Sunset Park Elementary rising: contractors report steady progress and local subcontractor participation

Construction teams reported steady progress at the Sunset Park Elementary School site during a May 28 update to the Rock Hill School Board.

What contractors said: Project representatives from LS3P (architect) and Leitner Construction said the project has moved to vertical construction, with concrete pours, joist and decking work in the gymnasium and trusses scheduled for the exceptional-student wing. Site utility work and sewer installation were underway with plans to sequence work to minimize conflicts with existing school operations and neighborhood traffic. Leitner personnel said they coordinate deliveries and try to schedule noisy operations outside of drop-off and pick-up windows.

Local participation and schedule: Contractors reported that roughly $20 million of the project value is being subcontracted within York County and that approximately 30–37% of the project spend remains local; they said they continued outreach to local and minority-owned firms for remaining scopes such as landscaping and final cleaning. Site-superintendent Dexter Pinkston described daily communication with district staff and community residents and said the team is emphasizing safety checks, background clearances for workers and weekly toolbox talks.

Why it matters: The school is scheduled to open in August 2026 and will relieve capacity pressures in the district. Contractors emphasized community engagement, offering job-site tours to staff and neighborhood outreach during field days.

Board reaction and next steps: Trustees praised the contractor team for community coordination and safety planning. Staff and contractors will return with periodic construction updates as the project progresses toward the substantial-completion milestones.