School board gives approval to new policies

School trustees approved a new policy Monday regarding tape recording meetings in the wake of a $100,000 lawsuit settlement approved in July.

The district reached an out-ofcourt settlement with former maintenance employee Fred Knowles in July. Knowles had been with the district for 12 years when he was terminated in 2006 for alleged insubordination following a meeting with district maintenance director John Burchstead about Knowles' audio recording of a department meeting. Knowles is the husband of school board member Amanda Knowles.

The new policy prohibits any district employee from making secret tape recordings between employees or school board members.

"The Cherokee County Board of Education believes that in order to maintain a spirit of cooperation and trust in the workplace, School District employees should not secretly record meetings involving their employment," the policy reads.

Violators of the policy can face disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

A policy change, also approved Monday, allows the school superintendent to terminate classified district employees.

District attorneys drafted the policy change to override a former personnel director's 1997 memo that appeared to give classified employees the right to continued employment, Cherokee County School Superintendent Dr. Bill James said. A classified employee is any staff member who does not have a teacher certificate issued by the state Department of Education or a contract issued by the school district.

"South Carolina is a right to work state," James said. "Classified employees do not have contract status under state law."

School trustees did make it clear that district employees can have access to the school board once other appeals options are exhausted. Anyone can appear before the school board upon approval of the school board chairman.

"There needs to be an outlet where people can come before the school board to discuss their concerns," Amanda Knowles said.