[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6546977,"mediaKeyId","3410594-82060493d0a16cab1d0595e057c43dab","parentId",3410594,"title","Lexington One board gives direction to advertise fiscal 2025–26 budget with full ‘Option 3A’ package","audioSeconds",5569,"startMs",5851000,"endMs",11420000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410594-82060493d0a16cab1d0595e057c43dab&start=5851&end=11420","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410594-82060493d0a16cab1d0595e057c43dab/thumbnail_5851000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6546977/South-Carolina/Lexington-One-board-gives-direction-to-advertise-fiscal-202526-budget-with-full-Option-3A-package","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546977-a94d28a1a963c8993a129ed960a60045/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183264&Signature=cDLOy5HCkPqijRHdX7iePF~mavtVE~MHeEix-Gy-6dU1dWUEtvSB1VL4E7hvNe-V-mN-IYlfNtm3q~4Ybwoor0cH7qqZCrAPKGmF7X7npMdXRbuY9lHENhSvpdH3FIs7kGYy2RTOD~Od4-iwV503Jd~wdArxuP2jOBhzGT-gyitNkk245jhdfc5Mz5xVgfmPQmpWVGX1vmiDIDlxvNCdWYeujpOBQWn7qbRqi2ElZjaaDF2wVa6R5lutFT3Iey3vUSAV36-ugXPTj6LWu2CTi8MoFkLXtlD8oMfF0UWYxGttHa--PBby1ha7c4X8r9Tc7km0vQxB7rFzCH52tFcUVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington 01","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees on May 20 completed a second reading of the district’s fiscal year 2025–26 general fund budget and directed administration to advertise the budget at the maximum level presented (Option 3A), which includes roughly $11 million from fund balance to cover “would like to do” additions.

Board members, the superintendent’s office and finance staff spent more than two hours questioning assumptions, revenue risks and planned new positions before arriving at that course. Finance director Lindsey Miller outlined a still-open state funding question that could increase district revenue by about $750,000 if the legislature changes the charter-school weighting in the state aid formula; she also described recent increases the district must absorb, including higher workers’ compensation and property insurance quotes and rising state costs for hazardous-route pay and stop adjustments.

“Right now, that is just in discussions…if we did have the change, it did look like it would increase, potentially, our revenue by $750,000,” Lindsey Miller, chief financial officer, told the board. Miller said the district reran projections through April 30 and still expected “a pretty much break-even year” absent additional legislative changes.

Why this matters

The board’s maximum-advertisement direction preserves the widest set of options for the June public hearing and final vote while complying with state advertisement rules. Advertising the larger estimate allows the district to reduce the advertised amount later if new revenue materializes; state law forbids increasing the advertised maximum after publication.

What was proposed and debated

District leaders presented three options: Option 3A (the most expansive, $11 million from fund balance), Option 3B (about $9.7 million from fund balance, a narrower package) and a more conservative base option limited to mandatory and recurring needs. Key additions in the “would like to do” list included:
- Special education supports: additional academic and behavior coaches (request originally for three of each; the budget would add at least one additional academic coach and one additional behavior coach districtwide), intended to raise IEP implementation consistency and teacher capacity.
- Elementary math coaches: converting each school’s current 0.5 FTE math coach to full time at several elementary schools (principals listed this as their top request).
- Middle school behavior interventionists: positions targeted to the two middle schools with the greatest Tier 2/3 behavioral needs (Carolina Springs Middle and White Knoll Middle were named in discussion).
- Additional assistant principal positions and middle school academic interventionists (some already contingency-approved earlier in the budget process).
- A custodial services specialist (to support more than 300 custodial staff and to supervise facilities inspections and onboarding).
- Middle- and high-school athletics allocations (a request to add $10,000 per middle school and $5,000 per high school across the district).
- Technology and systems: an add-on to the Frontline HR system for recruiting and dashboards and a student discipline management system (Simple Discipline) piloted this spring.

Board members pressed for measurable outcomes tied to the new hires and programs. “Trust but verify,” said Dr. Davonna Price, describing her willingness to support the package so long as administrators deliver clear metrics and targets for return on investment.

Fiscal safeguards and timeline

Miller said the district’s adjusted budgeting practices show the district is positioned to use fund balance for multiyear transitional support, and she estimated the current assigned and unassigned fund balance could sustain the 3A additions for several years in preliminary modelling. She cautioned that final numbers still depend on legislative actions (the charter weighting discussion and other provisos) and on updated state revenue reports expected in the coming days.

Board members sought, and administration agreed to develop, specific key performance indicators (KPIs) for each newly funded position or program (for example, coach activity measures, discipline referral reductions and academic-growth targets) and to return results in regular reports so the board can evaluate effectiveness before committing to the positions as permanent ongoing costs.

Process note

Under South Carolina law the board must advertise the maximum proposed budget before the public hearing. Legal counsel explained the board may reduce the advertised amount before final adoption but may not raise it from the advertised maximum.

What the board decided

Members did not adopt a final budget on May 20. Instead they gave the superintendent and finance staff direction to advertise the FY2025–26 general fund budget at the Option 3A maximum so the district can proceed with legal notice and later revise downward if new state revenue arrives. The board set the third and final reading and public hearing date for June 10, when the board expects to have updated state revenue information.

Looking ahead

Administrators will prepare the advertised document for public posting and incorporate the board’s request for measurable KPIs tied to each would‑like‑to‑do item. The public hearing and final adoption vote are scheduled for the board’s June meeting, after the district receives additional state revenue updates.

Ending

Board members said they preferred preserving options for the June hearing rather than limiting the district’s ability to act if new revenue arrives. Several trustees expressed concern about long-term sustainability of fund-balance-funded positions and confirmed they expect administration to supply the requested performance metrics at regular intervals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 20, 2025— Board of Trustees Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees on May 20 completed a second reading of its FY2025–26 general fund budget and directed administration to advertise the budget at the maximum level presented (Option 3A), preserving an approximately $11 million draw from fund balance to fund proposed new positions and program expansions.","taxTitle","Lexington 01, School Districts, South Carolina","taxId",14917,"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},6546967,"Board debates tougher vaping penalties, reviews bus conduct rules and several policy revisions",648,10104000,10752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410594-82060493d0a16cab1d0595e057c43dab&start=10104&end=10752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410594-82060493d0a16cab1d0595e057c43dab/thumbnail_10104000.jpg","/articles/6546967/South-Carolina/Board-debates-tougher-vaping-penalties-reviews-bus-conduct-rules-and-several-policy-revisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546967-4ca9707eca8dcab2a0d644b873720ed8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183264&Signature=AyrcvjvYLmW1m0X3zswIRrNLnCWIRTHLgQm5vno-fvyteCE899yEPYlvuBzuIQbKnU0ncSCF~f-M~5pHOOiQohx-oYhHFYcyGMBvNSecwtvK6mdO~IajAqZTl37vFAyMBhEr7q8Ku41JxEOp5jlKS4I3X0ozNogps5sPkIQKHc7N3KH~aRLlgnyHGRAjDJLe7pHjMM~Gt9QCje~3WUcCMoq9p-RbvF27KZLvfMj~4a7ZXTSNU-vZCMRnQiOjIdjQk9l~0PwuN7dc5AcGVbzXLRl5s6G-6hPKohqxn0fNyH2UpSTC9Xv13xDC1Q7CdI5dGFHXIDZ6SJCOmPTVBV0wvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lexington County School District One trustees on May 20 reviewed multiple policy changes affecting student conduct, testing and student safety. The meeting combined first readings, public explanation and several final votes.

Tobacco and vaping discipline

The administration proposed revising the discipline ladder for possession or use of tobacco and vaping devices in schools. Under the recommended change, a first offense would result in one day of out‑of‑school suspension plus an online tobacco‑cessation course; a second offence would draw two days out‑of‑school suspension and a parental/approved-program intervention (for example, LAREDAC or another approved course); a third offense would remain a recommendation for expulsion and an expulsion hearing.

“We're really trying to do with this is we're trying to just deter students from having them at school altogether to hopefully avoid those types of situations,” one administrator said during the discussion, describing the administration’s objective to prevent vaping incidents that sometimes involve THC and lead to more serious disciplinary action.

Board members debated the change’s educational effect. Several trustees said they were concerned that out‑of‑school suspension can be perceived by students as a reward (time away from classes) and suggested an in‑school suspension or other supervised consequence for a first offense. Administrators said out‑of‑school suspension removes the student from an environment where others may be exposed and noted that schools already suspend students for confirmed THC vaping under other disciplinary rules. The board did not adopt the proposed tobacco discipline ladder on May 20; the proposal remains under consideration after the first‑reading discussion.

Bus conduct policy and student handbooks

The district also presented a recodified model policy for student conduct on school buses and an updated, shorter list of bus rules. The updated rules condense a prior administrative rule into a clearer list (from about 40 rules to a shorter set of behaviors) and move enforcement into the school‑discipline matrix to treat the bus as an extension of the classroom. The intention is to reduce the antiquated “bus point” system and to emphasize earlier corrective steps (warnings, lunch or after‑school detention) before suspending bus riding privileges.

“We want the behavior corrected before there has to be a removal from the bus and maybe that child doesn't have a ride to school for five days or for ten days,” the operations director said, describing the tiered approach.

Testing and Read to Succeed–related policies

Several policies tied to the Read to Succeed law and testing expectations received first reading or explanation, including policy IKE (promotion and credit standards), IHC(A) (promotion/retention and summer reading camp for third grade), ILB/ILB‑R (testing procedures and universal screening), and the state assessment policy (which clarifies test names such as SC Ready and end‑of‑course assessments). Administrators explained that third graders must have guided exposure to online testing platforms to prevent unfamiliarity from harming test results.

Adopted policies

The board voted to approve policy IJOA and IJOA‑R (field studies and international travel) and policy ECAA (threat assessment) by voice vote at the meeting. Other proposed changes remain at first reading or are being refined after trustee feedback.

Next steps

Administration will refine the tobacco‑discipline language in response to board concerns (in‑school versus out‑of‑school suspension) and finalize the bus‑rules wording for the student handbook. The board asked staff to consider implementation logistics (including who monitors in‑school suspension) and equitable enforcement across schools.

Ending

Trustees said they want to balance disciplinary clarity and student safety with instructional continuity; administrators were directed to return with revised language and operational details at a future meeting.","Trustees considered tougher penalties for vaping and nicotine possession, adoption of a recodified school‑bus conduct policy, and first‑reading updates tied to Read to Succeed and state testing rules during the May 20 Lexington One board meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6546972,"Votes at a glance: Lexington One board approves staffing, policy and administrative items May 20",3921,255000,4176000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410594-82060493d0a16cab1d0595e057c43dab&start=255&end=4176","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410594-82060493d0a16cab1d0595e057c43dab/thumbnail_255000.jpg","/articles/6546972/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Lexington-One-board-approves-staffing-policy-and-administrative-items-May-20","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546972-4dbd9943fd54d31daf2bc2c9ee930647/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183264&Signature=mxdE6qf8LhWxwGEO1eXueYSIMEgYQTmgZyp3KYiGFYfCWdMRPl0~kaBIpvU3RNl4Mgs8hXdslTCCqjmk6rvzD-zJOeKOL7gfYlia~w4eiP1fQNs6ZWsf0xmfoQPZM-xoZLGOv2rzFtcqOrnYwa~qrPZVX44amOskkpQWwOcO7yuTb8L7Viq1Z9KkwIJbxfM0YuT9MphdGyCcvRExcnC-i3LI8I2NaNFqqKKOrzUL09bvI9NsqZH5WGEDFwP2liYtdtV0FzIGtGQgvz8P9J5YXhtlyjRc7ESvKO04f~AODIVcZLTN87dK-mDLQjqgfbtaa9ujL0psPDcl-aenmziVSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees carried a range of formal motions during its May 20 meeting. Most items passed by unanimous voice vote; where recorded, the transcript shows “Aye” and “motion carries.” The following is a concise summary of actions the board took that evening.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in the meeting transcript)

- Enter executive session to discuss employment recommendations, a legal matter related to Pillion High School adjacent property, and contractual matters regarding right of first refusal near Deerfield Elementary and hearing officer contracts. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Conclude executive session. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve meeting agenda as presented. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve consent agenda (except student travel request). Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve 55 certified staff recommendations for the 2025–26 school year. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve 3 administrative staff recommendations for the 2025–26 school year. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Authorize administration to sign documents expressing no objection to a homeowner’s request for a variance to the Town of Pillion zoning ordinance. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Authorize administration to execute a waiver of right of first refusal for a 0.05-acre parcel (TMS007500-01-004) near Deerfield Elementary School for a road-widening project. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve the slate of hearing officers for the 2025–26 school year (as discussed in executive session) and authorize administration to enter necessary contractual agreements. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve the 2025–26 board goals. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve renewal of an innovative course application to award a physical education credit for marching band. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve one individual request to receive a South Carolina high school diploma pursuant to Act 155 (2014) and Act 207 (2016). Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve policy IJOA and IJOA‑R (Field Studies and International Travel) and delete the exhibit. Outcome: carried by voice vote.
- Approve policy ECAA (Threat Assessment). Outcome: carried by voice vote.

What the votes mean

Several votes implemented personnel actions (55 certified hires and three administrative hires) that the district said are for the 2025–26 year. The board also authorized staff to finalize administrative paperwork on zoning and a small parcel adjacent to Deerfield Elementary needed for a road-widening project, and it authorized contractual arrangements to hire hearing officers discussed in executive session.

Legal and procedural notes

The board entered executive session under the items described in public motions and later announced no other actions resulted from that session beyond the hearing-officer slate and employment recommendations. The district publicly stated compliance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act at the meeting opening.

Ending

Most motions during the May 20 meeting passed without roll-call tallies in the transcript; the record shows unanimous “Aye” voice votes for the actions listed above.","The Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees carried multiple routine and substantive motions during its May 20 meeting, including staff hires, a waiver of right of first refusal, board goals and several policy actions. Most motions passed unanimously by voice vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6546962,"Board committee issues RFI to scope an audit-like agreed‑upon procedure for 2018 bond projects",257,15353000,15610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410594-82060493d0a16cab1d0595e057c43dab&start=15353&end=15610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410594-82060493d0a16cab1d0595e057c43dab/thumbnail_15353000.jpg","/articles/6546962/South-Carolina/Board-committee-issues-RFI-to-scope-an-audit-like-agreedupon-procedure-for-2018-bond-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546962-9dbdc2e5cde5e488e3a2f9f55f433381/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183264&Signature=d2DXZ15D4HViT3xrZ1lUwfv5FD-pfETw2K6s~SDtlWAoTyt~7FS2sx6nioRPun6Ku7iXqFlLEzb1gf3BFM85OZFXF0h7TnWcpw1OmNTdk2JqsLhvR~6WoLUFCqAowEln4p5wYbTu-e~aE--vleIm5LA3jaFih0tdkRPcDfemSkL9wXHKUkYQbVcV00GMNtjCfdtncSuhM9RiSlmnN1t7s23ghEQbc-WxmV4SXNjTX~3bMTo3S6AK8e7RiLZS8SsCeyN-GXHHY8AFdMQr35m4gOthnVkJI4I23471cmK9LrNwNTojImLDSJxcEqmNoRSM~bNyvQlgUKeTC17AmsBKuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A board subcommittee for the bond referendum review on May 20 said it has issued a request for information (RFI) to outside firms to refine a scope for a formal agreed‑upon‑procedures review of several bond‑funded projects. The RFI will inform a later request for proposals (RFP) and is intended to produce a clear, defensible scope that the district can competitively bid.

Scope and purpose

Trustee committee chair and board member said the review is not intended as a “gotcha” exercise but as a continuous‑improvement effort: to document what the district did well with prior bond projects, identify potential process gaps, and recommend controls if the district pursues future referenda or needs tighter project oversight now. The committee plans to examine a subset of previously funded projects and the district’s procurement, documentation and project‑management practices.

Process and timeline

The RFI will solicit vendor feedback on the draft scope (documentation review, financial review, procurement compliance, project outcomes, risk assessment and reporting). Committee members said the RFI will be posted immediately with an anticipated response deadline in early June so the board may discuss vendor feedback at or before the June 10 board meeting. A formal RFP will follow once the committee refines the scope.

Why the district is doing this now

Committee members said the work stems from the district’s ongoing facility and demographic studies and recent project closeouts; the goal is to ensure consistent public transparency and to refine procurement and contracting practices where appropriate. Committee members thanked district finance and procurement staff for their input on the RFI draft and said the RFI will not prevent respondents from later bidding on the RFP.

Next steps

RFI responses are expected in the first week of June; the committee will use vendors’ technical and process feedback to finalize the RFP and the agreed‑upon‑procedures scope.

Ending

Committee members emphasized the review’s goal is continuous improvement and better public accountability for future capital work.","A board subcommittee established an RFI to gather industry input on scope, timelines and budgets for an agreed‑upon procedures review of selected bond‑funded projects, with responses due the first week of June to inform a later RFP.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lexington One board gives direction to advertise fiscal 2025–26 budget with full ‘Option 3A’ package

Board debates tougher vaping penalties, reviews bus conduct rules and several policy revisions

Votes at a glance: Lexington One board approves staffing, policy and administrative items May 20

Board committee issues RFI to scope an audit-like agreed‑upon procedure for 2018 bond projects