By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer
jeremy@thewoodrufftimes.com
The Spartanburg County School District Four Board of Trustees approved a $1.3 million bond anticipation note for upkeep and repairs. The Board also approved a $64,000 contract for repairs to the corridor to the activity center at the elementary school.
The Board opened their March meeting by recognizing Woodruff High School wrestler Genaro De La Garza for his AAA State Wrestling Championship. De La Garza was joined by Athletic Director Mike Morris and Varsity Wrestling Coach John Harper.
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Chris Benfield presented the bond note to the Board. This annual request by the district is used for repairs, upkeep, and improvements across the district. In addition, this year, approximately half of the bond will be used to pay off the previous year’s note.
Benfield explained to maintain a constant millage rate, this year’s note is $100,000 higher than in previous years. He said the interest rate last year was 1.2 percent and that inflation raised this year’s low bid rate to 4.39 percent, increasing the bond cost by $41,000. The Board approved the bond request unanimously.
The other action item approved by the Board was a request to contract Harper General to conduct repairs on the corridor leading to the elementary school activity center. Clark Simpkins, Jr., the district’s facilities and assistant business manager, told the Board that the corridor had experienced several issues that regular maintenance will no longer fix.
The corridor was originally intended to be a covered outdoor walkway that was eventually closed in. Regular expansion and contraction have caused issues with the drywall, leaks, and other damage. Harper General will replace drywall, repair windows, repair the floor, paint, and finish other repairs to the corridor. The bond note approved earlier in the meeting will fund the project. The Board unanimously approved the request.
In other news, Superintendent Dr. Rallie Liston told the Board that the district, along with all other Spartanburg districts, is working on a plan to provide some increases to teacher salaries in next year’s budget to remain competitive with surrounding districts. The increase has not yet been determined as the district is waiting to see what mandates may be approved by the South Carolina State Legislature before approving increases locally.
Dr. Liston also told the Board that planning is progressing on the new school construction and that bids for grading and preparing the land have been issued. He said that once the contract is issued and the work begins, activity will pick up significantly at the site.
Simpkins also reported that staff had discovered some previously undetected damage from the extremely cold weather over Christmas weekend.
“We thought we had come out of the cold weather unscathed, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case,” Simpkins said as he explained that when they turned on the air conditioning at the elementary school, they discovered the compressor was damaged. The district is working to repair the unit but was delayed when they found asbestos that had to be abated. Dr. Liston told the board that the unit would be repaired as soon as possible. The district is prepared to bring in portable air conditioning units, if necessary until the repairs are completed.
In-school update:
●Woodruff Primary School reported collecting approximately 700 items for the Agape Care Center. Thirty-four first and second-graders participated in the school science fair, and the first and second-place winners will go on to the Piedmont Region III Science Fair at USC Upstate.
●Woodruff Elementary School reported that students also participated in the school science fair, with the winners advancing to the Piedmont science fair at USC Upstate. The school also reported that the Breakfast Buddies program welcomed approximately 550 attendees.
●Woodruff Middle School reported the school would host its first archery match at the school on March 9.
●Woodruff High School reported hosting a football signing day with four student-athletes signing to play at area colleges. The school hosted its first-ever career fair for 9th and 10th-grade students with 36 vendors.
Woodruff School Board meetings are held at the district office on the first Monday of each month. The meetings are open to the public, and the next meeting will be held on Monday, April 3 at 6 p.m.
Primary School Science Fair Winners:
Paisley Price, Avril Sanders, Emily Morton, Peyton Parris, Michael Woodward, Brooke Crain, Avery Stonesifer, Lorelai Urps, Elias Sawczuk, Cash Smith, Liliana McClain, and Emily Reece Knighton.
Elementary School Science Fair Winners:
Overall Winner
1st Place – Giuliana Parris
2nd Place – Jenna Taylor
3rd Place – Mason Smith
Biology
1st Place – Jenna Taylor
2nd Place – Reagan Brooks
3rd Place – Delta Luby
Math (Computer Science)
1st Place – Aubrey Shealy
2nd Place – Mason Gibson
Chemistry
1st Place – Mason Smith
2nd Place – Tate Montjoy
3rd Place – Britton Duncan
General
1st Place – Bella Schulz
2nd Place – Grace McCall
3rd Place – Olivia Stewart
Behavioral
1st Place – Raeleigh Nix
2nd Place – Lydia Knighton
3rd Place – Ali Reese Phillips
Physics
1st Place – Giuliana Parris
2nd Place – Frances Satterfield
3rd Place – Paige Knighton
Author: Tracy Sanders
