RHS Boardroom to You
Recap of the Board Meeting on October 13, 2026
RHS Board Meeting October 13, 2026
The Rock Hill Schools Board of Trustees and Superintendent enjoyed welcoming education majors from Winthrop University. We always appreciate the opportunity to connect with future educators and share the great things happening in Rock Hill Schools!
Recap of the Board Meeting
You can view the meeting in its entirety at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/VB_4w9nHhbo?si=EpcMt4G8xXa1Ub9bKey Moments and Decisions
Action from Executive Session (1:05:45)
The Board unanimously approved the Superintendent’s recommendation to hire certified employees, with a vote of 7–0.
Action Agenda (1:29:50)
The Board unanimously approved the following items, each by a vote of 7–0:
Grading and Assessment Systems: Second reading of Policy IKA.
Content and Credit Recovery: Second reading of Policy IKADD.
Staff Leave and Absences: Updates to Policy GCC/GDC clarifying leave provisions and allowable uses.
Facility Naming: Naming the original portion of Sunset Park Elementary that will remain the Rock Hill School District Service Center at Sunset Park.
Presentations
Graduation Task Force Report (1:08:35)
Darren Wilson, Deputy Superintendent, shared recommendations aimed at improving graduation decorum of the audience, while keeping the focus on celebrating students and their accomplishments. Recommendations included communicating expectations early, incorporating student-led messaging, establishing consistent procedures, and exploring an automated name-reading system. Board members discussed the importance of preserving opportunities for students to speak during ceremonies and gathering additional community feedback as recommendations are refined.
Rock Hill Schools Tennis Partnership (1:43:55)
Rick Lee, chair of the City of Rock Hill’s Tennis Advisory Committee, highlighted the successful 23-year partnership between the City and the district. The partnership provides tennis instruction and access to facilities for students. He also shared a proposal for a practice backboard and potential USTA grant opportunities.
Impact of Fuel Prices (1:59:55)
Kevin Madden, Chief Financial Officer, reported that high fuel costs are projected to push transportation spending slightly over budget this year - but it will not impact operations. If this continues there would be a slight increase in fuel budget for next year.
Report of the Superintendent (2:02:00)
School Report Card Progress: Dr. Deborah Elder, Superintendent, celebrated significant progress on the South Carolina School Report Cards, with every Rock Hill school earning a rating of Average or higher and none rated Below Average or Unsatisfactory. Oakdale Elementary earned an Excellent rating, while seven schools received Good ratings. All three schools previously designated as underperforming improved to Average, reflecting continued progress across the district. Richmond Drive Elementary was also recognized at the State House for outstanding student growth. Two of our high schools, Northwestern and South Pointe both received Good ratings.
School Roundtables: Ongoing conversations with school staff are helping shape district planning. Dr. Elder thanked employees for sharing honest perspectives, successes, and opportunities for improvement.
Professional Learning: Staff feedback helped shape the recent professional development day, which featured peer-led learning and introduced communities of practice for employees in similar roles across schools.
Principal Appreciation Month: The district is celebrating principals throughout October with social media spotlights and appreciation activities recognizing their leadership and service.
Other and Future Business
Board member Laci Daniel shared an update on the Reset and Rise mentoring program at Aspire Academy, with an emphasis on increasing community awareness about the program.
Announcements on Behalf of the Board
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We are currently hiring for the 2026-2027 school year. Find more info on our website at RockHillSchools.com.
- Our next school board meeting will be held on October 27, 2026 and will be streamed on our website with replays available after the meeting.
Find the Replay Online
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