Lexington District One board conducts superintendent’s performance review

On October 2, 2018, and November 13, 2018, the Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees met in executive session to conduct the 2017–2018 performance evaluation of Superintendent Gregory D. Little, Ed.D.

This annual evaluation, required by board policy and the district’s employment agreement with the superintendent, focused on the school system’s 2017–2018 accomplishments under Dr. Little’s leadership.

In open session during a Special Board Workshop held September 18, 2018, the board reviewed these accomplishments, while the superintendent and his leadership team answered board members’ questions, reviewed the district’s significant wins and the conditions that led to those successes, and discussed the implication of the new strategic plan on the district’s 2018–2019 priorities.

In open session this evening, after completing Dr. Little’s review, the board publicly expressed its approval of his performance and overall vision for Lexington District One, and pointed out his particularly effective performance in the following areas:

• the use of a new planning process to craft a new strategic plan for the district. Dr. Little engaged the Board of Trustees, staff, students, parents, business leaders and community members in conversations about the life and work skills students need to succeed. He then used their feedback to create a vision and mission, and a list of life and work skills that included accountability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, interpersonal skills, integrity, perseverance and willingness to take risks.
• emphasis on classrooms that reinforce the importance of career-oriented power skills through initiatives such as Code To The Future, the Google Partnership — Dynamic Learning Project, International Baccalaureate, Blended Learning, industry certifications, dual credit offerings and Expeditionary Learning.
• enthusiasm and support for the “Project Hope” initiative, which serves both the emotional and behavioral needs of students through the addition of a board-certified behavior analyst who provides insight and supervises behavior, three applied behavior analysts who use techniques and principles to bring about meaningful and positive change in student behavior, a safety coordinator, six school resource officers for elementary schools, two social workers, seven counselors working with mental wellness, and an individual working with 504s or blueprints for how schools provide supports and remove barriers for students with learning and attention issues.
• skill in creating meaningful partnerships with private- and public-sector businesses and governmental agencies in order to expand educational opportunities for students and employees, such as USC’s Palmetto College.
• successful completion of items required by state law and administered by the South Carolina Department of Education for his South Carolina Superintendent Certification.
• the creation of a new district vision — “Empower each student to design the future” — and mission — “Our mission is to cultivate a caring community where ALL learners are extraordinary communicators, collaborators, creators and critical thinkers.”

As a result, Lexington District One students continue to surpass state and national averages on national assessments, including SAT and ACT. The district’s 2017–2018 scores ranked third among South Carolina school districts on ACT and 12th on SAT. Students continued to exceed state averages in English, mathematics, science and social studies on End-of-Course Exams.

Lexington District One’s on-time graduation rate for 2017 was 90.2 percent and its 2018 high school graduates earned more than $124 million in scholarships.

The district celebrated Lexington Elementary School achieving International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme World School status and three Lexington District One administrators winning state-level awards from the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. Ms. Erica H. Page, PHS assistant principal, became the 2018 High School Assistant Principal of the Year. Dr. Thomas E. Rivers, PHMS Principal, became the 2018 South Carolina Middle Level Principal of the Year. Dr. Lucas C. Clamp, RBHS Principal, became the 2018 South Carolina Secondary Principal of the Year. Ms. Page also claimed the National Assistant Principal of the Year title.

Board Chair Debra Knight stated, “The board is extremely pleased with Dr. Little’s superior performance in communication and community relations, curriculum development and planning, resource management, and leadership development. He demonstrated a clear ability to engage all Lexington District One stakeholders — parents, staff, teachers and community leaders — and unite them in a common vision to ‘Empower each student to design the future.’

“Dr. Little also led the district through a complex strategic planning process, while continuing to champion the value of customer service and the importance of meeting the needs of all students.”

As a result of his exemplary job performance evaluation, the board acted to: (1) extend the term of the superintendent’s contract for an additional three years to June 30, 2024; (2) increase his annual salary to $209,482, i.e., a 21/2 percent increase, which is the same 2018–2019 percentage increase provided to other district administrators; (3) increase by 2 percent the yearly annuity contribution by the district conditioned upon a satisfactory performance evaluation as determined in good faith by the board; and (4) increase by six months the amount of severance offered should a super-majority of the board decide at any point to unilaterally terminate the employment of the superintendent.

Additionally, given the difficulty of continuity in leadership in public school systems across the nation and keeping in mind the need for steady, outstanding management of Lexington District One’s projected growth over the next five years and management of the recently passed Lexington District One Bond Referendum, as well as the tremendous importance of the district fulfilling its commitment to students and our community under the Strategic Plan’s vision and mission, the board acted to provide the superintendent with an annual retention bonus of $12,000 per year beginning with Fiscal Year 2020 and concluding with Fiscal Year 2024 to be awarded only if the superintendent remains in his current position and performs satisfactorily until the conclusion of the 2023–2024 school year.