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Penny-tax projects moving: Midtown Middle, Beech Tree making site and building progress; larger additions planned
Summary
Capital-planning staff told the board that Midtown Middle and Beech Tree Elementary construction is progressing (roofs, utilities and interior work underway), and other penny-tax projects — high-school additions and athletic upgrades — are in design or scheduled for future phases.
District capital-planning staff and contractors gave an update on Berkeley County’s penny-tax school projects, reporting steady progress on new-school construction and a schedule for design and later-phase work on high-school additions and athletic facilities.
David Hemstraat (capital projects) and consultant teams said construction at Midtown Middle and Beech Tree Elementary is advancing: roof panels and exterior brickwork are nearly complete at Midtown; water, sewer and temporary electric connections are in place; interior work including painting and flooring is underway. Beech Tree’s off-site road work is slated for mid-November, with utilities connected and exterior work nearing completion.
Hanahan Middle is described as slightly behind the two primary sites but expected to have its exterior closed in within one to two months; the contractor reported temporary power is installed and water and sewer work is progressing.
Staff reviewed remaining penny-tax projects in design or preconstruction: additions at Berkeley High and Goose Creek High (design and permitting underway, construction planned to start next fall), the 52 Corridor school (design targeted summer 2026, construction 2028–2030), and other athletic and locker-room upgrades scheduled across multiple high schools with varying timelines.
Board members asked operational questions — traffic signals and drop-off plans for new schools, options to increase building size, and turf-field safety. Staff said traffic and drop-off designs include separate bus and parent entrances and that county and state roadway partners are coordinating signal work, which typically follows site construction. On building size, staff said alternates exist to add wings later but that adding capacity beyond the current design would require additional funding; several board members discussed the trade-off of adding capacity now versus later.
Capital staff noted completed or near-completed athletic projects (e.g., Berkeley High press box, Phillips Simmons bleacher expansion, Timberland and Cane Bay locker-room projects) and portable restroom and track work underway at selected schools.
No formal vote was taken; this was an informational update from the capital-planning committee.
