Fort Mill School District Superintendent Releases Letter Regarding Silfab Solar

On November 7, 2025, Fort Mill School District Superintendent Grey Young released a letter and a Myth vs. Facts sheet to Fort Mill Families via email. The letter and attached are below.

Dear Fort Mill School District Community,

Over the past several months, there has been significant public discussion regarding the Silfab Solar facility. The Fort Mill School District (FMSD) has received questions and requests for information related to safety preparedness, our partnership with Citadel EHS, a third-party environmental health and safety consulting firm, as well as requests for action regarding zoning and permitting, and the District’s role in these matters.

In an effort to provide transparent communication, factual information, and clarity regarding the District’s role and responsibilities, this memorandum outlines our approach to ensuring student and staff safety, details our partnership with Citadel EHS, and encourages community engagement with the appropriate governing authorities. This communication is intended to clarify:

The role and responsibility of the Fort Mill School District as it relates to Silfab
The timeline of land acquisition and site development as it relates to Silfab
The District’s commitment to safety for all students and
The District’s communication efforts as they pertain to this

A summary of the timeline regarding FMSD land purchases for the Flint Hill Elementary and Middle School sites and actions by York County as related to Silfab Solar can be reviewed below:

2017 — Initial FMSD land purchase (Flint Hill campus area). FMSD purchased the first portion of land for the Flint Hill Elementary/Middle campus. At that time, the property (and surrounding area) was zoned Light Industrial (LI), and schools were an allowed use.

2020 — FMSD acquired additional land adjacent to the 2017 parcel to complete the Flint Hill Campus site.
2020 —York County Council approved subdividing the parcels on Logistics Lane adjacent to the FMSD-purchased Also, during 2020, York County began working on revisions to the zoning codes.
2022 —York County announced its revised zoning codes, removing schools from areas zoned as light industrial. FMSD was denied the option to grandfather the land under the old zoning code for school use. York County staff issued a zoning verification letter to Silfab Solar confirming solar module/cell manufacturing was allowed at 7149 Logistics Lane under LI.
2023- The district applied for and was granted a zoning change for the property to Office and Institutional (OI), a zoning category that allows schools with a special exception.
2023—Construction began on Flint Hill Elementary School, fully funded by Impact
2024—Construction of Flint Hill Middle School began in the Summer of 2024, funded by both Impact Fees and bonds.
2025 — FMSD engaged Citadel EHS for a third-party Health & Safety Assessment focused on Flint Hill Elementary/Middle and proximity to Silfab; the district published an open Health & Safety Assessment page to share findings and updates.
FMSD hosted public sessions and posted meeting materials (e.g., Oct 21, 2025 community meeting deck listing Chemicals of Potential Concern, sampling locations, and phased testing timelines). The presentation by Citadel EHS on baseline testing indicated safe readings.

It is important for our community to know that FMSD has no authority over zoning, land-use classification, or industrial permitting, as these responsibilities lie solely with the York County Council, the County Planning and Zoning Board, and the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

We recognize and appreciate the concern and input from parents and community members advocating for student safety and well-being. We believe it is important that such advocacy be directed toward the agencies with the legal authority to act on zoning and industrial compliance matters and empowered to review, regulate, and enforce issues related to land use, environmental safety, and facility operation.

Although FMSD does not have authority over zoning or permitting, we understand that some residents have expressed concerns about potential safety risks associated with the Silfab facility. To that end, the district has taken these important steps:

Engaged Citadel EHS, a respected third-party environmental health & safety consulting firm, to perform a comprehensive independent assessment of school sites—including external emissions risk review, internal HVAC and filtration system evaluation, baseline air quality sampling, emergency protocol coordination and planning.
Confirmed that air quality monitoring at nearby schools has begun and is being conducted in collaboration with our partners to establish baseline conditions. As stated during the October 21st community meeting, the District is committed to ongoing monitoring for as long as deemed
Maintained district-level emergency procedures, enhanced collaboration with county emergency management, and committed to continuous communication with parents, staff, and the community. A review of the district’s published school safety and emergency preparedness information is available on our website. Further, the District, in collaboration with Citadel EHS and York County Emergency Management, continues to align emergency response protocols and planning coordination.
Provided transparent communication detailing the District’s actions in response to concerns regarding Silfab A complete timeline with links to associated documents from Citadel EHS, and a video recording of our October 21st community meeting featuring a panel of Citadel representatives, school board members, and district administration, are available under Communications on our website.

Going forward, the Fort Mill School District will:

Prioritize Student & Staff Safety and Readiness – Continue reviewing and enhancing our emergency response plans, train staff for all contingencies, and ensure our facilities meet best-practice standards for environmental quality.
Provide Transparent Communication – Regularly share updates received from county or state agencies, as well as progress reports from Citadel EHS, through our website and community
Engage in Ongoing Collaboration – Maintain open communication with York County officials, emergency management, Citadel EHS, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure coordinated safety planning and response, and offer opportunities for stakeholders to hear directly from regulatory officials, Citadel EHS consultants, and district leaders to clarify facts, review findings, etc.

The Fort Mill School District remains committed to providing a safe learning environment for all, and we are proud to serve a community that values safety, education, and civic engagement. By working together, we can ensure decisions are made responsibly in the best interest of our students, staff, and community.

With appreciation for your partnership and understanding,

Grey M. Young Superintendent

Fort Mill School District