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Rock Hill Schools board approves district office reorganization plan
Summary
The Rock Hill Schools Board of Trustees voted 7–0 to approve a reorganization of central office into four divisions intended to focus support on classrooms, increase use of data and aim for a balanced budget; the plan takes effect July 1, 2025.
The Rock Hill Schools Board of Trustees on Friday voted 7–0 to approve a district office reorganization plan presented by Superintendent Dr. Schmose, a change the administration says will concentrate support on classrooms and improve fiscal sustainability.
The plan, which the superintendent urged the board to adopt after an executive session, restructures central office into four divisions — school performance and accountability; school innovation and operations; fiscal and capital sustainability; and people, culture and organizational advancement — and is intended to emphasize positions and functions rather than individual employees. The superintendent said the changes are designed to help the district be "more data driven" and to support principals more directly.
Dr. Schmose told trustees the organizational chart was developed with substantial input from the district HR team and comparisons with other districts. "This organizational chart has taken hours of of labor of love with the sole purpose of doing what's best for kids in Rock Hill Schools," Dr. Schmose said during the presentation. He listed functions under each pillar, including elementary and secondary education and research and accountability in the school performance pillar; safety, planning, technology and athletics in innovation and operations; procurement, budgeting and transportation in fiscal and capital; and HR operations, grants and talent acquisition in people and culture.
Board members asked several clarifying questions before the vote. One board member asked whether the new chart would prevent a deficit by June 30; Dr. Schmose said the intent is to have a balanced budget going into the next year, and confirmed "Correct" when pressed on whether the chart would be balanced. Another asked about reporting lines, noting the slides showed 24 principals reporting to four associate superintendents; Dr. Schmose said the pillar leaders would support principals and participate in evaluations.
Trustees also pressed on personnel impacts. The superintendent said the reorganization would not immediately displace staff and that the district would seek a "soft landing spot for everybody" who may be affected through attrition, retirement or relocation. He emphasized that the proposal addressed positions, not people, and said division leaders would be involved in evaluation and support processes, including continuing state-standard parent surveys and an internal 360 review.
The motion to approve the plan was moved by an unidentified board member (Speaker 8) and seconded by Speaker 7. Multiple trustees voiced support during discussion; one thanked staff for work done during weekends and holidays. The superintendent publicly thanked HR staff Gina Jenkins and Darren Wilson for their work on the reorganization.
The board voted to approve the reorganization plan 7–0. According to the superintendent, the plan is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025. Following the vote the board adjourned the specially called meeting.
Votes at a glance: The board approved the meeting agenda (7–0); voted to enter an executive session for personnel and legal advice and later adjourned that executive session (both votes 7–0); approved the district office reorganization plan (7–0); and adjourned the meeting (7–0).
