ROCK HILL — Rock Hill schools have hired Bernard Gill, a pastor and former Fort Mill schools transportation director, to run the district’s transportation department.
The district had been without a director since former director Anthony White died July 27. Assistant Director Derek Owens took charge until Gill started last month after the school board approved hiring him at an annual salary of $74,800.
“I’m just excited to be on board,” said Gill, 48. “I’m really enjoying it so far.”
He was impressed with the way Owens and others managed in White’s absence.
“I definitely want to commend the staff here,” he said. “They came together and had it up and running in time” for the new school year.
Gill runs the county’s largest bus system, a fleet of 88 buses transporting about 13,000 students daily.
South Carolina owns and maintains its schools' buses, but local districts' transportation departments manage the logistical balancing act of planning routes and overseeing drivers shuttling children to and from home and various campuses throughout the day.
The state’s aging and broken down buses makes the job even tougher. Buses often break down and leave districts short of vehicles.
One of Gill’s top priorities is to push for replacement buses from the state.
“We’ve got some of the oldest buses on the road,” he said.
Since taking charge, Gill has been evaluating what vehicles and equipment the department has on hand. He’s also analyzing bus maps to maximize route efficiencies.
Before coming to the district, Gill, a former Army drill sergeant, was co-director of bus routes for a child care center, according to his resume. From 2003 to 2009, he ran Fort Mill schools transportation department.
Before that, he was a supervisor at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.
He’s currently pastor at Taking the City Ministry in Rock Hill.
Shawn Cetrone 803-329-4072
