The Spirit of 56 awards went to 5 heroes from Clinton High School and 3 innovators from the MS Bailey Child Development Center at the Monday night District 56 Board of Trustees meeting.
The District honored and thanked John Gardner, Dr. Nora Ann Pace, James Prather, Karel Summey, and Sam Tiller, “for their quick response and life-saving action after an awful wreck on the Ring Road earlier this month.”
Also, the Spirit of 56 Award was presented to Lorrie Boling, Kathy Lapomarda, and Nancy Roland for their work on the “Learning with Littles” program at MS Bailey.
The board also moved to 2nd and final reading, waiving 1st reading, of policies that included:
Board Member Training Development Opportunities;
Board Removal from Office;
Grade Adjustment;
Content and Credit Recovery; and
Seizure Safe Schools.
This final policy receiving board approval has been in place, but a final provision is added mandating a State-approved pamphlet or poster about how to render first aid to students/people in the midst of a seizure is displayed, designed to persons who have epilepsy.
This is the full policy:
SEIZURE SAFE SCHOOLS Code JLCG Issued 9/26
Epilepsy, also known as a seizure disorder, is a neurological condition associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain that affects the nervous system by causing sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, convulsions, or loss of consciousness. District staff need to be adequately prepared to provide care to students with epilepsy during the school day or at school sponsored functions. To ensure that the district provides support for students diagnosed with epilepsy and seizure disorders, the district will train staff on these disorders and their impact on student learning and academic achievement.
The seizure training program will include instruction on recognizing the signs and symptoms of a seizure, appropriate response strategies for treating a student who exhibits these symptoms, and administering prescribed seizure medications.
The training program will be consistent with the guidelines and best practices established by a qualified nonprofit organization that supports the welfare of individuals with epilepsy and seizure disorders, such as the Epilepsy Foundation or a similar organization. The training will be provided by (option: appropriate personnel from a national epilepsy organization that offers seizure training and education for school nurses and other school personnel; school or district staff; or an individual trained to deliver such information). Training will be offered (option: in-person or virtually).
The superintendent will ensure that the South Carolina Department of Public Health’s evidence based informational pamphlet or poster on rendering first aid for seizures in the workplace is prominently displayed in district schools and offices.
From its Aug 24 meeting, the Board approved minutes that included this Special Recognition:
Dr. David Pitts recognized the following students for perfect attendance for the 2025-2026 school year: Leonardo Alcudia, Camila Alcudia, Trace Atkinson, Journey Barnes, Lola Barnes, Kyndall Barr, Presley Barrett, Kylie Burton, Teal Crawford Burton, Corley James Burton, Jiazuan Chen, Lilith Mae Compton, Landon Michael Cromer, Joseph Timothy Dyches, Olivia Epting, Keylasia Farrow, Aaliyah Lynae Fletcher, Joaquin Perez Garcia, Kobe Irby, Isabella Christieanna Kelley, Noah Austin Lawson, Autumn Long, Carol Anne Mahaffey, Cameron Ahmad Martin, Nia McKnight, Evan Scott Nobles, Riley Anne Norris, Alfredo Onofre-Pedro, Terrance Owens, Ashtyn Page, Riley Percell, Kymani Reign Philson, Olive Rhodes, Isabella Rogers, Wayne Morgan Simmons, Sawyer Truelock, Mariano Angel Tzoc Rios, Isabella Vera, Jaziya Whitt Hailee Wilbanks, Brantley Bryan Williams, Ja’Norria Mi’Shon Williams, Titan Young, Kassidy Young. Each student was presented with a pin from their parents.
Superintendent Dr. David O’Shields also recognized Clinton Elementary School, Eastside Elementary School, Joanna Woodson Elementary School, Clinton Middle School, and Clinton High School as Beta Club Schools of Distinction. He also commended Clinton High School for reaching a significant milestone-one hundred years as an accredited institution.
