2024 Bond Referendum

Public schools are a vital part of the social and economic infrastructure of our community and our priority is to ensure we change in order to provide a safe and productive learning environment for all students.

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How the Bond Referendum Impacts Your School and Community

Rezoning Key Facts

Rezoning will take place for School District Five in the 2026-2027 school year. The outcome of the proposed Referendum will determine how the new attendance lines are drawn.
There are no plans to remove existing 3K/4K programs in district schools.
Irmo schools (excluding CrossRoads Intermediate*) are not impacted by rezoning. Rezoning impacts the Chapin/Dutch Fork attendance areas. *CrossRoads Intermediate will transition to a middle school.
With or without the Bond Referendum, Intermediate schools in the district will become middle schools creating (5) middle schools serving students in grades 6-8.
School District Five is a choice district; as a result, we are drafting “preferred choice options” for those families most impacted by rezoning. This could be offered to students through the highest grades at their current school pending available seats.

Chapin Community Schools

Academy For Success

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: The Academy For Success would move to the current Dutch Fork Elementary School that would be renovated into the RichLex Education Center providing additional capacity for students to attend Spring Hill High School.

Referendum Projects:
- Location moved from wing at Spring Hill High School to the RichLex Education Center (formerly Dutch Fork Elementary)
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Chapin Elementary

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: Chapin Elementary will become a K-5 school. With the addition of a new wing at the school through the Bond Referendum, portables would be removed and more students would be able to remain at the school and not be rezoned into another school.

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- New 16,000 sq. ft. classroom wing will eliminate portables and provide secure classrooms allowing more students to remain at Chapin Elementary.

Chapin Middle

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: The current Chapin Middle will become Spring Hill Middle housing students in grades 6-8 from Lake Murray Elementary and Ballentine Elementary. Students would remain zoned for Chapin High.

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Chapin High

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: Chapin High would serve students from Spring Hill Middle (currently Chapin Middle) and Chapin Middle (currently Chapin Intermediate).

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- Addition of a Fine Arts Auditorium
- If funds remain after completion of all projects listed in the Referendum, addition of a covered practice pavilion

Chapin Intermediate

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: The current Chapin Intermediate will become Chapin Middle School housing students in grades 6-8 from Chapin Elementary and Piney Woods Elementary. Students would attend Chapin High.

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Lake Murray Elementary

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: Lake Murray Elementary will become a K-5 school. With the addition of a new wing at the school through the Bond Referendum, portables would be removed and more students would be able to remain at the school and not rezoned into another elementary school. Students would attend Spring Hill Middle (currently Chapin Middle) and Chapin High.

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- New 20,000 sq. ft. classroom wing will eliminate portables and provide secure classrooms.

Piney Woods Elementary

Rezoning
- Passed Referendum: Piney Woods Elementary would become a K-5 school. FIVE Program will be moved to the RichLex Education Center (currently Dutch Fork Elementary). Students will attend Chapin Middle (currently Chapin Intermediate) and Chapin High.

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Spring Hill High School

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: Academy For Success moves to the new RichLex Education Center building, opening a new wing of Spring Hill High for additional students to attend through the Magnet Application.

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Dutch Fork Community Schools

Ballentine Elementary

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: Ballentine Elementary will become part of the Chapin cluster of schools feeding into Spring Hill Middle (currently Chapin Middle) and Chapin High. The estimated student enrollment for the school is 577*.

**Based on the 1/8/24 Five-year Master Facilities Plan workshop

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Dutch Fork Elementary

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: Construction of a new elementary school begins in a new location within the Dutch Fork Elementary attendance area.

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- Construction of a new Dutch Fork Elementary School will address the learning environments provided by the oldest continually used building in the district, along with the impacts of the expansion of Broad River Road.

Dutch Fork Middle

Rezoning: Not Impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- Renovations and repairs

Dutch Fork High

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: Not impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- Renovations and repairs
- Addition of a Digital Solutions & Artificial Intelligence Lab
- If funds remain after completion of all projects listed in the Referendum, addition of a covered practice pavilion

H. E. Corley Elementary

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: H. E. Corley Elementary students will attend CrossRoads Middle (currently CrossRoads Intermediate). Based on home address, students will attend either Irmo High School or Dutch Fork High.

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Oak Pointe Elementary

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: Oak Pointe Elementary student enrollment will increase from 367 to 416.*

*Based on the 1/8/24 Five-year Master Facilities Plan workshop

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System

River Springs Elementary

Rezoning: Impacted
- Passed Referendum: River Springs Elementary student enrollment will increase from 340 to 520.*

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System

**Based on the 1/8/24 Five-year Master Facilities Plan workshop

Irmo Community Schools

Rezoning: Irmo schools are not impacted by rezoning. Rezoning stops at the Chapin/Dutch Fork line.

Adult Education

Rezoning: Not impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Location moved from space at Irmo High School to the RichLex Education Center (formerly Dutch Fork Elementary)
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System

CrossRoads Intermediate

Rezoning: Not impacted. CrossRoads Intermediate will become CrossRoads Middle School serving students in grades 6-8.

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Harbison West Elementary

Rezoning: Not impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- Renovations and repairs
- The creation of individual classrooms at Harbison West Elementary designed to provide a modern learning environment for students and faculty

Irmo Elementary

Rezoning: Not impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Irmo Middle

Rezoning: Not impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- Renovations and repairs

Irmo High

Rezoning: Not impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- Renovations and repairs
- Addition of a Small Business Incubator & Student Center
- If funds remain after completion of all projects listed in the Referendum, addition of a covered practice pavilion

Leaphart Elementary

Rezoning: Not impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System

Nursery Road Elementary

Rezoning: Not impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- Renovations and repairs
- Creation of individual classrooms at Nursery Road Elementary designed to provide a modern learning environment for students and faculty

Seven Oaks Elementary

Rezoning: Not impacted

Referendum Projects:
- Enhanced Security Camera System
- Renovations and repairs

Proposed Referendum Question

Shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 5 of Lexington County and Richland County, South Carolina (the "School District") be empowered to issue, at one time or from time to time, general obligation bonds of the School District, in the principal amount of not exceeding $240,000,000, the proceeds of which shall be used to finance the costs (including architectural, engineering, legal and related fees) of acquiring land, constructing, improving, equipping, expanding, renovating and repairing school facilities within the School District as follows:

Secure Vestibule Entrances at the following schools:

Ballentine Elementary School,
Chapin Elementary School,
Dutch Fork Elementary School,
H. E. Corley Elementary School,
Chapin Intermediate School,
CrossRoads Intermediate School,
Irmo Middle School,
Chapin High School,
Spring Hill High School,
Irmo High School,
Adult Education, and
Academy For Success;

Upgrade security cameras at all district facilities;

New Dutch Fork Elementary School;

Renovate Dutch Fork Elementary School into Richlex Educational Center;

Renovations and Reconditioning CrossRoads Intermediate, Dutch Fork High, Dutch Fork Middle, Harbison West Elementary, Irmo High, Irmo Middle, Nursery Road Elementary and Seven Oaks Elementary;

Renovation (Enclosing Classroom Walls) at Harbison West Elementary School and Nursery Road Elementary School;

Elementary Classroom Wings at Chapin Elementary School and Lake Murray Elementary School;

Digital Solutions and Artificial Intelligence Lab at Dutch Fork High School;

Small Business Incubator and Student Center at Irmo High School;

Administrative and Professional Development Building;

Construction Workforce Development Lab at Center for Advanced Technical Studies;

Fine Arts Center Auditorium at Chapin High School; and

If funds remain after completion of all the projects listed above, covered practice pavilions at Chapin High School, Dutch Fork High School and Irmo High School.

2026-2027 Educational Structure & Zoning Information

Community Focused Lunch & Learn Events

Dutch Fork community Lunch & Learn event recording

Irmo community Lunch & Learn event recording

Chapin community Lunch & Learn event recording

Bond Referendum FAQs from Lunch & Learn Events (videos)

School Funding & Taxes

Rezoning

Bond Projects

Tax Facts

The $240 million Bond Referendum is on the ballot for citizens to decide in November 2024.

The Bond Referendum will not increase the tax rate.

Primary homes are not taxed for school operations.

Bond Referendum funds are used for infrastructure only.

Projects included in the Bond Referendum

Safety Focused Projects

Secure entrance upgrades to 12 schools: Ballentine Elementary, Chapin Elementary, Dutch Fork Elementary, H. E. Corley Elementary, Chapin Intermediate, CrossRoads Intermediate, Chapin Middle, Irmo Middle, Irmo High, Spring Hill High, Adult Education and Academy For Success.

Enhanced security camera systems for all campuses.

New school wings will eliminate portables and provide secure classrooms at Chapin Elementary and Lake Murray Elementary.

A new Dutch Fork Elementary School will address the learning environments provided by the oldest continually used building in the district, along with the impacts of the expansion of Broad River Road.

Renovations and repairs at CrossRoads Intermediate, Dutch Fork High, Dutch Fork Middle, Harbison West Elementary, Irmo High, Irmo Middle, Nursery Road Elementary & Seven Oaks Elementary.

If funds remain after completion of all projects listed in the Referendum: Covered Practice Pavillions at Chapin High, Dutch Fork High, and Irmo High.

Productivity Focused Projects

The additions of a Construction & Infrastructure Workforce Development Lab at The Center, a Small Business Incubator & Student Center at Irmo High, and a Digital Solutions & Artificial Intelligence Lab at Dutch Fork High, are designed to provide students access to high demand career opportunities.

Addition of a Fine Arts Auditorium at Chapin High.

The creation of individual classrooms at Harbison West Elementary and Nursery Road Elementary are designed to provide a modern learning environment for students and faculty.

Current Dutch Fork Elementary renovated into RichLex Education Center housing Adult Education, FIVE, and Academy for Success.

Administrative & Professional Development Center at District Office Building

2026-2027 School Rezoning Options

FAQs

Referendum Questions

All questions included below were collected through previous virtual Town Hall events hosted by the District. If you have further questions, please email 5yearplan@lexrich5.org.

Safety Projects

Where will the new Dutch Fork Elementary be built?

School District Five is still considering options for this new school and has not yet purchased property. However, the new school is planned to be located within the current Dutch Fork Elementary attendance zone.

Where in the security vestibule is an individual scanned? Is it a manual check by a campus officer?

A security vestibule is an enclosed area between the outside door of a building and the inside door. An individual will be scanned in the vestibule area using our Open Gate Weapons Detection System before they have access to the school’s front desk staff.

When considering facility updates, does the budget outlined address any additional security updates to enhance our school’s facility security?

The District’s current referendum plan includes constructing security vestibules for the schools that do not already have them. A security vestibule is an enclosed area between the outside door of a building and the inside door where a visitor can be screened before coming inside the building. It also includes security cameras that will support our school safety plans.

What access to the covered pavilions will be given to the marching bands which practice during the same time as the football teams?

School District Five intends for the covered pavilions to be utilized by as many students as possible. Having the facilities will increase the number of hours per day that students can be outside safely, so the administration can coordinate use among all groups.

Do you know the cost to enclose the practice area vs. cover it?

The current estimate to build the three covered practice pavilions is $13,800,000. We do not have a current estimate for enclosed facilities, but it would be significantly higher.

What is a sports pavilion? Is it climate-controlled?

School District Five is proposing a multi-purpose pavilion at each high school that many different groups can use. It will be covered and utilize fans to lower the “Wet Bulb Globe Temperature” so that students can be outdoors in the heat without accommodations. We have moved away from a climate-controlled option.

For the facilities condition assessment, how did the condition of the schools get to the critical point? Is it the age of the building?

Over the years, the District has added more facilities without expanding the capital and maintenance budget to address them. A conservative estimate would require $24 million per year to maintain 3.8 million square feet. We have had, until last year, $10 million per year. As a result, we have had deferred maintenance. The referendum will put us on the way to being in a “prevention” mode rather than a “reaction” mode.

Productivity Projects

Have you polled students to ensure that the proposed workforce development projects align with their needs?

Much of the District’s information in this area has come from our Career & Technical Education staff, as well as from our community business partners. We want to find where students’ passions meet economic opportunity.

Could the RichLex Education Center also house the district office?

If the Academy for Success, Adult Education, and FIVE all move into the current Dutch Fork Elementary, which would be converted to the RichLex Education Center, there would unfortunately not be room for the District Office staff and operations, such as technology servers and maintenance equipment, to move there as well. Also, the proposed Professional Development wing would provide a centrally-located area for staff to receive training and hold meetings and not impact a school building.

Rezoning Questions

Where can I find out where my student will be zoned (with a referendum)?

School District Five has added a School Zone Locator (with a referendum) for families to use to determine which schools they will attend under the proposed rezoning plan.

Is there consideration for students to be “grandfathered” into their current schools if they are already enrolled?

Instead of “grandfathering,” School District Five is drafting “priority choice options” for those families most impacted by rezoning. This could be offered to students through the highest grades at their current school.

Since Ballentine Elementary is impacted most heavily, is it possible to add a wing onto that school or use portables?

Our current plan is to not use portables in School District Five. We can accomplish this by adding wings where portables currently exist.

Will the new middle schools (CrossRoads Middle and Spring Hill Middle) have the same opportunity regarding sports?

All School District Five middle school students will have equal access to extracurricular activities, including athletics and the arts. The District is still evaluating the best option for providing those options, and more detailed plans will be shared in time.

Have you considered the emotional impact these changes may have on our students?

The safety, health, and well-being of our students and staff is always School District Five’s top priority. Our District has extensive experience with military families and other families who move frequently, so, there are a wide array of options in our district for students who may struggle with change, including school counselors and clinical counselors.

How do these changes affect bussing (pickup/dropoff times)?

School District Five does not anticipate problems accommodating transportation needs. Before final maps are released, the Office of Student Services and Planning coordinates with the Transportation Office to ensure they can accommodate the routes.

Will Spring Hill Middle School be a zoned school or a school of choice? Can I request for my student to attend Spring Hill Middle School instead of Chapin Middle School?

Spring Hill Middle School will be a zoned middle school. School District Five will continue to be a choice district as space allows. More information will be released about choice options after the Board makes a decision on the plan.

Is it accurate to say that Dutch Fork High is sized and equipped adequately to absorb projected growth in the area?

Dutch Fork High School has a maximum capacity of 2366, and is currently 67% filled. So, yes, that school is able to take on more students. If the bond referendum does not pass, Dutch Fork High will receive students from Spring Hill Middle School to relieve pressure at Chapin High School.

Are there concerns about retaining/hiring staff to support the number of students attending these schools?

Staff recruitment and retention is always a priority for our district. School District Five remains aggressive in its hiring strategies and aims to be competitive in the marketplace. We hope that the upcoming changes to the district will be attractive to current and future staff.

How is Spring Hill High School impacted by these changes? How will that school be used to relieve the overcrowding at Chapin High School?

Spring Hill High School will remain an all-magnet school of choice. Irmo and Dutch Fork students will keep the same number of seats allotted there. However, if the proposed bond referendum passes and the Academy for Success moves to the RichLex Education Center, the number of spaces for Chapin students will increase, alleviating some of the pressure at Chapin High School.

Why is more money being spent on the district office than on some individual schools?

The facilities condition assessment rated the District Office building as one of the worst buildings in the district. In fact, one wing of the building has been permanently closed due to health and safety concerns. Updates to this building are long overdue. In addition, a new building will allow the district to add a Professional Development center which can be utilized by staff throughout the district.

Are there changes we can make now, rather than waiting until the 2026-27 school year (ex. Moving 5th grade to Piney Woods Elementary School)?

District administrators believe it is best to have all changes take place the same year to have the least impact and fewest potential changes. It is our goal to ensure that all programs, personnel, certifications, and equipment are effectively moved before the students arrive. This requires an enormous amount of planning, so we will use the 2025-26 school year to prepare.

When will these changes go into effect? Could a student be required to change schools mid-progression (ex. 10th grade at Chapin High School, 11th grade at Dutch Fork High School)?

School District Five plans to implement all changes at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year. It is possible that a student could be impacted during his/her progression through a school.

If you are school choice to a specific elementary school, will you feed to the middle school aligned with your school of choice or the one tied to your address?

Zoning assignments are based on residence, so, even if you attended another elementary school by choice, your middle school zoning assignment would be based on your home address.

Why is it necessary for H. E. Corley Elementary students to attend CrossRoads Middle and then go back to Dutch Fork High?

H. E. Corley Elementary students are being zoned to CrossRoads Middle School so that all middle schools are equitable in size. If those students remained at Dutch Fork Middle, the student body would be larger than the school building is able to accommodate.

Will staff remain in their existing buildings, or will any staff (e.g., support staff) shift with the students?

School District Five is dedicated to ensuring that staff members are able to follow their students while also accommodating requests for preferred school assignments. Moreover, we are committed to working diligently until the 2026-2027 school year to ensure that our schools have the appropriate staff in place to best meet students' needs. Employees who wish to relocate within the district can fill out a request form provided by the Office of Human Resources every year. These requests will be processed in accordance with board policy GCK and administrative rule GCK-R.

Tax Questions

What is the tax base for the district? From which geographical area does the majority of the district tax revenue come?

The total assessed value of School District Five is $639,064,651. The operational taxes come from 6% properties (non-primary residences, vehicles, boats, and businesses). The debt service taxes come from all properties.