By Arthur Northrop, Dir. Strom Thurmond Career & Technology Center

Edgefield County School District’s School Board of Trustees voted seven to zero on August 7^thto place a school bond referendum on the November 6^thballot. “Reaching this decision was not done lightly or without a great deal of study,” said Chris Hoffmann, ECSD Board Chairperson. The school bond that passed in 1991 was retired this year. The school bond on the referendum generates $54,670,000 if approved by voters.

“The board was in a position where a decision had to be made about the collection of revenue for facility needs.   Not retaining the current assessment for facilities would be a decision that there are no facility needs in the district,” stated Dr. Robert Maddox, ECSD Superintendent. “The members of the board are looking at our district’s needs now and for the next twenty-five years,” continued Maddox.

In the past year, the district contracted with firms that conducted a needs assessment. The companies evaluated each school’s security and safety, HVAC systems, wiring, plumbing, lighting and structures and the district’s curricular and co-curricular needs along with the county’s projected growth.

The firms conducting the needs assessment, Thompson Turner Construction and Jumper Carter Sease Architects, specialize in advising school districts regarding their facilities’ needs. Engineers, architects and educational specialist from the firms toured all the district’s schools and interviewed instructional and staff members, administrators and other stakeholders. A series of five information sessions were held across the county to solicit community input.  Presentations, videos, and community input links were posted on the district’s website.

The proposed bond provides for security upgrades in all schools includingredesigned entrancesto improve student safety. “At this point, once we buzz a visitor in the front door, that person has access to the entire school. When J-E-T was constructed in 1991, this was not an issue society was concerned with,” stated Debbie Courtney, J-E-T Principal. The proposed bond also addresses the rapid growth in the Merriwether area of the county.  Merriwether Elementary School’s enrollment increased by 58 students or nine percent in the ’17-18 academic year. The proposed bond provides for additional class space, upgrades and new additions at Merriwether Middle and Merriwether Elementary Schools.   “A nine percent increase means a three classroom and three teacher increase in one year. We have to address the growth to ensure we are meeting the needs of our students in the Merriwether area,” said Bruce Lee, Merriwether Elementary School principal.

An auditorium and gymnasium are included in the bond.  “The skills and characteristics students develop when they are involved in athletics and the performing arts positively impact all areas of their lives,” noted Josh Black, STHS principal. Strom Thurmond Career and Technology would receive additional class space, upgrades and additions.  Career and technical education is in high demand in the U.S. economy and prepares graduates for successful high paying jobs. Renovations of the Career and Technology Center which was built in 1972 was not included in the 1991 bond.

The bond that was passed in 1991 was paid off in March of 2018. “If the voters choose to approve the referendum in November, the cost would be $128 a year for a $100,000 home and $38.40 on a $20,000 automobile,” explained David Fallaw, ECSD Assistant Superintendent.

The 1991 bond allowed the district to build J-E-T Middle School and Douglas and Merriwether Elementary schools. Strom Thurmond High School, Merriwether Middle School and W. E. Parker and Johnston Elementary schools underwent major innovations. The average age of the schools in Edgefield County is over forty-six years. Part of the revenue generated by the proposed bond would cover upgrades in roofs, HVAC and lighting in all the district’s schools.