Fort Mill Schools Report Positive Audit, Approve New Employee Student Policy

Fort Mill School Board Meeting Highlights

Special Recognitions

• Recognition of Board Members for Years of Service (SCSBA)
• Superintendent’s Red Nose Award
  • Amy Pierson, GHES
  • Kristi Kruft, NFHS
  • Dwayne Hartsoe, FMHS
  • Stacey Johnson, RTES

Monthly Financial/Impact Fee Update

Mrs. Leanne Lordo provided the following information as part of the monthly update:

Monthly Financial Report

• November 30th – Fifth Month in Fiscal Year
• Total Revenue $70,866,930

Total Expenditures $94,665,983

Decrease ($23,799,053) – Cash flow using Fund Balance

·       Vehicle tax collections $1,608,408

·       Real Estate taxes $4,923,550

·       Tier 1 Homestead Reimbursement $1,873,371 (90% received)

Impact Fees

• Total collected to date $82,546,604
• Interest earned $7,494,945
• $88,921,889 submitted in claims with York County, of which $66.5 million was for Flint Hill Elementary School and $22.4 million Flint Hill Middle School.
• Single Family units 2,970/Multi Family 2,214/ Total 5,184 Units
• December had 7 homes and 10 multi-family units added
• Calendar Year 2025 Average collections $830,746

December 2025 Actual collections $415,440

State Budget State Aid to Classrooms

• SCASA meeting to be held January 28 for District Finance Officers to discuss SC Revenue & Fiscal Affairs recommended changes to the State Funding Formula. Frank Rainwater, Director, will be the speaker and sharing more details.

Financial Summary

Impact Fee Report

Annual Audit Report

Mrs. Leanne Lordo and Mr. David Phillips presented the findings of the Annual Audit Report. The Fort Mill School District received a positive financial audit report for 2025, from Greene Finney Cauley, LLP, a testament to the district’s strong financial management practices. The General Fund saw a $1.9M increase, representing 21% of expenditures. Revenues increased by 9%, while expenditures, which rose by 9%, supported step increases, higher benefit and operating costs. Key fund balances include $68.2M for planned capital projects. There were no compliance findings or material weaknesses.

This report has been sent to the SC Department of Education. It has also been submitted to two financial award programs sponsored by the Governmental Finance Officers Association and the Association of School Business Officials. We feel this report meets all criteria to be awarded Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Second Reading of Policy JFAB Admission of Non-Resident Students

The board voted to approve updates to Policy JFAB, Admission of Non-Resident Students. The approved update permits full time non-resident employees to enroll their children in our district so long as their employment continues under district prescribed conditions beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. Employees will be charged annually $500.00 for the admission of in-state students of nonresident employees and $1500 for out of state students of nonresident employees. This fee is based on what the average home pays in terms of debt millage for schools at an estimated 50% discount as a work-based service credit.

Any additional changes to this policy to meet compliance with new South Carolina law scheduled to go into effect for the 2027–2028 school year will be determined following the release of the model policy currently being developed by the South Carolina Board of Education.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Grey Young provided an update on district enrollment, student attendance, and calendar events.

Enrollment Update

• Current enrollment is 18,274.

District Enrollment

Calendar of Events

Fort Mill School Board meetings can be viewed live or on demand on the district’s YouTube channel or with the link below.