Fort Mill Schools to pay superintendent $275,000. Here’s what else is in contract
Fort Mill’s new superintendent will take office in just two weeks.
The school board entered into a three-year deal earlier this month with Grey Young, a current Fort Mill administrator with deep roots in the district. His first day in the role will be July 1.
Here’s what is inside Young’s contract.
Fort Mill approves contract for Superintendent Grey Young
Young’s starting annual salary is $275,000, which the board can increase during the contract term based on performance.
In comparison, the new Rock Hill Superintendent Deborah Elder will also make $275,000, and the new York Superintendent Heath Branham will make $200,000. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools hired Superintendent Crystal Hill for $300,000.
Fort Mill will make an annual contribution to a supplemental retirement plan worth 5% of Young’s salary in 2026, 8% in 2027 and 10% in 2028. Contributions are conditioned upon satisfactory performance. Young will receive annual cost-of-living adjustments commensurate with teacher pay, too.
Young will not receive a moving stipend since he already lives in the area. Other local districts carved out thousands of dollars in one-time payments to help their new leaders relocate.
He’ll receive a cell phone, laptop and iPad for work duties and “reasonable personal use.” And he’ll have 15 vacation days, 15 sick days, 5 personal days and all district-recognized holidays.
Other benefits covered by the district include a monthly $1,000 automobile and maintenance allowance for in-district travel, membership dues to professional groups and payment for reasonable expenses incurred while carrying out the job.
Who is Fort Mill’s new superintendent?
Young has been immersed in the Fort Mill School District since birth: Both of his parents were educators. He attended district schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. He volunteered as a coach and substitute teacher during college. He got his first professional teaching job in the district. He helped open several schools as an administrator.
He’s been an official district employee since 2001, spending the last five years of his career as an administrator. In 2022, he took on his current role as assistant superintendent of student services and administration. The South Carolina Association of School Administrators recently named Young its district-level administrator of the year for his work in that capacity.
“I’ve done a lot of different things in the district, but it’s been a pleasure,” Young said. “I’ve enjoyed every job I’ve had and just love working with the people here in Fort Mill. As a K-12 product, I’ve kind of known the culture my whole life.”
The school board selected Young from a pool of three finalists including Jason Johns, the superintendent of Anderson School District 2, and Mary Stratos, the chief instructional officer for Beaufort County School District.
Young will replace outgoing superintendent Chuck Epps, who announced his retirement in February after 15 years in the position. Young will be only the fourth superintendent over Fort Mill schools since the late ‘90s.
