Bond vote brings major changes to Lexington-Richland schools: New Dutch Fork Elementary, enhanced security, and expanded student capacity

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Over 40,000 Lexington-Richland Five School District residents voted "Yes" to support a bond referendum.

On Friday, Superintendent Dr. Akil Ross laid out exactly how the district will use the nearly $240 million from those bonds.

“Safety and security is going to be our number one, out-the-door project. Surveillance and monitoring is going to be the key,” Ross said.

The superintendent said the district will spend $5.1 million beefing up security at schools across the district. Plans call for new surveillance cameras and redesigned vestibules at some school entrances.

The most ambitious project included in the bond plan is a brand-new Dutch Fork Elementary School.

“(The current) school is going to be tightly impacted by the broadening of Broad River Road," Ross said. "They have a four-lane road going into their front yard and I-26 in their backyard. I need to move that school.”

Once the new Dutch Fork Elementary campus opens, the existing school will be renamed the RichLex Education Center. It will house adult education, the Academy for Success, and other district programs. Moving those programs to the newly-named center will allow the district's high schools to accept more students.

RELATED: Lexington-Richland School District Five bond referendum explained

Before the election, the district shared details about many projects that would be completed using bond funds. That information stated that, had the referendum not passed, a large rezoning effort would be needed to balance out attendance at what would become overcrowded schools.

Ross said some of the projects now on the table will help keep students from being rezoned.

“We have some rezoning related matters, and to expand the Chapin Elementary School and the Lake Murray Elementary School will help relieve some of the rezoning that we will face in fall of 2026,” he said.

So what happens if there are funds left over after all the projects are complete? Ross said there’s a plan for that.

“There is a contingent statement that if funds are available, then we would build covered practice fields at Irmo High, Chapin High and Dutch Fork High School," he said.