2/4/10
New Home
Clarendon 3 gets new district office
By Cathy Gilbert

CATHY GILBERT/Manning Times

Present for the ribbon cutting at the new CSD3 headquarters grand opening were former and current superintendents and current and former board members. Pictured are Billy Keith Floyd, Lephon Small, Dr. George Green, George Frierson, K.J. Lemon (son of ECHS Principal Kelvin Lemon), Superintendent Dr. Connie Dennis, Betty Coker, Norma Reardon, Dale McKenzie, Janie Montgomery and Allen Coker.

Thanks to more than 10 years of fiscal prudence, the Board of Trustees was able to build a new district office without incurring any additional debt, a feat few districts are able to achieve.

On Sunday, Jan. 31, former superintendents, current district employees and nearly 75 well-wishers braved a blustery day to dedicate and celebrate the new facility.

After being housed within the East Clarendon High School and then in a portable building behind the high school, the district purchased property on Hwy. 378 in 1979 to serve as a district office. The building they acquired had been a feed and seed store owned by John William Green and served as a district office until operations were moved to the new facility on Dec. 2, 2009.

“Our old offices did not meet Americans with Disability Act codes nor the building codes prescribed by the State Department of Education,” said District Finance Director Sandra Bagnal.

Newton Construction Company of Lake City constructed the building at a cost of $760,635. The new facility is 5,569 sq. ft. and replaces the inadequate prior office of 3,687 sq. ft.

“The building was built with funds from a $350,000 bond issue in 2007, which was part of a refinance of the 1999 bonds used to build the middle school, the media center, the high school science wing, renovate and enlarge the cafeteria and add a classroom wing at Walker-Gamble,” Bagnal explained. “Funds were available to the district from the one percent sales tax that was added to our county five years ago. The additional tax brought in more revenue than we needed for debt service. As the funds are designated for bond indebtedness or capital improvements, the Board voted to use the funds on the construction of the new district office.”

Board chairman Dr. George Green pointed out several key features of the new facility.

“Not only do we have a facility that has an easy entry point, adequate parking and a roof that doesn’t leak, but we now have a board room that has ample seating for those who wish to attend our meetings,” he said. “We also have a room where the board can retire for executive session so that audience members do not have to crowd into a tiny hall while we deliberate.

“We also now have an appropriate vault where we can safeguard essential records. And this building is well wired. It is essential to be able to be on the forefront of technology. We are hard-wired with the high school and middle school and have been able to free up bandwidth to serve Walker-Gamble Elementary School.”

Dr. Green reminded the crowd that the action of a district office is really in the classroom.

“Everything we do in this building is for our students, wherever they are,” he added.

A proclamation from the S.C. House of Representative was presented by Town Administrator Pat Goodwin, in the absence of Rep. Cathy Harvin, who was out of town.

“We truly have worked feverishly and tirelessly to prepare for this day,” added CSD3 Superintendent Dr. Connie Dennis. “It would not have been possible without all the hard work of the entire district staff. We are grateful for this facility and to the taxpayers whose purchases in Clarendon County have made funding this building possible.”