DCSD to host Listening Sessions
Darlington County School District (DCSD) is inviting families, staff, and community members to attend a series of Community Listening Sessions focused on the district’s 2024 Facilities Study and the future of its schools.
As we look honestly at the age and condition of some of our facilities, we have a responsibility to plan for the future,” said Superintendent Dr. Matthew Ferguson. “We must ensure our schools reflect the expectations we hold for our students. Before any decisions are made, we want our community to see what we see, hear what we are considering, and help us determine whether we are moving in the right direction.”
Community Listening Sessions are scheduled for: March 10 at 6PM at Lamar-Spaulding Elementary School; March 17 at 6PM at Black Creek Elementary School; and March 19 at 6PM at Hartsville High School.
The upcoming listening meetings are grounded in the district’s updated 2024 Facilities Study, which examines the condition, capacity, and long-term viability of every school campus. Building on assessments conducted in 2012 and 2019, the study included updated enrollment data, site visits, and input from district and school leaders.
The study identified several priority areas for further examination. In Darlington, this includes the possibility of building a new elementary school to combine the aging Pate Elementary School and Brockington Elementary Magnet School. In Lamar, the Board is examining the future of Spaulding Middle School. In Hartsville, the study highlights significant challenges at the high school stemming from the campus’s age, size, and layout.
DCSD currently serves nearly 9,000 students across Darlington County. Over the past two decades, the district has invested in new schools and major renovations, including new middle schools, the Darlington County Institute of Technology, and four new elementary schools, most recently Black Creek Elementary School. Even so, many district facilities were built in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, and some buildings are now more than 75 years old.
Several campuses are approaching critical decision points where continued renovation may no longer be the most responsible long-range investment. Even when well-maintained, aging facilities pose challenges for safety, accessibility, and modern learning environments.
The facilities study reviewed each campus for safety, academic programming, maintenance, and future renovation or replacement needs. The findings highlight the connection between facilities and opportunity, noting that modern learning environments are essential to supporting high expectations and innovation.
No decisions have been finalized. The listening sessions will give the community an opportunity to review the study and its findings and learn more about the district’s proposed plans to address those needs. Community feedback from these meetings will help guide the district’s next steps.
“Our schools are more than buildings. They are where generations of Darlington County families have built opportunity and shaped their futures,” Dr. Ferguson added. “I have seen firsthand both the pride in our campuses and the challenges that come with aging facilities. We owe our students safe, modern environments that support the high expectations we set for them. The decisions we make now will shape our schools for decades.”
For more information about the Facilities Study, visit www.dcsdschools.org.