Timmonsville, S.C. - State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman has declared a state of emergency in Florence School District Four due to chronic financial instability.

"Over the past ten years, Florence Four has lost 32% of its student population while still paying millions in administrative salaries and related costs. Now, with just over 600 students among its three schools, the district’s finances are in dire shape and require immediate action,” said State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman. “For each of the past three years, Florence Four has received the highest financial risk rating and once again was unable to submit a timely audit because of the state of its financial records. I am declaring a state of emergency in the district and will work quickly and diligently to find a sustainable solution to provide the students in Timmonsville with the opportunities they need and deserve for years to come.”

Both Appropriations Acts of 2017 and 2018 include Proviso 1A.12, which provides that the State Superintendent of Education "may declare a state of emergency in a district if the accreditation status is probation or denied, if a majority of the schools fail to show improvement, if the district is classified as being in "high risk" status financially, or for financial mismanagement resulting in a deficit.” Upon declaration of a state of emergency, the State Superintendent may take over management of the district.

For the past two school years, the South Carolina Department of Education, under Spearman’s leadership and direction, has managed two of the three schools, Brockington Elementary and Johnson Middle, in Florence School District Four. Timmonsville High School and the management and operation of the district office have been overseen by the local school board and a mutually agreed upon district superintendent.

As part of the declaration of emergency, Superintendent Spearman will be pursuing contracts with surrounding school districts and private providers for district services in order to create a sustainable level of operations and management for the future.

The emergency circumstances alleviate the board of all duties previously designated to them. The South Carolina Department of Education will continue to provide hands-on technical assistance in the form of school transformation coaches, professional development, and direct program oversight for the remainder of the school year.

“Communities and leaders across South Carolina must plan sustainably for the future and always keep the interests of our students as the top priority. It has become clear that the current model is not working here and taking away funds where they are needed most - the classroom. The students in Timmonsville deserve every opportunity to be successful and that means using tax dollars efficiently and in ways that improve student academic achievement,” said Spearman.