Superintendent Seeks Control of Jasper County Schools

State of Education Emergency Declared in Jasper County

A state of education emergency has been declared in the Jasper County School District, leading to a significant change in its governance. South Carolina State Superintendent Ellen Weaver has taken decisive action, resulting in the dissolution of the Jasper County School District Board. Weaver’s office, pending approval from the State Board of Education, will now take over management of the district and all its schools.

In a letter addressed to Jasper County School Board Chair Joyce Gerald, Superintendent Weaver highlighted that the board has not met the level of action required to address the district's ongoing challenges. The decision comes in the wake of a recent report by the South Carolina Inspector General, which criticized the district's financial practices under former superintendent Dr. Rechel Anderson.

The report detailed allegations of fraud, mismanagement of funds, and instances where Dr. Anderson prioritized her own needs over those of the students. Dr. Anderson was fired last year after a contentious vote in February, and she received payment from the school district. The report also pointed out that the board failed to adequately supervise Dr. Anderson and hold her accountable for her actions.

This situation has led to a call for change, with Superintendent Weaver proposing that her office take full control of the district if approved. This would mean the dissolution of the current school board and a shift in leadership. The next steps for the Jasper County School System are currently under discussion.

Upcoming Steps and Board Actions

On Tuesday night, the school board convened at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the letter from Superintendent Weaver and their search for a new superintendent. Three candidates have been interviewed for the position, but the letter instructed the board not to proceed with hiring a new superintendent or entering into any contracts without approval from the state board.

Despite efforts to reach out to school board members for comments, the board remained silent. One board member even requested that they not be contacted again. A concerned resident, Bridgette Jones, expressed her sadness over the situation but hopes it will lead to a positive transformation for the district.

“I’m glad that we have an actual fresh start or smell the sense of a fresh start coming back into Jasper County,” said Jones. She also mentioned that while she feels tossed aside due to her graduation from Jasper, she supports the state takeover as the only way to remove the “cancer” of the current school board members.

Historical Context and Future Outlook

State-of-education emergencies can last for years, as seen in other districts in South Carolina. Currently, two school districts are already under state control. The Allendale School District was placed under state control in 2017, followed by the Williamsburg County School District in 2018. Last October, Williamsburg was granted the ability to make its own decisions with state approval.

Just a week ago, the state took fiscal control of the Marlboro School District, although not total control. The State Board of Education will decide on August 5 whether to transfer control of the Jasper County School District to the State Superintendent, dissolving the school board. If approved, the district can appeal the decision within 10 days.

As this situation unfolds, the community remains watchful, hoping for a positive outcome and a return to effective and responsible governance in the Jasper County School District.