The Spartanburg District Five Board of Trustees had its first regular meeting of the school year on Monday, Aug. 25.
Two weeks following the start of school, the Board convened to discuss departmental updates and hold a vote on the Minority Business Enterprise Plan for the 2025-2026 school year. Kacey Austin, Procurement Officer for the district’s financial office, also presented to the Board on the selected architects for the system’s construction projects.
According to Austin, 11 architecture firms submitted applications for these projects. Of these, two received bids from the school system.Â
Craig Gaulden Davis, an architecture firm based in Greenville, S.C., and Baltimore, Md., received the bid for two projects — the construction of a new middle school, and the reconstruction of Duncan Elementary School of the Arts. The other bid went to Goodwyn Mills Cawood, a firm with multiple locations in the Southeast, including Greenville. The firm will also complete two projects — the reconstruction of Byrnes Freshman Academy and a new transportation hub.
All of these projects, excluding the transportation hub, are projects under the $200 million bond referendum the Board voted to put in on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. The projects under the referendum are expected to take place from 2028 to 2030, if it is passed.
In addition to discussing the selected architects, the Board also voted unanimously to approve the Minority Business Enterprise Plan for the 2025-2026 school year.Â
The Minority Business Enterprise Plan has been in place in Spartanburg District Five for several years. This plan helps provide guidelines for procedures that result in the school system awarding contracts to minority businesses.
Other Board items included hearing beginning-of-year from Director of Public Relations Melissa Robinette and Chief of Operations Ryan Cloonan.
According to Robinette’s back-to-school report, Spartanburg District Five is serving 11,209 students this year — an increase of 127 from the year prior. There are 1,299 students fully new to the district, and 199 new employees, including 52 new teachers.
The District partnered with a new food service company this year, The Nutrition Group. Also new this year, the District is providing free breakfasts and lunches to students across all grade levels. According to Robinette’s report, the first two weeks of school have already seen 29,574 breakfast meals and 72,012 lunch meals given to students.
Cloonan reported on facility and construction updates. Byrnes High School is currently in phase three of its construction, staying on track and within budget. The Nixon Field construction at Byrnes High was completed before the start of the school year, with the field holding its first game last Friday.
For more information on Spartanburg District Five and the Board of Trustees, visit the school system’s website.
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