[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6356304,"mediaKeyId","2216931-a016df1dd05a73ea791cf904e901b7d5","parentId",2216931,"title","Audit and Finance committee moves reallocation items forward, explains legal limits on phase‑4 sales-tax funds","audioSeconds",677,"startMs",2963000,"endMs",3640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216931-a016df1dd05a73ea791cf904e901b7d5&start=2963&end=3640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216931-a016df1dd05a73ea791cf904e901b7d5/thumbnail_2963000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6356304/South-Carolina/Audit-and-Finance-committee-moves-reallocation-items-forward-explains-legal-limits-on-phase4-sales-tax-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356304-4871949d9451113eab3a318046d32166/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213344&Signature=QnYX-16bQax611nYWM8dczzBaT4C28K7f-BmI6CbY49X8xjnT8ikvwWUt9FqXFYJ8pbbdKKhiU56We-jwO8llbIBg2GbRGep0kZPYkwmoi0HLCwpjVP8HTFtQJ94XAHMPcQO62UdDs4FXqX7TvaNk1d2tPauY0BWzQCg7tamNsioL3a0uSq~8rsnNoewNokmS7WCY7DNSpQeyjPwSyTGIFsCuvnx3DDpldrLhViogwt27vYM4bJEZvGmN6IwIp~cncxP0whe8AaKHFEEYTy9Nf8z4qYmoe-w2Bix2830zTqN8RTFnC5chbs4MAQk501ohTHKdmJToMqjll1Ii5Q37g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charleston County School District","date","2025-01-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Audit and Finance Committee reported to the Committee of the Whole that it advanced several reallocation proposals to the full board and reiterated statutory limits on using phase‑4 education capital‑improvement sales‑tax funds, saying those revenues may be used for projects specifically named in the phase‑4 referendum or for capital maintenance but not for new building additions that were not listed.

That clarification matters because community members and trustees asked whether leftover or reallocated phase‑4 funds could pay for additions such as a multipurpose‑room extension at Frierson Elementary; staff said state law and Department of Revenue rules restrict how the district may reassign those dollars.

Committee chair Mrs. Watley told trustees the Audit and Finance Committee had considered multiple reallocation proposals, including a D4 stadium turf project and classroom expansion requests such as trailers at Brierson. “One thing I definitely wanted to bring out to the Board itself was on item the 2017‑22 phase 4 reallocation resolution,” she said, noting staff are working to close out that phase and that some proposals are funded by interest earned on the initiative rather than by the sales tax principal.

Facilities staff explained the statutory distinction between phase‑4 and phase‑5 funds. “The phase 4 project had distinct projects, specifically named projects that could be funded, or projects for capital maintenance, not building improvements,” said facilities staff member Mr. Barrowie, adding that Frierson’s multipurpose‑room extension is considered a new project and was not on the phase‑4 list of allowable projects. Barrowie said the district has a list of 37 new projects for phase‑5 valued at $470,000,000 and that 13 elementary schools do not currently have multipurpose rooms; some such projects can be funded only through a future referendum or phase‑5 allocations if they were listed.

Trustees asked whether funds remaining from completed phase‑4 projects could be repurposed. Barrowie and other staff said excess phase‑4 funds can either be applied to projects that were specifically listed in phase‑4 or used for capital maintenance or capital IT — but cannot be applied to new unlisted building additions without running afoul of the referendum and state rules.

Board members also discussed timing for a possible future referendum. Prentiss explained that the district’s current sales‑tax program runs 2023–2028 and, under state rules, the earliest a new ballot measure could be placed is 2026; the Department of Elections requires a resolution by Aug. 15 of the year the question would be placed on the ballot. “The earliest that CCSD could put a ballot measure out would be 2026,” Prentiss said; staff added that formal public outreach and facility condition assessments are already under way in preparation for future planning.

Committee members reported three reallocation action items will move to the regular board meeting for vote; specific approvals were not completed in the Committee of the Whole. Trustees who asked about a contested appropriation — a proposed $3,200,000 allocation for a Frierson multipurpose‑room extension — were told the item is not eligible for phase‑4 funds and would need to be considered through phase‑5 or a future referendum.

The committee also provided an update on an urgent expansion: RB Sal’s expansion project has begun, with interim trailers added to help classrooms while the permanent project is scheduled for completion in 2027; the project is programmed to raise capacity from about 1,440 to 1,977 seats. Staff said the interim reallocation covers trailers and temporary classroom space until construction is finished.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCSD Board of Trustees Committee of the Whole Meeting | January 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Audit and Finance Committee reviewed reallocation proposals — including a D4 stadium turf project and classroom trailers — and told trustees that phase‑4 sales‑tax funds can only be used for listed projects or capital maintenance, not for new building additions such as the Frierson multipurpose-room extension.","taxTitle","Charleston 01, School Districts, South Carolina","taxId",12934,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356307,"Superintendent announces school choice window opens, details enrollment, assessment results and teacher pay planning",865,451000,1316000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216931-a016df1dd05a73ea791cf904e901b7d5&start=451&end=1316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216931-a016df1dd05a73ea791cf904e901b7d5/thumbnail_451000.jpg","/articles/6356307/South-Carolina/Superintendent-announces-school-choice-window-opens-details-enrollment-assessment-results-and-teacher-pay-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356307-a3c8dfeb9ed961d0a2de538999a3961e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213344&Signature=PGUfvVOxHHk7rMM75HVw4fbWPUuB0JEFMcbnwTTNq8vs0IBsmIDxXy29cgZQQ-jQnu1cBcHIKvODoXZRCg1vLwKDPoYC4LYO9OVKnlU4CKN6LulaxMDw~U-tH-8nRQ5-6gKAMGXecHBpzygnAjYTRg-LXiz~fZKazmBoPzf0O62BUrIygH04QX3qvZAVEMIVNEmPm2AC4sgpGzrwkwe9G-pZ6vs~S5nk5gFl-Y5c2oK8ODW8hxSS-ddjDGdae4wAj1uaeD6jtoOGNTkJbs0VUVrsiY~L7~cU59NcyDdfDiXbcbaOjrHlBp0LI8bsY~~vGMT6PtG~CHX7UMwQC6j66A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charleston County School District superintendent told trustees at the Committee of the Whole meeting that the district’s school-choice application window opens tomorrow at noon and that staff are already working through enrollment, assessment data and budget models that could raise entry-level teacher pay above $60,000 in fiscal 2026.

The announcement matters because the school-choice cycle affects thousands of families’ school assignments, the district is tracking winter-to-fall assessment projections that staff say require targeted interventions, and trustees were briefed on pay strategies intended to improve recruitment and retention as leaders develop the FY26 budget.

Superintendent Angela Huggins said the school-choice department “opened from January 14th through February 21st” and emphasized the process is not first-come, first-served. “School choice window for the coming school year opens tomorrow at noon,” Huggins said, adding that all applications submitted during the window are considered equally and that families will receive seat offers or wait‑list notices through a parent dashboard. She told trustees last year’s cycle involved “about 8,000 or 8,500 applicants” districtwide.

Huggins also briefed the board on the district’s international welcome center and recent new enrollments. She said the center registered 44 new enrollees in November and December and that many of those students come from Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela and Guatemala; she noted roughly half of those newly enrolled students qualify for McKinney‑Vento services because of housing instability.

On student achievement, Huggins summarized district analysis of formative assessments. The district uses i‑Ready in many elementary grades and MAP in most middle schools; staff are comparing those formative measures to SC Ready proficiency outcomes to identify which predictors best forecast end‑of‑year results. Huggins said associates have already begun “meeting with principals to look classroom by classroom at these reading projections, teacher by teacher, student by student” and described an “urgency” to identify supports for students who need them.

Board members asked whether recent changes in the tested cohort or increases in English‑learner enrollment account for differences between fall and winter projections. Huggins and staff pointed to multiple factors — new curriculum and standards, shifting enrollment, and assessment changes — but stressed that the next step is targeted classroom interventions. Regarding language supports, Huggins said the district recently hired roughly 40 bilingual teacher assistants and expects them to help “support student growth, particularly with our ML [multilingual] students.”

Trustees spent substantial time on teacher compensation, budget timing and recruitment. Bill Brigman, who led the district’s teacher compensation task force, traced pay history and policy changes that superintendent staff said helped retain experienced teachers: “for school year 2018, the starting salary was around 38,000,” Brigman said, describing steps the board has taken since then to change the salary schedule and expand steps to 40. Chief Financial Officer Prentiss said current fiscal models show the district could provide an additional $4,000 to all teachers in FY26 without raising taxes and that entry pay could exceed $60,000; trustees were told staff are optimistic about options that could push entry pay “to almost $65,000” while maintaining a balanced budget.

Huggins outlined the FY26 budget timeline: updated revenue projections and expansion‑request reviews in February with the Audit and Finance Committee; a preliminary budget workshop in March; a draft balanced budget for first reading in May and, if needed, a second reading in June. She said a Georgetown consultant will visit district schools as part of WSF (weighted student funding) planning.

Trustees asked for more granular data on assessment results by constituent district and for additional information on how bilingual hires and wraparound supports are expected to affect outcomes. Huggins and staff agreed to provide district and school‑level breakdowns and to include a school‑by‑school follow up in the board brief.

Looking ahead, Huggins said the district will continue principal‑level, classroom‑level and student‑level analysis to inform midyear interventions and will bring refined compensation scenarios and budget models to Audit and Finance and full‑board workshops this spring.","At a Committee of the Whole meeting, Superintendent Ms. Huggins said the district's school-choice application window opens tomorrow at noon, reviewed winter assessment projections and outlined plans and modeling for FY26 teacher-pay increases and budget workshops.","actionData","errors"]

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Audit and Finance committee moves reallocation items forward, explains legal limits on phase‑4 sales-tax funds

Superintendent announces school choice window opens, details enrollment, assessment results and teacher pay planning