LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — On Monday, students in several South Carolina counties will be heading back to the classroom. And for one community, that will mean heavy traffic and overcrowding.
This is due to Lancaster County gaining more than 8,500 residents between 2020 and 2022. It’s the third fastest-growing county in South Carolina.
Many of those people say they are moving to the area because of the schools and there is an effort underway to build more of them.
Channel 9 reporter Tina Terry delved into a push to get taxpayers to fund those new schools, as well as the obstacles they could face to achieve those goals.
Indian Land, referred to as the panhandle of Lancaster County, has contributed to the explosive growth in the area and in its schools.
Kai Watts is on the Facility Needs Committee, which studies the need for more schools and school improvements countywide.
“There is a lot of overcrowding in classrooms already. The new high school is only two or three years old, and already again, we are close to capacity,” Watts said.
The committee said it would create a list, that could impact the bond referendum that leaders plan to put on the ballot next spring.
“In a nutshell, people are saying we need new schools in Indian land,” Watts explained.
However, there are some residents, like Karen Garcia, who may decide to vote no to any bond. “Right now, I’m not really sure. It’s kind of a toss-up for me because I don’t really have kids, so,” Garcia said.
Other residents said they are concerned about the tax rate and money being distributed fairly.
Watts said she is hopeful that voters will consider what is more important when heading to the ballot box. “We want to keep the education, the safety of our kids first, and that’s what’s most important,” Watts explained.
The Facility Needs Committee is slated to finalize its list by the new year. The referendum question could be placed on the ballot this coming spring.
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