The Fort Mill School Board held its regular monthly meeting on June 3, 2025, addressing several key areas including the approval of the 2025–2026 budget, adjustments to athletic and band fees, an increase in starting teacher pay, and the launch of a district-wide environmental health and safety assessment.
Recognitions
The board opened the meeting by recognizing several student athletic achievements:
- Fort Mill High School Girls Track Team – 5A Division 2 State Champions
- Nation Ford High School Girls Track Team – Individual State Champions
- Catawba Ridge High School Softball Team – 5A State Champions
- Several Coaches of the Year were also honored for their contributions.
Budget Approval for 2025–2026
The board unanimously approved a $253,042,935 general fund budget for the 2025–2026 school year. The budget, which allocates nearly 90% of funds toward personnel, supports several priorities including the opening of Flint Hill Elementary School in August 2025 and improvements to staff compensation.
Budget Highlights:
- Starting teacher pay will increase to $52,500, an effort to remain competitive in teacher recruitment and retention.
- A cost-of-living adjustment for all employees.
- Hiring of new classroom and special education teachers, instructional coaches, and transportation staff.
- Investments in technology and facility maintenance.
In addition, the board approved a year-end fund transfer of $3.6 million to support district projects including STEAM initiatives, summer school programs, digital recordkeeping, and teacher professional development.
Athletic and Band Fees Increased
The board approved an increase in the Athletic and Band Fee from $100 to $150 beginning in the 2025–2026 school year. This marks the first fee adjustment in over 10 years. Revenue from the fee will help increase supplemental stipends for coaches and band directors, aiming to improve staff recruitment and retention in these extracurricular areas.
Environmental Health Review Underway
In response to growing community concerns about the proximity of the Silfab Solar manufacturing facility to nearby Flint Hill Elementary and Middle Schools, the district has initiated a comprehensive environmental health and safety review.
The review is being conducted by Citadel Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), a nationally recognized firm with experience in environmental assessments for schools and public institutions. The review follows guidance from the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units.
Scope of the Assessment Includes:
- External Emissions Risk Review: Analysis of air permits, chemical inventory, emissions modeling, and emergency response protocols.
- Internal Systems Evaluation: Examination of HVAC systems, filtration specifications, and maintenance procedures across school facilities.
- Targeted Sampling Plan: Identification of contaminants to monitor, selection of sampling locations, and establishment of quality control protocols.
- Pursuit of WELL Health-Safety Rating: Evaluation of school buildings against health and safety benchmarks for possible certification.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Scheduled briefings for the board, staff meetings, and community forums to maintain transparency.
- Implementation of Findings: Execution of recommended improvements based on the assessment’s results and documentation of compliance measures.
Julie Wojnowski of Citadel EHS presented an overview of the firm’s process and expertise at the meeting. The district stated that results from the review will be made available to the public once the project is complete.
Financial and Impact Fee Reports
Chief Finance Officer Leanne Lordo shared the district’s financial update through April 30. The district has brought in $211.6 million in revenue against $185.1 million in expenditures, yielding a $26.5 million surplus. Local tax collections are nearly complete, with several categories exceeding expectations. Tax revenue is projected to finish the fiscal year about $2.8 million over budget.
Impact fees collected to date have reached $78.8 million, with an additional $7.2 million in earned interest. A significant collection of $3.5 million occurred in May from a townhome development. Multi-family unit growth continues to drive fee collections, with a 350% increase in units compared to the previous year.
Dual Credit Courses Approved
The board approved two new dual credit course offerings in partnership with the University of South Carolina Lancaster:
- HIST 111 – U.S. History to 1865
- PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Epps provided an update on enrollment, staff attendance, and upcoming events. The district closed the school year with 18,444 students enrolled. Fort Mill High, Fort Mill Middle, and Gold Hill Elementary recorded the highest teacher attendance in May.
Community Engagement
Fort Mill School Board meetings are available for live or on-demand viewing via the district’s YouTube channel: Fort Mill School District YouTube.
For more information on upcoming district events, visit the Fort Mill Schools Calendar.
