The Thursday, Feb. 13, regularly scheduled Carroll County School District Board of Education meeting began promptly. To open the meeting, Board Member Teresa Vanlandingham made an announcement regarding Marshall Elementary School. She stated with excitement that the Board was proud to announce that Marshall Elementary School’s Beta Club had recently inducted forty-four new members into the honors society. Quickly following this announcement, the Board proceeded to business.
The first major matter of business discussed within the meeting was in regards to the district purchasing an Interactive Communication Board. According to Superintendent Joey Carpenter, the item would be purchased for the district to assist with nonverbal students. The purchase would be an investment for the district to be used by current and any future students which may need it. After a short discussion of the item’s purpose, the Board approved the purchase of the Interactive Communication Board in the amount of $8,795 on a motion made by Board Member Vanlandingham and seconded by Board Member Kenneth DeLoach with all in favor.
For the next major item on the agenda, the Board discussed the purchase of welding equipment for the district’s vocation-technical welding classes. Immediately following the introduction of the item, Board Member William Downs addressed Superintendent Carpenter with a question.
“I noticed we’re getting prices from Amazon and places like that, but if one of these welders happens to go down, who would be doing the maintenance on it and how long would it be down and students couldn’t weld?” Board Member Downs questioned.
Superintendent Carpenter did not know the answer to the question immediately and advised that he would need to consult with the Welding Instructor, Bernard Jones. Downs questioned why quotes had not been sourced locally from businesses in Greenwood or the surrounding counties. He stated that this course of action may be of better interest to the district in the case that the equipment needed maintenance, local sellers would likely be able to come and service it. At this time, Board Member Downs suggested possibly tabling the matter until the next meeting, so that the Board could get more information on the quotes available and who services the equipment. Superintendent Carpenter expressed that his largest concern in tabling the purchase until the next Board meeting would be whether or not the grant funds would still be available by the next meeting, as many grants require the district to spend or dedicate the funds by a certain time period. As of the meeting, he was unsure of the timetable in place for the grant funds which were going to be used to purchase this welding equipment.
“I’d hate to vote on something and they get it and use it for two or three days then it’s down for six months,” Board Member Downs expressed his concerns.
“I will say, Mr. Bernard Jones, he's taught welding for quite some time, for many years, so I trust Mr. Jones. He’s very familiar with the welding process,” Superintendent Carpenter stated.
After this discussion, the Board approved to purchase several items for the welding program with unanimous votes. The Board approved the following purchases. One welding Klutch 11kW Engine-Driven Inverter Stick Welder from Amazon in the amount of $3,839.99 on a motion made by Board Member Downs and seconded by Board Member Vanlandingham with all in favor. One Victor Technologies Medalist 250 System from Amazon in the amount of $389.90 on a motion made by Board Member Vanlandingham and seconded by Board Member DeLoach with all in favor. One Schulz Refrigerated Air Dryer for Air Compressor from Amazon in the amount of $1,227.05 on a motion made by Board Member Downs and seconded by Board Member Vanlandingham with all in favor. The final purchase was one KNOKOO Fume Extractor Soldering 350W 430 m from Amazon in the amount of $599 on a motion made by Board Member Vanlandingham and seconded by Board Member Meridith Cobbins with all in favor.
In other news the Board:
• Approved the meeting agenda with one addition under personnel.
• Accepted the consent agenda, including the meeting minutes and overtime and extra pay for January 2025.
• Approved business regarding the 21st Century Staff, The Flying Classroom, the 2025 District Test Security Plan, Kids First Proposal, the CCSD School Calendar 2025-26, the Athletic Events Season Admission Prices, and the purchase of one school bus in the amount of $135,600 (requesting grant assistance in the amount of $44,835.90 for this purchase).
• Accepted the financial statements and claims.
• Approved of personnel matters including Recommended Certified Employees for the 2025-26 school year parts one and two, Recommended At Will Bus Aides for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year, a Recommended At Will Employee Assistant Teacher, Updated Pay Scales, four Employee Resignations, and one Employee Rate Correction.
• Was presented with Board Appreciation Certificates.
