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School board previews tight budget as district plans staff and operations for three new schools
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Summary
District presenters outlined roughly 20.5 growth teacher FTEs to open three new schools, identified operating-cost drivers (utilities, transportation, stipends) and presented four budget-balancing options including targeted cuts to substitute staffing, program cuts, class-size changes or a millage increase.
District staff presented a preliminary budget snapshot to the Clover School District Board of Trustees, saying the combination of operating costs for three new schools and an incomplete state contribution to proposed teacher pay increases will require targeted options to balance the coming fiscal year.
The staff presentation listed funding sources (state ‘state aid to classrooms’ and EIA, local tax revenue including a $1,600,000 fixed reimbursement line, and federal funds such as IDEA) and said the combined state sources amount to roughly 48% of the general fund. The presenters showed the house budget numbers they had and cautioned the board that senate action could change the state contribution.
Staff detailed new staffing needs tied to opening Liberty Hill, a new middle school footprint, and Lake Wylie High: elementary additions such as a PE teacher, three teaching assistants (TAs), bookkeeper and receptionist; middle-school related-arts and two special-education TAs for Roosevelt; and high-school positions including an assistant principal, PE and math teachers, a 504 testing coordinator and four TAs. The presentation counted roughly 20.5 new teacher FTEs for growth, with an expected reduction of about 1.5 FTEs because the Department of Defense will fund an ROTC instructor at the new high school.
On operating costs, staff called out utilities (heat, lights and water) at about $3.6 million with an expected 3–5% increase next year, athletic and fine-arts expenses and transportation costs. Staff said repurposing some midday York Tech routes, allowing students who qualify to drive between campuses, and changing some bus routing should reduce midday routes and help transportation costs.
To close the gap, staff presented four broad options for the board to consider: increase class sizes (usually a last resort), reduce noninstructional support (for example, rethinking permanent building substitutes), cut programs, or increase millage. They showed substitute-related savings scenarios including eliminating permanent subs and revising TA substitute practices and cautioned the board about potential impacts on teacher planning time and workload.
Staff also reviewed the teacher-pay math: using an example teacher-salary schedule increase (a roughly $2,600,000 cost including steps), the house numbers provided about $1,200,000 toward that increase, leaving the district with a partial shortfall depending on final state action. Staff characterized the current numbers as preliminary and said they will return in April and May with updated projections and proposed targeted cuts; a final budget is expected in May if the General Assembly finalizes state funding.
Board members repeatedly asked for detail on substitute stipends, coaching stipends and the mechanics of moving existing staff to cover needs; staff committed to provide stipend worksheets, coaching-stipend lists and updated revenue-side estimates at upcoming meetings.
Next steps: district staff will revisit these line items and return to the board at the April and May work sessions with updated numbers and specific draft savings or revenue proposals for consideration.
