Following the approval of a $240 million bond referendum, Lexington-Richland School District Five is planning changes and upgrades to schools, including rezoning, which would begin in the 2026-27 school year.

The Academy for Success will relocate to the current Dutch Fork Elementary School. This will be renovated into the RichLex Education Center, adding additional capacity for students to attend Spring Hill High.

Chapin Elementary, Piney Wood Elementary and Lake Murray Elementary will become kindergarten through fifth grade schools. Chapin Middle School will be redistricted as Spring Hill Middle, serving students in grades six through eight from Lake Murray and Ballentine Elementary. Students will be zoned for Chapin High.

Chapin Intermediate will be renamed Chapin Middle and will serve students from Chapin Elementary and Piney Woods Elementary. Students will attend Chapin High School. A new elementary school will be built to replace the current Dutch Fork Elementary, which will relocate. Students from H.E. Corley Elementary will attend Crossroads Intermediate, and depending on their address, will attend either Irmo High or Dutch Fork High.

While rezoning will not begin until the 2026-27 school year, planning has already commenced, including staffing assignments. The department has looked at student enrollment projections for the 2026-27 school year, examining the number of students at each school and the specific needs of each campus.

The district is focusing on structure ensuring that needs will be met for administrators, staff and teachers at the new schools, officials say. They will then focus on the programs that will be offered at the schools such as the art program, music, special education and more. 

Superintendent Akil E. Ross announced that in May a survey will be sent to staff members to gather their preferences regarding school location and grade level. Ross noted that the staff’s input is crucial for the transition.

At the school board meeting last month, Ross said that consideration will also be given to staff preferences, including location, grade level, proximity to their children's schools, family relationships within the district and requests for teachers and assistants to remain together. Experience and certifications will also be considered.

The district aims for a diverse mix of experience across grade levels to ensure balance in staffing. Ross emphasized that teachers and staff members voicing their opinions and completing the survey will help the district plan staffing assignments and be vital in determining teacher placements based on open positions.

From there, the district will focus on equipment that is needed for schools and teachers as well as occupancy and ensuring there is a smooth transition for all who are being rezoned.

Ross mentioned that there will be meetings called “directors cut." All directors of each department such as operations, planning, finance and human resources will come together to discuss progress. 

The timeline for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year is as follows:

• March-April: Directors will meet to determine staffing structures in schools.
• May: Faculty and staff will provide input through the survey.
• June: Human Resources will review preliminary staff projections based on enrollment data.

For the 2025-26 school year, the timeline includes:

• July-September: Coordinator teams will begin placing staff based on preferences and data.
• October: Ross will communicate the findings from the surveys.
• November: Officials will meet with principals to finalize staffing assignments.