Big changes coming to Irmo High School, Chapin stadium under new LR5 spending plan
Irmo High School is set to be the main recipient of a new round of funding for facilities in Lexington-Richland 5.
The school’s east wing is slated to be rebuilt with the bulk of a new $50 million investment approved by the school board on Monday, part of a wider-ranging $80 million proposal to address infrastructure needs throughout the district by 2024.
The east wing — the oldest section of the current high school on St. Andrews Road — was built in 1964, and school officials told board members the facility is showing its age and needs extensive renovations to meet students’ modern needs.
Interim Superintendent Akil Ross pointed out that of the three main high school “clusters” in the district, the fast-growing Chapin High School area had received $197 million worth of new construction in the last few years, while Irmo High’s attendance area got $69 million. The Dutch Fork area received another $17.4 million.
“It is time we provided that building facility equity in the east” of the district, Ross, a former Chapin High principal, told board members at a Sept. 27 meeting. “We look forward to providing the same type of opportunity.”
The work at Irmo High School will be the largest share of the new investment plan. Officials say $48.75 million will go toward site work, demolition and construction at Irmo High School, with another $1.25 million for roof repairs at neighboring Irmo Middle School.
Next school year, another $15 million will be dispersed for a variety of projects. Chapin High School’s football stadium will be renovated to the tune of $8.5 million, allowing the school to meet seating requirements for a Class 5A team. Chapin currently has 3,961 seats available for its home football games, compared to 6,665 at Dutch Fork and 8,200 at Irmo. Expansion will increase capacity to 6,500, with a new press box, restroom and concession area and visitors’ locker room.
Another half a million dollars will go to replace the track at Dutch Fork High School, and $1 million to repair the gym roof at CrossRoads Intermediate. All three high school football stadiums will get new artificial turf for a total of $1.35 million.
In 2023-24, schools will receive another $15 million in spending, including $3.6 million for new technology firewalls. H.E. Corley Elementary School’s roof will be replaced for $2.7 million, and another $2.5 million will replace the roof at River Springs Elementary. A building roof at Chapin High will be replaced for $800,000, a new bus loop installed at H.E. Corley for $700,000, and $600,000 spent on new vehicles.
Money for the new spending plan will be reallocated from anticipated energy savings and funding from federal coronavirus relief measures.
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