Projection shows nearly 14,000 students in Fort Mill schools by fall

By the time the next school year rolls around, the Fort Mill School District will have nearly 14,000 students to educate, planning officials said last week.

Mike Vead, senior planner with the Catawba Regional Council of Governments, presented what he described as the largest projected yearly increase in students he has known to the Fort Mill school board at its Feb. 2 meeting.

Using a calculation based on new and existing homes sales, the school district’s average person per household figure as of the 2010 census and the percentages representing school-age children, Vead predicted the school district will have 13,953 students by September. As of January, 13,214 students were enrolled.

The district gained 72 students in January, Superintendent Chuck Epps said.

In the meantime, the district has been busy building new schools and expanding some existing ones. According to a construction report presented at the meeting, expansions at the Fort Mill and Gold Hill middle school gyms are out for bid, said Rob Woodruff with ADW Architects.

The expansions aim to bring the two gyms up to the capacity of the district’s other middle schools, Woodruff said. The plans will add 190 seats for spectator events and increase assembly seating by 400 seats. The project is tracking close to $846,000 under budget, Woodruff said. He said his firm is hopeful the $3.2 million budget will also allow for full replacement of the gym floors at each school.

Board member Diane Dasher said she is excited to see the gym improvements come to fruition.

“This needed to be done for a long, long time,” she said.

Despite weather delays, Pleasant Knoll Middle School is on track for completion on May 9, 2017, said Jim Britton with Cumming Corp., a Fort Mill-based construction management company. The early site package was bid in August and the $45.6 million project is currently under budget by $6.2 million.

Work continues on the district’s third high school, which is in the design phase, and the Fort Mill School District training and support facility, a $6.2 million project that is currently tracking under budget, Britton said. The training facility will connect to the district’s current building and provide a meeting space that accommodates up to 150 attendees, said Tim Williams with Stevens and Wilkinson Architects.

Financial reports

The district reported $43.2 million in general fund expenditures and $43.9 million in revenue as of Dec. 31, reflecting the start of incoming tax revenue, said Leanne Lordo, assistant superintendent of finance and operations. The district received $127,500 in impact fee revenue for January, Epps said.

Other business

A committee of school representatives and parents established the 2016-2017 academic calendar, said Kelly McKinney, district spokesperson, who presented the first draft to the school board Tuesday. Board members requested some changes to the calendar before it is shared with the community.

In other business:

▪ The school board approved a resolution stating its support of Tega Cay’s Catawba Park.

▪ The monthly attendance award went to Fort Mill High School with 94.97 percent.

▪  Board members recognized the Nation Ford High School Band, led by director Martin Dickey, for winning the 2015 4A S.C. Marching Band Championship.

“We’re so proud of Martin and the work he does,” Epps said.

Drum major Katie Berry said the band appreciates the school board’s role in its success.

“Thank you for your support and everything you have done for the band,” she said.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Projection shows nearly 14,000 students in Fort Mill schools by fall."