Update: District 5's Vision 2015 Plan

Lexington-Richland 5 Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner provided an update on the plan during the board's monthly meeting Monday night. The plan is five of the top projects in the district that Hefner has said will help move the district as a world-class system. These projects are to be completed over the next four years and the plan is not an all-inclusive list.

(renovation and expansion on present site)

• Bids will be opened on Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. Hefner originally said in September the bids would open Oct. 18, but the date was pushed back.

"I thought it would’ve been earlier than that but when I met with our folks who are submitting bids. They asked for more time in order to give us the very best prices, so we have honored that," Hefner said.

• The administration is expected to present a bid recommendation to the board at its Nov. 14 meeting.

• Construction could begin by the end of November.

New magnet high school on the Spring Hill site

• The district anticipates advertising for bids in November and opening bids in December.

Irmo and Dutch Fork high schools' physical facilities improvements

• Preliminary conceptual scopes of work were presented to the board at its Monday night meeting.

• Some of the improvements at Dutch Fork would include a new health/science field house, expanding parking spaces, new stands and press box at baseball field, and new concessions and restrooms.

• Irmo High improvements would include some of the following: new performing arts center, new field house/renovations, new ticket information center and expanding parking.

New elementary school

• Hefner said he anticipates advertising for bids will begin in the fall of 2012.

• The school is being built to relieve over-crowded conditions at Chapin, Lake Murray and Ballentine elementary schools.

Magnet and Choice options expanded

• Proposals of magnet programs are currently being developed.

• Hefner said he anticipates the first specific proposal to be presented to the board in December.