[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6356188,"mediaKeyId","2216989-bb65f6a85148aea4cc9af13acf46a627","parentId",2216989,"title","Rock Hill board accepts superintendent's retirement; approves separation agreement and names interim","audioSeconds",711,"startMs",7044420,"endMs",7755835,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216989-bb65f6a85148aea4cc9af13acf46a627&start=7044&end=7755","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216989-bb65f6a85148aea4cc9af13acf46a627/thumbnail_7044420.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6356188/South-Carolina/Rock-Hill-board-accepts-superintendents-retirement-approves-separation-agreement-and-names-interim","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356188-95d637695965169c0acd7f365b530626/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173038&Signature=FIi24a8FnhYGzcEjkNLt8VkGPlqZpie5OMwx95nEmWp23opL7Raatd91LfN5sjH6KO6evWEBTo1XJsnnlNK40168y6y7fnyylHcyK0EgFuvPNBnHcAmxswJtwINsQWvlSL1xrEs8b0atYYr-eeltlhQNhBzAXV5K6UmUU4YCNLlTZe4BIBDqFbMMIZ9YprQ62r510fkPH1YM66ItQsvz95oQldqd3rG7RjefRK61hNKuFDcr9ynFZLz4iaZ7cif0UXK~LoGXed2QUWTv~tUu~RMBsRJ8jmxslk9FAs4CLPrghP7hmOkmIobLYti7SwEbQoqFEHEqzFM6~BrQv5JvEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rock Hill Schools","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Rock Hill School District Board of Trustees accepted the superintendent's decision to retire and took multiple actions to effect a leadership transition at its Jan. 28 meeting.

The superintendent announced in open session, \"After many conversations with my family and after thoughtful prayer and reflection, I'm excited to announce that I'll be retiring effective Jan. 31.\" The board moved to accept the retirement and approved the motion in open session. The motion to accept the superintendent's resignation was made by Dr. Belton and seconded by Mr. Burns; the motion carried 6-1 with one abstention.

The board then approved a separation agreement between the superintendent and the district that the trustees said they had reviewed in executive session; the board authorized the chair to execute the agreement on the board's behalf. That motion was approved unanimously.

Finally, trustees voted to employ the district's current deputy superintendent, Dr. John Jones, as interim superintendent effective Feb. 3, 2025. The board authorized the chair to execute the interim superintendent contract; the motion and contract were presented to trustees in executive session prior to the vote.

In remarks before the votes, the superintendent summarized accomplishments during his tenure, praising partnerships with local colleges and community organizations and noting awards and recognitions the district received. Multiple board members offered public thanks and personal remarks about the superintendent's leadership.

Ending: The board approved the retirement acceptance, separation agreement and interim appointment during the Jan. 28 meeting; the chair is authorized to sign the separation and interim agreements. The district did not release the separation agreement or interim contract details at the meeting; the board said those documents were presented in executive session and will be executed as authorized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","RHS School Board Meeting 01-28-25","oneSentenceSummary","The board accepted the superintendent's retirement effective Jan. 31, approved a separation agreement reviewed in executive session, and voted to employ Deputy Superintendent Dr. John Jones as interim beginning Feb. 3.","taxTitle","York 03, School Districts, South Carolina","taxId",38337,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356191,"Rock Hill board votes unanimously to commission independent audit of district finances",284,6893395,7177555,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216989-bb65f6a85148aea4cc9af13acf46a627&start=6893&end=7177","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216989-bb65f6a85148aea4cc9af13acf46a627/thumbnail_6893395.jpg","/articles/6356191/South-Carolina/Rock-Hill-board-votes-unanimously-to-commission-independent-audit-of-district-finances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356191-d0461fc0cb89bafab0b15c5af9f61b45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173038&Signature=bxyjvIYt6b1KyCI~X-JpqZjmliXvIJZJ2EYv8UHokMp2AyRm-Da4EJvMTueBi4wpFTKA98G2p7QyiUT3xtDJhG8k1Vb~G-aAJcHyWGdZV6H6F0zV~hZ271rrFwidOJN17IceW57hvgdvOf~SxnzwzYp4HjkocKZP8rQkFJ~-AV2YfDN2IUKzrG9tDbmab3gGOiQymKHLYqRtmsEs2heVscmMk7oL-iQM1JADsBaK87qPiD3aHG6P8zxOBkY6dESgl-dTXtnXiihnlsk1n3r6YZaHwZpYisI92qx3ILVjlb4VsPv4D-g~xp0ckt~FTQ13hPWfcnCyBF3cJKYfprlBLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rock Hill School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 28 voted unanimously to commission an independent audit of district finances to provide a clear, external review of how one-time pandemic-era funds were spent and how the district should allocate resources going forward.

Board members cited a need for transparency and a full picture of revenues and expenditures. \"It's time to put our funding into the classroom and prioritize our people,\" a board member said while urging the review.

Board discussion leading up to the vote referenced the roughly $54 million in additional funding the district received during the COVID period and said those one-time dollars supported new expenditures that are now under pressure as the funds ended. A board member and members of the public noted that certified staff recently received the district's largest pay increase in its history and asked whether noncertified staff and other priorities had been adequately addressed.

A motion to commission the independent audit was offered in open session; the board adopted the proposal 7-0. Board members said an outside analysis would help identify overlapping programs, administrative redundancies and potential efficiencies so money could be redirected to classroom priorities and personnel.

The vote followed public comments urging financial transparency and repeated calls from trustees for an objective review. Board members said they will solicit an outside firm and will return to the board with a scope of work and timeline; the meeting transcript did not include the audit contract, scope, or a proposed vendor.

Ending: Board members tied the audit to longer-term budget work ahead of the next fiscal planning cycle and said they expect the review to inform decisions about staffing and program priorities. No vendor was selected at the Jan. 28 meeting.","Trustees voted 7-0 on Jan. 28 to order an independent audit and financial review after trustees and community members raised concerns about funding decisions made during and after pandemic-era federal and state allocations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356197,"Parents, teachers and students urge Rock Hill board to preserve Virtual Academy amid budget review",4074,2636935,6711066,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216989-bb65f6a85148aea4cc9af13acf46a627&start=2636&end=6711","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216989-bb65f6a85148aea4cc9af13acf46a627/thumbnail_2636935.jpg","/articles/6356197/South-Carolina/Parents-teachers-and-students-urge-Rock-Hill-board-to-preserve-Virtual-Academy-amid-budget-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356197-61f7565bdd8b8b4f05d53c84fd4b4b99/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173038&Signature=I~hXIKw35n1GOEe2D15eEQANLTGhgcF8DHTaYlawIgbl2Qe3TQeRzWmzHaLoU5ox7yPjCm01OQGfnGCXJ66MJLdfUzIL7Ytreua8k2gR~EBXc4FN3BQpwcTsVv0p6iY8Z3-cN3T924z30cuowPPxw5JFUMeSUmhV-uv7L~eJ3oVeURk5C2vwH3M4iYenSgDWK0fbrN4gs83HTrtWqv2vZ4-rH01oroVchtE9FexuMJ0He6F2xWQfRfWcuzU8GAGYwjNGBrJkyK9CPqSdFB3g~t8reYe-mqM29fK7REhqI1CaziuZc~xYODjR9PD3UqUTPx8Ypk5U4~zMlFnK1ECQOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Rock Hill School District community told the board on Jan. 28 that closing the Rock Hill Virtual Academy would remove a vital option for students with health needs, anxiety or other circumstances that make traditional classrooms difficult.

\"This is what Virtual Academy does for our students,\" said Felicia Greer, a high school English teacher at the Virtual Academy, who described long teacher hours, individualized support and students who regained confidence in the program.

The pleas came during the communications/public comment portion of the board meeting. Parents, teachers and several students asked trustees to consider alternatives and to preserve the program while district leaders complete a budget review. Brenda Fox, a parent, told trustees that the academy provides a \"safe space for our children to learn worry free in our homes,\" and that closing it would also risk losing experienced teachers.

Board members acknowledged receipt of the testimony and said they are meeting in small groups with district leadership to examine the academy's structure and budget options. One board member said the board is \"committed to finding solutions\" and would take a \"deeper dive\" into the funding picture before making final decisions.

Speakers urged several funding and operational options they asked the board to consider: treating Virtual Academy staffing more like teachers in traditional schools, reallocating unrestricted surplus dollars where allowable, and pursuing special education funding streams. In her remarks, Greer said the academy had eight vacancies the prior year and asked whether portions of existing restricted funds or federal/state special-education dollars could be used to sustain staff positions; she also referenced a district surplus mentioned by speakers during public comment. The transcript did not specify which exact fund categories would be available or the legal constraints on restricted funds.

Students described tangible academic benefits. Eleven-year-old Zion Walker, a sixth-grade Virtual Academy student, said the program helped him manage anxiety and improve grades. Another student, Jordan (quoted via prepared remarks), said the academy helped him achieve honor-roll grades and calmer learning conditions.

Board members and the superintendent repeatedly thanked speakers and said the board values the input. The board asked staff to provide budget details in follow-up meetings; no formal action to close or expand the academy was taken at the meeting.

The board session included recognition remarks and other agenda items; the Virtual Academy comments occupied the communications/public comment portion of the meeting, not a formal action item.

Looking ahead, parents and staff said they face a compressed timeline because enrollment windows for next school year are imminent; they urged the board to communicate decisions early enough for families to plan.

Ending: The board did not vote on the Virtual Academy at the Jan. 28 meeting. Trustees said they would continue small-group budget meetings this week to examine options and report back; parents and teachers asked for transparent timelines and clear guidance before enrollment opens.","At the Jan. 28 Rock Hill School Board meeting, teachers, parents and students urged trustees to keep the Rock Hill Virtual Academy open while the board reviews budget options. Board members said small-group budget meetings are planned to explore funding and program sustainability.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rock Hill board accepts superintendent's retirement; approves separation agreement and names interim

Rock Hill board votes unanimously to commission independent audit of district finances

Parents, teachers and students urge Rock Hill board to preserve Virtual Academy amid budget review