliverable - 2025-2026 Facility Rental Summary
* Number of events = 1,121
* Amount Collected for Rentals = $200,127.30
* Amount Charged for Housekeeping/Keyholders= $90,719.17
* Amount of Housekeeping/Keyholder Payout =$119,996.72
*The new board approved facility use rates went into effect, July 1, 2026.
Articles of Interest:
•These Columbia-area elementary schools are among SC's top performers. Who's on the list? -https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/general/these-columbia-area-elementary-schools-are-among-sc-s-top-performers-who-s-on-the-list/ar-AA2aHylb
•Legislative Update 8/24/26-https://mailchi.mp/9dffc54d1c73/scsba-legislative-budget-update?e=2c6a2f80ba
•Legislative Update 8/26/26- https://mailchi.mp/fc2640f78c9f/scsba-legislative-budget-update?e=2c6a2f80ba
•These area middle schools are among SC’s top performers. Who’s on the list?- https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Z_LPQ5OBV1kY0nKMuXlSCoBgs9PkgVZ/view
•These are the 10 best high schools in & near Columbia for 2026, US News & World Report says- https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article316991719.html
•GILBERT NEWS: Centerville Elementary now has its own spirit rock-https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/gilbert-news-centerville-elementary-now-has-its-own-spirit-rock,190491
•PTO president spent over $20,000 of group’s money on herself, SC sheriff says- https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article317002115.html
•School PTO president in Lexington County charged with using money for personal use
Deputies said the incidents happened over a three year period.- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U-qXFlsbQ2-TXcX-9KpfSkj-jnY5oGA9/view
Policy Introductions: (full policies pictured below behind the board brief)
•GBK Employee Grievances
•GBK-R Employee Grievances Administrative Rule
•GBK-E Grievance Form (recommended for deletion)
FOIA Requests:
1. Mark Zurada, Esq., 8/17/26: Records requested:
Please send the final and compiled bid tabulation (bid tally), including all quantities and unit pricing for each bidder, for 'SYNTHETIC TURF REPLACEMENT RIVER BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL' that was submitted on 03/25/2024. I believe the project number is 'B2024.3', but I could be mistaken. If so, please use the project name and date to lookup the responsive documents. We specifically request the line-item bid tabulation showing each material, quantity, unit, and unit price for every bidder. If no such line-item tally was created, please provide the full bid submissions from each contractor. A grand total sheet alone is not sufficient to satisfy this request unless it was a lump sum bid.
Below is an example of the format we are looking for that the engineer usually creates at the completion of the bid:
BIDDER 1 BIDDER 2
Item # Material Quantity Unit UNIT PRICE TOTAL UNIT PRICE TOTAL 1
GRAND TOTAL GRAND TOTAL
2. Mark Zurada, Esq., 8/26/26: Records requested:
Please send the final and compiled bid tabulation (bid tally), including all quantities and unit pricing for each bidder, for 'Furnish, Deliver, and Install Fencing as Specified' that was submitted on 04/03/2019. I believe the project number is 'Q2019.25', but I could be mistaken. If so, please use the project name and date to lookup the responsive documents. We specifically request the line-item bid tabulation showing each material, quantity, unit, and unit price for every bidder. If no such line-item tally was created, please provide the full bid submissions from each contractor. A grand total sheet alone is not sufficient to satisfy this request unless it was a lump sum bid.
Below is an example of the format we are looking for that the engineer usually creates at the completion of the bid:
BIDDER 1 BIDDER 2
Item # Material Quantity Unit UNIT PRICE TOTAL UNIT PRICE TOTAL 1......
GRAND TOTAL GRAND TOTAL
3. Danielle Ruiz, 8/25/26: All financial records at the transactional level for expenses and revenues for the Lexington High School Wrestling Program from July 1, 2023 to today's date
4. Andy Beeson, 8/25/26: A list of each booster club registered with the district pursuant to Section 59-17-170 for the 2026-2027 School Year
