We, the undersigned parents, taxpayers, educators, students, and community members of Florence County, respectfully call for increased public involvement, transparency, and accountability regarding major taxpayer-funded decisions that directly affect our children, schools, infrastructure, and community.

Let us be clear:

This petition is NOT against swimming.
This petition is NOT against student athletes.
And this petition is NOT against investing in our community.

This petition is about ensuring that the public has a stronger voice in how large-scale projects involving taxpayer money are prioritized, discussed, and approved — especially when those projects directly impact our children’s education, infrastructure, traffic, and long-term community development.

The proposed Florence 1 aquatic center project has raised important public questions regarding:

• Long-term financial responsibility
• Infrastructure and traffic impact
• District-wide priorities
• Alternative solutions that may have existed
• How taxpayer dollars are allocated across student needs
• The degree of public input allowed before major approvals

Based on publicly presented plans and district statements, the proposed project appears to involve roughly a $20.7 million combined investment between the publicly stated $15.5 million construction project and the separately stated $5.2 million building purchase.

The publicly presented plans include:

• A 50-meter Olympic-style competition pool
• A separate warm-up pool
• Approximately 650 spectator seats
• Competition infrastructure for regional and state events
• Team and officials’ areas
• Community event capability

The district itself described the project as:

• “Transformative”
• “Epic”
• A “lighthouse” for the community
• Potentially “one of the best facilities in South Carolina”

Because of the scale of this project and the long-term obligations it may create, many taxpayers believe the public deserves:

• Greater access to information before approvals
• Easier public engagement opportunities
• Expanded community discussion periods
• More visible financial breakdowns
• Long-term operational cost projections
• Public comparison of alternatives considered
• Stronger opportunities for public feedback regarding district-wide spending priorities

Many community members are not asking whether swimming has value.

They are asking whether this specific scale of project should have taken priority over broader district-wide needs affecting significantly more students daily.

Many taxpayers reasonably believe portions of these funds, partnerships, or fundraising efforts could have potentially supported:

• Additional teacher retention incentives and support staffing
• Expanded special-needs aides and accessibility improvements
• Additional buses or transportation expansion for underserved routes
• Expanded mental health and counseling services
• Academic intervention and tutoring programs
• Technology and classroom upgrades
• Food quality improvements
• Safety and infrastructure improvements district-wide

Additionally, many residents have concerns regarding traffic and infrastructure impact due to the facility’s proposed location near the already heavily trafficked Five Points and West Palmetto corridor.

Community members deserve clear public answers regarding:

• Whether a traffic impact study was completed
• How regional competitions and spectator traffic will affect congestion
• Whether roadway improvements may eventually be required
• Whether additional public safety or traffic control costs could arise
• Who would ultimately bear those future costs

One of the district’s primary public justifications for the project has been teaching children how to swim, especially third and fourth-graders.

Because of that, many taxpayers also believe the district should publicly clarify whether lower-cost alternatives were fully evaluated before committing to a competition-level aquatic complex, including:

• Partnerships with existing pools
• Shared-use agreements
• Community recreation partnerships
• Seasonal swim safety programs
• Transportation-supported swim instruction programs
• Smaller instructional-only facilities

Many community members specifically want clarification regarding whether the Fitness Forum pool, or another existing facility, was formally evaluated as a partnership option before committing to the current project scale.

This petition is not an accusation of corruption or wrongdoing.

This petition is a request for stronger public involvement, transparency, and accountability regarding major financial decisions affecting our children and community.

When projects involve millions in taxpayer responsibility and long-term community impact, the public should not feel disconnected from the decision-making process.

We respectfully request that Florence 1 Schools and local leadership consider implementing:

• Expanded public forums for major projects
• Greater digital and community outreach before approvals
• More accessible public summaries of financial obligations
• Public release of alternative proposals considered
• Community impact studies involving traffic and infrastructure
• Increased opportunities for taxpayer input regarding district-wide spending priorities
• We believe public accountability and community engagement strengthen trust between schools, families, taxpayers, and local leadership.

This petition is not about division.

It is about ensuring that the voices of parents, taxpayers, educators, and community members are meaningfully included when major financial decisions affecting our children and community are being made.

Sincerely,

Jacob LeVine

FSD1 Parent