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 and without a referendum)?
School District Five has added two School Zone Locators (
with a referendum and
without 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.
