Fort Mill school bonds past: how we got here

On May 5, registered voters in the Fort Mill School District will vote in a referendum that will decide if the district can raise $226 million in a bond sale to fund new schools and pay for other infrastructure projects.

The district now has 15 schools. To accommodate growth – the student population is expected to swell from 13,000 to more than 20,000 in less than 10 years – the district wants to build a third high school and fifth middle school.

A little more than two decades ago, Fort Mill was a four-school town. Students attended Fort Mill Primary, Fort Mill Elementary, Fort Mill Middle or Fort Mill High schools. Here’s a look at where we’ve come since, and how past school bonds got us there, including the Fort Mill Times’ editorial opinions at the time:

May 19, 1992

Superintendent: Joe Bonds

Number of schools: 4

The package: $10.1 million in two separate votes, one at $7.9 million for a new elementary school and renovations to other schools, the other at $2.2 million for technology upgrades

“The schools are completely jam-packed,” said Miller Coggins, bond steering committee chairman.

“This school bond referendum is probably one of the most important issues in recent history (if not the most important) ever to come before voters. This is because what you decide will determine not only the quality of education for children today and tomorrow, but also the quality of life for township residents for many years to come.”

Result: 931-551 in favor of construction, 939-491 in favor of technology upgrades

Superintendent’s response: “I’m relieved and of course, very pleased that we have the go-ahead. I feel that given the economic times and the concerns about the two elementary zones, it came out very positive.”

Highlights: Gold Hill Elementary School opens for about 600 students in August 1994. Technology upgrades include up to five computers in kindergarten to fifth grades and a computer in each classroom for sixth to 12th grades. Also included are computer labs in the middle and high school, and a foreign language lab at the high school.

May 14, 1996

Superintendent: Michael Basham

Number of schools: 5

The package: $24 million for two new middle schools, each serving up to 750 students

What they said: “We can’t stop the growth. If we want to continue educating children at the same level in this district, we have to have classrooms to house all these kids,” said Teri Ackerman, co-chairwoman of the bond steering committee

“If we do not spend money for new schools, our community will stagnate. If we make the commitment to excellence in education, everyone wins – it’s that simple.”

Result: 1,300-594 in favor

Superintendent’s response: “It’s a great feeling because it’s good for the children of Fort Mill and it’s another step in the right direction for the district.”

Highlights: Fort Mill and Gold Hill middle schools open in August 1998. The former Fort Mill Middle School, originally a high school, opens as Banks Street Elementary School to serve all district fifth-graders while the fifth grade wing at Fort Mill Elementary transitions to a ninth grade wing for Fort Mill High School. Fort Mill High capacity increases to 1,200. That same fall, seven classrooms are added to Gold Hill Elementary.

Date: Sept. 15, 1998

Superintendent: TEC Dowling

Number of schools: 7

The package: $64.75 million for five new schools, the conversion of Fort Mill Elementary School into a high school annex and land for two future schools

What they said: “I just want an explanation as to how and where these rising taxes are gonna stop. I want a formula worked out,” said Harry Hallman, former mayor and retired judge.

“If the bond referendum passes, we hope the school board will take those concerns into consideration when planning for the future. Perhaps a public meeting would be in order to explain how district officials plan to be good stewards of Fort Mill residents’ tax money.”

1,833-1,509 in opposition

Superintendent’s response: “We’ve had tremendous change here. Sometimes, it’s real hard for people to accept that.”

Highlights: The district regroups and puts a smaller bond up for vote eight months later focusing on fewer new schools

Date: May 18, 1999

Superintendent: TEC Dowling

Number of schools: 7

The package: $48.3 million for three new, 900-student elementary schools and renovations at Fort Mill Primary School and Fort Mill Elementary School

“Somebody educated my kids, so now it’s my job to educate somebody else’s kids. I just want the school district to spend the money wisely,” said Mayor Charles Powers.

What we said: “Our children deserve the same support our parents and grandparents gave us when we were growing up.”

Result: 2,384-1,973 in favor

Superintendent’s response: “This is a celebration of public education, not of the bond referendum. It’s a real victory for everyone in the township. Now we can get back to the business of operating schools.”

Highlights: Fort Mill, Orchard Park and Springfield elementary schools open in August 2001. The former Fort Mill Primary opens as Riverview Elementary School. The former Fort Mill Elementary re-opens as a Fort Mill High School annex in August 2002, bringing high school capacity to 1,800.

Date: March 16, 2004

Superintendent: TEC Dowling

Number of schools: 8

$62.55 million for a new high school and new middle school

What they said: “Passing the referendum will not only provide the funding necessary to build two new schools, but more importantly to continue a tradition of excellence in education – the hallmark of the Fort Mill community,” said State Sen. Wes Hayes.

What we said: “We preferred another solution than building a second high school. It would divide the community like never before...We cannot put our children’s education at risk just because we would have liked the school board to move in a different direction, or because we don’t like the pace of growth here.”

Result: 2,484-1,148 in favor

Superintendent’s response: “I’m thrilled with the outcome. I never doubted this community would step up and support public education.”

Highlights: Springfield Middle School opens in August 2006, and Nation Ford High School a year later. Using savings from the 1999 referendum and state bond money, classrooms are added at Fort Mill and Gold Hill middle schools, and Fort Mill Elementary, bringing capacity at each to 900.

Date: Dec. 27, 2006

Superintendent: Keith Callicutt

Number of schools: 9

The package: $70.3 million for two new elementary schools, repairs to existing schools and land purchases

What they said: “I think the way in which we decided to do it is flawed. I think we have been short-sighted,” said school board member Michael Johnson.

What we said: “The assumption of less debt hinges on speculation, including the rate of growth and property values. Even if the board scraps the idea entirely, it’s still going to need the public’s approval to pay for all the new infrastructure the district will need.”

Result: In late 2006, the school board approved an installment purchase plan for the $70.3 million which raised taxes to issue bonds without a public vote

District response: “We have all intents of moving forward. We are excited about the opportunities to meet the needs of the fastest growing school district in South Carolina.”

Highlights: The move adds a new classroom wing at Nation Ford High School in 2008 and buys land for six future schools. Pleasant Knoll and Sugar Creek elementary schools open in August 2009. Savings from the plan improve HVAC systems at Riverview and the Fort Mill High gym, and put a new roof on Riverview. The installment purchase plan method of financing schools, which was challenged to the state Supreme Court as Fort Mill and other districts pursued it, was outlawed starting in 2007.

Date: March 4, 2008

Superintendent: Keith Callicutt

Number of schools: 10

The package: $95.9 million for two elementary schools, a middle school, gym space at both high schools and a stadium at Nation Ford High

What they said: “This is clearly an issue that this entire community needs to be focused on. Our hope is that...people will come to meetings, ask questions and find out how it will affect them and why it is important to invest in their community,” said Ted Matthews, co-chairman of the bond steering committee.

What we said: “Supporters are doing whatever it takes to ensure that every resident has access to the facts he or she needs to make an informed decision regarding the referendum. No one will be able to say on March 5 that the referendum was not adequately promoted. The rest is up to the voters.”

Result: 4,155-960 in favor of the new schools, and 3,880-1,228 in favor of gym space and stadium upgrades

Superintendent’s response: “That’s huge. I’m overwhelmed. In my greatest hope I couldn’t have dreamed for this large a victory.”

Highlights: The stadium at Nation Ford High opens in 2009. Banks Trail Middle School opens in 2011. Doby’s Bridge and Tega Cay elementary schools open in August 2014.

Date: April 30, 2013

Superintendent: Chuck Epps

Number of schools: 13

The package: $54 million for a relocated elementary school, expansions at both high schools, athletic turf and district-wide technology and security improvements

What they said: “The town of Fort Mill Mayor and Council feel the school board has provided great leadership and foresight during this time of accelerated growth and fully support this referendum. We encourage all our citizens to vote in favor of the referendum on April 30 because strong schools build a strong community,” read a town resolution.

What we said: “Should the district raise $54 million in a bond sale? Another way to put it is, do you believe in the idea that Fort Mill is defined by its schools? Any way you slice it, the answer should be ‘yes.’”

Result: 3,229-698 in favor

Superintendent’s response: “It’s like Christmas in April. This community has once again shown its support for public education and public schools.”

Highlights: Synthetic fields at the high schools are ready for play just months following the bond. The new Riverview Elementary School opens in January 2015.

This story was originally published April 13, 2015 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Fort Mill school bonds past: how we got here."