USA TODAY: Iraq airstrike casualties climb among civilians C1 Employees get chips implanted to open doors, buy TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents smoothies A7 86 school district jobs could be cut The district plans to make all the cuts SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Consultant says the through attrition — whether that be retire- U.S. Judge Margaret Seymour ruled that a lawsuit filed by Tuomey Health- ments or teachers leaving the district — care against Nexsen Pruet will head back to Sumter for a likely jury trial. eliminations will likely and shifting some other teachers and in- structional staff around to fill vacant posi- be through attrition tions at other schools, according to Allan. He doesn’t believe a Reduction in Force will Former Tuomey BY BRUCE MILLS be necessary. [email protected] “We’re hopeful that this reduction will not require us to RIF any employee in the Sumter School District plans to eliminate district,” Allan said. “Could that change? It 86 additional teachers and other classroom could. But, for right now, from the discus- board’s lawsuit to instructional staff next school year, accord- sions we have had in our staffing meetings, ing to a budget update present- we’re hoping that nobody will lose their job ed to the board of trustees who doesn’t need to.” Monday night by the financial Those staffing meetings held last month return to Sumter consultant working with the with each principal at each school were district. based on setting student-teacher class-size BY JOHN MONK tal interest in adjudication of Scott Allan, the school fi- ratios for next school year at 25:1 for elemen- The State state law professional mal- nance consultant hired in Jan- tary schools, 30:1 for middle schools and 35:1 practice claims in federal ALLAN uary to guide the school dis- for high schools, according to Superinten- A legal malpractice lawsuit court,” wrote U.S. Judge Mar- trict through its current finan- dent Frank Baker and Assistant Superinten- accusing a major Columbia garet Seymour in an opinion. cial crisis, made the announce- dent for Instruction Cornelius Leach. Also, law firm of causing the de- Seymour’s ruling sends the ment as part of his preliminary 2017-18 bud- factoring into the net instructional changes struction of one of South Car- suit filed by Tuomey Health- get update presentation to the board Mon- was each school’s current and projected en- olina’s most prominent, local- care against the Nexsen Pruet day at the district office. The 86 position rollment, current staffing and federal, state ly owned hospitals must be law firm back to Sumter for a cuts will reduce expenditures by $4.5 mil- and local programmatic instructional re- tried in Sumter County — not likely jury trial. lion — $3.4 million in salaries and $1.1 mil- quirements and initiatives. in the federal courts. lion in associated fringe benefits — from “There is little governmen- SEE TUOMEY, PAGE A6 next year’s budget. SEE JOBS, PAGE A6 Welcome home celebration for NCAA champs will be Sunday THE ASSOCIATED PRESS South Carolina forward A’ja Wilson (22) holds the trophy as she and teammates celebrate their win over Mississippi State in the final of the NCAA women’s Final Four college bas- ketball tournament Sunday in Dallas. South Carolina won 67-55. The team’s welcome home parade hosted by the city of Columbia was postponed until 3 p.m. Sunday after severe storms moved through the area on Monday. More about a celebration for the team will be announced this week. Read about the game and see more photos on B1. Coca-Cola investing $13 million, adding 9 jobs in Lee BY BRUCE MILLS million in its existing facility at 601 workers, she said. The plant currently Consolidated, which is the largest Co- [email protected] Cousar St. in Bishopville and making has about 130 employees. ca-Cola bottler in the U.S. The plant major site improvements. The capital According to the Department of has been open in Bishopville since the A longtime Coca-Cola bottler is ren- investment in facility upgrades has al- Commerce, the Coordinating Council 1970s. ovating its Bishopville operations and ready started and will occur during for Economic Development has ap- Troy Santoscoy, Bishopville plant adding nine new jobs at the facility, the next five years, according to An- proved a $75,000 Rural Infrastructure manager with South Atlantic Can- according to the South Carolina De- nette Karlinsky, office coordinator at Fund grant to Lee County to assist ners, hopes the investment will lead to partment of Commerce and company the Bishopville plant. with the costs of building expansion. more development in Lee County. officials. A few of the nine new positions With four production lines at the “This investment reinforces the South Atlantic Canners, a Coca-Cola have already been filled, Karlinsky Lee County plant, South Atlantic Can- commitment these Coca-Cola bottlers production cooperative, announced said, but some remain open. Most ners produces canned and bottled Monday that it will be investing $13 openings are for production mainline products for Coca-Cola Bottling Co. SEE INVESTMENT, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Furman W. Barfield Jr. NO STORMS TODAY 3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Brooky M. Evans Sr. VOL. 122, NO. 122 Classifieds: 774-1234 Mostly sunny and breezy Patricia Ann Sharper today; partly cloudy tonight Classifieds B6 Television B5 Delivery: 774-1258 Stephanie P. McKnight Comics C4 USA Today C1 News and Sports: 774-1226 Campbell J. McSwain HIGH 85, LOW 58 Jackie Guess Opinion A9 Ibury China Allen A2 | TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS Vacant property ordinance on Sumter City Council agenda Sumter City Council will meet in regular session at 5:30 p.m. today in City Council Chamber on the fourth floor of the Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St. Council will vote on approval of minutes and consider appointments and vacancies. Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the sale of approximately 0.158 acre of city-owned property at 2493 Broad St. and the final reading of an ordi- nance changing the amount of time property owners have to register va- cant property from 60 days to one year. A preliminary draft of the fiscal year 2018 budget will be presented. Council will consider resolutions proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month and authorizing a mutual aid agreement between Sumter Police Department and City of Florence Po- lice Department. Council will hear reports from KASEY MEREDITH / THE SUMTER ITEM members and the city manager and Chandler Browder, Antonio Moreno and Crystal Strickland all explore the makeshift prison cell on The Choice Bus. will review legislation pertinent to local government. Public comments will be heard, and council may go into executive Choice Bus gives students glance at session. For more information, call Linda Hammett at (803) 436-2578. consequences of good, bad decisions Bishopville City Council to meet today at 6:30 p.m. BY KASEY MEREDITH zation dedicated to reducing the high of choice. The foundation focuses on [email protected] school dropout rate. education, said Chet Pennock, who The City of Bishopville will meet at There are various behavior inter- has been with the foundation and 6:30 p.m. today in the Colclough Build- Furman Middle School tacks up vention programs, but unlike Scared The Choice Bus for eight years. ing, 109 E. Church St., Bishopville. the phrase "be who you wanna be" Straight or D.A.R.E., The Choice Bus “Education is important," he said. Council will vote on the approval of throughout the school's halls. focuses on surrounding yourself in a "It’s hard to live on a $7.25-an-hour minutes and consider a resolution The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation positive environment and making the job. Ten grand a year is not a lot to proclaiming April as Fair Housing initiated the phrase through The right choices rather than inciting work with.” Month. Choice Bus, which made a stop at fear. The foundation teaches that if you Council will listen to a presentation Furman Middle School last Thursday “Students nowadays are indifferent surround yourself with the right by resident Patricia Sykes and will and Friday. to the fear factor," Miller said. "They people, you'll make the right deci- hear reports from the city administra- Operdella Choice Miller, a career need to touch and feel how some- sions. Using testimonials in a short tor, the police chief and committees. and technology education teacher at thing is.” video from high school dropouts who For more information, call (803) 484- Furman Middle School, requested After watching a five-minute pre- then became incarcerated helps illus- 5948. The Choice Bus because she said sentation about the risks of dropping trate the importance of making the being proactive about discipline out of high school, the students were right choices. Lee County Chamber to hold problems can be effective. invited to have a hands-on experi- Pennock said The Choice Bus en- Business After Hours on April 18 "If we can just save one or two ence. In the cell was a bunk bed and courages other options of secondary kids, it will all be worth it," Miller toilet that were once inmates’. education. "You don't have to go to Lee County Airport Commission said. "It's fun," Denice Richards, a sixth- college, but you should get a skill," he will host the Lee County Chamber of The Choice Bus teaches students grade student, said.