Fort Mill School Board Reviews Finances, Summer Programs, and Safety Measures in August Meeting

August 5, 2025 | Fort Mill, SC — The Fort Mill School Board met Tuesday evening to address a range of topics ahead of the new academic year, including a fiscal year-end financial report, updates on summer programs, and the district’s ongoing response to environmental concerns near Flint Hill Elementary and Middle Schools.

Financial and Impact Fee Report

Assistant Superintendent Leanne Lordo presented the year-end financial report for FY2024–25, noting total revenue of $243.8 million and expenditures totaling just over $243.9 million as of June 30. The preliminary numbers suggest an estimated $1.4 million increase to the district’s fund balance, pending final reconciliations. Vehicle tax collections in June totaled $2.35 million, with no significant issues reported in real estate tax collections.

Regarding impact fees, the district has collected $80.6 million to date, with an additional $7.3 million in interest. Claims submitted to York County now total $81.4 million, covering 5,114 residential units since the program’s inception. For June and July combined, 29 new single-family homes were added; no new multi-family units were recorded.

Monthly Financial Report

• June 30^th – End of Fiscal Year
• Total Revenue $243,755,043
• Total Expenditures $243,928,106
• Preliminary Draft – Pending final County Tax Reconciliation, June Interest earnings, Estimated final increase to Fund Balance approx. $1.4 million
• No significant delinquent Real estate collections this month
• Vehicle tax collections $2,350,200.

Impact Fees

• Total collected to date $80,576,492
• Interest earned $7,339,273
• $81.4 million submitted in claims with York County
• Single Family units 2,933/Multi Family 2,181/ Total 5,114 Units
• June and July had combined 29 homes and 0 multi-family units added
• Calendar Year 2024 Average collections $839,615.

June 2025 Actual collections $1,039,320

July 2025 Actual collections $652,080

Procurement Audit

• Greene Finney has completed. We will send the report when received.
• Results from the audit were very favorable, with only a few recommendations for process improvements.

Bond Issue – District issued $21.2 million in Special Obligation Bonds on June 25^th for our Energy Savings Project. Funds are held in escrow with Regions Bank

State Department

• State Budget Projections will be updated shortly:
  • State Department estimated number of students for new Charter schools expected to open this school year. Will update projections statewide after 5^th day of school for charters.
  • Allocations will be updated in the Fall for Health Insurance Funding
  • Bus Driver Salary supplemental funding will be provided to districts in the next few weeks.

First Reading of Board Policy KBE Relations with Parent Organizations

Mrs. Leanne Lordo presented updates to Policy KBE Relations with Parent Organizations. This policy establishes the basic structure for board and district relations with parent organization such as but not limited to, booster clubs, parent-teacher organizations, parent support groups, business-school partnerships, and education foundations to enhance the district’s educational program.

This update mainly focuses on the new requirement for these organizations to officially register with the school district for operation.

Summer Programs

Dr. Gales Scroggs and Mrs. Amber Smith presented an update regarding the district’s summer programs.

Space Camp

This program is designed for students in Grades K-4 and included nearly 100 total hours of instruction for 220 students across for programs:

• Summer Reading Camp
• ESOL Support
• Title I Reading and Math Support
• Lunch and Learn Program

Middle School Camps

The district hosted a variety of summer programs for middle school students including:

• Middle School Math Camp
• Middle School Summer School
• Various Rising 6th Grade Orientations & WEB Days For example:
  • Soaring to the Knoll (PKMS)
  • Path to the Trail (BTMS)
  • Swarming into 6th (FMMS)

High School Camps

At the high school level the district hosted:

• • Title IV Camps for:
    • AP Human Geography
    • Geometry w/ Statistics
    • LinkCrew
  • High School Credit Recovery Program

Citadel Environmental Health and Safety Consultant’s Update

In response to community concerns regarding the proximity of the Silfab Solar facility to Flint Hill Elementary and Middle Schools, and following recommendations from the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units, the district has contracted with Citadel EHS, a highly respected environmental health and safety firm, to conduct an independent, in-depth environmental health and safety assessment. Mrs. Julie Wojnowski from Citadel EHS provided an update on the Health, Safety, and Emergency Planning Recommendations in the areas of:

• Emergency Protocol Coordination
• Indoor Environmental Quality and Operations
• Community Engagement and Continuity Planning

The Safety and Emergency Planning Recommendations concluded: “This plan is not a prediction of what will happen, but provides an outline for how to respond to emergencies. Its value lies in the groundwork it sets: clear roles, coordinated systems, and consistent communication, all ready to activate when needed. As Flint Hill Elementary and Middle Schools welcome students, the Fort Mill School District and its partners are equipped not only with plans on paper, but with the capacity to act with clarity, with alignment, and with the trust of the community they serve.”

The complete plan, presentation and link to the board video will be posted to the district’s website on Wednesday, August 6 for public review. The district has already begun evaluating the recommendations for implementation.

Periodic Air quality testing performed by Citadel EHS has already begun at the school site to established baseline levels for continued monitoring and the district is also evaluating possible continuous fence line air quality monitoring if or when the Silfab facility begins operating.

Additional updates will be provided as they become available.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Grey Young provided an Opening of School Report, enrollment update and an overview of upcoming events for August 2025.

Opening of School Report

17,917 students attended school on the first day. Attendance was up 288 students from the first day of the 2024–2025 school year. As of Tuesday, the district saw 18,024 students attend with more students already registered to return or currently completing registration for enrollment. Attendance will continue to increase throughout the next two weeks and into the school year.

While the first day was successful, the district did face challenges with school traffic. The district would like to thank our local law enforcement and municipalities for assisting with traffic at our busiest intersections. We are continuing to work with all partners on safe traffic flow and hope to implement more permanent solutions.

Superintendent Young began his back-to-school activities last week, visiting all 22 school sites to speak with staff about his vision for the school year. He is continuing his tour this week, again visiting all 22 sites to greet students and families. School Board Members, along with district staff also visited and assisted schools on the first day.

The district officially welcomed Flint Hill Elementary School to the Fort Mill family, with 774 students attending on the first day and 794 attending on day two. It was a great first day at the new school, where arriving parents and students were met with music, balloons, and staff waving pompoms, creating a fun and inviting environment.

Calendar of Events

Fort Mill School Board meetings can be viewed live or on demand on the district’s YouTube channel or with the link below.