Jasper County School District Faces Financial Oversight from State Board

Jasper County School District Faces Financial Oversight from State Board

Jasper County, SC – In a significant development, the South Carolina Board of Education has voted to take control of the Jasper County School District’s finances amid serious concerns about mismanagement. The decision, made on Tuesday, follows a series of troubling events, including the firing of the district’s superintendent and an ongoing investigation into potential fraud.

What Is Happening?

The state board’s decision comes in response to late audits and questionable travel expenses incurred by school district officials. A letter from State Superintendent Ellen Weaver to state Inspector General Brian Lamkin on August 2 outlined concerns including “fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, violations of state and federal law, and wrongdoing” within the district. As a result, the state will oversee Jasper County schools’ finances at least through June, with the option for an extension as needed for fiscal recovery.

District’s Financial History

The Jasper County School District has struggled with financial management for some time. In March 2023, the district was placed on a fiscal watch after failing to submit its 2022 audit by the deadline. The audit was finally turned in over 60 days late. This status escalated to fiscal caution in February 2024, and most recently, in August, the district was deemed to be in a fiscal emergency after it failed to submit the 2023 audit.

Ongoing Investigations and Challenges

Concerns were heightened after a Post and Courier investigation revealed that district officials had spent over $228,000 on travel and lodging since 2020, which raised red flags about the district’s financial ethics. In light of these discoveries, Superintendent Rechel Anderson was placed on paid administrative leave in July 2024 and later fired without public explanation by the school board in October.

Current Management Efforts

Under interim director Russell Zimmerman, the district is working to rectify its financial standing with state support. County Treasurer Michael Skinner, collaborating closely with Zimmerman, indicated that the state’s decision to retain Zimmerman signals confidence in his ability to address these financial concerns. Skinner pointed out that the information provided to Zimmerman by the previous administration was more chaotic than initially anticipated, complicating efforts to locate the necessary paperwork for audits.

The Impact on Students

The Jasper County School District serves approximately 2,700 students and includes two elementary schools and a high school, among other programs. The state’s oversight aims to ensure that students continue to receive quality education amid these administrative challenges. Despite the financial strain, the local school board retains its decision-making authority, as the state’s control is limited to financial oversight.

Next Steps and Future Outlook

The school district is currently on notice due to its failure to submit the 2024 audit by its December 1 deadline. However, the state has allowed a grace period until December 16 because of Hurricane Helene. As Jasper County School District works towards fiscal recovery, the local community is left to wonder about the long-term implications of these financial troubles on their students’ education and the integrity of the district.