After several weeks of evaluating four possible locations of district-owned property, Rock Hill Schools officials have selected to build its new $6.5 million office on Orange Street in downtown Rock Hill. The new office will be nestled between Central Child Development Center and Comporium Communications headquarters.
“We look forward to the great opportunities this new space will offer our employees and our district,” said Superintendent Kelly Pew.
District staff and its construction management partners will continue working to design a more functional building that will enhance the district’s ability to provide professional development opportunities to its more than 2,000 teachers and best serve the Rock Hill community. A newer facility will be designed with a smaller building footprint and more effective layout compared to the current office. This streamlined approach is expected to save the taxpayers more than $130,000 annually in operating expenses, which will directly benefit our students and schools.
District leaders considered other locations for its new office including a structured purchase of space in University Center at Knowledge Park, renovation of existing space, or new construction. Possible locations for the new office could have included district-owned property near Rock Hill High School, Applied Technology Center, or Edgewood Center.
Revenue from the sale of the current office location will aid in financing the construction of a new office. Additional capital funding for the new office will come from the sale of other properties once-owned by the school district. Remaining financing of the new construction will come from existing debt service funds. These sources will not affect the recent bond referendum authority or funds and will not impact the general operating fund or increase taxes.
Since September 1992, the Anderson Road property has been home to the district’s administrative and support staff. Intent to sell the property was first made public on February 6, 2012, and Rock Hill-based The Tuttle Company soon listed it for sale. In the years since, several offers were made on the property but none equal to the now accepted offer from locally-based Founders Federal Credit Union. The 42,500 square feet of office space and 12 acres of land will be sold for $2.7 million and allows Founders to expand its operations in the Rock Hill market. Meeting a required condition of the deal, the new owner is allowing the district to move its staff out of the building over the next 12 months while a new office is built. The district will relocate central service departments out of the Anderson Road office without jeopardizing quality of service provided to employees, schools, and the community.