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Board committee weighs using unassigned fund balance for Crestwood phases, Sumter High weight room and athletic-field work
Summary
The finance committee reviewed proposed uses of unassigned fund balance, including $3,173,985 for remaining Crestwood phases, an $800,000 allocation toward Sumter High weight room with a proposed expansion estimated at $2.7M, and plans to solicit bids for the Sumter High athletic field (construction cannot start until Jan. 2027).
The Sumter School District finance committee discussed proposed uses of the district's unassigned fund balance for several capital projects, including Crestwood High School phases 3 and 4, an expanded Sumter High weight room and work on the Sumter High athletic field.
Staff told the committee Crestwood phases 3 and 4 have board approval but not funding; the presenter cited a remaining amount of $3,173,985 for those phases. The presenter said the district currently has $800,000 allocated for the Sumter High weight room but that school administrators are seeking a larger facility: they are requesting a roughly 6,000-square-foot space instead of the existing ~3,500-square-foot footprint. An architect at the meeting estimated $450 per square foot, producing a preliminary building estimate of about $2,700,000. "We do currently have $800,000 allocated," the staff member said, adding "they are wanting a bigger space" and noting the $2.7 million estimate does not include possible sewage-line reconfiguration costs.
Staff emphasized a structural engineer will assess the urgency and the integrity of floors and ceilings for the existing weight room. The presenter also said school administrators expect some community fundraising support for the project but that some elements—particularly any required sewage-line work—remain unestimated.
The presenter said the Sumter High athletic-field work will go out for bid in the next two weeks to obtain a completion estimate, but noted the district cannot begin athletic-field construction until January 2027 so as not to interrupt the football season. A board member raised audit concerns about reducing the fund balance down to the district's operating minimum, and staff reported consulting the lead audit manager at an SCASBO conference who indicated using fund balance is acceptable provided the district retains the identified 1–2 months of operating funds required by the Department of Education.
Board members discussed whether to prioritize the weight room and Crestwood Phase 3 and whether to defer items without firm estimates. The chair said the committee should proceed with projects for which amounts are known and return to request additional fund-balance allocations as needed. No formal vote on funding allocations was taken during this meeting; staff will bring recommended funding transfers to the full board for action.
