School Board news, notes

Trustees talk furloughs, after-school programs and more during this week's meeting

JANUARY 27, 2010 1:35 p.m. (0)

Mid-year state cuts – 4 percent in September and another 5 percent in December –pushed trustees to approve spending $8.4 million out of the district’s $48 million reserve fund. That money covers the 4 percent, and Finance Director Jeff Knotts said he’d come back with a plan for dealing with the other 5 percent.

Scaling back on extras such as training and supplies and increasing student-teacher ratios by 0.5 has helped the school district weather a financial beating since summer of 2008 – which last year cost the district $29 million in state funds – without raising taxes.  Continue reading...

Teachers of the Year go where?

Winners of state award often don't go back to class

MARCH 21, 2010 2:17 p.m. (0)

Every year, one teacher earns the title of Teacher of the Year, an honor that earns him or her $25,000 and a year away from the classroom to recruit and serve as an ambassador for the profession.

A Greenville elementary Spanish teacher – Kelly Nalley – and a Spartanburg District 7 English teacher – Samantha Maddox – are two of five finalists for the honor this year and will learn their fate on April 28.  Continue reading...

Senate expected to approve teacher salary freeze

Legislation would eliminate automatic raises

MAY 11, 2010 10:29 a.m. (0)

Legislation allowing school districts to freeze automatic salary increases teachers receive for each additional year of classroom experience could be one step closer to passing Tuesday.

The state Senate is expected to give final approval to a joint resolution to allow school districts to waive state-mandated teacher salary step increases next school year.  Continue reading...

Facebook + Teachers = privacy questions

JULY 16, 2010 5:00 a.m. (0)

Tagging, poking and friending may be fine on Facebook, but private information from school district employees' social web pages can end up in the district e-mail system.

Spartanburg District Five Director of Technology Tom Taylor said signing up for sites like Facebook with a work e-mail is opening the door for private information to be seen.  Continue reading...

For teachers, a working vacation

SEPTEMBER 5, 2010 7:22 p.m. (0)

Another spent a week visiting farms and agribusinesses across South Carolina.

Others studied the usefulness of dental floss and duct tape in emergency band instrument repair and the beauty of butterfly gardens.  Continue reading...

Mascots and motorcycles

Schools look to new ways to keep students motivated

SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 7:42 p.m. (0)

Some motivate students by getting pelted with whipped cream pies.

Others might spend 24 hours on a school’s rooftop, dressing for a day in a silly costume or going nose-to-nose with some species of barnyard animal.  Continue reading...