The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees tackled a lengthy agenda at its regular meeting on May 26, approving all action items.
The first item before the Board was a request for four new courses to be offered at the honors level at Greenville County high schools. These courses include artificial intelligence applications, business data applications, lodging management, and traveling and tourism management. Trustees approved these courses unanimously.
The Board then approved the renaming of Greenville Middle Academy’s media center after Yanilka “Nicky” Andrews, who served as the school’s principal from 2016 to 2024. Andrews died in May 2025, and the school community requested that the center be named in her honor.
“At her core, Mrs. Andrews was an avid reader who understood the power of literacy as the foundation of all learning,” Greenville Middle Principal Edgar Henson said in an open letter to Trustees. “She championed reading not as a task, but as a lifelong pursuit, consistently encouraging both students and staff to engage deeply with texts and ideas. It is only fitting that a space dedicated to literacy, inquiry and discovery bear her name.”
The Board approved this request unanimously.
The Board also unanimously approved a perpetual utility easement for Duke Energy at the M.T. Anderson Support Center. Officials say the easement is necessary to provide and maintain utility services for the new Food and Nutrition Services Center.
The fourth item of business before the Trustees was the acceptance of the Audit Team Committee for the next school year. It was approved unanimously for this committee to be represented by Amanda Brett, Jeff Cochran, Michelle Goodwin-Calwile, Glenda Morrison-Fair and Chuck Saylors.
Funding of $1 million for the Sirrine Scholarship was also approved for the next school year. Since its creation in 1973, this scholarship has provided financial assistance to public high school students in Greenville County who are working toward a college degree. In 2026, 500 students are expected to receive an annual scholarship of $2,000.
The next item before the Board was a resolution regarding the Community Eligibility Provision Program for fiscal year 2027. This is a USDA-backed program that allows schools to provide free meals to all students. GCS currently has 81 CEP schools and 12 non-CEP schools, a status determined by the percentage of students from households receiving public benefits.
The Board unanimously approved the resolution, confirming that those 81 schools will continue as CEP schools in the 2026-2027 school year. Students attending any of the 12 non-CEP schools are able to qualify for free meals on an individual basis.
Trustees then considered a lease agreement with Greenville Technical College. This agreement would permit the school district to utilize the college’s Golden Strip Career Center Annex Welding Facility for educational purposes. This lease agreement was approved unanimously.
The welding facility is currently occupied by Greenville Tech, but will be vacated as the college transitions into a new building. The college has agreed to lease the space to the district for only the pro-rated cost of utilities. At its April 28 meeting, the Board approved a $455,000 fund balance transfer to fund the first five years of the program.
The next two items on the Board’s agenda were property acquisitions, the first being a purchase of .76 acres of land near Wade Hampton High School. This purchase will be used to support future school growth. The second purchase is for .6 acres near Greenville High Academy to build additional student parking. Trustees approved both of these land acquisitions unanimously.
The final item at Tuesday night’s meeting was the approval of a South Carolina Department of Transportation Quitclaim Deed. SCDOT is transferring ownership of approximately 0.21 acres near Greenville High Academy at Dunbar Street to the school district. This property will be combined with the neighboring property at 606 Augusta Street. Trustees approved the deed unanimously.
For more information on the Greenville County School Board of Trustees or to watch their meetings, visit https://greenville-sc.community.highbond.com/Portal/Default.aspx.
