MARLBORO COUNTY (WBTW) – The Marlboro County School Board met Monday, and discussed its plans for the upcoming school year.
Monday night’s meeting was the district’s first night with its new superintendent, Dr. Gregory McCord.
“Marlboro County, so far, has shown me nothing but the best, in terms of their support,” he said during the meeting.
Dr. McCord explained his 90 day plan which included five objectives he said he wants to accomplish by the end of October.
“The five objectives I put together were based on my one-on-one conversations with the board members,” Dr. McCord said. “I’m hoping to guide me, not just for the first 90 days, but for the year. They’re going to give me the opportunity to build on the superintendent-board relationship, we’re hoping to establish and build trust in the community so that everyone knows what we’re doing at all times,” he continued. “We want to, of course, improve and increase academic rigor here in the district, streamline our operational system, and the fifth goal, of course, is again to be highly visible.”
The new superintendent said he wanted to bring a mentoring program with community members into the school district for the students.
“In my past I’ve had a chance to experience great success with mentoring programs,” he said. “Kind of looking forward to coming here, and doing the same thing. I’ve primarily focused on exposing students to things they may not have otherwise had the opportunity to be a part of in the school,” he explained. “I’m a firm believer that we have to do education beyond the school walls.”
A parent came forward during the public participation portion of the meeting, and said he wanted to volunteer for the mentoring program.
“I just wanted to come here tonight to be one of the first ones to be a volunteer for your mentorship program,” the parent told the board.
Dr. McCord said he wants to address the facilities needs at each of the schools, but will begin with Bennettsville Intermediate School.
Bennettsville Intermediate School has undergone renovations this summer. Dr. McCord said the building is in the process of getting its roof fixed, as well as, HVAC machines.
Dr. McCord said the schools board is still in the decision-making process when it comes to whether or not the $8 million bond referendum will go on the November ballot.
“With the referendum there have been talks, before me, about bringing a referendum before the community,” he said. “We’re hoping to continue those talks, but we have to do it in a fast manner if we’re going to get on the ballot, but definitely those needs at the school [Bennettsville Intermediate] have to be addressed, and we’re hoping to address them with the referendum.”
In previous interviews with News13, School Board Chair Lucy Parsons said the referendum would not cause a tax increase.
“We’re hoping to come to the community with a capital improvements plan, with a timeline, as well as specific needs as it relates to the district,” McCord said about the possible referendum.
“Everyone’s focused on school safety at all times,” Dr. McCord told News13. “What I’m looking to do is establish MOAs or MOUs, Memorandums of Understanding, with each of the departments so that we can have common language, and understand, and define roles and responsibilities of SROs, as well as what the roles and responsibilities of school administrators are so we can have great, effective communication, and transitioning in those schools that did not previously have SROs.”
Dr. McCord said elementary schools will not have SROs, but already have an active relationship with the local police departments.
“My conversations with the police chiefs so far is that they regularly monitor those schools,” he explained. “Daily stop-ins, they’re involved with the reading for student initiative program, they do the lunch buddy program,s o I think we’re going to be covered throughout the county.”
The Marlboro County School Board announced it will have a special-called meeting before Aug. 1, but did not set a date.
