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.