School board honors Dr. Bill Boyd
Dr. Bill Boyd, center, with Connell DeLaine and Dr. Eddie Ingram
Photo by Jana E. Pye
By Jana E. Pye, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
The entire school board and all in attendance gave a rousing standing ovation to Dr. Bill Boyd, Darlington County School District Associate Superintendent, who was recently honored with the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.
As shared by the Darlngton County School District, Dr. Boyd has served many roles in his 46 year career, including teacher, assistant principal, principal, transportation director, and district administrator. “He has seen the district though race riots, desegregation, lean times, consolidations, the development of new programs, the construction of new schools, and the push for excellence at all times.”
“Dr. Boyd received a wonderful recognition at the SCASA in Myrtle Beach recently,” said district superintendent Dr. Eddie Ingram. “Believe me, it is well deserved. I only want him to work another 15 to 20 years. There is not much else I can say about Dr. Boyd that has not been said, but he is rare; Dr. Boyd is a gentleman, a professional in every sense of the word. And he is always calm- I’ve never seen Dr. Boyd get out of sorts with things. He has a history that is unmatched…and that history is important as we move our school district forward. I don’t know what I would do without him We have talked here and there about what may happen down the road; I cannot imagine one person replacing Dr. Boyd, it would take several people. He is able to handle his difficult duties with grace and honor.”
In other action items, board approved the Resolution for implementation of the 2015-16 district-wide facilities maintenance plan, a $5 million dollar bond resolution.
Board also approved the preliminary 2015-16 Title I, Title II, and Title III Federal Programs Preliminary Budgets, which total $5,555,432.00.
The district recommended that the board approve proposed contract to replace the cafeteria serving lines at Hartsville High School; five contractors submitted bids and the district recommends board approve the Dietary Equipment Company of Columbia, with the lowest bid of $258,199.00.
Board member Jamie Morphis asked, “I’m just curious, are we talking the buffet lines? Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars – and the need was determined how?”
Comptroller Lide Graham answered, “A lot of the equipment was aged. What is paying for this is the food service fund balance. We were notified by the Department of Ed. (Education) that there was too much in the fund balance. We had to have a plan together. We are looking at the oldest… Darlington High School was the first one we did.”
“So it could be used for anything,” continued Morphis. “We spent millions on hoods, which I can’t figure that one out since we don’t cook, but anyway- that’s what this money is for?”
Equipment such as receptacles to keep the food hot or cold is part of the serving line, according to Graham; the funds must be used as part of the USDA grants the district receives.
Later in the meeting, board members discussed the need for more funds allocated for technology for all students.
“We have to find some way to fund technology, and quickly,” said Morphis. “There has got to be a way to cut out things that are not being used to replace technology.”
Dr. Ingram responded, “I couldn’t agree more. Your comments are so well times. I am more convinced than ever, it’s not if, it’s when. And we can drive the train, we can jump on the train, or we can let the train run over us. I am going to ask the board together, we are going to have to roll up our sleeves to make some really hard decisions. I can’t ask the board to raise millage indiscriminately. It can’t be just a gadget; it takes professional training. We have 600 laptops out in the hands of students at Darlington High. They were excited to get them and they take care of them. Because we have kids that don’t have technology at home. We have to find ways to get Internet access to students that don’t have it. I’m convinced more than ever that if a kid doesn’t have access to Internet or devices, we are crippling them. We really have to address this.”
The next Darlington County Board of Education Meeting is scheduled for August 10, at 6:00 p.m.
