Berkeley County Board approves first reading of 2026–27 student-assignment plan with grandfathering, Wildcat Track tweak

The Berkeley County Board of Education on Dec. 8 approved the first reading of the 2026–27 student assignment plan, endorsing the administration’s Option F with two friendly amendments: a grandfathering and concurrent-sibling clause and a Wildcat Track boundary clarification (Option H).

Katie Tanner, a district staff presenter, told the board the administration’s recommendation reflects seven community meetings and “a significant amount of passionate, thoughtful, and at times emotionally charged feedback,” and that staff aimed to propose boundaries that are “objective, reasonable and aligned with the long term needs of our students and our schools.”

Miss Coates offered a friendly amendment asking the administration to “establish a grandfathering provision and sibling clause that permits students enrolled as of December 15 at any impacted school to remain in their current school zones, provided they provide their own transportation and have siblings concurrently enrolled at the same school.” Chair Wofford accepted the amendment as friendly and later clarified how the grandfathering would work: students enrolled on Dec. 15 can remain “until your child finishes” (through matriculation) but the family must provide transportation.

Staff and board members also accepted a second friendly amendment to apply the Option H map for the Wildcat Track area, using Fairwinds Boulevard as the dividing line: the Black Tom Road side will be assigned to Berkeley Middle and Berkeley High, and the Fairwinds-to-Cane Bay side will be assigned to Cane Bay Middle and Cane Bay High. The administration said the only elementary assignment change in the clarified recommendation is that Berkeley Commons and the 2nd Avenue area east of 17-A would attend Devon Forest Elementary, College Park Middle and Stratford High (rather than the previously listed College Park Elementary path).

Board members discussed operational details before the vote, including attendance affidavits and appeals—staff noted there are currently “almost 150” affidavits under review—and capacity concerns at some schools, with one member citing that Carolyn Lewis School (also referred to in discussion as Karen Lewis) is projected to exceed capacity next year. Chair Wofford said administration will bring clarity and any needed policy language back to the board at the second reading.

Mister Ramsey moved to accept the administration recommendation with the two friendly amendments; Miss Davenport seconded. After brief additional discussion, the board voted on the first reading and the motion passed 7–2. The plan will return for a second and final reading at the board’s regular meeting on Dec. 15, 2025, where maps and finalized language on grandfathering, sibling eligibility and appeals procedures will be presented for final adoption.

The meeting adjourned after the vote.