How to Get Started - New Construction, Improvements, Renovations, Change of Occupancy, & More
Flowchart
Welcome to the Office of School Facilities
Congratulations and thanks for reaching out to the Office of School Facilities (OSF) early in the process!
As required by SC State Law §59-23-250(B), all property acquisitions or additions on existing properties must receive approval by SC Department of Education (including owned and leased property as defined in the Guide). As required by SC State Law §59-23-210 & -220, all construction, improvement and renovation of public school buildings and property must comply with the latest standards and the Guide prior to bidding and inspected for occupancy.
The following information is provided in order to help guide school districts and charter schools through the process of establishing a new school or renovation/improvement project.
Property Acquisition
Once your charter application is approved and your district site has been selected, enter the property into the new School Facilities Portal.
Visit our “Electronic Portal Instructions” website for detailed information regarding access, instructions and training videos.
New Purchase/Lease Property Instructions
Step 1: District/Charter will gain access to the School Facilities Portal
Step 2: District/Charter will enter their new purchase/lease properties (one-time entry) under the “Property Acquisition” tab
Step 3: OSF & SCDOT will conduct a site visit for new purchase/lease properties
Step 4: If the District/Charter wishes to continue with new purchase/lease property, upload the supporting documentation on the F2 form into the Portal
Step 5: District/Charter will submit the acquisition to the Superintendent & Board Chair within the Portal
Step 6: OSF Director will evaluate the supporting documentation for approval
Step 7: District/Charter will finalize the “Completion Tab” in the Portal
Existing Property Instructions
Step 1: Visit our “Electronic Portal Instructions” website for more information
Here are two additional documents to help within the property selection:
OSF Electronic Plan Submittal
Once you reach the point that a SC Registered Design Professional is hired to begin the planning phase, that individual will submit documents via new the School Facilities Portal. Visit our
“Electronic Portal Instructions” website for detailed information regarding access, instructions and training videos. Our OSF Program Coordinator, Darius Williams, can help guide the Design Professional through the portal. His contact information is:
Darius Williams
Program Coordinator
Office of School Facilities
dswilliams@ed.sc.gov
(803) 734-4836
Once the Design Professional has access to the portal, he/she will upload plans to OSF for review. Once the plans are reviewed, a Building Permit will be issued to begin construction and subsequent inspections for an ultimate Certificate of Occupancy. Be sure to hire a Chapter 1 and 17 inspector. The list of approved Chapter 1 inspectors are provided in the link below.
If you have any other questions or would like to discuss the process in more detail please feel free to contact me.
Wayne Stokes
Director
Office of School Facilities
S.C. Department of Education
849 Learning Lane
West Columbia, S.C. 29172
Phone: (803) 734-1297 (o)
(803) 683-0617 (c)
Email:
wstokes@ed.sc.gov
Additional Reference Documents/Links
Here are a few specific links that will be useful:
Still Have Questions? Email: schoolfacilities@ed.sc.gov
