Board shakes up school system

In the most sweeping administrative changes in the Aiken County School District in many years, 11 schools will get new principals in July and a total of 20 assistant principals have been appointed for the first time or reassigned.

The Aiken County Board of Education approved the district administrators' recommendations at a special meeting Friday in what is certainly the most significant action since Dr. Beth Everitt became superintendent in January 2008.

Everitt did not make herself available for an interview following the meeting and did not return a phone call Friday night.

The board made one district-level appointment, naming Redcliffe Elementary School principal Sal Minolfo as the director of special education. He will succeed Pat Silva, a working retiree who, like five veteran principals, was not offered a new contract because of the district's budget deficits due to state cuts in funding.

Joanne Skillman, long-time principal at Warrenville Elementary School, will retire, district officials said.

The first-time principals and their schools are Allison Churm at Belvedere Elementary, Stephanie Hammond at Mossy Creek Elementary, Laurie Reese at North Augusta Elementary, John Murphy at Paul Knox Middle School, Michelle Padgett at Gloverville Elementary School, Brenda DeLoache at LBC Middle School, Mason Cummings at Ridge Spring-Monetta High and Julie Revelle at Redcliffe Elementary School.

Reassigned principals are as follows, with their former schools in parentheses: Russell Gunter (LBC), Byrd Elementary School; Brenda Smith (Paul Knox), Warrenville Elementary School and Rose Marshall (Mossy Creek), Busbee Elementary School.

In addition, current Busbee principal John Mills will become the Aiken Elementary School assistant principal.

The other assistant principals include both first-time administrators or those reassigned to new schools: Tyral Braxton, North Aiken Elementary; Kim Stokes, Oakwood-Windsor Elementary; Samantha Nobles, Aiken Middle School (full-time); Cindy Munschy, Aiken Middle School (part-time); Johnny Spears, Kennedy Middle School (part-time); Laura Bacon and Ute Aadland, Aiken High; Lori Jones, Belvedere; Trey Laube, Hammond Hill Elementary; Annie Boyce, Mossy Creek; Felecia Waters, North Augusta Elementary; Lloydette Young, Paul Knox; John Bradley, North Augusta High; Sherri McIver, Clearwater; Debra McCord, Gloverville; and Jefferson Elementary; Isaiah Mealing, Midland Valley High; Jay Torgesen, RS-M High; Kathy Freeman, Jackson Middle School; and Wayne Hardy, Greendale Elementary and New Ellenton Middle School.

"I credit the administration for taking a long, hard look at the vacancies based on the skills of the individual people," said Board Chair Dr. Christine Harkins. "I'm quite pleased with the choices that have been made."

At LBC, Russell Gunter spent nine years as a teacher, one year as assistant principal and is completing his 10th year as principal. He enjoyed his middle school experience, but his reassignment to Byrd fulfills a goal to work at an elementary school. His academic work focused on the elementary level.

"I'm looking forward to getting in there and working the faculty," Gunter said. "But it won't be easy leaving the LBC family I've been with for many years."

Allison Churm spent seven years as a Paul Knox Middle School assistant principal and then four in the same position at North Augusta Elementary. She worked with four principals - Rosie Berry, Gene Robbins, Brenda Smith and most recently, Dr. Angela Burkhalter.

At Belvedere, Churm will succeed Rod Greenway. He is one of the five retired but working principals not rehired by the district

"I had some of the best mentors," she said. "I'm really excited about this opportunity. Belvedere is a great school. It will be a challenge following Rod, who is so beloved there. It's sad we had to lose those educators the way we are, but we'll roll right along with what Rod has established at the school."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.