Community meeting planned to discuss plans for new DD2 elementary school in The Ponds area

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Dorchester School District 2 leaders will hold a meeting Monday evening to provide an update on the forthcoming elementary school in The Ponds community.

Those who attend will hear from district leaders and the members of the Board of Trustees about the project and be given an opportunity to share their thoughts during a community discussion.

That meeting will be held at Sand Hill Elementary School (324 Gnarly Oak Lane) in Summerville at 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the district said it has seen “consistent and significant” population growth, which they said has prompted an urgent need for additional school capacity.

In a news release last week, Ashley Wimberly, chair of the district’s Board of Trustees, and Justin Farnsworth, chair of the district’s facilities committee, said the district has “acted in good faith” to move forward with the construction of a new school in The Ponds area.

Funding was secured, they have engaged contractors and architects, and the permitting process is underway, allowing them to move as soon as land is available.

For now, it appears the district is awaiting access to land for the proposed school. “While the developer has remained in compliance with the development agreement, the land needed for school construction could be deeded to the district at any time,” the district officials said.

Wimberly and Farnsworth said the district is eager to move forward with constructing the school and remained open to communication and collaboration with developers and Dorchester County that would accelerate the project “for the benefit of all stakeholders.”