Fort Mill School District discusses emergency, health concerns tied to Silfab
The plan was discussed during Tuesday evening’s meeting. The district promised more would be shared on Wednesday.
FORT MILL, S.C. — As concerns continue to mount over the controversial Silfab Solar plant under construction in York County, leaders at the Fort Mill School District are sharing their emergency plans for the elementary and middle schools nearby.
The district shared during its meeting on Wednesday, August 5, that it had contracted with the environmental health and safety consulting group known as Citadel EHS. Julie Wojnowski, a member of the group’s leadership team, presented an update on its Health, Safety and Emergency Planning recommendations for school leadership at Flint Hill Elementary and Flint Hill Middle. A board update email shared after the meeting concluded said the group focused on the campuses’ emergency protocol coordination, indoor environmental quality and operations, and community engagement and continuity planning.
The recommendations, which the district said would be shared online on Wednesday, were partially quoted, saying in its conclusions, “This plan is not a prediction of what will happen, but provides an outline for how to respond to emergencies. Its value lies in the groundwork it sets: clear roles, coordinated systems, and consistent communication, all ready to activate when needed. As Flint Hill Elementary and Middle Schools welcome students, the Fort Mill School District and its partners are equipped not only with plans on paper, but with the capacity to act with clarity, with alignment, and with the trust of the community they serve.”
Additionally, the district shared that Citadel EHS had started handling periodic air quality testing at the school site to “establish baseline levels for continued monitoring”, and that school leaders are evaluating possible continuous fence line air quality monitoring when or if Silfab’s plant goes online.
The full board meeting is available to view on YouTube:
Community members have long argued that Silfab’s proximity to the schools presents a health risk because of the chemicals used to create the solar plants the company produces. One family told WCNC Charlotte earlier this year they planned on moving away because of their own concerns.
In June 2024, WCNC Charlotte was invited inside Silfab Solar for an exclusive interview with COO Treff MacDonald. MacDonald acknowledged the use of these chemicals but argued the plant and chemicals are safe.
Flint Hill Elementary opened its doors to its first class of students on August 4, 2025. Flint Hill Middle is set to open in 2026, and both campuses will be connected. They’re located along Gold Hill Road, less than two miles south of the Silfab plant.
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