JASPER COUNTY, S.C. () — Citing a “crisis of confidence” within the Jasper County Schoolboard, the State Superintendent of Education’s office has declared a State of Education Emergency for the District. This action allows for the possible dissolution of the Jasper County Schoolboard and a state takeover of the District.
In a letter dated July 28, addressed to Jasper County Schoolboard Chairperson Joyce Gerald, State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver stated, “I have determined that declaring a state-of-education emergency is the only prudent course of action to protect the students of the Jasper County School District (JCSD) and to ensure that public resources are utilized effectively.”
This decision comes just two weeks after a 38-page State Inspector General’s Office report requested by Superintendent Weaver was finished.
The biggest takeaway of the report is possible fraudulent activity involving positions and money by former school superintendent Dr. Rechel Anderson.
Investigators discovered several problems, including that the district and Anderson were either late or failed to submit multiple required state audits annually.
The report also details employment conflict of interest concerns that went “unnoticed by JCSD Board” and “tainted the accreditation process for JCSD.”
Jasper County Schools are currently under an accreditation review by the S.C. Department of Education to determine the “extent of the impact” according to Weaver.
There are also questions about whether Dr. Anderson lived in the district and if she may have even forged documents to make it look like she had a home in the county. Either would be a violation.
Investigators say she used her position to help Cognia, a school accreditation agency. At the time in question, she was being paid thousands of dollars by the company.
The Inspector General’s report details a pattern of misconduct that went “unaddressed for years.” It concluded that the Board “lacked oversight and basic contract management of the employment contract” with Anderson.
Anderson was in charge of the district for seven years before being suspended last year and then eventually “released from her contract” by the board in March. She received a settlement for more than $336,000.
The investigation has been turned over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for possible criminal charges.
The failures detailed in the Inspector General’s report, “among others” according to Weaver, create a crisis of confidence in the Board’s ability to adequately manage and oversee the District’s fiscal dilemmas and provide a clear path forward for the future of Jasper students.
Weaver has formally requested that the South Carolina Board of Education (SBE) approve the declaration of a state of education emergency. The SBE will consider this at its next meeting August 5.
Weaver’s letter says District representatives may attend and observe the public portion of the meeting but “the statute does not grant JCSD the right to participate.”
Once the SBE has voted, the JCSD Board can appeal the decision within 10 days.
Weaver also says the JCSD should not hire a new superintendent without the South Carolina Department of Education’s approval.
Dr. Sam Whack has been the acting Superintendent since August 2024.
