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Penny-tax projects: Midtown, Beechtree near milestones; county coordination needed for traffic signals
Summary
District staff updated the board on penny-tax-funded school construction on Oct. 6: Midtown Middle and Beechtree Elementary are nearing exterior completion, road and off-site work is upcoming, and other projects (high-school additions and corridor school) are in design with staggered construction starts. Board members raised concerns about traffic signals and utilities at new sites.
District capital staff and contractors gave the board an update on penny-tax projects on Oct. 6, detailing progress at new and renovated campuses and the schedule for design and construction of remaining work.
Contractor representatives said Midtown Middle School and Beechtree Elementary are approaching major exterior milestones: roofs and exterior work are nearly complete, utilities (water, sewer, electricity) have been connected to the buildings, and interior finish work (flooring, painting, terrazzo) has begun at phases of the sites. Road work and off-site improvements were described as in progress with off-site work for BeechTree expected to finish in mid-November.
David Hemstraat and project staff walked the board through other projects on the penny-tax list: additions for Berkeley High and Goose Creek High are in design and permitting with construction targeted for next fall; a 52 Corridor School design is anticipated to start in summer 2026 with potential construction in 2028 and completion in 2030; similar design-to-construction windows were presented for other high-school additions and athletic upgrades. Several athletic facility projects (press boxes, bleacher expansions, locker-room work) were noted as complete or near completion.
Board members asked about traffic signals and how buses and parent drop-off would be routed at Midtown; staff said traffic-signal installation and county coordination are separate but ongoing tasks and recommended continued liaison with Berkeley County government and SC DOT. Committee members also discussed building prototypes and the options for adding alternates or wings to increase capacity if needed in future phases.
The committee approved procurement items related to routine operations (pest control, mobile relocation services) and directed staff to continue coordination with county traffic and permitting authorities as they finalize site access and off-site road work.
