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 staff hiring: The board accepted the recommended professional staff hires for 2025–26 (items 1–6) by unanimous vote.

- Student admissions/releases: The board approved admission of three students and release of three students as presented; the motion passed unanimously.

- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) plan: The board adopted the district’s MBE plan, aligned to the South Carolina Model Code and the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code, by unanimous vote. The plan aims to ensure minority‑owned businesses are afforded opportunities to participate in district contracts.

- PTO/booster club participation report (policy KBE): The board accepted the annual PTO/booster report required by state policy KBE. Trustees debated the practicality of the August 1 filing deadline for newly elected PTO officers; the board recorded one dissenting vote against accepting the report as presented. Legal counsel confirmed the August 1 requirement stems from the new state law enacted last year, and trustees asked the policy committee to review whether local implementation timing could be improved.

Other substantive reports and discussion

- Attendance and Be Present SC: Superintendent Williams announced that Cottageville Elementary was selected to participate in the state’s Be Present South Carolina initiative to address chronic absenteeism. Williams said the program “aims to bring awareness to the negative impact chronic absenteeism has on student achievement” and that the district will monitor Cottageville’s activities for possible districtwide replication.

- Gifted and Talented (GT) funding and enrollment: The district outlined GT funding and staffing. The state-calculated share for 2024–25 was reported as $404,447.91 and the district’s mandated local share $1,164.09 (totaling $405,612). The district reported the full cost of the GT program including salaries and benefits at about $1,027,481.90, with a district contribution of $621,869.91 from the general fund. The presentation included a projected GT identified student count (about 295) and an estimated program cost of $776,591.10 for the coming year; the board was told final counts will be set after the 45th day.

- Solution Tree “All Means All” conference: Dr. Jenkins described a district team’s three‑day visit to the Solution Tree institute in Tulsa focused on inclusive practices and collaboration between general and special education staff. Jenkins said the district will produce a reference guide, “Label Lehi Learning,” to provide inclusive high‑leverage instructional practices to teachers and leaders.

- Human resources and staffing: HR director Wiltsie Hamilton reported a notable district milestone of zero certified-staff vacancies for the first time in four years, while noting nine bus-driver vacancies and some delayed international hires. Hamilton said 65 new employees had been onboarded during new‑employee orientation.

- Athletics handbook unveiled: Dr. Christopher Myers presented a new 63‑page district athletic handbook intended as a single reference for coaches, students, parents and community members. “The purpose of this guideline is to provide students, parents, coaches, advisors, and the community with a resource for answering questions about the athletic programs of the Colleton County School District,” Myers said. The handbook covers transfers, participation and playing-time expectations, concussion protocols, parent/fan behavior (including an ejection‑penalty policy), home‑school athlete participation and other operational details.

What the board directed next

- Policy committee review: Trustees asked the policy committee to review the PTO/booster reporting deadline (policy KBE) and any needed local changes consistent with state law. The board also set a tentative policy committee meeting for Aug. 26 at 5 p.m.

- Implementation steps: District leaders said they will return with updates on the Solution Tree implementation, attendance metrics (including 10‑day and 45th‑day enrollment figures that affect funding), the athletic handbook rollout, and any contract terms for the superintendent search as they are negotiated.

Quotations from the meeting

Superintendent Williams on the attendance initiative: “This program aims to bring awareness to the negative impact chronic absenteeism has on student achievement.”

Dr. Jenkins on the Solution Tree trip: “We were issued a book entitled All Means All, and you’re welcome to borrow mine.”

Dr. Christopher Myers on the athletic handbook: “The purpose of this guideline is to provide students, parents, coaches, advisors, and the community with a resource for answering questions about the athletic programs of the Colleton County School District.”

Meeting context and next steps

Trustees held an executive session to receive legal advice related to the superintendent search before returning to public session to take action authorizing the chair to proceed with a consultant agreement. The board scheduled routine follow-ups: policy committee review (Aug. 26), the next regular meeting (following Tuesday at 6 p.m.), and ongoing reports on attendance, Solution Tree implementation and operational items such as HVAC repairs and athletic logistics.

Ending

The board concluded by approving routine personnel and student items and adjourning; trustees said district staff will provide the requested follow‑up materials at future meetings.