School Board Approves Two New Magnet Programs

Two new magnet programs will be implemented in the district, keeping in line with the district's plan to expand magnet options for students.

Magnet programs at Irmo Middle and H.E. Corley Elementary schools received approval from the majority of Lexington-Richland 5 board members during a regular meeting Monday night.  

The theme for Irmo Middle’s program is International Studies while H.E. Corley will focus on student empowerment and leadership skills through The Leader in Me model.

At Irmo Middle, some of the course offerings could include Mandarin Chinese, cultural studies, technology and design.

The programs are expected to begin in the upcoming school year. 

School officials said they have applied for a $12 million federal grant to help fund all of the new magnet programs.

The grant would be for a three-year period. 

The schools are developing plans to implement the programs using existing budgets should the district fail to receive the grant funding.

Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner said he and the schools' prinicipals are committed to moving forward with the programs without the grant funding.

Other schools working to develop magnet programs or expand options include Nursery Road, Seven Oaks and Dutch Fork elementary schools as well as Irmo High School (include enhancements to the International Baccalaureate program). 

In other business, the board approved continuing with the tuition-based pre-kindergarten program, EXCEL, at Irmo Elementary and starting the program at Seven Oaks Elementary. 

The board also approved renovating the district's warehouse to include office spaces for personnel. 

The renovations are not to exceed $700,000 and would be financed with previously approved funds from the capital budget.

Board member Kim Murphy voted against approving the item Monday night.

Murphy said she was concerned about approving the project in advance of seeing other projects that are in line in the capital budget.