District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties School Board Chair
As Board Chair for School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties, I am often reminded of what an honor it is to represent the students and families in our district.
From the many academic accomplishments of our students to the great work of our staff and parents, School District Five is great because of the dedication we all have to building our community, and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve.
As our district celebrates the start of another school year, we want to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished as a Board in 2018-2019.
At our May 20 meeting, the Board approved a 2019-2020 budget plan that included funding for important programs and resources for our students, without a millage increase. In addition to a mandated 4% cost of living increase for teachers, our budget included a 4% raise for all other district employees and step Increases for all eligible employees.
To maintain our focus on supporting school safety and the social emotional health of our students the budget that our Board passed also included, increased funding for School Resource Officers and funds for additional contracted mental health case managers.
In addition to the budget, we also focused on important policies and actions that help us plan for the future. At a special-called meeting in February, the Board was presented with a Facilities Needs Assessment Study that highlighted needs across our district. We were also provided updates on the new elementary school and the enrollment freeze, which provides temporary relief to overcrowding in the Chapin area elementary schools.
While we had many questions and sometimes differing opinions, the challenges were far outweighed by what we accomplished collectively: a balanced budget that demonstrated our commitment to accountability, a plan for the future to continue our legacy of excellence, and focus on our students and addressing their needs.
As elected officials of the Board of Trustees, we would like to thank you for entrusting us to advocate for you and your students. We know the impact of our decisions, and our continued commitment is to not only execute the mission of our district, but also do so with dignity and great pride in School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties.
For more information on School District Five School Board meetings, actions and items visit: www.lexrich5.org/schoolboard.
