By Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer
Following discussion in executive session, the Spartanburg County District Four Board of Trustees voted to approve the sale of two parcels of district land at their Nov. 9 meeting.
The properties, both located on Varner Road east of the high school, will be sold to an undisclosed buyer, who asked to remain confidential until the sale has completed. The first parcel is 49 acres and garnered a price tag of $500,000. The second is four acres and will be sold for $40,800
Clark Simpkins, facilities and assistant business manager for the district, said the parcels were purchased in 2007 for the possible location of a new school in anticipation of continued growth in the district. He said planners and architects studying the property indicated that they were not sufficient for a new school and they were listed for sale earlier this year.
Simpkins said the district is still planning for the need for another school with growth continuing in the area. Officials will continue looking to identify land opportunities to accommodate the district’s growth.
In other business, the Board of Trustees heard school and departmental reports, including an update from Middle School Principal Scott Lawson regarding preparations for winter sports. Lawson said they would not be able to use the high school facilities, like they are for fall sports, due to the number of winter sports teams needing the gym. The teams are going to be limited in the number of fans allowed to attend games at the middle school gym but they are working on plans to allow as many parents as possible to see their children play.
High School Principal Dr. Aaron Fulmer updated the Board on the homecoming festivities, which have been postponed until Thursday, Nov. 12. The parade is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. downtown with the homecoming crowning to follow at W.L. Varner Stadium. He also reminded the Board that the Wolverines are traveling to Palmetto on Nov. 13 for the first round of the playoffs.
Dr. W. Rallie Liston, superintendent, told the Board that the return to in-class instruction for the primary and elementary school students has gone well and the district is not seeing any transmission of COVID-19 in schools. The small number of students testing positive have contracted the virus from home. He also said the first two weeks of having all middle and high school students attend in person on Fridays has seen the same encouraging result. Dr. Liston indicated that the district is continuing to review the return to classes in an effort to possibly bring all students back on campus some time following the Thanksgiving holiday.
Board members also approved the second reading of state recommended revisions to various district policies, including those relating to remote instruction, evaluation of staff, and student attendance. They also heard the first reading of similar revisions to the staff ethics/conflict of interest policy, which will be brought back to the board for approval in December.
The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. at Woodruff Elementary School.
Author: Tracy Sanders
