Here is a recap of the committee of the whole meeting of the Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees on April 14.
Initial approval: Facilities plan, capital improvement
The board gave initial approval to the updated long-range facilities plan and capital improvement program for GCS. The school district revises the planning document annually. A board workshop was held on March 10 to review the proposed revisions.
This year’s update includes a $62.2 million project to demolish and replace the J Harley Bonds Career Center in Greenville. GCS initially planned to complete a $10.1 million renovation of the facility’s culinary arts and administrative areas.
The construction timeline for the new West Greenville School project has also been accelerated by two years in the updated planning document, now with expected occupancy in 2031. The adjusted timeline is expected to decrease the project’s overall cost by $1.8 million.
The updated long-range facilities plan and capital improvement program also include:
- 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
GCS issues general obligation bonds to finance its capital improvement program. This year’s updates will fall within the district’s current bond funding structure with no anticipated millage increase. The board also gave initial authorization for the transfer of $33.8 million from the district’s unassigned general fund to the building fund to help fund the capital improvement program.
Initial approval: $18M general fund transfer
The board gave initial approval to allocate a total of $18.05 million from the district’s general fund for several non-recurring expenditures. Approximately $10.5 million will go towards the replacement and maintenance of GCS’s enterprise resource planning systems used for payroll and finances.
The school district will also allocate $5 million to replace its Backpack platform with a new academic information and communication hub for students, families and staff. The need for a new platform was identified during the recent review of GCS’s special education services.
In addition, $2.1 million will fund professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators and staff focused on meeting the needs of students with disabilities. The new training will be implemented over the course of five years, with some recurring annually.
GCS also plans to use the Greenville Technical College’s Golden Strip Career Center Annex Welding Facility for five years starting the 2026-27 school year. The district will lease the facility for the pro-rated cost of utilities. Approximately $455,000 will be allocated to cover one-time facility upgrades and five-year operating costs.
Presentation: Satellite Diploma Program
At the committee of the whole meeting, the board received a presentation on the school district’s Satellite Diploma Program. The adult education program offers an alternative opportunity for at-risk students aged 17 to 21 to earn their high school diploma or GED. The Satellite Diploma Program is housed at the school district’s five career centers.
GCS plans to launch a new pilot program in the 2026-27 school year to help overage ninth-grade students who struggle in traditional high school settings get back on track to earn their diploma. The pilot will start with a cohort of 20 students who will receive individualized instruction through the Satellite Diploma Program.
Additional items
- The board gave initial approval to the update of the 2024-2029 District and School Strategic Education Plans. The plans are revised annually and must be sent to the South Carolina Department of Education. The updated plan will go into effect on July 1.
- GCS received 11 proposals from architecture firms wishing to design the new Donaldson Career Center. The firms were reviewed and ranked by the district’s architect selection committee. The board gave initial approval to allow the district’s administration to begin negotiating architectural fees with the highest-ranked firm for the project.
