No site determined for proposed Marlboro County school

BENNETTSVILLE — No site has been determined for a proposed elementary school to replace the more than 50-year-old Blenheim Elementary/Middle School.

Marlboro County School District Superintendent Alisa Goodman told members of the board of trustees during a regular meeting Monday that the administration still is investigating possible sites and there wasn’t enough information available to make a recommendation to the board during Monday’s meeting.

The district is seeking residents’ approval in November for a $18 million bond referendum to build the new elementary school.

The referendum wouldn’t call for a millage increase and would be for a 25-year term.

Goodman said the administration will continue to research sites that are as close to Blenheim on S.C. 38 as possible and which are cost effective.

The proposed elementary school would include kindergarten through the eighth grade.

According to an independent facility study, Blenheim is on a split campus and space doesn’t support the educational program, so it is recommended the school be built on a new site.
Blenheim was built in 1953.

Information on a proposed site will be presented to the board as soon as it is available, Goodman said. Several board members said they were in favor of locating the proposed new school in the community.

Board member Barbara Ohanesian said she wanted the school to stay a community school.

In other business, Wes Park, the district’s chief financial officer, presented information on a request totaling $275,000 for classroom furnishings and maintenance equipment.

After some discussion, the board approved a motion to use $275,000 from capital improvement funds for the classroom furnishings and maintenance equipment.