Construction, Renovations to Continue During Start of New School Year

Construction and renovation projects at some of Lexington-Richland 5's schools will still be in progress or nearing completion when students return to school on Aug. 21. 

At a regular meeting this week, Superintendent Stephen Hefner provided an update on projects at Irmo Elementary School, and at Irmo, Chapin and Dutch Fork high schools. 

Irmo, Chapin and Dutch Fork high schools

The first phase of construction at Irmo High is nearing completion, Hefner said. 

At Chapin, however, the project is continuing. 

"We will be able to have school there next week contrary to rumors out there," Hefner told board members. "However, it’s a facility that will take us several months to complete."

This summer, construction crews have worked to create new student drop-off routes and redefined entry points at both Irmo and Chapin high schools during the first phase of construction at the schools. 

The next phase at Irmo will include a new performing arts center, new field house/renovations, new ticket information center and more parking.

During the meeting, board members were able to get a look at a rendering of the new entrance area of Irmo High. The picture can be viewed in the board's packet. 

The Chapin High project includes a new classroom addition, a new gym with a stage and expansion to the school's cafeteria and media center.

New practice fields and an athletic facility, and improvements to parking and traffic flow are all part of the project at Chapin. 

At Dutch Fork, a new health/science field house will be built, more parking spaces will be created, new stands and press box at the baseball field, and new concessions and restrooms.

Artificial turf is also being installed at all three high schools' football fields.

There has been some concern in the community about whether the fields would be ready for use but Hefner is confident the installation will not be a problem. 

"I’m confident that our football fields will be something that we’ll take great pride in for years to come," he said. 

Hefner said Chapin’s field will be ready for its first home game, which is scheduled for Aug. 24. 

Dutch Fork will play its first home game at Irmo High. The game is on Aug. 31. 

Irmo will play its first home game on Sept. 7 at the W.C. Hawkins Stadium.

During public participation, two Chapin High seniors talked about their concerns with seniors not having parking spaces due to the construction. 

Irmo Elementary

At Irmo Elementary, Hefner said the school is in good shape to open next week but there "will still be some rough edges" after the opening of school. 

Irmo Elementary construction included a new classroom addition, expansions to the school's cafeteria and media center as well as interior renovations to the school's original building.

Improvements were also made to the student drop off route and parking. 

Hefner said the district is planning a dedication ceremony for the school in October. 

Cafeteria renovations/upgrades

Renovations and/or upgrades to several cafeterias at five schools in the district are nearing completion but there will be some locations that will have to serve bag lunches for a few days.

At that meeting, board member Ellen Baumgardner asked about Irmo High's kitchen renovations after hearing rumors that the cafeteria wouldn't be finish on time.

Both kitchens at CrossRoads and Irmo middle schools needed to be remodeled. 

Cafeteria projects were part of the district's capital budget. 

In other business

The board approved a resolution for the sale of general obligation bonds and discussed Hefner's 2012-2013 goals — among other items — in between testy exchanges of some members of the board. (Superintendent goals can be found in the attached board packet.)

Francenia Heizer, an attorney with the McNair Law Firm, gave a brief overview of a resolution authorizing the sale of general obligation bonds not to exceed $115,655,000.

These bonds would complete the borrowing of general obligation bonds approved in the 2008 bond referendum, Heizer said.

Before voting on the resolution, board member Jim Turner asked Dr. Karl Fulmer, the district's chief financial officer, several questions about the resolution and bond money that had already been used for current projects 

At some point during that discussion, board member Ed White — having grown impatient with the questions — told Turner to "get to the point."

Eventually, the board took a vote with five members voting for approval: White, Robert Gantt, Beth Watson, Jan Hammond and Ellen Baumgardner.

Board member Kim Murphy voted against the motion to approve and Turner refrained from voting. 

Later in the meeting, Hefner presented his goals for the 2012-2013 school year. This time Hefner's goals were a little more detailed than what was presented to the board earlier.

Some of Hefner's goals include expanding access to technology, and reinforcing and expanding efforts to ensure student and staff safety. 

Murphy attempted to read a statement concerning Hefner's goals but was cut off before the meeting ended. 

Murphy has said she thought the goals were limited and that the board needed to develop goals based on identified needs.