Colleton County trustees authorize superintendent search consultant, approve staff hires and diversity procurement plan

The Colleton County School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 12 authorized its board chair to enter an agreement with a search consultant to support the district’s superintendent search, approved multiple personnel actions, adopted an annual minority business enterprise plan and accepted the PTO/booster club participation report amid questions about state filing deadlines.

Board Chair Strobel led the Committee of the Whole meeting. After an executive-session discussion on the superintendent search, the board voted to authorize the chair to enter an agreement with Lehi Consulting LLC for the superintendent search. The motion carried with one member recorded as opposed. No dollar amount for the contract was disclosed during the public motion.

The search authorization was the meeting’s most consequential formal action because it followed executive-session legal consultation; the board will use the consultant to support candidate recruitment and the search timeline, the chair said during public action. Trustees also approved recommended professional hires for the 2025–26 school year and acted on student admission and release items presented after executive session.

Why this matters: The consultant contract begins the district’s formal, supported effort to find a permanent superintendent after the board’s prior personnel steps. The meeting also set short-term human-resources and procurement policy positions that affect day-to-day operations.

Most important actions and supporting details

- Superintendent search consultant: After executive session the board authorized the chair to enter an agreement with Lehi Consulting LLC to assist with the superintendent search; the motion passed with one opposed. The board did not state a contract value at the public vote.

- Professional…