[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6093265,"mediaKeyId","2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558","parentId",2848213,"title","Budget preview: district projects smaller use of fund balance, expands weighted student funding and reduces employee Kaleidoscope fees","audioSeconds",483,"startMs",3652000,"endMs",4135000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558&start=3652&end=4135","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558/thumbnail_3652000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093265/South-Carolina/Budget-preview-district-projects-smaller-use-of-fund-balance-expands-weighted-student-funding-and-reduces-employee-Kaleidoscope-fees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093265-f98000df3c5a10ffc6d0f62a511d7690/orig.mp4?Expires=1770945156&Signature=Uy3S-KgwLewp-mDzp6Cw48n-AqagNsh76qUvU0SlnrXAvXuxfQfKb3hDgG0eObIrllntAWs2qMq-XopXXLvT8PyRW9m9VbJ1U7tCd~DEyCWwio1-3C0GMx3Brd03jEKbIpnHpkx8vZkhYHPlK0yRgBufMwoog-Og20WcyRdV6qA5uhi1kCgXYQCYoqSzhV8sb3UaOKfWifyGnhO7cBmAURMCA80P05FDzA1MlSf5maYilJIlK4oxw0WsAAZSgkAO3Tf8jiXo64GOxfNl4xF5as6F5v3AC~uV3zJVzmtJHls6d6Ofnj0hYTBYoHcf30csruKAgp9mNJC3pDmTkgaCRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charleston County School District","date","2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","article","District finance staff presented an update on the proposed fiscal 2026 budget, detailing revenue and expenditure shifts, program-level changes, and several board-level considerations.

Mister Prentice told the committee that updated estimates narrow the district’s use of fund balance from prior projections and that FY26 revenue assumptions include increased local collections (property and other local sources) and increased state recurring funds. He said the district is on track to present a first‑reading budget in April and outlined a potential special‑called schedule to meet that calendar.

The nut graf: Key changes highlighted include a projected $36 million weighted student funding (WSF) allocation for FY26, an $8.2 million increase in charter and partnership payments driven by the state formula, and a planned reduction of Kaleidoscope employee tuition support from 80% to 50%, which staff estimated would reduce Kaleidoscope program revenues by about $585,000 but could be balanced in FY26 without GOF support.

Prentice and other staff described additional items that affect the FY26 balance: a net projected decrease of about $1.2 million in property/casualty insurance premiums after adjusting insured values and purchasing excess liability coverage; personnel and benefit cost growth to maintain market wages (including a $4,000 adjustment for certain classified cells and a teacher minimum starting pay target); and an expected increase of roughly $20.4 million in state funding tied to enrollment and recurring appropriations.

Board-level considerations presented for possible inclusion in the FY26 book were modest in total but policy-sensitive: funding for board pay adjustments (current pay cited at $9,600 for regular members and $10,800 for chair), a legislative liaison stipend, and travel stipends (currently $1,666 per board member per year).

Prentice also reviewed implementation mechanics, noting the district’s strategy to reduce reliance on fund balance over time and to give departments earlier access to budgeted resources if the board approves an earlier first reading. The committee discussed timing for special calls and agreed staff would circulate the budget book prior to first reading.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCSD Audit and Finance Committee Meeting | April 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District finance staff presented an update on the proposed fiscal 2026 budget, detailing revenue and expenditure shifts, program-level changes, and several board-level considerations.","taxTitle","Charleston 01, School Districts, South Carolina","taxId",12934,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093270,"District rolls out public dashboard for purchases and contracts above $250,000",58,3107000,3165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558&start=3107&end=3165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558/thumbnail_3107000.jpg","/articles/6093270/South-Carolina/District-rolls-out-public-dashboard-for-purchases-and-contracts-above-250000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093270-5f8eeb220ecbe78ea03a2516e2e95ebb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770945156&Signature=BxZ1QlRgbraWPh2d7fYQ8psaufl1Yhofboja2cg70LjwgNFt7TCzcOdxt8NJbhkvCdiI2eWRsTVnEEmEU58pZbU0civGMJQFX4V9ordENfBXCzYRDCn0ZDBIHuWNoE89YBmxa~-1MJ5qgcW~jxhEFjs7JNdtL7UJ6mV85AztinP~VclWz3rX091eLYNlH74YkDKA3CZ0SI0Y3Dzz4OUZ1sdRkvdVxxdoEO6TuTF9e2ZaAxRG-fzRE3yeDyAvgM3lYeczKjeF2POdP8~NhUEJQHLCCY8mIc4Ekfvcf1g5WRCpzBZAH-AwHOOZzB1N06CuXHQmwuLmJkE7t1NXBLYZnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District finance staff demonstrated a new public dashboard that shows purchases and contracts greater than $250,000, and committee members praised the increased transparency.

Mister Prentice presented the dashboard and said monthly procurement activity now feeds directly from the district’s accounting system and appears on a public transparency page. The dashboard includes five tabs: procurement by fund, procurement by department, procurement by vendor, procurement by procurement type (contract, cooperative, solicitation) and a raw data feed that resembles the prior PDF report. “The information is now feeding from our accounting system as these procurements are made on a monthly basis into this dashboard,” Prentice said.

The nut graf: The presentation showed three competitive procurements in the current monthly cycle with advertising periods and response counts; staff said general counsel, the CFO and the procurement director review and concur with contracts for code compliance before posting.

Committee members, including Mr. Grabowski and Mr. Duke, tested the dashboard and commended the business intelligence and procurement teams for making the data easier to use and more accessible to the public.

Next steps: Staff said they will continue to add Power BI elements to the transparency page and expand disclosures where useful to the public.

","District staff unveiled a Power BI‑based procurement dashboard that pulls contract and purchase data from the accounting system and posts monthly feeds to the public transparency page, allowing users to filter by fund, department, vendor and procurement type.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093275,"District staff say federal CDL waiver request for school bus drivers has had little traction with DMV or Legislature",158,2514000,2672000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558&start=2514&end=2672","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558/thumbnail_2514000.jpg","/articles/6093275/South-Carolina/District-staff-say-federal-CDL-waiver-request-for-school-bus-drivers-has-had-little-traction-with-DMV-or-Legislature","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093275-9bdb0fe8b2ff0a5ab6f9d81f815eaa1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770945156&Signature=JGxhckgWz6HbIDI8DDC~1UuEGlmf~JbUK9XeZCmVH527DB-I1LfTs6NSbB2-kdmXrfBUpD-qOmmlPPw83CffV6DKNXTp9lvPj3zxXOLHzeAVDK33ojyjYvswARt~K-wI~qVLu7xPe8qJTGfuKnrdu~g7gQdvQZQcAfUVHUo336ePSZ7-VA9b2SluiyBf30E9IcCdb131KxhrVnd3Bfq7Ac9OZ2rYOzlk791Tl28KeESAZML-Czg6cH07yj4MX79h-WDF9YFQQDDzUW6NG1hYw2B-bMw4yguxEUZk6J7U3RCV06fCaJ04LtT~hRN6nV6o6XG0bgBgoc-YFKyCq-g4fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the legislative update period, board member Michelle Lieber asked whether the district’s multi‑year request for a separate licensing pathway for school bus drivers had advanced. District staff gave a status update and said little progress has been made.

Mister Breuer, speaking for transportation staff, said the district sought a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waiver that would let school‑bus drivers receive a CDL designated specifically for school buses and avoid a full under‑the‑hood inspection requirement. He said the waiver would shorten training time and reduce driver attrition by making the school‑bus CDL less competitive with the commercial truck market.

“Not having that waiver results in an increased training requirement, longer training times, which can result in more fallout of potential bus drivers,” Mister Breuer said. He added that the state DMV would need to create a different licensing protocol and that the DMV has not been willing to move without legislative direction.

The nut graf: District representatives said they shared information with state education associations and lawmakers but have seen “not significant progress” so far; one board member offered to raise the request with state legislators.

Context: Staff and board members emphasized that staffing and transportation challenges disproportionately affect outlying communities where travel distances and driver recruitment are more difficult. Hinesen and another board member said they would pursue legislative introductions or outreach to committee chairs to press the issue.

","District transportation staff said efforts to secure a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waiver and a separate DMV licensing protocol for school‑bus CDL holders have not progressed and that state legislative action may be required to create a different licensing pathway.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093279,"District legislative liaison outlines pending state bills affecting schools, including DEI ban and voucher debate",323,1079000,1402000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558&start=1079&end=1402","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558/thumbnail_1079000.jpg","/articles/6093279/South-Carolina/District-legislative-liaison-outlines-pending-state-bills-affecting-schools-including-DEI-ban-and-voucher-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093279-51d07a35d4d98defd67623c908ac974a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770945156&Signature=IKfd8myy0K7WLE1YupSfmEAIap6Yi-QWS-XBEW5jxqx5y4BI4AQFllEEpqlbzirNZXn~ZnVznYH0RnN4MYRr~rFRY22KseFToBAnjPfC3sgUoAgDRKSLrLYxn3iPK9Tf0kajaZs9HkPfRyVf-OVlRIslTBVe4y5gU-Eesg1iPPjI4Z-BTzLA6iFKx3~oYZLKWmMwFZCcol2MGfs0fWoe-U~6Anhjv1ynzFBj8ShnqO66t87Yxml5bcGZ1b3fzDby8uxvx7Vm3BWKqXr2H1VG-OoMTlIB3ydK79oeyUTkj37EpVb4GIvpZtTRFLldYtbwgdBHGF08eYy~E0fjivMFhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Clara Hinesen, the district’s part-time legislative and community engagement liaison, briefed the Audit and Finance Committee on pending state legislation that could affect Charleston County School District operations and finances.

Hinesen outlined the partisan make-up of the legislature and the leadership posts in committees relevant to K–12 policy, then summarized multiple bills the district is tracking, including: H3927 (a bill to eliminate use of diversity, equity and inclusion policies by state agencies and local boards), H3196 (the Educator Assistance Act addressing certificate renewal and contract timing), the voucher legislation (S62) that previously the state Supreme Court found unlawful, a House-passed bill to abolish constituent districts (H4104) and several bills touching charter-school accountability and social-media regulation for minors.

The nut graf: Hinesen told the committee the voucher proposal and the DEI ban are among the most controversial items; she said the Educator Assistance Act has strong backing from teacher organizations and was likely to advance, while the voucher matter had produced an interchamber impasse that could lead to a conference committee.

Hinesen summarized specific potential fiscal impacts discussed in the legislature: expanded free-lunch/breakfast policies (S425) depend on student counts, a bill would allow hiring private security for large districts (S269), and charter-school payments are increasing under the state formula. She warned that the state budget process is moving quickly and that federal funding uncertainties could affect state allocations.

Board members asked for more timely legislative briefings and suggested a breakfast with the local delegation after the budget to build relationships. Hinesen offered to return with updated status reports as the session advances.

","A part-time legislative liaison briefed the Audit and Finance Committee on more than a dozen pending state bills—ranging from a proposed ban on diversity, equity and inclusion policies to renewed voucher legislation—and noted the budget and timing pressures shaping likely outcomes.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093284,"Committee refers Johns Island Elementary budget reallocation after DOT-required road work and sewer relocation",111,786000,897000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558&start=786&end=897","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2848213-bf4c910607abb852b120bc79c6a63558/thumbnail_786000.jpg","/articles/6093284/South-Carolina/Committee-refers-Johns-Island-Elementary-budget-reallocation-after-DOT-required-road-work-and-sewer-relocation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093284-d8116acdac033af5da1e876ed2a1c48e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770945156&Signature=deTnjuM107eLr5sd9SHQV4LI~-AK-02EDWOglu8-DmONjpv2RiL2aCO8Tqy9ozsY9RWeo3zm6cAnjOSUzbDe~8gSRtOKhtxnwefxSv8eK6ddfW-OCaqbCmXiJm10dYWyjVeknXJ6-y8XxobjwkIlDbbR9jfGGQuhB1wxHmsTzWkEnouGzkPOrZkJF9Qv5VwN3EnznyVcbVSDLi0Kpg9tkqbRJvwIN8JNOv~bFUoh30SC0abB8g67nfwl14BZJf-Aqo~A5XsVquK6Dz-aS2EWJiEDYSgiIoxLMv0hEZPO2AgEqLCWhUTul0-l4XVQkKsT-OQhIlwu851I9cpGb9A3Sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charleston County School District Audit and Finance Committee voted to refer a sales-tax capital reallocation for Johns Island Elementary to the full board after staff said off-site road improvements demanded by the South Carolina Department of Transportation and a required sewer relocation have added costs and schedule risk.

Miss Shaw, the presenter, told the committee the project has a new DOT requirement to modify the roundabout at the school entrance and to add a left-turn/right-turn lane at Brownswood and Rivers Road. She said crews also must relocate a sewer main and address unsuitable soils, and that the contractor has shifted to seven-day work to keep the project on track. “We are projecting to open up the school in August of this year,” Miss Shaw said.

The nut graf: Committee members pressed staff on whether the district could recoup some off-site road costs from SCDOT, but staff warned SCDOT reimbursement has been rare and the district is budgeting for acceleration and soil-mitigation costs to preserve the targeted August opening.

Members asked specific funding questions. Mr. Grabowski asked whether the sales-tax contingency remains available; staff confirmed there are two years of sales-tax proceeds already collected for the program and additional collections expected over the next four years. When Grabowski asked whether the district would pursue reimbursement from SCDOT, Miss Shaw said the district would “look into” SCDOT funding programs (she referenced “C funding”) but emphasized the improvements are off-site and outside the district’s control. A staff member added that the district has had “very little luck in the past” recouping such costs and said it expects to absorb the expenses if SCDOT does not provide funds.

The committee chair called for a voice vote to move the item to the regular board agenda; members voiced approval and the item was referred to the board for action.

Background and context: The item is part of the district’s 2023–2028 sales-tax capital program. Staff said the capital reallocation includes an allowance for additional curbing, shoulder work and other acceleration costs tied to unsuitable soils commonly found in low-country areas.

Next steps: The reallocation will be considered at the district’s regular board meeting; staff said they will pursue conversations with SCDOT about potential reimbursement but cautioned success is uncertain.

","The Audit and Finance Committee voted to send a sales-tax-funded reallocation for Johns Island Elementary to the full board after hearing that South Carolina Department of Transportation requirements, a relocated sewer main and unsuitable soils have added costs and schedule pressure ahead of an August school opening.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget preview: district projects smaller use of fund balance, expands weighted student funding and reduces employee Kaleidoscope fees

District rolls out public dashboard for purchases and contracts above $250,000

District staff say federal CDL waiver request for school bus drivers has had little traction with DMV or Legislature

District legislative liaison outlines pending state bills affecting schools, including DEI ban and voucher debate

Committee refers Johns Island Elementary budget reallocation after DOT-required road work and sewer relocation