Resident urges board to act after March chemical spill near Flint Hill Elementary

Amy Myers, a Fort Mill resident, told the school board during public comment that she no longer feels comfortable sending her kindergarten-aged son to Flint Hill Elementary because a nearby industrial operation she identified as Silfab "is still operating with toxic chemicals on-site." She told the board those materials included "hydrofluoric acid, silane, all of which have been confirmed on-site," and described them as "classified hazards that can burn, poison, and ignite on contact."

Myers said a March 5 chemical spill near the school produced "nothing short of chaos," with parents, students and staff confused about the response. "You told us you had an emergency plan at the beginning of the school year. So was it the district's emergency plan to close the school the next day?" she asked the board, pressing for details and stronger action than prior resolutions.

Context and administration response: the administration acknowledged prior board action recognizing the risk and told the board during the budget presentation that the district has paid Citadel Environmental $96,953 out of contingency for air-quality monitoring. The meeting did not record board direction to pursue legal action or removal of the facility; instead Myers urged trustees to "use your voice. Demand action or take legal action yourselves. Escalate this beyond statements and into results for these kids." She closed by saying parents are left to choose between trusting district leadership or removing their children from the schools.

What the board recorded: the public comment was heard at the start of the meeting and prompted discussion later in the agenda about contingency spending and the district's contract with Citadel Environmental for monitoring. There was no formal board motion recorded in this meeting to take additional legal action regarding the facility.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 027; topfinish SEG 121.

Speakers: Amy Myers (public commenter).