The Sumter County Board of Education met on February 10. The 2024-2025 District STAR early literacy K-3 data was as follows: In August, 23% were in urgent intervention, 29% were at intervention, 19% were on watch, and 29% were at or above grade level. During the December/January testing, 12% were in urgent intervention, 19% at intervention, 17% on watch, and 52% at or above grade level.

The district STAR reading data (1rst-12th grade) for the 2024-2025 school year was as follows: In August 49% were at the beginning learner level, 29% were at the developing learner level, 18% were proficient, and 4% were distinguished. During the December/January testing 47% were beginning learners, 26% developing learners, 21% were proficient, and 6% were distinguished.

The 2024 to 2025 STAR math data (1rst-12th grade) is as follows: In August 51% were beginning learners, 29% were developing learners, 13% were proficient, and 7% were distinguished. During the December/January testing 45% were beginning learners, 31% were developing learners, 15% were proficient, and 9% were distinguished.

The 2024-2025 Fall End of Pathway Assessment Data was as follows: The pass rate for the business pathway was 58%, the pass rate for animal/horticultural systems was 100%, the pass rate for animal mechanical systems was 100%, and the pass rate for patient care was 100%.

The Sumter County Schools August through December 2024 student attendance data was as follows: For August attendance was 94.79%, an increase of 0.97% from the past year, September attendance was 94.61%, a 1.46% increase, October attendance was 94.80%, a 1.47% increase, November attendance was 93.80%, a 0.82% increase, and December attendance was 94.53%, a 1.64% increase.

The 2024-2025 August through December Sumter County Schools Discipline referral data was as follows: During the first semester of 2024, there were 2176 office discipline referrals for the entire school district. During the first semester of 2025, there were 1244 total.

64 Sumter County School students participated in work-based learning during the fiscal year 2024, working with 49 business and industry partners and earning a total of $287,124.89.

For fiscal year 2025, there are 92 students participating in work-based learning, working with 70 business and industry partners. They have earned $134,728.77.

Superintendent Walter Knighton gave the financial report. Knighton gave the preliminary cash flow report. The day-to-day general fund balance as of January 31 was $16,950,984.11. Capital and special projects held a combined $6,023,048.36. SPLOST revenue for January was $541,735.93.

Knighton gave the fund balance of $18,767,818.32. He noted that 58.33% of the fiscal year was complete, with an expenditure of 48.3%.

Knighton gave the school nutrition report, stating they had $1,269,593.61 as of December.

The debt service remaining balance is $10,645,350. The last payment was made on $3,335,675 was paid on October the first, with the next due in April.

Board member Rick Barnes made a suggestion that they have a reoccurring agenda item for the purpose of the old high school.

Board member Vincent Kearse commented. “We need to bring a professional in.” He specified that they needed to bring in a commercial real estate person.

Barnes commented further. “There’s several things we need to look at.” He noted several proposals including commercial real estate, as well as proposed grants to make a portion of it into a park. “Not all of it, some of it.” He noted it was a large piece of property.

Board Chair Patricia Harris ended the discussion, noting it was not on the agenda, and stated it would be added.