Part of $30 Million Additional Debt Authorized by Obama Administration

The Greenville County School Board approved a resolution authorizing the school district to issue construction bonds totaling $15 million for 2010 that will be used to fund a portion of a new elementary school and construction of classrooms at existing elementary schools.

Tigerville, SC - Autumn McAbee, Miss North Greenville University 2009, passed her crown to Leah Ann Gravely, of Pickens, at the 55th Miss NGU Pageant on Saturday, October 3 in Turner Chapel.

Gravely won a $1,000 scholarship and will compete this summer in the Miss South Carolina Pageant.

First runner-up Lauren Dorrity of Greenville won the lifestyle and fitness award.

The Greenville County School Board voted Tuesday night to select an architect to design a new 1,000 student elementary school for the Southeast Area of Greenville County to relieve crowding at Bell’s Crossing, Bethel, Oakview, and Woodland Elementary schools.

The Board also approved a resolution to sell $15 million in low or no interest bonds as part of a two-year $30 million government stimulus program for Greenville County Schools authorized by the American Recovery Reinvestment Act. The money will come from commercial sources but must be paid back by Greenville County property owners in a lump sum in 12 to 16 years, according to a District statement. Some of the funds may be used to build additional Kindergarten classrooms on existing schools.

Annual Overall  Increase Less than Half of Projection Due to Recession, Home and Charter Schools

Growth in the student population of Greenville County Schools is down drastically from only three years ago and less than half of the projection for the current school year.

The Greenville County School District experienced an annual growth of up to 2,000 three years ago that included large increases in K-4 and K-5 Kindergarten at the elementary level. Since that time, growth in the student population has dipped to 250 for the current school year. The current enrollment excluding charter schools that are under the jurisdiction of the Greenville County School Board is 69,477.

On Friday, August 14, Greenville County Schools held their 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year Awards program at the Carolina First Center. There were 100 teacher candidates chosen from the different schools in the school district. From these candidates, ten were selected as teacher of the year candidates. There were three runner-up candidates chosen and then the teacher of the year.

Kelly H. Nalley, a Spanish teacher at Fork Shoals School, was chosen Greenville County Schools, 2009-2010 “Teacher of the Year.” She teaches Spanish to 2nd thru 5th grade students.