Major Upgrades Planned for Lexington Richland School District Five Following Bond Referendum Approval
IRMO, SC — Lexington Richland School District Five is set to implement significant improvements across its schools thanks to a recently passed Bond Referendum.
Superintendent Dr. Akil Ross announced that 70% of voters backed the Bond Referendum during Election Day. He expressed enthusiasm about presenting these projects to the new Board of Trustees. “We’re excited about going to our new Board of Trustees and taking these projects, so that we can actually come up with a plan of scheduling, the financing plan, and then how we will communicate the deliverables,” said Dr. Ross.
A key project will involve relocating Dutch Fork Elementary School. This move is prompted by safety concerns arising from the ongoing expansion of Broad River Road. “So to have four lanes in front of a tightly compacted elementary school with student runners is just not safe…” commented Dr. Ross, stressing the urgency of relocating the school.
Ensuring the safety of students is also a top priority. Over $5 million will be allocated to improve security at 12 school entrances throughout the district. Dr. Ross noted, “When it comes to school safety, we seem to always be protecting ourselves against yesterday’s school shooting. Our goal is to prevent tomorrow’s school shooting…surveillance and monitoring is going to be the key.”
In addition to safety enhancements, the district plans to address rezoning issues, particularly by expanding Chapin and Lake Murray Elementary Schools. This expansion aims to ease the expected rezoning challenges by Fall 2026. Dr. Ross mentioned the importance of minimizing disruptions to student learning during construction.
To involve the community in these projects, a Citizens Advisory Review Team will be established, consisting of local residents selected by the Board of Trustees. Dr. Ross also indicated that a dashboard will be made available on the district’s website, allowing residents to monitor funding and construction developments.
“It is on us to show that these projects will be delivered for the purposes on which they voted for. And it’s going to be through transparency and open communication that we earn that trust,” he affirmed.
