Here’s a recap of the April 28 meeting of the Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees.
Approved: Facilities plan, capital improvement program
The board approved the school district’s 2026 long-range facilities plan and capital improvement program. GCS revises the planning document annually and issues general obligation bonds to finance its capital improvement program.
This year’s updates to the capital improvement program will fall within the district’s current bond funding structure with no anticipated millage increase. The board also approved the $33.8 million transfer from the district’s unassigned general fund to the building fund to help fund the capital improvement program.
The updated long-range facilities plan and capital improvement program include:
- $62.2 million to demolish and replace the J Harley Bonds Career Center in Greenville
- Approximately $21 million for the initial purchase and future replacement of robotic sweepers and scrubbers for school cleaning
- $9.6 million to extend the car rider loops at Bethel Elementary, Bryson Elementary, Greenbrier Elementary, Skyland Elementary and Wade Hampton High School.
- An additional $6 million to install bi-directional amplifiers in school buildings for adequate first responder radio communication
- $5.7 million to upgrade stadium lighting systems with LED fixtures
- An additional $3.2 million for property acquisitions
- An additional $100,000 in annual allocations for capital equipment replacements
- Funding to renovate the concrete bleachers at Greenville High’s Sirrine Stadium
- A two-year accelerated timeline for the new West Greenville School, decreasing the project’s overall cost by $1.8 million
Approved: $18M general fund transfer
The board approved the allocation of $18.05 million from the school district’s general fund for several non-recurring expenditures.
- $10.5 million for the replacement and maintenance of the district’s enterprise resource planning systems used for payroll and finances
- $5 million to replace the district’s Backpack platform with a new academic information and communication hub for students, families and staff
- $2.1 million to fund five years of professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators and staff focused on meeting the needs of students with disabilities
- $455,000 for one-time facility upgrades and five-year operating costs for GCS to use Greenville Technical College’s Golden Strip Career Center Annex Welding Facility
Approved: Strategic education plan update
GCS revises its five-year strategic plan annually with updated data and goals. The plan’s three goal areas include student achievement, teacher and administrator quality and school climate. Plans created for individual schools are based on the goals and strategic initiatives outlined in the district plan.
The board approved this year’s update to the 2024-2029 District and School Strategic Education Plans, which will be submitted to the South Carolina Department of Education. The updated plans will go into effect on July 1.
Appointments: GCS principals
Superintendent Burke Royster recognized the appointments of three new principals in the school district, including:
- Barry Ledford, J.L. Mann High School
- Donald Jones, Beck International Academy
- Brook Patterson, Northwood Middle School
Additional items
- GCS received 11 proposals from architecture firms for design services for the new Donaldson Career Center. The board approved allowing the district administration to begin negotiating architectural fees with the highest-ranked firm for the project.
- The board approved the purchase of an additional 1.2-acre property at 610 Fairview St. for the planned conversion of Fountain Inn Elementary School into a K-8 school. A lease agreement with the city of Fountain Inn was also approved by the board for the gymnasium, playgrounds and ball fields at the future school when not in use.
- Greene Finney Cauley LLP has been selected to provide external audit services to the school district for five years, starting in fiscal year 2026. The board approved the services contract with the firm.
