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 opening; repeated delay also increases the project’s cost and complicates contractor scheduling.

Details and context CART representatives said radio projects were scheduled to be completed March 31 and that new security cameras and window safety film are planned for an August 1 completion; other work such as walls and ceiling repairs will be scheduled while schools are out of session to avoid hazards if hazardous materials (for example, asbestos) are discovered. The committee’s materials and the CART master project list are available on the Dorchester District 2 website under the referendum/CART tab, CART members said.

CART flagged the Ponds Elementary project as red because the property conveyance date slipped from the district’s planned timetable. Jay Lombardo said the conveyance delay affects schedule and budget and “the expected 2026 completion is in jeopardy.”

District staff told trustees they have advanced permitting and contractor coordination and are prepared to move once the land is conveyed. Chad Doherty, the district’s interim superintendent, and facilities staff said they are in ongoing communications with Hood Construction (the district’s contractor partner) and architects about guaranteed-maximum-price negotiations and subcontractor availability. Facilities staff said the district has all permits but is awaiting a final letter from Dorchester County to complete the conveyance process.

Board response and next steps Trustee Garrett Farnsworth, who chairs the facilities committee, read a letter to Coulter Homes and Dorchester County that emphasized the district’s commitment to building the school and urged the parties to act to align the site transfer with the district’s planning. “The school district will build a school at The Ponds,” Farnsworth said, stressing the board’s intent that the land be used only for a school. The board unanimously approved a motion to put the board’s full support behind the letter and to share it with the community (motion passed 7–0).

The board scheduled a community meeting about the Ponds site for Monday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Sand Hill Elementary School; the district will notify affected school communities and use ParentSquare and other channels to publicize the meeting, trustees said.

What officials and staff said (summary) - Jay Lombardo, Citizens Advisory Review Team: CART placed Ponds Elementary in red status because of schedule, budget and timeliness concerns tied to the property conveyance. - Garrett Farnsworth, Chair, Facilities Committee (board trustee): Read the district letter and said the board intends to ensure the land is used for a school. - Chad Doherty, Interim Superintendent: Stated the district has permits in hand and remains in active discussions with the contractor and county; staff said a final county letter is the remaining step to clear permitting and allow site work to proceed.

The board closed the Ponds discussion by thanking CART members for their volunteer oversight and urged the developer and county to consider the timeline’s impact on students and families. The April 7 community meeting is intended to update residents and discuss next steps if conveyance timing continues to delay construction.