Fort Mill School Board Meeting Highlights

The Fort Mill School Board met on March 4, 2025, to recognize outstanding achievements, provide updates on district initiatives, and discuss financial matters. Highlights included honoring National Board Certified Teachers, the Fort Mill High School wrestling team, and DECA state champions. The board introduced the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees and received an update on the superintendent search process. Financial reports showed strong tax collections and impact fee growth. The board approved new high school courses, named the new 4K facility as Paradise Early Childhood Center, and voted to engage BWP & Associates to assist in hiring a new superintendent.

Special Recognitions

Recognition of FMSD National Board Certified Teachers
Recognition of Fort Mill High School Wrestling Team for their 5A State Championship
Recognition of FMHS DECA State Champions and FMHS DECA State Officers

School Spotlight – Fort Mill High School

Principal Zach Beam from Fort Mill High School (FMHS) highlighted the incredible opportunities his students have beyond the classroom. The school offers 38 student-led clubs, providing students with ways to develop leadership skills, serve the community, and pursue their passions.

Their thriving performing arts programs, including marching band, theater, chorus, and dance, which allow students to showcase their creativity and talent while achieving success at state and national levels.

Additionally, FMHS athletics programs have brought home over 10 state championships in the past three years, including four this year alone. He closed the presentation by sharing a student-produced video from the FMHS Media Tech students, capturing the diverse extracurricular experiences that make FMHS such a special place.

Introduction of the 2024 Hall of Fame

Mr. Mike Hill introduced the 2024 Fort Mill School District Hall of Fame inductees:

Doug Chapman: Mr. Chapman is a long-time volunteer with Fort Mill High School football. He has been part of the volunteer “chain crew” for nearly 60 years.
Irabelle Love: Mrs. Love was a beloved teacher at the George Fish School, where she taught home economics in the early 1950s. She went on to become a guidance counselor at Fort Mill Jr. High shortly after the integration of schools.
Margaret Lundy: Ms. Lundy was a graduate of Fort Mill High School who later served more than 30 years in the transportation department, driving buses and training drivers.
Keebler Mills: Keebler Mills Jr. was the band director at Fort Mill High from 1959-1971. He is credited with bringing Fort Mill bands “out of the doldrums” with his fun, upbeat music.
Chari Young: Chari Young worked in the Fort Mill School District for nearly 45 years, working with students in multiple roles before moving to the district office, where she served as the assistant curriculum coordinator.

They will be inducted during a special reception in April 2025.

Report of the South Carolina School Board Association (SCSBA) 2024 Annual Convention

Board members provided an overview of the SCSBA Annual Convention, which was held February 20-23, 2025. The conference is designed to allow members to learn from state and national experts on topics ranging from board governance to community engagement to innovations in classroom technology, explore areas of particular interest, and connect with hundreds of school board members and other education leaders from across the state.

Superintendent Search Committee Update

Board Member Lipi Pratt provided an update on the Superintendent Search Committee’s efforts. The board has established a three-member committee, consisting of Anthony Boddie, Scott Frattaroli, and Lipi Pratt, to help define the terms of the search. Mrs. Pratt emphasized that the board recognizes the complexity of this process and is committed to transparency by involving representatives from all stakeholder groups. Given the expectation that the position will attract highly qualified candidates from across the country, the committee recommended engaging a professional search firm to guide and manage the process. The board is aiming to announce the next Superintendent in May 2025 to ensure a seamless transition. The search committee will continue to provide progress updates at each future board meeting.

Monthly Financial/Impact Fee Update

Dr. Chuck Epps presented the monthly financial and impact fee report:

Monthly Financial Report

January 31 – Seventh Month in Fiscal Year
Total Revenue $167,695,471

Total Expenditures $126,428,130

Increase $41,267,341 – Positive Cash flow

Real Estate taxes $47,081,069
January tax collections strong – 92% of budgeted amount collected (consistent with prior year at this time)
Vehicle tax collections $1,529,477
Fee-in-Lieu taxes $6,140,065

Impact Fees

Total collected to date $73,595,988
Single Family units 2,876/Multi Family 1,779/ Total 4,655 Units
February had 21 homes and 15 multi-family units added
Comparable data for 12 months rolling for Single Family
- Feb 2024 to Feb 2025 $7,717,150 or 425 SF Units (15.8% more)
- Feb 2023 to Feb 2024 $6,663,986 or 367 Units
Comparable data for 12 months rolling for Multi Family
- Feb 2024 to Feb 2025 $1,202,000 or 100 MF Units (27.5% less)
- Feb 2023 to Feb 2024 $1,658,760 or 138 Units

Calendar Year 2024 Average collections $839,615

February 2025 Actual collections $561,618

State Budget

Ways & Means Committee Passed Budget Appropriation Bill.
Teacher Salary Scale per House Ways & Means – Starting State Minimum Teacher Pay $48,500, which is an increase of $1,500.
State proposed scale also Collapses to 4 categories and Deletes Bachelor’s +18).

11 – 13, Full House deliberates on the proposed budget plan.
April 8 – 10 Senate Finance Budget Discussions
April 22 – 24 Full Senate Budget

New Impact Fee

York County Council 1^st Reading and Public Hearing – Was Held Monday, March 3
2^nd Reading will be Held Monday, March 17

Monthly Financial Overview

Impact Fee Report

Approval of New High School Courses

The board voted to approve the following courses:

Cosmetology
- Cosmetology 1
- Cosmetology 2
- Cosmetology 3
- Cosmetology 4
New Dual Enrollment Courses
- ABR 100—Introduction to Autobody Hazardous Materials
- ABR 101–Structural Repair I
- ABR 113–Sheet Metal Repair II
- ABR 118–Refinishing II
- AUT 241–Automotive Air Conditioning
- BCT 230–Bidding, Contracts and Specifications
- BCT 231–Construction Labor and Expediting
- ACR 206–Advanced Electricity for HVAC/R
- IST 203–Advanced Cisco Router Configuration
- IST 252–LAN System Manager
- IST 293–IT and Data Assurance
- EEM 117–AC/DC Circuits I
- EEM 121–Electrical Measurements
- EEM 140–National Electrical Code 1
- EEM 250–Programming Logic Controllers
- IMT 102–Industrial Safety
- IMT 104–Schematics
- IMT 114–Benchwork and Assembly
- IMT 131–Hydraulics and Pneumatics

Naming of the 4K Facility

The board voted the administration’s recommendation for the new Early Childhood Center.

Name: Paradise Early Childhood Center
Colors: Blue Sea Star and Yellow
Mascot: Dolphins

Approval to Engage with Search Firm for the Purpose of Hiring New Superintendent

The board voted to approve retaining BWP & Associates to assist in conducting the search for the next Fort Mill School District Superintendent.

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Chuck Epps provided an enrollment update, teacher attendance update and an overview of upcoming events for February, 2025. At the time of the report the district had 18,410 students. Fort Mill High, Springfield Middle and Gold Hill Elementary Schools topped the teacher attendance list for February. For a complete listing of events please click the calendar link below.