Community bus tour of older Sumter School District schools rescheduled for evening of Thursday, Aug. 15
A community bus tour of Sumter School District's older schools in need of capital improvements has been rescheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15, at 5 p.m., after it was postponed this week because of Tropical Storm Debby.
A district spokeswoman shared the rescheduled date with The Sumter Item on Thursday.
As stated previously, the bus tour is part of the district Board of Trustees' Master Plan Committee work. That committee - which consists of five trustees and three public members - is tasked with crafting a long-term vision for the district's facilities, many of which are more than 60 years old.
Project work will include a facilities study, closing schools and building new schools and will likely require passing a budget referendum in the county in 2026 to help pay for the costs.
Trustee Dan Palumbo has said the tour will emphasize the age and some major structural issues with older schools in the district.
The goal of the effort is community buy-in and the tour is specifically for the community, Palumbo said.
"We are being very transparent and showing everybody why in the future we need new schools," he said. "We would love to fill up the buses with community members for the tour of the schools."
Board members and administrators will join the public on Thursday's tour, which should conclude by 8 p.m.
Community members who wish to take part in the tour of older schools with project needs should meet at the district office, 1345 Wilson Hall Road, on Thursday afternoon. The buses will depart on the tour at 5 p.m.
Palumbo has said there will also be future tours scheduled if community members are unable to attend Thursday.