Construction is underway for the new facilities at Greenville County Schools.
Greenville County Schools is set to implement an ambitious $80 million Capital Improvement Plan designed to enhance educational facilities in anticipation of a growing student population. The plan includes significant upgrades such as a new bus center, expanding Fountain Inn Elementary into a K-8 school, and enhancing school safety with advanced security measures. Additionally, funding will come from the general fund, interest earnings, and food service balances, marking a comprehensive approach to meet the needs of the community.
Greenville County is buzzing with exciting developments in its school district! As many of you may have heard, the Greenville County Schools are rolling out a bold new plan that focuses on long-term facilities upgrades and modifications. This is all in anticipation of welcoming a wave of new students in the coming years, particularly in the rapidly growing southern region of our beloved county.
Well, folks, school district leaders are looking ahead! They foresee hundreds of new faces walking through the school doors as families move in. To get ready for this growth, the school board recently made a significant move by voting unanimously on an impressive $80 million Capital Improvement Plan. And get this: they managed to do it without raising the millage rate! That’s right, no extra burden on your wallets while they get ready for the future!
Executive Director of Facilities, Scott Carlin, has weighed in, mentioning that construction costs have been on the rise since the Great Recession of 2008-2009. To tackle these costs, the district is proposing some massive and vital improvements. Among these projects is a brand-new bus center located on the Bryson Middle School campus, which is expected to cost over $16 million. How great would it be to reduce those lengthy drive times for our bus drivers? This center will not only house operational staff but will also provide essential training facilities for the drivers.
But wait, there’s more! Fountain Inn Elementary School is getting a makeover and will be transformed into a K-8 school, accommodating an additional 800 students. Talk about making room for more kids! The new Northwest Middle School is set to open its doors in 2027, while both the Fountain Inn K-8 and the replacement for Bryson Middle School will be ready by 2028. If that’s not exciting enough, the completion of the new bus center is slated for 2030.
The school district’s capital improvement plan also emphasizes the importance of safety and security. With a current focus on reviewing and enhancing security programs, approximately $1.9 million is allocated for security enhancements. These funds will allow the district to purchase additional EVOLV weapons detection systems and state-of-the-art visual surveillance camera software to keep our schools a safe place for learning.
And that’s not all! They plan to distribute 10,000 panic button devices to staff for emergency notifications. Ensuring the safety of students and staff is a top priority!
The future isn’t just about schools. There are plans to upgrade all high school game fields to artificial turf, with an investment of $24 million. Turf maintenance is also taken into account with $1.1 million earmarked for upkeep. Additionally, an estimated $15 million has been added for renovating the district’s central office!
So how is all of this getting funded? The budget includes transferring $70.7 million from the unassigned general fund to the building fund. On top of that, they’re bringing in an additional $10.68 million from the building fund’s interest earnings and $750,000 from the Food and Nutrition Services fund balance.
All in all, Greenville County Schools is making strides toward better facilities for our growing community. With changes aiming to enhance student capacity and safety, it’s clear that the future looks bright for our schools. Parents, students, and community members alike can feel excited about what’s to come. Stay tuned for more updates as these projects begin to take shape!
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