Berkeley School Supporters Prepare Referendum Push

Berkeley County School leaders will make a presentation to community leaders Friday — the first step in a campaign to support the $250 million bond referendum headed to voters this fall.

The district will discuss growth expectations and building demands the proposed referendum is expected to address. The volunteer steering committee is then expected to discuss preliminary planning toward winning voter approval, including fundraising and subcommittee organization.

The school board voted 6-3 to put the referendum on the ballot. The 10-year pitch includes building five new schools, major renovations to a handful of others and smaller projects throughout the district.

Preliminary plans for the Yes4Schools! campaign include a $90,000 fundraising push to pay for polling, advertising and other needs.

Work on the effort won't kick off until later this spring, but Friday's session is expected to get the steering committee up-to-speed on the bond goals, talking points for the campaign trail and expectations heading into the election.

Any tax increase is a hard sale for voters and some S.C. school districts have had to put bond referendums on the ballot twice and three times before winning approval. 

With the Berkeley School District proposal — for every $100,000 in home value, the tax bill would increase $40 annually beginning in 2014. And there would be another $40 increase beginning in 2017.

According to the building and growth plan, at least five schools are needed immediately, including a high school and middle school on Clements Ferry Road, an elementary school at Sheep Island and elementary schools in Tanner Plantation and Foxbank Plantation.

The district is also looking at major renovations at , , and Cross High, as well as major improvements at and on Joint Base Charleston Weapons Station.