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By Leon G. Russ
HOMETOWN NEWS
Spartanburg School District 3 board members met on Thursday, October 15 at their monthly meeting at the District 3 administrative office.
The board received and update on the progress of the District 3 Community Auditorium from Rick Brown of MBAJ Architecture.
He told them “we’re approaching the finish line” and everything is on schedule.
Brown noted, “A lot of interior detail work is going on right now.” That includes theater - style seating being installed in the auditorium, lobby ceiling tiles have been installed and painted, the boiler is in place and the heat is on, drinking fountains have been installed, the ticket window has been installed and the waterfall in the lobby is nearly complete.
So far $6.8 million has been spent on the project that should be completed by mid November.
Land Art Design of Spartanburg will be contracted for the landscaping of the project. They will install azaleas and other shrubs along with Crepe Myrtle trees, Ginkgo trees, Willow Oaks and ground cover.
The board also renewed a lease arrangement with the Cannon’s Ruritan Club of $1 per year that allows the club use of the land that the cannery and scout hut are on at Cannon’s Elementary School.
Greg Mack, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, then told the board the district had received notification that two different programs were eligible for federal monies through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act, more commonly known as the federal stimulus program.
He told the board that they could proceed with issuing $1.2 million in school construction bonds approved under the American Recovery Reinvestment Act. The money raised from the bonds will be used to replace the roof on Cowpens Middle School.
Mack told the board they have three years to spend the money with the debt to be repaid over 15 years beginning next fall.
He also informed the board that District 3 received a grant from the South Carolina Energy Office under the American Recovery Reinvestment Act for $110,404.
The money will be used to replace the boiler at Cowpens Elementary School.
Mack explained $82,803 is a “pure loan” meaning it doesn’t have to be paid back. The remaining $27,601 is an interest free loan to be repaid over three years.
In other news the board heard from Kim Cole of the American Cancer Society. She told the board the district had 100% participation in the Relay For Life, and the district raised more than $58,000 for the American Cancer Society.
The board was also informed that Clarence Batts was recently presented with the South Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Friend to Education Award while Jaime Dawson was named South Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Teacher of the Year.
lruss@hometown-news.com
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