THE FOUNDATION FOR LEADERSHIP EDUCATION
proudly presents the
LOWCOUNTRY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
JA
NUARY 15
2022
For Information and tickets, visit LowcountryLeaders.com POSTAL PATRON LOCAL
NOVEMBER 25–DECEMBER 1, 2021
Affordable housing still a dream for many
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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
School board gives Rodriguez extension, raise
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
By Mike McCombs At its regular meeting Tuesday night, Nov. 16, the Beaufort County Board of Education gave Beaufort County School District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez a 10 percent raise and a four-year contract extension. Rodriguez’s pay will increase from just more than $210,000 to just more than $231,000. Originally set to ex-
pire June 30, 2023, his contract will now run through 2027. Immediately after the board came out of executive session to open the public Frank portion of the meetRodriguez ing, board member David Striebinger moved that the board amend the
employment agreement with Rodriguez, making four changes – increasing the length of the contract by four years, increasing the salary by 10 percent, increasing the annual annuity contribution by 5 percent and increasing Rodriguez’s travel budget to $1,200 – as well as allowing the chairperson to execute an amendment to the agreement to reflect these changes.
The motion passed 10-1, with board member William Smith the lone opposition. “At this time, I can not support this,” Smith said. The extension and raise come just a few weeks after the board’s review of Rodriguez, in which he earned a total composite score of 3.72, which
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PAYING THEIR RESPECTS
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BEAUFORT hen it comes to giving thanks, many place safe housing at the top of
their list. But in Beaufort County, like communities around the world, with the influx of second- and third-home owners, there are those not so lucky to have that safe housing. Statistics collected by federal and state agencies may vary, but last year’s federal “Point in Time” count listed only 100 individuals qualifying as “homeless” and another 765 facing “housing insecurity,” which means they might be sleeping in a friend’s extra bedroom for a while or be facing eviction before the next paycheck. “Housing” is an interesting issue in any community, especially when you consider the rate of housing growth right here in Beaufort. Case in point, the city planning staff is considering applications from three development firms with plans for apartment complex totaling some 878 – almost 1000 – new apartments, all located in the Burton area, around the Cross Creek shopping center and the recently approved Beaufort Station shopping center. Representatives of the projects who spoke last week to the city’s Design Review Board, in response to a question, said no, these new apartments would not be considered “affordable housing” but we can certainly hope the market, with all these options, will at least make the rents manageable for the working folks. That means, according to stats you look at for northern Beaufort County, somewhere between the $1,500 to $1,800 per month rent which is considered “median” for one-bedroom apartments. And while the developers keep planning, community leaders will keep looking for solutions to providing “affordable housing” for folks we need to live here to work in our schools, fire departments and doctors’ offices. And those without, will keep hoping for some solution.
On Thursday, Nov. 18, members of the public came out to pay their respects as the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office interred the cremated remains of 34 people whose relatives were unable to be found. Four of the deceased were interred with full military honors at the Beaufort National Cemetery, as shown in these photos, while the other 30 were entombed at the mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Beaufort. Photos by Susan DeLoach.
Park Service to study Beaufort National Historic Landmark District
Charles Street units still on hold BEAUFORT – Speaking of housing, no updates on 303 Associates’ plans to build a three-story structure on the corner of Charles and Port Republic Streets, a building
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John Mark Verdier House Museum on Bay Street in downtown Beaufort. Photo courtesy of K. Campbell, Preservation South.
Special Pull Out Section Holiday Gift Guide
From staff reports The National Park Service (NPS) announced Wednesday, Nov. 17, the launch of a comprehensive study to aid in the long-term preservation Beaufort. The Beaufort National Historic Landmark (NHL) District Integrity and Condition Study — set to begin early December — will document the district’s current integrity and condition and examine projects
SPORTS
INSIDE
Battery Creek High School celebrates life of Nate Day.
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and trends that may impact ongoing preservation efforts. A cornerstone of the NHL Program is monitoring the condition of NHLs to identify those that exhibit damage or face threats to the integrity of their resources. The data generated from the Beaufort NHL study will enable the NPS, stewards, policy makers,
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