RHS Boardroom to You

Recap of the Board Meeting

You can view the meeting in its entirety at the following link:

Key Moments and Decisions

Chairman Helena Miller reminded attendees that, during the election season, Board meetings will be conducted in strict accordance with applicable state law and district policies GBI, GBEB, and KHE. She emphasized the importance of maintaining appropriate conduct and ensuring compliance with established policies throughout the election period.

Action Agenda:

• Capital Maintenance Reserve Fund Policy 2nd Read (7:55)

  The Capital Maintenance Fund Policy was presented for second reading following two public meetings, where the district received positive community feedback. Chief Financial Officer Kevin Madden provided an update on the public input and the proposed policy. The Board approved the policy by a 6–0 vote, with Trustee Lacy Daniel absent.

• SCAGO General Obligation Bond Issuance & 2026 Annual Short Term Debt Issuance (9:50) The Board reviewed and approved improvements to the SCAGO General Obligation Bond funding plan, including a strategy to pay off the district’s debt obligations early. Chief Financial Officer Kevin Madden explained that the approach will create additional borrowing capacity and is expected to generate approximately $800,000 in savings. The financing will be completed through a pooled program designed to secure more favorable interest rates.

  As part of the action, the Board also approved the levy of one mill for the current year, authorizing the millage to be included this fall to support the district’s capital funding needs. The Board approved the action by a 6–0 vote, with Trustee Lacy Daniel absent.

• Instructional Technology Usage Resolution - 2nd Read (18:50)

  Superintendent Dr. Deborah Elder presented a Resolution Regarding Instructional Technology Usage, outlining a thoughtful approach to balancing technology with effective, traditional instructional practices. The resolution calls for the development of recommendations for classroom screen time by October 2026 and ethical standards for artificial intelligence use by April 2027. A task force will help guide this work, examining how technology can be used purposefully while keeping high-quality teaching and learning at the center. The Board approved the resolution by a 6–0 vote, with Trustee Lacy Daniel absent.

Work Session:

• Board/Superintendent Communication Plan Annual Review (01:29:00)

• The Board of Trustees held a work session to review the Superintendent Communication Plan, facilitated by Dr. Peter Gordon. The session examined key policies and protocols related to board governance, roles and responsibilities, board member conduct, meeting procedures, the board-superintendent relationship, and policy development. As part of the review, trustees completed a traffic-light self-assessment to identify areas of the communication plan that are working effectively and areas that may benefit from refinement. Discussion focused on weekly superintendent updates, processes for board member information requests, constituent communications, and opportunities to use small-group sessions for data-intensive topics, with an emphasis on maintaining transparency while supporting efficient communication. With three trustees absent, the Board decided to defer further discussion until the next meeting to allow for broader participation. Trustees Montrio Belton, Melissa Harris, Helena Miller, and Pete Nosal were present; Trustees James Burns and Jennifer Hutchinson had to leave early, and Lacy Daniel was absent.

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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 September 8, 2026 and will be streamed on our website with replays available after the meeting.

Find the additional information for each meeting: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031001

Click on "District Policies" on the left side.

Our school board has many duties including:

• establishing policies
• setting direction
• providing support for quality educational opportunities.

https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/domain/85

July 23, 2026

August 25, 2026