The School District 56 Board of Trustees took time Aug. 25 to recognize people and organizations that have provided extraordinary service to the students and staff of the district’s schools.
Receiving the Spirit of 56 Awards were, from Transportation, Chris Fair and Darius Fuller, and, from Operations, Joey Avery, who retired as the county’s emergency management director and now directs District 56 security.
The board heard about a grant to upgrade the 5K playground at Eastside Elementary, including different stations that the children can “drive thru” on tricycles. A District statement said, “We wish to acknowledge and honor the Indigo Hope Foundation for the grant that made this possible. Indigo Hope Foundation is a family run, charitable organization dedicated to providing grants to organizations, mostly based in the Upstate of South Carolina, focused mainly in areas around addiction, homelessness, at-risk youth, veterans and first responders.”
Shelby Barber represented Indigo Hope.
Four individuals who have put a lot of hard work into the new hammock garden and 5K playground installation were recognized, to include Brandon Steele, Ethan Steele, Jaylin Steele, and Gene Steele.
The Office of Child Nutrition recognized Franklan Highley, the school resource officer at Joanna-Woodson Elementary School, for assistance with the summer feeding program.
And finally, District 56 itself and its elementary, middle and high schools - Clinton Elementary School, Eastside Elementary School, Joanna-Woodson Elementary School, Clinton Middle School and Clinton High School - were recognized as a Beta Club District and Schools of Distinction.
The District 56 Board of Trustees meets at the District Conference Center, 100 Legion Dr., Clinton, on the 4th Monday of the month (except for holidays) with the open session beginning at 7:30 p.m. The board receives regular financial, instruction, and operational reports and a report from Superintendent Dr. David O’Shields. The meetings are open to the public, and a time is set aside for public comments under the district’s guidelines. The next meetings will be September 22, October 27, and November 24.
