WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Lexington-Richland 5 scaling back on new schools, renovations

Lexington-Richland 5 scaling back on new schools, renovations

By Jack Kuenzie - bio | email

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - As the price for bricks and mortar goes up, one local school district is trying to scale back blueprints on new schools and renovations.

But some parents are not happy after voting and approving a $243.7 million bond last fall that would pay for new construction in Lexington-Richland District Five.

Voters in Lexington-Richland District Five went to the polls last fall and cast almost six out of ten ballots in favor of a massive plan to build and upgrade schools.

More than six months later, the district's superintendent says that program is on schedule and in one case, millions under budget.

"The public and community input has been positively fantastic. The projects that we've rolled out at parent groups and faculty groups, they love 'em. The whole enterprise is going exceedingly well," said District Superintendent Dr. Herb Berg.

Soon up for bid, projects to revamp three elementary schools: Leaphart, Seven Oaks and Irmo.

Dr. Berg is especially proud of the changes in store for Chapin High. It includes new art and science classrooms, a new gym and athletic fields, and elimination of 23 portable classrooms.

"Terrific. A great building. A wonderful design. The faculty loves it. Community groups think it's special. It's got a 'Wow' factor to it," said Dr. Berg. 

But longtime critics say voters who approved the $244 million dollar referendum are not going to get what they expected.

A result they say of district leaders who knowingly sold the bond issue using grossly inflated enrollment projections and are now covering their tracks by scaling back expansions and renovations.

"I think the district needs to put the building plan on the table. Not approve any more projects. Assess the enrollment growth. Assess the economy. We're laying off teachers. How can we afford to build new schools if we can't afford to operate the ones that we have right now?" said parent Kim Murphy.

"The school board should have had enough intelligence. We've been giving them this information for three years, that they're in a decline," said Wayne Duncan.

Berg says the plans are being reconfigured based on a more reliable enrollment forecast. It's not downsizing, he says, but "right-sizing."

"As long as you have time to adjust the plan, to 'right-size' them, the responsible manager does that," said Dr. Berg.

Copyright 2009 WIS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.