Colleton board extends superintendent contract through June 2026; superintendent says she will step down at end of term
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Summary
The Colleton County School District Board of Trustees voted to extend Superintendent Jessica Williams’ contract through June 30, 2026. After the executive-session vote the board announced Williams told members she will step down at the end of that extended term.
The Colleton County School District Board of Trustees voted on March 18 to extend Superintendent Jessica Williams’ contract through June 30, 2026. The vote followed an executive-session discussion; the board then announced Williams had told trustees she will step down at the end of the extended term.
The board’s public motion authorized the chair to negotiate an amendment extending the superintendent’s contract for one year, subject to terms agreed in executive session. The motion carried after a roll-call-style show of hands; the board chair announced the motion carried.
The board’s announcement after the executive session said Jessica Williams told trustees she believes “the Lord placed her in this role for a season” and that she intends to leave the district at the end of the extended term. The announcement said no decisions have been made about Williams’ plans after her departure and that the board plans to begin discussions in the fall about the search process so a successor may be in place before she leaves.
Trustees who spoke during the post-executive-session discussion expressed differing views about the timing of the extension. One trustee said extending the contract did not align with the board’s stated slogan “it’s all about the kids” and declined to support the motion; another repeated public concern that the district must move quickly on pending matters.
The chair said the board thanks Williams for her service and for providing stability since being named interim superintendent in June 2023. The board indicated it will seek community, staff and parent input during the upcoming search process.
No salary or other contract terms were disclosed in the open record; the motion noted details agreed in executive session. The board did not take additional public action at the meeting on hiring a successor.
Ending The board said it plans to begin public discussion of a superintendent search process in the fall so a successor is in place before Williams’ departure. No timeline or search firm was announced at the March 18 meeting.
