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VOL. 118, NO. 135 WWW.THEITEM.COM
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894
10 school heads reassigned BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com
SUMTER SCHOOL DISTRICT REASSIGNMENTS
Sumter School District reassigned 10 school heads to different positions for the 2013-14 school year after a split vote by the district’s Board of Trustees approved the measure. While the announced personnel BYNUM changes will likely not be the last employee shifts made by the administration, district officials confirmed there will not be more movement on the school principal level.
NAME
CURRENT SCHOOL
NEW ASSIGNMENT
Michael Riggins
Crosswell Drive
Delaine
John Michalik
Career Center
Lakewood
Dana Fall
Brewington
Career Center
Anne McFadden
RE Davis
Crosswell Drive
David Laws
Chestnut Oaks
Mayewood
Sherril Ray
Lakewood
Discipline Hearing Officer
Roosevelt Miott
Delaine
Brewington
John Koumas
Mayewood
PBIS coordinator
Cheryl Triplett
Manchester Assistant Principal
RE Davis
Harry Lash
Discipline Hearing Officer
Assistant Director Brewington
“Last year, the district initiated a reorganization plan,” said Superintendent
Randolph D. Bynum Sr. “Further appointments and reassignments of adminis-
trators were made to maximize the individual experience and diversity of skill sets in order to support student achievement.” Five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, the Sumter County Career Center and the school’s alternative learning programs are affected by the new assignments. On the high school level, John Michalik — the current director of the career center and husband of school district trustee Karen Michalik — becomes the new principal of Lakewood SEE POSITIONS, PAGE A5
DEPUTIES GET IN SOME SHOOTING PRACTICE
60 CENTS
Grading system expands BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com The standards-based report cards, initiated by Sumter School District for kindergarten through second-grade students this year, will be expanded to include thirdgrade students in the 2013-14 school year, district officials informed the Board of Trustees at its last meeting. While announcing the expansion of the new report card system for the district’s lower grades, officials also raised questions about the very first grades awarded to students using the new system, as a timeline provided by the system’s developers said the rubrics teachers needed to determine grades were not developed until after the first semester of SEE GRADING SYSTEM, PAGE A5
Sumter County sheriff’s deputies took part in firearms training at the police firing range off U.S. 521 this week. The weeklong training course keeps deputies up to date on state standards for their firearms certification. Deputies tested their speed and accuracy with small arms from different distances and also took part in training scenarios during which they might be called on to fire a weapon.
Baten takes aim at burn ordinance BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com When does burning debris on your own property become enough of a problem for your neighbors for Sumter County Council to get involved? That was the question council members discussed Tuesday at a meeting of council’s public safety committee, BATEN pitting rural homeowners’ rights against residents who say billowing smoke is diminishing their quality of life. “This has an impact on people’s health and welfare,” said Councilman Eugene Baten, who told his fellow council members he’s had his own SEE BURNING, PAGE A8 PHOTOS BY BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE ITEM
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OUTSIDE SUNSHINE Cool today; clear and cold tonight HIGH: 60 LOW: 32 A8
INSIDE 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES
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