FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – The General Assembly passed a proviso that requires 13 of the smallest school districts in the state to submit a list of shared services to the State Department of Education.
Florence School District 2 Superintendent, Neal Vincent, said earlier in the month, State Superintendent Molly Spearman requested that districts with less than 1500 students submit a list of services they wish to continue to share, and have shared in the past, with neighboring school districts.
Florence School District Two in Pamplico has 1144 students, Florence Four in Timmonsville has 689 students, and Florence Five in Johnsonville has 1227 students.
“This is the first year that we are mandated based on our number of students to submit a plan to the state department for their approval,” Vincent told News13.
Vincent said small districts sharing services is nothing new, and has happened for years in Florence.
“Some of the services we’ve shared with the Pee Dee region goes back many years because were part of the Pee Dee Education Center,” Vincent said. “We have shared services agreements with Florence School District Three and Five. We share adult education, and recently in the last few years, we’ve added alternative school services.”
Vincent said Florence Two also purchases computers, laptops, and printers.
“They [Florence One] have better buying power than we do because of supplies, and equipment that they need,” said Vincent. “We have in the past shared instructional services with Florence One including an English and science coordinator,” he continued. “We share an agreement with Florence Three and Five on purchasing food for our food service program.”
Florence Two is currently assisting Florence School District Four in Timmonsville with custodial and maintenance services.
“We’re constantly looking for services to share, and trying to do the best for the funding that we have,” he said.
Florence School District Five Superintendent, Randy Smiley, said the Johnsonville district has also shared services with neighboring school districts for many years.
“Florence Five is currently sharing services for adult education with Lake City, as is Florence Two,” Smiley said. “We’re also sharing alternative school. We’re sharing a school psychologist with Florence Three.”
Smiley said Florence Five is mostly concerned with buying technology for students.
“Purchasing software, and technology, those kinds of things that as we buy as a group, we can get a better price on those things,” he said.
Both Vincent and Smiley said their districts save money, rather than lose, through the different shared services.
“We cannot afford to hire a full-time physical therapist,” explained Smiley. “So by sharing that position between us then we can get the services that we need for our children, and not be bearing the weight of the full salary with benefits for that,” he continued. “We don’t, at this point, need a full-time person so we can split the cost.”
Vincent said Florence School District Two’s estimated cost savings is between $70,000 and $157,000.
“Our biggest concern would be teacher salaries,” Vincent said. “If shared services saves any money we’d love to try and equalize the pay county-wide, but we’re in the bottom 10 as far as our district’s tax-based ability, and so it’s very difficult for us to bring in reoccurring costs.”
Vincent said the shared services will not affect students or parents.
“As far as the day-to-day operations it shouldn’t be any influence on anything related to parents’ and students’ daily routines,” he explained. “It would be more the management, and more the administrative functions, transportation, food service, procurement, human resources, those types of services,” he continued. “It should enhance the teaching and learning in every district
The district superintendents have one month to submit their lists to the State Department of Education.