District 55 board votes down changes for middle schools
A plan that would have reconfigured grades at Sanders and Laurens middle schools for the 2026-27 academic year was rejected by the Laurens County School District 55 Board of Trustees at a meeting and work session Monday night at the district offices.
The board voted 6-1 to deny a proposal by the district administration that would have shifted Laurens Middle to a junior high school with seventh and eighth grades, while Sanders Middle would have become an intermediate school with sixth grade only in 2026-27 and potentialy adding a fifth grade in 2027.
The move was designed to alleviate crowding at Ford, Laurens and E.B. Morse elementary schools by shifting their sixth-grade classes to Sanders.
“My team and I feel very strongly of what needs to happen, and that’s the proposal that we’ve put forward,” said District 55 Superintendent Jody Penland after presenting results of surveys given to parents and the general public that influenced the proposal. “But we’re also ready for a decision so we can do whatever the board decides to go with.”
During his presentation, Penland said that around two-thirds of those who responded supported the reconfiguration of the schools to some degree.
Board members, however, raised issues and echoed concerns from staff prior to voting on a motion by Trustee Anthony Carpenter and seconded by fellow board member Peggy Nance.
The desire to keep Montessori classes as an option for more students was one concern brought up by board members, but the biggest concern appeared to be the timing of the reconfiguration, which would take effect when classes resume after summer break in August, just a little more than three months away.
Nance quoted and AI-generated synopsis of comments from members of school staffs, which relayed their concern over changes that would have to come so quickly.
The synopsis said in part, that the changes should be delayed “until the 2027-28 school year to allow for more planning, preparation and a smoother transition for both teachers and students. The current timeline is considered rushed and has caused distress among staff.”
“That’s pretty interesting, isn’t it?” Nance said.
Board member Heather Elders said she believed the process was too rushed as well. Elders voted against the proposal along with Board Chair Cathy Little, Carpenter, Nance, Tabitha Keitt and Mike Hughes. Chip Jenkins cast the only “yea” vote on the proposal.
While the proposal was voted down for 2026-27, a similar or identical reconfiguration proposal could be put before the board against for the 2027-28 school year.
A referendum could also be on the horizon to fund renovations to existing facilities or to build new schools in 2028. Voters overwhelmingly rejected a 2018 referendum for a $109 million building and renovation project that would have included a new Laurens District High School.
