PINE GROVE – School might be only a little more than a month away, but Rock Hill school officials are getting ready now for that first day back in classes.

Wednesday, July 19, 2000

PINE GROVE – School might be only a little more than a month away, but Rock Hill school officials are getting ready now for that first day back in classes.

The Rock Hill Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night to discuss some personnel changed for the 2000-01 school year.

"We have several employees who have been in the district for many years and have recently announced their retirements," Superintendent Lloyd Evans said. "The board has approved their severance pays and we will be looking to fill those positions in the near future."

One of those retirees is high school social studies teacher Mike Richards, who will officially retire on Aug. 1.

"Mike has been with the district for 27 years as a social studies teacher," Evans said. "In addition to teaching, he has coached the boys high school track team and the cross country team for several years. He will be missed. In addition to Mike retiring, Dick Neal – who has been with the district for over 20 years – has retired and the board has approved his severance pay."

Adding to the changes in staffing, the board approved filling the girls high school track coach vacancy for the new school year.

"The board has awarded the position of girls track coach to Melissa Bailey, who has been in the district for several years," Evans said. "Melissa was the coach for the girls track at the junior high school last year and we feel she’s qualified for the job."

Board members also approved DeNeil Hartley as the high school assistant band director for the new school year, he said.

In other business, a supplemental contract was awarded to the Local Professional Development Committee for the upcoming year.

"LPDC is very involved in our teacher certification renewals," Evans said. "They meet and review any teachers who need to renew a certification. This contract determines their salaries for the 2000-2001 school year."

And the work to get ready for August is not done yet, Evans added.

"We will be holding a special meeting Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. to approve vendors for our food services, garbage disposal and various other maintenance needs we have every year," he said.

Rock Hill students return to classes Aug. 21.