At its latest board of trustees meeting, Lexington County School District Four board members unanimously approved hiring Harper General Contractors for the new transportation center. 

In May 2024, the district applied for capital funds with the South Carolina Department of Education to help with improvements to schools in the district. 

Based on a facility study conducted, the district requested $28 million. In August, the district was awarded $12 million, with Frances Mack Intermediate School listed as top priority.

With $12 million, Frances Mack Intermediate School will receive six additional classrooms, auxiliary classrooms, additional office space, restrooms and an expanded physical education space. 

The district also did a match share of up to 25%, which allows $3 million to be spread across other areas for improvements.

Superintendent Justin Nutter noted that currently, the district’s bus drivers don’t have a designated area to meet to participate in training and professional development, mentioning they often gather in the schools or cafeterias.

Nutter told board members a new transportation center will create more office space for the transportation coordinator, and will be utilized for storage, as well as training and professional development for coordinators and staff.

The district has already completed the procurement process, and last month, administrators began to look at how to begin the design process. They also began the process to hire a construction manager. 

Nutter said the construction manager will work together with the design architects to utilize the funds the district is providing.

Between the months of April and May, the district posted a request for qualification (RFQ) and a request for proposals. From there, administrators reviewed each company. 

Nutter told members that the district followed all procurement policies and recommended they hire Harper General Contractors to provide construction management at risk services for the transportation center.  

Board members unanimously approved the recommendation.

The center will be located behind the Sandhills Primary and Sandhills Elementary School buildings.

Harper General Contractors has been a family-owned general contracting and construction management firm since 1950. The company’s headquarters are located in downtown Greenville. They currently have offices across the Carolinas. 

The next scheduled school board meeting will take place on June 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lexington Four Administration Office, located at 607 E. 5th St. in Swansea. A public forum for the second reading of the proposed 2025-26 general fund budget will also be held.