Darlington County School District plans capital improvement projects

By Chad Rhoad
Editor/ The Messenger
Published: August 11, 2008

The Darlington County School District will look to begin some capital improvement projects in the next three-year period.

The board approved the bond resolution at Monday’s meeting.

Ben Zeigler of Haynesworth, Sinclair and Boyd Bonding Agents in Florence presented the bond resolution to board members.

The school district will be selling bonds worth $5 million, and the money will be used to fund capital improvements in the district such as the Brockington Elementary School cafeteria improvements and the proposed new Hartsville High School gymnasium.

The bond money must be used only for the projects listed, according to Zeigler, and board member Thomas Jeffords cautioned the board to use the money wisely. “Let’s treat this money like it is ours,” he said. “Let’s not over do it on one (project) and under do it on another.”

The board also approved an increase in the cost of activity bus usage. This past year, the cost of usage for the activity bus was $1.13 per mile; however, this year the cost will increase to $1.32 per mile, which is the rate the state charges any schools that wish to use state buses.

District Superintendent Dr. Rainey Knight said the school’s rates were still lower than most schools in the area. Some schools, she said, are approaching $2 per mile. Transportation director Eddie McKenzie recommended the cost increase during a previous meeting.

Technology director Diane Sigmon and public information officer Audrey Childers also made a presentation to the board regarding a new SchoolConnects Notification system, which will allow principals to send automated messages to parents at listed numbers regarding many topics from the school.

The school board will hold its next scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 in the cafeteria of Spaulding Middle School in Lamar.