Richland 2 finalized a contract with its new superintendent. Here’s how much she’ll be paid
Richland 2 will pay its new superintendent an annual salary of $230,000, according to a district contract.
Kim Moore was announced as the district’s next leader last month and approved in a 6-1 vote by the school board.
The district will pay expenses for Moore and her family to move to the Columbia area from Florida, up to $20,000. Moore is expected to establish permanent residence within the district by Oct. 31, but until then, the district will give her $2,500 per month for temporary housing.
Moore will also receive a $950 monthly allowance for car use, maintenance and fuel for in-district travel, according to the contract. Out-of-district travel will be reimbursed in accordance with operating practices and budget.
The contract, which was obtained through a public records request, is set to expire in 2026. Unless the board notifies Moore by January 2024 of its intentions to not extend the contract, it will be automatically extended until 2027.
Moore began her tenure with Richland 2 on July 3, and has already struck some board members.
“I cannot think of a way I could be more impressed with an individual as superintendent than I am with Dr. Moore,” said board chair Joe Trapp. “Everything about her, as far as my standards go, is exactly what I think we need. ... And I don’t say that lightly.”
The new superintendent was selected from a pool of 39 applicants from 20 different states, and is the district’s first superintendent who is a Black woman. She is a military veteran, and specialized in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. After retiring as a U.S. Army Chemical Corps Officer, she was a teacher, principal, administrator, director and assistant superintendent in the Tampa area.
“I am committed to one thing and one thing only and that is to provide the best educational experience for each student we are privileged to teach,” Moore said at a recent school board meeting. ”Education is my passion. It is the reason I get up every day and my joy.”
Moore replaced former Superintendent Baron Davis, who resigned six months ago after six years as superintendent of the northeast Richland County district. At the time of his departure, Davis had an annual salary of $254,681, according to his most recent contract. It had been extended until 2026, only months before his resignation.
This story was originally published July 26, 2023 at 12:09 PM.
