Rebuilding trust: New Jasper County schools superintendent promises big improvements
The applause started small, then swelled. After months of turmoil, it seemed the Jasper County School District — and the community around it — finally felt a flicker of hope.
The district held a stakeholder strategic planning workshop Monday and Tuesday, bringing together community members, school leaders, local officials and parents to discuss the current and future state of education in Jasper County.
The meeting came one week after the district’s former school board voted not to appeal the state’s emergency declaration — reversing the contentious decision made the week prior. That vote effectively ended each board member’s role and relinquished their responsibility for governing and overseeing district operations.
That decision followed years of alleged financial mismanagement by former Superintendent Rechel Anderson, whom the board had hired. It also comes as Jasper County has been recognized as one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties in terms of housing units this year, making it crucial to attract families and teachers to the classrooms. The district serves roughly 2,700 students and employs about 190 teachers across four schools.
Laura Hickson, an educator with more than 40 years of experience, recently replaced Anderson after Anderson was fired in October 2024. A July 11 report from the State Inspector General outlined possible ethical and criminal misconduct during Anderson’s tenure, including financial mismanagement, unauthorized business ventures, ethics violations and forged documents.
Former teacher and district employee LaQuandra Stevenson, who had worked with Anderson when she was principal of Hardeeville Elementary from 2010 to 2013, sat smiling at Monday’s workshop. She called the meeting “a breath of fresh air” and urged parents and the community to rally behind interim superintendent Hickson.
At the workshop, Hickson outlined her mission to ensure students are prepared for college, the workforce or the military. By 2030, she also wants to see at least 75% of students at or above grade level.
“When kids feel as if they belong, they do better,” she said. “And that is our job to do — to make sure that occurs.”
Hickson also identified three key priorities for the district: ensuring the safety of students and staff, providing a high-quality education for every student and rebuilding trust across the schools and the wider community. She said the district is putting systems and procedures in place to improve financial accountability and ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly.
To ensure financial, ethical and operational transparency, Hickson said the district will hold regular meetings like this one, starting with financial updates at the next session. She noted that systems and procedures are already being implemented for travel, purchasing and contracts, with the goal of creating consistent and fully transparent operations.
State Superintendent Ellen Weaver, who also attended Monday’s session, said the State Department of Education will work closely with Hickson and district educators to establish clear performance benchmarks for Jasper County.
When asked about her decision to initiate a state takeover, she said:
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. We have a long way to go to get to where we need to be, but that essential foundation of transparency and a strong financial foundation is what is ultimately going to set Jasper County up for long-term educational success.”
For more on the district’s strategic plan, click here.
