October Monthly School Board Meeting

Florence County School District 3’s October monthly school board meeting was held October 22, 2026. The finance update reported an approved FY 2026–27 general fund budget of $37,297,102, plus $2,249,733 in approved fund-balance use, for a combined total of $39,546,836. The board also discussed possible Christmas and retention bonus scenarios at different percentages, with costs potentially drawn from fund balance; the transcript ends before a final motion or decision is captured. The reported fund balance was $8,579,421.11, compared with a state-required minimum reserve of $2,940,830.49.

Facilities updates covered ongoing work rather than new contract awards: Schneider Electric’s Phase 2 work included an installed transformer and 11 additional Bard units at Lake City High School, funded using interest from special obligation bonds; transformer replacement at Ron McNair was delayed because incorrect equipment was delivered. Gilbert Construction had begun repairs at Blanding Auditorium. Sports lighting and several fire-alarm projects remained pending or underway, with bond and school-safety funds required to be spent by the end of June. The district reported $41,790 in energy rebates received and another $52,448 expected, and said a risk-control grant of about $11,000–$12,000 had supported safety purchases such as footwear and nonslip mats. No new procurement award or bid approval was identified. The board approved revisions to four existing policies and gave a first-reading approval to a cardiac-emergency policy; the transcript does not show a final decision on the bonus scenarios.