Richland School District 2 board approves 2026–27 general fund budget; authorizes Dent Middle School water-line transfer and policy revisions

The Richland School District 2 Board of Trustees approved the second reading of its 2026–27 general fund budget at its June 9, 2026 regular meeting and took a series of related actions including a property-transfer authorization and policy updates.

The board voted 7–0 to adopt the general fund budget after a second reading in which the chair noted that the budget amounts were unchanged from the first reading. The meeting opened with a public hearing on the proposed budget; no members of the public were signed up to speak at the outset.

Why it matters: The budget provides the district's financial plan for the coming school year and frames staffing, program and capital choices the district will make as it prepares for 2026–27.

In formal business, the board also authorized the superintendent to proceed with a transaction transferring newly installed water lines at Dent Middle School to the city of Columbia, directing that related documents be made public after the transaction is complete. The motion to authorize the transaction was made by Mr. Dennis and passed 7–0.

Several other votes from executive session were recorded in public session: the board denied a student appeal (motion by Miss Williams, passed 7–0); approved a student admission request for the district's adult education program (motion by Miss Washington, passed 7–0); and approved employment recommendations and certified releases as presented (motion by Miss Washington, passed 7–0).

Finance and fund-balance highlights presented by the superintendent showed receipts through April 30, 2026 including $175,197,831 (87.9%) of anticipated local revenue and $135,191,054 (82.5%) of anticipated state revenue; the district's unadjusted fund balance was reported as $156,396,940, roughly 38% of the general fund budget. The superintendent noted expenditures were tracking below prior-year levels at the same point in the fiscal year.

The board also approved two policy revisions. A revision to policy BD (organization of the board) that changes the timing of officer terms passed 6–1; a revision to policy CBI (superintendent evaluation) was approved 7–0. During discussion of the BD change, the board specified the revision would take effect beginning with the slate of officers elected in June 2026.

On smaller-budget items, the board approved a request to transfer $10,781.90 of ADEP carryforward funds from FY25 into the general fund, a motion explained by Senior Chief Financial Officer Nancy Williams and approved 7–0. Williams summarized state rules that permit certain categorical funds to be flexed into the general fund under state proviso guidance.

Quotes: "State categorical funding streams that flow through the South Carolina Department of Education can generally be spent in the year they were awarded and then one subsequent year after," Nancy Williams said while explaining the requested $10,781.90 transfer. Mr. Dennis moved the Dent Middle School transfer and said the documents will be made available to the public once the transaction is completed.

What's next: The board approved the budget as required; administrators indicated they have asked the county for updated tax-collection information to refine revenue projections. The meeting adjourned after member remarks and recognitions.

Actions recorded at the meeting include agenda approval (7–0), convening and adjourning executive session (7–0), denial of a student appeal (7–0), approval of an adult-education admission (7–0), approval of employment recommendations (7–0), authorization to transfer Dent Middle School water lines to the city of Columbia (7–0), approval of the 2026–27 general fund budget (7–0), approval of policy BD (6–1), approval of policy CBI (7–0), approval of a $10,781.90 ADEP-to-general-fund transfer (7–0), and authorization for the superintendent to apply for state/federal/foundation funding (7–0).