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Board hears finance and facilities updates; county ordinance could transfer Johnsonville City Hall to the district
Summary
Staff updated trustees on Ways and Means salary projections and expiring grants, Schneider Electric facilities work and HVAC RFPs, technology migration and a popular new high-school breakfast; the superintendent reported Florence County passed an ordinance authorizing purchase of Johnsonville City Hall potentially involving District 5.
Board members were briefed on preliminary budget projections, grant expirations, facilities projects and a county ordinance concerning City Hall property.
Miss Willis delivered a finance update, saying the Ways and Means projection included a possible $1,500-per-salary-step increase and that the senate projections could be higher. Willis warned the district would lose some grant funding this year, including the Stronger Connections grant and a DHEC nurse grant, and said the district may need to move some salaries into the general fund to cover those losses.
Facilities staff reported Schneider Electric has begun phase two kickoff work, with building-envelope work at JES expected to start in the next three to four weeks and a districtwide HVAC-control design underway. Staff said an RFP will be issued to replace six units in the elementary gym and about 17 units across the campus; track resurfacing is expected to resume next month after subsurface checks; and the elementary gym floor repairs and painting are scheduled after spring break. The presenter said migration from Clever to ClassLink is planned and that a Windows 11 upgrade for district computers is underway.
Child nutrition reported a new high school breakfast menu has more than tripled student breakfast participation; the district is consolidating manager positions after spring break with Tera Lewis named manager for both middle and high schools and Felicia Brown moving to the elementary school. The facilities presenter also noted staffing changes including the retirement of custodian Paul Graves and the hiring of Harmony Powell.
In a separate update, a presenter said Florence County passed Ordinance No. 71-2024/25 authorizing the county's purchase of the City Hall building in Johnsonville and a potential sale to Florence County School District 5 via an installment purchase agreement; the ordinance had a first reading on March 20 and subsequent readings scheduled in April and May. The board was told schedule planning is underway for moving fifth grade to Johnsonville Elementary, with transportation and space logistics to be finalized March 26.
Trustees asked clarifying questions during each update. No new board vote on the county ordinance or on the identified RFPs was recorded in the transcript excerpt.
