The Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 board has given second reading to a policy revision that will allow it to raise millage above the cap set by the 2006 property tax relief law under extreme circumstances.

In 2006, the General Assembly passed the property tax relief bill that eliminated the school operating component from tax bills and also set a cap on how much local governments can raise millage. That cap is based on a formula that takes inflation and population growth into account.

Events that would allow the OCSD 5 Board to raise millage above that cap include: a deficiency from the past year, a catastrophic event such as a hurricane, complying with a court order, a 10 percent loss of tax revenue from the previous year or any change in the property tax relief law.

That policy revision was cleared by the S.C. School Boards Association.

During their meeting last week, trustees also ordered the architectural firm MBAJ to redo bid results for projects at William J. Clark Middle School and Rivelon Elementary School. Those projects include additions and renovations to the two schools.

The board also approved a resolution supporting changes to the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Trustee Melvin Crum was elected to inform the board about any pending federal and state legislation regarding the district. The board also named Trustee Lisa Thomas Jenkins to form a board advocacy group to make the district's presence felt on federal and state levels.

In other business:

* The board approved second reading of a revision to the student transportation policy.

* North Middle/High School Principal Alvin Pressley gave the board an update on the school.

* Nancy Ford, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment, completed a presentation on the district's High School Assessment Program test results and school report card data.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.

You must be logged in to comment.