Horry County, Georgetown Schools Start Search for New Superintendents
Both Horry County and Georgetown schools have initiated their search for new superintendents as the current academic year comes to an end. The vacancies have been caused by the current superintendents, Rick Maxey from Horry County and Keith Price from Georgetown County, moving on to other pursuits. Both have held their respective posts for multiple terms.
The Superintendent Search Process
Illinois-based company, BWP & Associates, has been chosen by Horry County Schools to manage their superintendent search. It is predicted that negotiations with a new superintendent will be finalized by the Christmas season. The board of Horry County Schools selected BWP over another Superintendent search firm based in Illinois, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates. The selection was majorly influenced by BWP’s four-step procedure of profile development, candidate recruitment, assessment, and selection, promising an in-depth and all-encompassing search for the most suitable candidates.
In a similar manner, Georgetown County School District is seeking the assistance of the South Carolina School Boards Association for its superintendent search, with the aim of announcing their new superintendent in October.
The process for both schools will involve meeting with teachers and school staff, conducting public forums, and online surveys. Alongside this, school board members will assist in profile setup and interviewing potential candidates.
Hurdles for Horry County
According to Kevin Castner, a representative from BWP, Horry County might face issues during the initial stages of the search process due to the summer break. However, he reassures that meetings will be scheduled once the staff returns in a few months. He also mentioned the added difficulty of finding suitable candidates in large districts, like Horry County with over 48,000 students and 6,300 employees, due to a smaller pool of candidates.
Confidentiality and Undisclosed Costs
The exact cost of the search process will be revealed after a contract between BWP and Horry County Schools is signed, the date of which is currently undisclosed. As a reference, BWP was previously paid $48,500 for conducting a similar search for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. To protect the process, BWP has confirmed that the names of potential candidates will not be shared until the final selections have been shortlisted.
The Interim Superintendents
Eddie Ingram, a recent retiree from Berkeley County School District, and the HCS Interim Superintendent are set to begin their duties from July 1. In the meantime, Deputy Superintendent Bethany Giles has been assigned as the interim superintendent for Georgetown County School District from May 7.
Looking Ahead
As the hunt for new superintendents goes on, both districts continue to uphold their commitment to providing high-quality learning environments for their students, supporting their staff, and contributing positively to their communities. The importance of finding candidates who resonates with the values and visions of their respective districts is being constantly emphasized by the board members.
