Education

Berkeley County School Board Superintendent Brenda Blackburn Resigns

Pictured: Brenda Blackburn

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – In a special called board meeting of the Berkeley County School District on Friday night, the Board voted to accept the resignation of Superintendent Brenda Blackburn effective immediately and to appoint Chief Administrative Officer Deon Jackson as Interim Superintendent.

Blackburn’s resignation comes after the district fired their Chief Financial Officer Brantley Thomas on February 7, 2017. Thomas is accused of stealing nearly $400,000 from the district. He’d been employed with the school district since 1993.

During Friday night’s meeting before a packed crowd, board members met to talk about the financial investigation of the district. Blackburn’s resignation came after the board held an executive session behind closed doors for nearly three hours.

Board Chairwoman Sally Wofford stated, “we are a strong and exceptional district, and just as our teachers rise every day to meet the challenges of our students, this Board is committed to rising to the challenges facing the District in a straightforward and transparent manner.”

Pictured: Deon Jackson, Interim Superintendent

Blackburn was hired by the Berkeley County School District in August 2015. She was previously the superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, a 9,600 student district in Christiansburg, Va. Prior to this post, she served as an Area Superintendent and an Associate Superintendent for Brevard Public Schools, a 75,000 student district in Viera, Fl.

According to BCSD spokesperson Katie Orvin, district leaders will consult with firm Harding Parker and Associates, LLC, to provide leadership and expertise regarding the operations of the School District. The consulting firm will also conduct a Superintendent’s search for the Board.

Jackson thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve and noted, “I am committed to working with our employees during this transition to carry forward the Board’s vision of integrity-based decision-making in all we do to deliver what is in the best interest of our children.”

Wofford noted “we are confident Mr. Jackson with the support of Harding Parker and Associates will build a foundation of trust with the public and the District that will take us to heights unknown. The Board is fully aware of the short term pain that our stakeholders may feel, but we are committed to long term gains that are transparent and based on integrity.”

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