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Board authorizes eminent domain for Highway 52 school, approves personnel recommendations and several contracts
Summary
At the July 21 Berkeley County Board meeting members approved using eminent domain for a planned Highway 52 school, accepted personnel recommendations, resolved two student attendance appeals, and approved multiple contracts and policy changes.
At its July 21 meeting the Berkeley County Board of Education voted to authorize the district to exercise eminent domain under South Carolina Code Section 59-19-200 and the South Carolina Imminent Domain Procedure Act to acquire property for a planned school along the Highway 52 corridor. The motion, made by Joe Baker and seconded by Kathy Littleton, passed 8-0. The board authorized the superintendent to take all actions necessary to effect the acquisition, including engaging legal counsel to commence eminent-domain proceedings.
The board acted on two student attendance appeals that had been discussed during executive session. A motion by Michael Ramsey, seconded by Wofford, approved student number 1’s attendance appeal; Ms. Coates recused herself in advance and the motion passed 6-2. A separate motion by Ms. Bradley, seconded by Ms. Littleton, denied student number 2’s appeal; that motion passed 7-1.
The board accepted the administration’s personnel recommendations discussed in executive session on a motion by Michael Ramsey, seconded by Wofford; the vote was 8-0.
Committee recommendations and contract actions approved by the full board included:
- Committee on Academics and Innovation: approval of the Head Start budget expenditure report for May 2025 and Head Start credit report for May 2025 (moved by Kathy Littleton; no second required; vote recorded in the meeting as unanimous when called).
- Committee on Finance and Human Resources: approval of out-of-state travel as presented (moved by Michael Ramsey; vote recorded 8-0).
- First reading amendment of policy GCCA (vacation leave and holidays) as presented by administration (moved on committee recommendation by Michael Ramsey). Board discussion clarified that the amendment allows employees to accrue up to 60 days under the revised policy while the district will continue to pay out a maximum of 45 days upon separation. The amendment passed the board vote 7-1.
- Committee on Capital Planning: award of RFP 730-424-25 for on-call mold and disaster remediation services to Sempra Avicondo, doing business as SteriClean South Carolina, for an initial one-year term valued at $175,000 with automatic renewal options for four additional one-year terms (estimated five-year contract value $875,000). The superintendent may extend the contract for an additional two years at the end of the five-year term. The motion passed 8-0.
- Change order to Triad Mechanical Contractors for the Hanahan Elementary School HVAC replacement and roof repair project in the amount of $75,000, bringing the contract total to $2,330,000. The motion passed 8-0.
The board also approved routine items earlier in the meeting: the agenda and the July 7, 2025 minutes (each approved unanimously in the votes recorded) and the board entered and returned from executive session as recorded. No additional motions were recorded for referral or postponement.
