Dorchester District 2 backs letter urging developer, county to convey Ponds site after CART flags project red

The Dorchester District 2 Board of Trustees on March 31 unanimously voted to endorse and distribute a letter urging Coulter Homes and Dorchester County to convey land needed for the planned Ponds Elementary School after the district’s Citizens Advisory Review Team (CART) reported the project’s schedule and budget are at risk.

CART, an independent oversight group for the district’s $200,000,000 referendum projects, told the board that delays in the conveyance of the Ponds property have pushed the project’s status to “red,” jeopardizing the district’s planned opening and increasing costs. Jay Lombardo, a CART member, said the committee’s master project list and “stoplight” chart reflect the red status and that schedule, budget and timeliness are the principal concerns.

Why it matters: The district secured referendum funding and advanced permits and contracting with the intent to start construction to meet student-growth needs. CART and district staff told trustees that without conveyance of the site the district cannot meet timelines tied to a September 2026…