Projects included in the bond referendum for Lexington-Richland School District Five are making progress, with some in the design phase and others under construction.

The $240 million bond referendum, approved in 2024, provides funding for a variety of projects, including school renovations, classroom additions, new constructions and more. 

Rezoning for certain areas will also take place in the 2026-27 school year.

A public dashboard is available to track the progress of projects. The dashboard displays seven key steps: procurement, design, documents, permitting, construction, occupancy and closeout. Each step is marked with a color-coded dot–red for “not started,” yellow for “in progress” and green for “completed.” Final costs will also be posted.

Under the bond referendum, Ballentine Elementary, Chapin Elementary, Dutch Fork Elementary, H.E. Corley Elementary, Chapin Intermediate, CrossRoads Intermediate, Chapin Middle, Irmo Middle, Irmo High, Spring Hill High, Adult Education and Academy for Success will receive entrance upgrades. 

The total budget for entrance upgrades is $5,150,000. The dashboard shows the security upgrades are in progress in the procurement, design and construction phases. 

The new Dutch Fork Elementary School, with a budget of $41,400,000, is in the procurement and design phases.

The new school is located along Hollingshed Road in Irmo, close to Oak Pointe Elementary School. The total building is under 90,000 square feet, where the main entrance is about 400 feet away from the street. Around the site, there will be routes for buses, cars and pedestrians, along with 160 parking spots for visitors. 

New school wings at Chapin Elementary and Lake Murray Elementary are under construction to eliminate portable classrooms. The total budget for the additions is $14,904,000.

The wings are expected to be completed in 2026.

The digital solutions and artificial intelligence lab at Dutch Fork High School has a budget of $500,000 and has completed the design, construction and occupancy phases. It remains in progress in the procurement phase, according to the dashboard.

School board members also approved a $17.6 million project at Irmo High School International School for the Arts, which will include a new cafeteria and student center at the school.

The project will include meeting rooms and a new student bus loop with a canopy. Plans for the cafeteria will serve a capacity of 700 students at a time and will include a loft designated for seniors. 

The project is expected to be completed by fall 2026.

The small business incubator at Irmo High School, designed to expand access to business career opportunities, has a total budget of $39,500,000. This project has completed the design, construction and occupancy phases.

The addition of a fine arts center auditorium at Chapin High School has a total budget of $21,600,000 and is in the procurement and design phases.

A construction workforce development lab at The Center for Technical Studies is also in the procurement and design phases. The project has a total budget of $10,560,000. 

To track the progress of all projects included in the bond referendum, visit the district’s website, www.lexrich5.org/resources/2024-bond-referendum.