AIKEN’S SUPERINTENDENT EARNS “VERY GOOD” EVALUATION RATING; CONTRACT EXTENSION
Superintendent King Laurence recapped accomplishments of the 2021-22 school year during the school board’s regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday (September 27, 2022). School Board Members were collectively pleased with the district leader’s performance to date.
Laurence’s work in Aiken County last year centered around four overarching goals, which, in summary, were (1) enhance instruction and take advantage of remote learning technology; (2) develop and maintain positive, safe, nurturing learning environments; (3) refine processes for recruitment and retention of high-quality educators and staff; and (4) expand community partnerships.
While acknowledging that not every detail was accomplished, the district leader shared details of the progress made. “We made significant progress in improving how we meet the needs of our students, staff, and the community,” he stated.
GOAL NUMBER ONE
Efforts to ensure a technology-rich learning environment with 1:1 devices for all students had long been a goal of the district. Circumstances accelerated those plans, and the district not only placed a computer into the hands of each student, but also met its goal to enhance instructional systems, classroom practices, and remote learning technologies.
Some of the highlights Laurence shared in this area included Saturday Workshops offered to educators across all grade levels, the ongoing success of the school system’s virtual offering Aiken iNNOVATE (Ai), as well as details of the district’s partnership with Dell to implement Student Tech Teams, instructing and certifying their own high school students as computer repair technicians.
“These Student Tech Teams not only provided those students hands-on learning and industry certifications which will be invaluable in their future pursuits, but also ensured cracked screens, broken keyboards, and adapters didn’t mean long periods offline for anyone.”
Other results of this deliberate work are an on-time graduation rate of nearly 90% (89.8%), which exceeds the state average by more than six percentage points, and a career readiness percentage that’s a full 10 points ahead of the state.
Budget constraints and a nation-wide teacher shortage are delaying efforts to reduce pupil teacher ratios in the early grades. However, Laurence assured trustees stating, “the numbers are still quite good.” And, “in most cases,” he shared, “we are well below our desired class size.” Other early childhood efforts detailed were the continued partnership with Aiken Regional Hospital and the Aiken County Education Association-Retired for Baby’s First Teacher, literacy-rich learning environments with center-based classrooms providing opportunities for small group and individualized instruction, as well as Voyager Passport, the teacher-led, phonics-focused intervention program for kindergarten through second grade.
GOAL NUMBER TWO
Despite supply and labor shortages, renovations and additions have continued for the district with the completion of work at Millbrook and Belvedere Elementary schools, the completion of phase one at Hammond Hill Elementary, and the beginning of Highland Springs Middle School.
“Thanks to visionary use of federal ESSER dollars and a commitment of district capital funds,” Laurence stated about the much-anticipated new Wagener-Salley High School, “we will be able to replace the 1938 facility with a state-of-the-art high school in the next two years.”
The recently Modified Calendar, which goes into effect in the 2023-2024 school year, was also highlighted. Laurence reminded trustees of the greatest benefit that will be realized with this schedule of student intervention and enrichment at integral times during the year.
The national issue of school violence was also addressed and is a major component in the school system’s efforts to maintain a positive, safe and nurturing environment. A grant award of $500,000 allowed the district to employ an experienced law enforcement professional as the Director of Security and Emergency Management, upgrade security and expand training.
Revisions were made to the Code of Student Conduct and additional emphasis was placed on consistent adherence to the code. “While I am not happy to see the spike in student expulsions,” Laurence commented of the jump from 27 and six expulsions in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, respectively, to 81 expulsions last year, “it does send a message that our schools are going to be safe and that we are willing to take a strong stand to ensure it.”
GOAL NUMBER THREE
The district’s annual employee recognition event Stars of Public Education returned to an in-person gala last year, and appreciation days and weeks were celebrated for bus drivers, school nurses, administrative professionals, principals and teachers. Those highlights, coupled with the return of Amp The Appreciation, an employee celebration in The Alley in Downtown Aiken with live music and educator discounts, are contributing to a positive culture for teachers and staff.
At the heart of retention and succession planning is an effort to “grow our own,” Laurence shared. Under the umbrella of Aiken Leads, ACPSD offers career exploration for support staff, an academy for Aspiring Administrators, advanced training for supervisors, and partners with external colleges and universities to encourage employee interest in attaining advanced degrees, while helping to defray the cost.
New teachers are a critical focus area in the district. With a goal to help “new to the district educators feel at home in our classrooms and county,” support meetings, mentors, specialized events, and an initiative called WeCare have been established. A robust Employee Assistance Program was also introduced to aid employees in personal matters ranging from an urgent crisis to routine mental health support and legal assistance.
GOAL NUMBER FOUR
Throughout the last several years, the district has enhanced efforts to recognize, celebrate and support the sacrifices made by men and women serving in the military, as well as their families. As a Purple Star District, known for being a supportive educational environment for military connected families, ACPSD has embraced the Student 2 Student (S2S) program, which trains students to support military-connected students transitioning between schools, and is proud that North Augusta High’s program was recognized as the National High School S2S Program of the Year.
AIKEN WORKS continues to create opportunities for students to explore careers and gain hands-on experiences in the workforce. Last year, as part of the collaborative, 51 students participated in work-based learning through internships and apprenticeships and, among other events, a Career and College Night was held in partnership with USC Aiken, the Lower Savannah Council of Governments, and South Carolina Department of Commerce, with 70 business and community booths, 30 colleges and universities, and approximately 1,000 students and families in attendance.
In addition to Aiken Scholars Academy at USC Aiken and the Early College partnership with Midland Valley and Aiken Technical College, a new collaboration with higher education was recently announced. The construction of a new Career and Technology Center on Aiken Tech’s campus has been made possible because of the legislative delegation’s work to secure funding from the MOX settlement. “With its location on the Aiken Tech campus,” Laurence stated, “we see limitless possibilities for partnerships and collaboration to support our students and Aiken County’s workforce.”
THE SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT & EVALUATION
A compilation of the information presented to trustees is available on the school system’s website, www.acpsd.net/superintendent.
After considering board members’ comments regarding Mr. Laurence’s performance, trustee Barry Moulton made the motion to “conclude as a board that Mr. Laurence receive an overall ‘very good’ evaluation for the 2021-2022 school year.” Moulton further moved that the board extend the superintendent’s contract by one year through June 30, 2025, provide a $2,000 annual allowance for contributions to nonprofit boards for which the superintendent is a member and that they provide five additional vacation days annually to the superintendent. The motion passed unanimously.
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