Teachers and parents tell Berkeley County board HR complaints went unanswered and warn budget cuts threaten staffing

Sarah Khalil, speaking as a representative of the Berkeley County Education Association, told the school board that teachers fear retaliation and that repeated attempts to get the district’s human resources office to respond have failed. “When I requested the meeting be rescheduled to discuss those concerns and proposed action items, I was denied a meeting for anything beyond individual matters,” she said, adding that a scheduled April 24 meeting with HR lead Amy Fulmer was canceled and not rescheduled.

Khalil said survey data from about 100 teachers documented concerns about retaliation and unaddressed HR complaints and that entire grade-level staffs are leaving at some schools. “How are we paying two HR leads, yet HR violations are not being addressed?” she asked, and requested an email response within 24 hours.

Lindsay Dragga, a community member focused on governance, pressed the board on conduct and ethics, citing two incidents she said were recorded: a board member’s dismissive gesture during a citizen comment about a roofing contract and a May 4 meeting whisper caught on the board’s playback video. “It is disqualifying conduct,” Dragga said, and asked the chair to explain how members of the public can file a formal conduct complaint. The remarks referenced SC Code Section 59-19-45 and a recent change in the legislature, Senate Bill 70.

Amanda Hebel criticized the board and cabinet for budget decisions she said were being made without adequate staff input, saying cuts to facilitators and middle-school coaches have left teachers “in limbo” about assignments and pay. “Respect, trust, and morale in this district are collapsing,” Hebel said, arguing that proposals to lower the mills do not square with enrollment-driven growth and increased facilities needs.

The meeting record shows the board did not take immediate action on the public comments. Later in the meeting the board voted unanimously on a slate of routine and committee-recommended items and, following executive-session discussion, denied a student attendance appeal and a student expulsion appeal by 7-0 votes.

The board’s public comment rules, announced at the start of the comment period, limit speakers to three minutes and restrict comments about personnel to district-level executives. The transcript shows speakers repeatedly asking for more timely written responses and clearer procedures for filing ethics or conduct complaints.