Committee approves Phase 5 reallocations to St. John's and three other schools

Acting Chair opened the Audit & Finance Committee meeting and members voted to approve two Phase 5 capital reallocation requests to shift savings within the 2023–2028 sales tax capital program.

A district staff presenter asked the committee to reallocate savings from the School of the Arts HVAC project to an exterior appearance package at St. John's High School that would include painting, landscaping and other exterior repairs. The presenter said the School of the Arts contracts are complete and there are no remaining priorities at that campus, enabling staff to move funds where other priorities exist.

A committee member raised concerns about West Ashley High School capacity and enrollment growth; staff responded that West Ashley's capacity is 2,515 and discussed inbound assignment counts. After discussion, the committee moved, seconded and approved the reallocation for St. John's High School.

Later in the agenda staff presented a separate reallocation request that would move program contingency funds to projects at Stiles Pointe Elementary, James Island Charter High School and the D10 Bridal School sixth-grade academy in West Ashley. Staff said James Island would also provide additional local funding and that work would not proceed until a signed agreement is in place. A committee motion to approve carried with a stipulation that the district receive a signed agreement acceptable to district staff for the James Island funding element.

The committee's approvals are recommendations to move program savings within the 2023–2028 sales tax capital program and will be implemented through district contracting and project management. No specific ordinance numbers or resolution identifiers were provided in the presentation; staff described the actions as reallocations within the Phase 5 capital maintenance program.