Fort Mill School District Superintendent Keith Callicut wrote an update recently in the Fort Mill Times. Here is a summary of his school growth update.

Besides the two new Fort Mill School District elementary schools planned to open in the fall of 2009, the district is busy working on a plan to spend the money raised by the March 4th bond referendum that was passed. The Fort Mill School District is looking at the following areas for 3 new schools (2 elementary, 1 middle);

Possible Elementary School Locations:

• Massey home development area which is south west of Fort Mill.
• Tega Cay
• Sutton and I-77 near the planned York County Museum

Possible Middle School Location:

• An area near the southern part of the Springfield Parkway.

The district plans to finalize the sites and acquire the land for the 3 new schools by this June. By November 2008 a new “attendance plan”, I assume they mean redistricting, will be completed. The architectural firm has been identified to design the additional high school gym, new stadium, and the 3 new schools. The gym and stadium are planned for opening in the fall of 2009. The 3 new schools should open by 2011.

The State Education Department considers the Fort Mill School District to be the fastest growing school district in the state of South Carolina.

Are you surprised voters said yes to the school bonds Tuesday? I am not.

The Fort Mill Times reported:

Schools bonds approved in landslide… Slightly more than one-fifth (22 percent) of the 24,290 registered voters in the school district took part, casting a total of 5,150 ballots, according to election officials.

Last Tuesday phone calls and emails hit our house. The calls were from volunteers frantically calling registered voters and urging us to vote because of the low voter turnout. The second concern I heard was about voter age. Are the voters mainly senior citizens? Would this age group primarily vote no for the bonds since they are empty nesters?

To refresh your memory there were two bond referendums or questions on the ballot. One bond is for building a middle school, 2 elementary schools, and acquiring land for future school sites. The cost of bond 1 is $87 million. The second bond will build additional gyms at both high schools, and the completion of the stadium at Nation Ford High School. The first question passed with 4,155 yes votes. The second question passed with 3,880 yes votes.

This is good news in regards to supporting the healthy growth in our area. This is bad news for your pocket book. Oh, the price of progress.

The City of Tega Cay, SC just updated their website. The site seems easier to navigate. Current city announcements are on the front page. You’ll also find city history or current information. Give it a test drive at http://www.tegacaysc.org/.