The Fort Mill School Board convened on April 1, 2025, for a meeting filled with celebratory recognitions, crucial strategic planning, and discussions surrounding environmental concerns impacting upcoming school construction. The meeting showcased the district’s commitment to excellence, transparency, and proactive problem-solving.
Celebrating Student and School Success:
The meeting began with a series of special recognitions highlighting outstanding achievements within the district.
- Gold Hill Middle School received accolades for achieving COGNIA STEAM Accreditation, a testament to the school’s commitment to integrated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics education.
- The Gold Hill Middle School Robotics Teams were also celebrated for their remarkable accomplishment of qualifying for the World Championships.
- The Fort Mill Middle School Academic Challenge Team was recognized for securing the Division Two State Championship, showcasing their exceptional academic prowess.
- The Nation Ford High School Winter Guard earned well-deserved recognition for their first-place victory in Class A at the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association Winter Guard Championships.
School Spotlight: Kings Town Elementary:
Principal Nicole Randolph and her staff provided a detailed presentation on Kings Town Elementary, focusing on the school’s efforts to cultivate a strong sense of belonging within their “Knight Family.” They highlighted their comprehensive School Counseling program and its recent achievement of the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation from the American School Counselor Association. This recognition underscores the school’s dedication to providing a robust and effective counseling program aligned with national standards.
Superintendent Search Update:
Dr. Kevin Castner presented an update on the ongoing superintendent search, sharing data gathered from community surveys and engagement events. The board has established a profile of desired qualifications, emphasizing the need for:
- A forward-thinking, visible leader who fosters a collaborative and innovative culture.
- A visionary educator with strong communication and strategic leadership skills.
- A trusted public education leader with sound fiscal management experience.
- An accomplished leader who builds positive relationships with the board, staff, and community.
The updated timeline for the search process includes:
- Application Deadline: April 28, 2025
- Candidate Interviews: May 2025
- Finalist Selection and Negotiations: May 2025
- Superintendent Appointment and Contract: May 2025
- Community Presentation of New Superintendent: May 2025
- Superintendent Start Date: On or before July 2025
The full report is available on the district’s website.
Financial and Impact Fee Updates:
Mrs. Leanne Lordo provided the monthly financial and impact fee report, revealing a positive cash flow and exceeding projected tax revenue. The impact fee report highlighted ongoing residential growth within the district. The report also displayed the current information regarding the state budget, and the current local budget information.
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Total Revenue: $181.2 million
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Total Expenditures: $146.2 million
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Positive Cash Flow: $34.9 million
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Vehicle Tax Collections: $1.72 million
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Real Estate Taxes in Delinquency: $369,279
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Estimated Year-End Tax Revenue: Projected to exceed budget by $1.8 million
Impact Fees Overview:
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Total Collected to Date: $73.9 million
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Total Housing Units Contributing: 4,680 (2,883 Single Family / 1,797 Multi-Family)
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March Additions: 7 single-family and 18 multi-family units
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12-Month Comparison:
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Single Family: $7.3 million (403 units, 6% increase YoY)
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Multi-Family: $1.4 million (118 units, 3% increase YoY)
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State & Local Budget Updates:
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Senate Budget Discussions: April 8–10
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Full Senate Debate: April 22–24
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Act 388 Millage Cap for FY 2024–25: 7.4% or 21.2 mills
The administration will present the local budget recommendation at the next meeting on April 15.
The district also received insurance rebates to help offset future premiums:
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Workers’ Compensation: $91,012
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Property & Casualty Insurance: $57,523
Strategic Plan and Textbook Approvals:
The board approved the district’s strategic plan and a comprehensive list of textbooks for elementary, middle, and high school levels, ensuring students have access to high-quality educational materials.
2026-2027 School Calendar:
The board approved the 2026-2027 school calendar, featuring an August 3rd start date, standard breaks, and a May 28th end date.
Addressing Environmental Concerns:
Dr. Chuck Epps addressed concerns raised by the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) at Emory University regarding the proximity of proposed Silfab Solar facilities to Flint Hill Elementary and Middle School. The district has taken proactive steps to address these concerns, including:
- Contacting PEHSU for guidance.
- Reaching out to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for information.
- Consulting with environmental testing agencies, hydrologists, and certified industrial hygienists (CIHs).
- Implementing enhanced air quality measures in the school construction, including high-efficiency HVAC systems, MERV-13 HEPA air filtration, and bipolar ionization systems.
- Engaging S&ME and WSP & Associates for site evaluations.
- Planning to do air quality testing once the solar facilities and the schools are operational.
The district is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its students and staff and is taking all necessary steps to address potential environmental impacts.
Superintendent’s Report:
Dr. Epps provided an enrollment update, teacher attendance information, and an overview of upcoming events. The district currently has 18,430 students.
The Fort Mill School Board meeting demonstrated the district’s dedication to celebrating achievements, strategic planning, and addressing community concerns with transparency and proactive measures. The district’s commitment to excellence and student well-being was evident throughout the meeting.
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