Charleston County School Board Approves $26 Million Budget Increase

Construction site of a new educational facility in Charleston.

News Summary

The Charleston County School Board has approved a $26 million budget increase aimed at enhancing educational infrastructure. Key projects include building a new elementary school and upgrading existing facilities. A significant portion of the budget will also focus on improving teacher salaries and addressing educational needs for disadvantaged students.

Charleston, SC – The Charleston County School Board has approved a significant budget increase of $26 million aimed at enhancing the district’s educational infrastructure and facilities. This decision, finalized on December 9, 2024, is part of a larger effort to address pressing construction needs and improve educational environments across the county.

The newly allocated funds will be directed towards several critical projects, most notably the construction of a new James B. Edwards Elementary School. Other improvements include renovations to the stadium at James Island Charter High School and updates to Edith L. Frierson Elementary School. These initiatives reflect the school board’s commitment to providing quality educational facilities for students.

The budget increase was made possible by a referendum passed in 2020, which authorized funding for capital education projects. With this additional funding, the total approved budget for the Charleston County School District for the fiscal year 2025 now stands at $845.5 million. This figure marks a nearly 20% increase from the previous year, highlighting the district’s investment in education amid rising costs.

Key components of the new budget include a uniform salary increase of $8,000 for all teachers, which will raise the starting salary for new educators to approximately $56,000. This measure is part of the district’s strategy to position Charleston as a leader in teacher pay, addressing the ongoing teacher shortage in the area. In addition, the budget introduces a weighted student funding model designed to better serve disadvantaged students, multilingual learners, and those with disabilities.

The budget encompasses a 3.9 millage increase, which will specifically affect secondary homeowners and businesses, costing them $23.40 for every $1,000,000 in taxable value. Notably, this increase will not impact primary residences, thereby mitigating the financial burden on regular families in the community.

Overall, approximately 69% of the budget is allocated for personnel and salaries, reinforcing the district’s focus on retaining and compensating its teaching staff adequately. Funds have also been earmarked for various initiatives that emerged from the completion of COVID-19 federal relief programs, with $32.8 million set aside to manage the transition as these temporary resources come to an end.

The construction management firm working with the school district is continuously monitoring the costs of essential materials including steel, concrete, copper, lumber, and metal to account for fluctuations in the market. This attention to detail ensures the budgeting process remains responsive to changing economic conditions, especially as the current budget was based on pre-pandemic costs.

Currently, all planned projects remain in the design phase, with no construction having commenced yet. The Chief Operating Officer for the Charleston County School District stated that project timelines and developments will continue to evolve as plans are finalized and approved.

Principals within the district are being empowered as financial leaders, tasked with deciding how the additional funds will be allocated at their respective schools. Specific guidelines, or guardrails, have been established to regulate spending, ensuring funds can be used for urgent student health needs, hiring necessary staff, and purchasing classroom materials while prohibiting expenditure on administrative roles or unauthorized contracts.

As the Charleston County School Board moves forward with these initiatives, community members are encouraged to remain engaged. Feedback from the public will play a critical role in shaping the district’s educational goals and priorities in the years ahead.