State Superintendent Molly Spearman Announces $38 Million in Infrastructure Funding for Lee County School District

  • Jun 10, 2022

State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman today announced the allocation of $38 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds and state funds to Lee County School District to address critical facilities needs and accommodate current and future county enrollment trends. 

In April of 2022, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) commissioned independent facility studies of schools in the state’s poorest counties to aid in decision making for capital funding appropriated by the General Assembly for disadvantaged schools. The independent review of schools in Lee County School District concluded critical needs on the elementary level caused by aging facilities and declining enrollment. Allocations of $23 million in ESSER Funds and $15 million in state funds appropriated under Proviso 1.104 will be used to address the identified facilities needs in the district.

“The funds for Lee County School District will allow them to operate more efficiently while providing the educational facilities and resources that their students and educators need,” Spearman said. “We are pleased to be able to provide the funding needed to provide safe, state-of-the-art facilities that students, families, and educators deserve.”

The facility assessment team recommended building one new elementary school to replace Dennis Elementary, Lower Lee Elementary and West Lee Elementary schools, which are all over 50 years old. Lee County School District has seen a steady decline in student enrollment, with the greatest decrease seen at the elementary school level. The study shows that during the 2016-17 school year, the total number of elementary school students enrolled was 981 which reduced to 682 by 2020-21. Current enrollment of the district is approximately 1,565 students in grades K through 12. 

“These funds will ensure that our Lee County School District students and educators get the safe, modern and efficient learning spaces that they deserve,” said S.C. Representative Will Wheeler, who represents District 50 in the General Assembly. “We are pleased with the state’s investment in our students and in education, and I look forward to the new facility and what it means for the community.”

Lee County Superintendent Bernard McDaniel, Sr. said, “The impact of these funds will have lasting benefits for students and families in our district. Every student deserves the best educational experience and a modern, state-of-the-art facility will help support the work of our teachers and staff as we strive to meet our goals. We’re excited about the funding, and we look forward to the construction of the new school in Lee County.”

In addition to the $38 million for Lee County School District, the SCDE has allocated an additional $17 million to Allendale and Dillon County school districts for capital improvements from its $211 million set aside from the American Rescue Plan. The agency has also announced the allocation of $38 million to Saluda County School District and will soon be announcing additional allocations from the $100 million in state funds appropriated under Proviso 1.104 of the General Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2021-2022