Top recent storylines from Sumter School District

1. VALEDICTORIANS LEAD THE WAY

Sumter School District's three valedictorians for the Class of 2024 were Reymart Velasco at Crestwood High School, Lakira McCauley at Lakewood High and Jeshua Espiritu at Sumter High. They all achieved straight A's throughout high school and weighted GPAs of at least 5.3.

Velasco is planning to attend University of South Carolina in Columbia to major in computer science. McCauley will major in nursing at University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, and Espiritu plans to major in computer engineering at Clemson University.

2. BOARD PASSES FIRST READING

TO REMOVE 50% GRADE FLOOR

A policy to remove the 50% quarterly grade floor and give students final grades based on their performance passed first reading in a 5-4 vote at Sumter School District's Board of Trustees' meeting on June 10.

Board members voting in favor of the motion included Shery White, who made the motion, Jeff Zell, Bonnie Disney, Daniel Palumbo and the Rev. Ralph Canty. Trustees voting against the motion included Shawn Ragin, Matthew "Mac" McLeod, Brittany English and Tarah Johnson.

A second reading is still necessary before a new policy can be enacted, and an immediate date is not certain at this time, according to Canty, who is the board chairman.

Trustees have been split on the matter for at least six months with a group emphasizing students should be held accountable for their grades and the other side favoring offering more chances to students.

3. DISTRICT WILL MOVE TO ELECTRONIC PROCUREMENT WITH NEW YEAR

Sumter School District will go live with an electronic procurement process system with the start of the new school year.

District Chief Financial Officer Shatika Spearman confirmed to the school board's Finance Committee at the May 14 meeting the changeover will occur in cooperation with the district's financial management software system vendor Smartfusion.

The necessary infrastructure has been loaded electronically by the vendor, tests have been conducted, and training sessions have been scheduled for the summer for school principals, district bookkeepers, district directors, executive-level leadership and others, according to Spearman.

4. DISTRICT COMINGS AND GOINGS

Kathy Lyons is the new principal at High Hills Elementary School, replacing Mary Kay Norton. Lyons previously served as an assistant principal at Wilder Elementary School.

Will Howard is a new assistant principal at Sumter High School.