School board sets reduced fee for Camden Baptist event, approves custodial charges for two community groups

The Kershaw County School Board on June 18 voted to set a reduced rental fee of $2,772 for Camden Baptist Church's Cola Wars event and to charge custodial fees for two other community uses, saying the moves preserve consistency with prior board practice.

Mr. Smith, who presented three facility‑use waiver requests, told the board the Cola Wars event draws students from across the state and that the church charges participants "about $20 a kid," so "we cannot recommend a full waiver." He outlined options including charging full rental and custodial fees, charging half the rental plus custodial, or charging custodial only.

Board members discussed precedent dating to a prior Lugoff First Baptist camp. According to Mr. Smith, the administration previously listed a full rental fee that had been reduced to roughly half when the board approved it; the speaker described the earlier case as the reason for considering a similar reduced charge for Camden Baptist. After debate, a board member moved to amend the original motion to set Camden Baptist's total fee at $2,772 (half the rental plus a $672 custodial fee). The amendment passed by voice vote and the chair declared it to be the board's action.

The board then considered two additional requests. For Lugoff First Baptist, which has previously used multiple district facilities as the camp grew, the board approved charging custodial fees only (administration listed the custodial fee as $128 for the Stover location). For the Lucky 21 Club — a student/parent organization advocating for people with Down syndrome that requested a recognition day on Oct. 17 — administration recommended charging custodial fees only ($128) because the group did not charge participants; the board approved that recommendation by voice vote.

The board framed the votes as maintaining consistency with prior practice while balancing access for community groups. The motions were handled by voice votes; the chair announced the measures passed unanimously. The board moved on to personnel matters and later adjourned.