Richland 2 schools cut jobs, reassign staff due to expected $25M budget loss
New charter schools in Columbia mean fewer students for local public schools. Fewer students mean less revenue. Richland 2 is preparing for that reality with jobs cuts.
In a March 27 email obtained by The State, Superintendent Kim Moore shared insight into the district’s job eliminations. These adjustments, Moore wrote, are part of ensuring Richland 2’s long-term financial stability, as “student enrollment is shifting, student needs are growing, and funding remains limited.”
“I understand that reading about cuts and eliminations can be concerning,” Moore wrote. “Let me clarify: our goal is to find a different budgeted position within Richland Two for every affected current full-time employee. We are focused on reassignment, not job loss.”
The district shared that 41.5 jobs were cut. Employees in 31 of those roles will be transferred to other budgeted roles, while 9.5 were already vacant. The fate of one position is still being determined.
The following support staff positions were approved by the superintendent for elimination.
- Two attendance interventionists
- 10 career development facilitators
- Two college information specialists
- Eight compliance secretaries
- One director of new construction
- One executive director of financial services
- One director of safety and emergency services
- One graphic designer
- One human resources operations specialist
- One human resources employment services specialist
- One outreach specialist
- One procurement specialist
- One travel specialist
The following professional staff positions were approved by the board for elimination March 24.
- Half an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) liaison position
- Two district instructional coaches
- One executive director of employee relations
- One executive director of human resources
- One innovation program designer
- One innovation program specialist
- One teacher specialist
- Three transition specialists
The district did not mention any cuts to teaching positions
The district has also shifted other personnel around. Some teacher support roles were reclassified as “instructional coaches.” Library assistant positions in elementary and middle schools were reclassified as “Library and Technology Assistant” positions. A technology assistant was added to each high school.
Despite the eliminated positions, Richland 2 is still planning for salary step increases for eligible employees, increasing the teacher salary schedule and including a cost of living adjustment for other groups of employees.
Over the next few weeks, Richland 2 will finalize staffing guidelines for the 2026-27 school year, notify affected employees of their new assignments, issue contracts and continue hiring efforts for any remaining, unfilled positions, according to an email to the district.
“We understand that change can be challenging and uncertain,” Moore wrote. “Please know that every decision is guided by data, our budget responsibilities, and our belief that our students and staff deserve a strong and stable Richland Two, now and in the future.”
School board chair Angela Nash has not returned The State’s phone calls. However, she did share her insight on the district’s job eliminations via social media.
“No leader wants to be in a position where reductions and budget cuts must be considered. But the landscape of public education has changed, and fiscal responsibility is not optional. It is essential,” Nash wrote on Facebook. “Responsible leadership means facing the facts honestly, even when the facts are hard. It means making decisions based on what is sustainable, what is truthful, and what best protects the future of our students, staff, and district.”
Why is this happening now?
Richland 2, the largest school district in the Midlands with more than 28,000 students and some 4,000 employees, is bracing for a decline in enrollment.
That means less money.
The school board has been discussing “strategic alignment” since at least June 2025, and the district had already begun reviewing its organizational structure by November 2025, according to documents from a board work session. Now Richland 2 is preparing the next fiscal year’s budget, and which means proposed changes are becoming more concrete.
Lower birth rates, family mobility and local demographic shifts were cited as potential reasons for fewer students — but more school choices options, especially the influx of charter schools in the Columbia area, seemed to be a chief concern.
Three charter schools are expected to open their doors in fall 2026, all of which lie around or within Richland 2 lines, including Legacy Traditional School and Ascent Classical Academy in Columbia and the massive American Leadership Academy in Blythewood.
Those schools could enroll more than 3,700 local students, according to predictive numbers provided to the district by the South Carolina Department of Education. As of November, Richland 2 was planning for 2,700 fewer students for next school year.
Enrollment directly impacts the budget. And Richland 2 is planning for a drop in revenue, a nearly $25 million shortfall.
At a March 14 town hall, the superintendent was asked the following question submitted to the district online: “We know that population is steadily growing, and especially here due to the Scout Plant. So, what is the plan for schools if enrollment does not drop? Why reduce staff now with intended growth on the horizon?”
Moore explained that more than 60% of the district’s budget relies on state funding. State funding is based on headcount.
“We cannot plan for future growth in the sense of retaining staff based on what we think will happen,” Moore said.
