Multiple speakers urge Rock Hill board to reinstate Dutchman Creek principal Clayton Moten

Several community members and District employees used the public-comment period on May 28 to urge the Rock Hill School Board to reinstate Clayton Moten as principal of Dutchman Creek Middle School.

Speakers included parents who described community support for Moten and district teachers who characterized his leadership as linked to steady improvements in student outcomes. Eric Robinson, a teacher who identified himself as a 16-year district employee currently at Dutchman Creek, testified that Moten had a roughly 25-year track record in the district and credited him with raising the school's report card score from the mid-30s to the mid-40s over his tenure. Robinson told the board that Moten's leadership had produced steady improvements in referrals and disciplinary incidents while the school maintained strong academic and extracurricular results.

Why it matters: Principals shape school climate, discipline and instruction. Public pleas for reinstatement followed earlier personnel decisions discussed by speakers as having been made outside the public spotlight; commenters asked the board to revisit that action in the interest of stability for students and staff.

What speakers asked for: Public commenters requested a public revote or reinstatement, more transparency about the circumstances of the personnel decision announced earlier in April, and clearer communication from the board. Speakers emphasized Moten's long service (multiple commenters cited 25+ years), community ties and specific indicators of school performance they said were stronger under his leadership.

Board response: Board members did not reverse earlier personnel actions during the meeting. Several trustees acknowledged they had heard the public comments and said they would continue discussions through appropriate channels. The board did not take an immediate formal vote on a reinstatement during this session.

Note on sourcing: The claims about report card scores and disciplinary trends were presented by speakers from the school community during public comment; the board did not offer separate staff figures during the public-comment segment in the meeting.