1. DORCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT REFERENDUM

2. Dorchester School District Two Accomplishments
Ranked among top 10 in state for academic achievement
Ranked in bottom 5 in state in the amount of revenues received and thus spent per pupil
Built 6 schools and numerous smaller projects utilizing sources generated by area growth and low interest stimulus bonds with minimal to no tax impact

3. New Schools Built Using Funding Methods No Longer Available
New Schools Constructed
Funding
Fort Dorchester Elementary
State Bond Funds
William M. Reeves, Jr. Elementary School
Alternative Funding (Installment Purchase Revenue Bonds)
Eagle Nest Elementary
River Oaks Middle
Ashley Ridge High School
Joseph R. Pye Elementary
Federal Stimulus Bonds (Qualified School Construction Bonds)

4. Other Options to Fund Schools
Sales Tax Option – Only school districts that collect in excess of $7 million of accommodation taxes may have a sales tax option to pay for schools (Charleston and Horry)
- A proviso was introduced this year to allow a sales tax option
to help pay for school construction, but it failed.
Lease purchase option not available to school districts at this time
Impact fees collected since July 2009 are approximately $4 million
- Amount collected not enough to cover the cost of building
a new school
- Currently impact fees not allowed to be used until court
ruling on legality

5. Referendum History May 23, 1989 $28,100,000 Successful
Sept. 26, $25,500, Successful
March 26, $98,300, Unsuccessful

6. Dorchester School District Two Benefits of Maintaining a Top-Quality School District
Home value – increase and maintain higher home values
Economic value – attract economic development and create qualified workforce
Community value - cultivate and maintain educated youth in community

7. Dorchester School District Two Reasons for a Referendum
Manage student growth to keep children out of trailers and maintain optimal classroom sizes for student learning
- Currently, areas not designed for student
learning are being used for instruction
- Currently, lunch is being served shortly
after school begins until shortly before
school lets out in order to feed all
students.
Long term facility and technology needs such as roofing, HVAC, and technology infrastructure

8. Community Presentation
Regional Population Growth Trends Source: Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

9. Percentage of Growth in Tri-County Area

10. Total Per Pupil Funding Including Federal, State, and Local
Fiscal
Dorchester 2
135 Day
Rank
State
Year
Per Pupil
Enrollment
From Bottom
$8,646
21,254
4th
$10,973
$8,776
21,853
$11,011
$8,567
22,257
6th
$10,990
(est)
$8,558
22,763
5th
$10,961
(est)
$8,540
23,287
$10,974
*Source - Budget and Control Board, Office of Research of Statistics

11. *Over 3,500 students taught in trailers
DORCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO
CLASSES/PROGRAMS HOUSED IN TRAILERS
SCHOOL
NUMBER
Alston Middle 3
Beech Hill Elementary 13
Dubose Middle 8
Eagle Nest Elementary 10
Flowertown Elementary 7
Fort Dorchester Elementary 11
Fort Dorchester High 15
Givhans Alternative Program
Knightsville Elementary 26
Newington Elementary 2
Oakbrook Elementary
Oakbrook Middle
Reeves Elementary 12
Rollings Middle School of the Arts 9
Spann Elementary
Summerville Elementary
Windsor Hill Elementary 4
Total Classes/Programs in Units
177*
*Over 3,500 students taught in trailers

12. Original Project Cost From Study
New Construction
$ 250,524,825
Additions & Renovations
$ 86,318,680
Other Needs Such As HVAC, Roofing, Etc.
$ 26,776,364
TOTAL COST - ALL PROJECTS
$ 363,619,869

14. Career and Technology Education Additions
Currently, more courses are being offered at the high school campuses due to career/business needs; however, space is limited due to growth as well as ability to handle program requirements
Will create comprehensive high schools with the additions to include:
> culinary arts > health sciences > drafting & design
> electricity > aerospace engineering > digital electronics
> biomedical sciences > carpentry & building trades
> nail tech & cosmetology

15. Rollings Middle School Ceiling in Band Room

16. Rollings Middle School Outside of Band Room

17. Boiler Rooms Rollings Middle School of the Arts
Knightsville Elementary School

18. Trailers Behind Summerville Elementary

19. Knightsville Elementary

20. Summerville High School Changing Classes

21. Dorchester School District Two New School Designs
Middle School – River Oaks Middle School design
3 Elementary Schools – Joseph R. Pye Elementary School design

22. Dorchester School District Two New School Sites
Middle School – YMCA property located off Travelers Blvd.
Elementary School – The Ponds property located between Hwy17A and Old Orangeburg Rd
Elementary School – Pine Trace property located off Miles Jameson Road
Elementary School – To be determined

23. Joseph R. Pye Elementary

24. Joseph R. Pye Elementary Floor Plan

25. River Oaks Middle School

26. River Oaks Middle School Floor Plan

27. YMCA Site for Middle School

28. Placement of Middle School on YMCA Property

29. Possible Sites for New Schools

30. CURRENT DEBT SCHEDULE & SAVINGS FROM RECENT REFINANCING
Bond interest and call dates are analyzed to determine refunding opportunities in order to achieve interest savings
$12,325,000 refunding – savings of $1,300,000
$155,000,000 refunding – potential savings of $10,000,000*
*refunding will occur if market continues to be favorable

31. Dorchester School District Two
ESTIMATED
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
$179,910,000 Million Referendum
Taxes on a 4% Residential Property
17 mills
(8 mill increase in first tax year )
MAXIMUM
$ 68 / Year or
19¢ / Day
$ 100,000
Millage applies to all properties-residential as well as business. 4% residential properties are only exempt from school operating millage.
Dorchester School District Two =

32. Tax Bill on a $100,000 House Impact of 17 mill increase (Does not include taxes for city or fire)
Millage increase
Current Millage
17 Mill increase
Millage
Tax
Percent
School debt 36
$144 53
$212
School operating
168.6
$674
Less school tax credit
-$674
Dorchester School Dist. 2 Tax
204.6
33%
221.6
42%
Voc school
9.3
$37
-$37 $0
Tri Tech
3.5
$14
All other
69.4
$278
Total Other Tax
72.9
$292
67%
58%
Total Tax
286.8
$436
100%
303.8
$504

33. Dorchester School District Two
ESTIMATED
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
$179,910,000 Million Referendum
Taxes on a 6% Business Property
17 mills
(8 mill increase in first tax year )
MAXIMUM
$ 102 / Year or
28¢ / Day
$ 100,000
Millage applies to all properties-residential as well as business. 4% residential properties are only exempt from school operating millage.
Dorchester School District Two =

34. Dorchester School District Two Options if Referendum Fails
Additional trailers-
limited space may force trailers to be
placed in parking lot areas
Increases in class sizes
Attendance line changes
Continued A/C, roofing, and major facility issues deferred until funds become available
Continued compromising of program integrity due to inadequate space
ALL OF THE ABOVE IMPACTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY

35. Ballot Question for Schools
Question 1 Shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County, South Carolina, be authorized to issue and sell, either at one time as a single issue or from time to time as several separate issues, general obligation bonds of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $179,910,000, the proceeds of which shall be applied to defray costs of issuance of such bonds and the costs of: a. the design, construction, equipping and furnishing of three elementary schools and a middle school of the arts; b. renovations, repairs, expansions, equipment and furnishings at Eagle Nest Elementary, Flowertown Elementary, Newington Elementary, Oakbrook Elementary, Summerville Elementary, Alston Middle, Oakbrook Middle, Ashley Ridge High School, Fort Dorchester High School and Summerville High School; and c. capital improvements at other facilities of the School District to include conversion of Middle School to office/administrative space, roof repairs, improvements to heating, ventilation and air conditioning and installing wireless throughout the School District In favor of the question [ ] Opposed to the question [ ] If you are in favor of the question and are voting by optical scan ballot, darken the oval before the words "In favor of the question." If you are in favor of the question and are voting electronically, touch the area with the words "In favor of the question." If you are opposed to the question and are voting by optical scan ballot, darken the oval before the words "Opposed to the question." If you are opposed to the question and are voting electronically, touch the area with the words "Opposed to the question."

36. Ballot Question for Aquatic Center
Question 2 In the event that "Question 1" above is approved, shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County, South Carolina, be further authorized to issue and sell, either at one time as a single issue or from time to time as several separate issues, general obligation bonds of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $7,500,000, the proceeds of which shall be applied to defray costs of issuance of such bonds and the costs of designing, constructing, equipping and furnishing an aquatic center? In favor of the question [ ] Opposed to the question [ ] If you are in favor of the question and are voting by optical scan ballot, darken the oval before the words "In favor of the question." If you are in favor of the question and are voting electronically, touch the area with the words "In favor of the question." If you are opposed to the question and are voting by optical scan ballot, darken the oval before the words "Opposed to the question." If you are opposed to the question and are voting electronically, touch the area with the words "Opposed to the question."

37. What Can You Do? Advocate for children in our region
Become educated & aware of school district needs
Know how this impacts not only your community but you personally
Spread the word
Register to vote by October 6
Vote on November 6
We get it all, if we get the School Improvement Referendum.
And that’s why we need your help. Our children need your organization’s endorsement.
Here are five things you can do:
Register to vote – the deadline is OCTOBER 6!
Spread the word. Encourage friends, family, co-workers, etc. to support the School improvement Referendum. Let them know about it through Facebook and Twitter.
Volunteer! There are lots of volunteer opportunities. Just contact us through the website, and we’ll help you find just the right opportunity for you.
VOTE! At the end of the day, voting is the key to winning! If you vote, and you get your friends and family to vote, we’ll win….and – most importantly – our kids will win.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help our kids and our community succeed. With your help, we can do it!

38. QUESTIONS?