Jenny Peterson

Dorchester District 2 School Board Member Carolyn Howard looks over proposed expendiatures and improvements for district schools at a workshop on Aug. 27.

In Dorchester School District 2, growth is outpacing capacity and money is tight, but board members still have an ambitious plan to improve and renovate schools by adding more programs and classroom space.

Board members discussed a preliminary list of improvements during a workshop at District 2 administrative offices on Wednesday.

The largest chunk of the estimated $165 million in upgrades would be for four new schools over the next four years to handle the district’s nearly 22,000 students. One of the schools may be built using “green” materials.

Board members are hoping residents will pay for these improvements by voting “yes” on a bond referendum that will be on the ballot sometime next spring. The $165 million figure tossed around at the meeting would increase taxes on a $100,000 home by $96 each year, according to finance director Allyson Duke.

Before anything is voted on, board members will continue to tweak the working list of improvements and get input from teachers, parents and principals.

Pye said it was important to whittle the list down to the most basic improvement needs so voters can get behind the plan.

“(Residents) are not paying for something we can do without,” Pye said at the workshop. “Everything is taking care of our present needs.”

In March 2003, voters narrowly voted down a $98.3 million referendum to build four new schools, according to Pat Raynor, Public Information Officer for the district.

“It was very poor voter turnout,” Raynor said.

A referendum to pay for Summerville High School in the mid-1990s passed.

“We have a history of success and others that were not,” Raynor said.

 Pye spoke about how state legislation only allows schools to borrow up to 8 percent of the value of all its buildings, despite the need to expand. The district has about $18 million available thanks to the 8 percent, Pye said, but that money is needed in case of an emergency, like a collapsed roof or other unexpected major construction project.

The list of school improvements includes adding more classroom space and multi-purpose rooms to Ashley Ridge High School, Knightsville Elemetnary School, Flowertown Elementary School, Newington Elementary School, Oakbrook Elementary School and Spann Elementary School and Summerville High School.

“Summerville (High School) has 14 trailers. They were supposed to be temporary,” Pye said.

Another big renovation would be to combine Rollings Middle School and Summerville Elementary School to provide more classroom space.

Board members pared the list down from $197 million to $165 million at the workshop and Pye said that number and improvements projects will be very different by the time voters go to the polls.

“This is a very conservative approach,” Pye said.

A major project that was nixed by the board was to add a $12 million performing arts auditorium that would seat 1,750 people. Pye said residents asked for the facility, but said the town of Summerville or Dorchester County should help pay for it rather than using referendum money. Another idea was to use the 8 percent money to renovate and replace school air conditioning units.

Once a list of improvements is made and approved by the board, the public and school administrators will weigh in on what they would like to see, or not see, funded by a tax increase.

For board member Carolyn Howard, a priority is to add more vocational programs in district high schools, also included in the working list of school improvements.

“Our children will be cheated if we don’t find a way to do something about vocational (programs) right now,” Howard said. Right now, students who choose vocational programs must travel to a facility in St. George.

 One thing was clear: that student growth is outpacing capacity. Pye emphasized the urgency of getting the money to start on these improvements.

Despite predictions that growth will slow down due to a lagging economy and less home and subdivision construction in the area, the schools have 900 students more than they did at the same time last year.

“There’s no time to waste, we need something to take to the public,” Pye said. “We’re trying to find out what the public will support.”

The board will hold more workshops before a plan is set. The next board meeting will be held Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at 102 Greenwave Blvd., Summerville.

Contact Jenny Peterson at 873-9424 ext. 216 or JPeterson@journalscene.com.

Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

• Santee Cooper announces 2012 refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper announces organizational changes in operation and finance departments
• Santee Cooper employees pitch in on Day of Caring
• Aerial herbicide treatment on lakes under way
• Santee Cooper Board Authorizes Rate Study
• Santee Cooper announces refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper, Florida Municipal Power Agency enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units
• Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units 2 and 3