Consultants outline leader search; Morris, SHS also make headlines

CONSULTING FIRM OUTLINES DISTRICT'S SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

Sumter school board's search for its next superintendent had its "kickoff" at the trustees' meeting on Oct. 6.

That was the phrase used by Kevin Castner of BWP and Associates, which is the consulting firm hired by the full board to help facilitate the search for Sumter School District's new leader, and he and a fellow consultant discussed the process in detail to include timelines and community engagement.

Other aspects of BWP's search will include background checks of candidates, a community survey, developing a leadership profile of preferred qualities in the next superintendent and candidate recommendations that the firm will provide to the school board. However, Castner made it clear the board ultimately decides who it wants to interview and select as the district's new leader.

With BWP's assistance at the meeting, the full board unanimously agreed to a Jan. 3 deadline for applications and a 60-day advertising window, which will attract a larger pool of candidates, he added.

As far as community engagement activities, the firm will spend two or three days in the district later this fall to interview all nine board members individually and also host up to 32 meetings with various stakeholder groups approved by the trustees.

Castner said half of those meetings will be internal to the district to include staff and even students and half will be external and could include the faith-based community, city and county government, chamber of commerce, local colleges and more.

BWP has done more than 800 national searches for superintendents, and Castner said he personally has been a part of more than 50 searches. His team helping the board includes Percy Mack, who was also in attendance at the meeting, and Frank Morgan.

The same three-member BWP team helped a previous Sumter school board in 2019 in its search that ultimately hired Penelope Martin-Knox, who served one term locally. Four current trustees served on that nine-member board to include Chairman Shawn Ragin, Vice Chair Brian Alston, the Rev. Ralph Canty and Matthew "Mac" McLeod.

HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE HONORS SUMTER HIGH WITH MAJOR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

Earlier this fall Sumter High School's athletics program received a top honor, but it was not associated with any scoreboard results from a game.

On Sept. 11, the South Carolina High School League announced the school was the only 5A high school in the state to earn the association's Sportsmanship Award Banner, which is the league's highest recognition for excellence in sportsmanship.

According to Shelly Galloway, Sumter School District's executive director of communication and community engagement, the honor celebrated the dedication and character of Sumter High's athletes, coaches, students, staff, supporters and the broader community.

"It reflects the collective commitment of all stakeholders to fostering respect, integrity and pride both on and off the field," Galloway said.

The South Carolina High School League formally presented the banner to the school during its homecoming pep rally on Sept. 19.

Sumter High Principal Anamaria Sandor said she was excited to receive the award.

"This is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Sumter High School family," she said. "We are excited to celebrate this milestone together."

MORRIS TO BENEFIT FROM

$70M GIFT TO UNCF

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott made one of her largest single donations ever in late September to financially strengthen historically Black colleges and universities, and Morris College will benefit.

On Sept. 23, Scott provided a $70 million gift to the United Negro College Fund, which is the nation's largest private provider of scholarships to Black students. The landmark gift will be invested in the UNCF Member Pooled Endowment Fund, which is designed to strengthen the long-term financial health of all UNCF member HBCUs.

Private HBCUs benefit from UNCF, and there are six in South Carolina to include Morris. Across the nation, there are 37 member schools.

According to a news release from UNCF, the fund aims to form a pooled endowment of $370 million - $10 million for each member school, including Morris.

The school's $10 million will include $5 million from UNCF, with a matching $5 million raised by the college, said Morris Vice President of Institutional Advancement James Tyson.

That funding will be invested and pay out at 4% of net gains annually, he added.

The pooled $370 million would increase the median endowment of UNCF member schools by 63%, from $15.9 million to $25.9 million, according to the organization.

Tyson said Morris currently has an endowment of about $15 million.

"The average endowment across HBCUs for members of UNCF is about $15 million, so $10 million represents a huge increase on a percentage basis," he said. "Endowments are used to fund scholarships, operations and other areas. So having an additional $10 million in the principal of your endowment allows a college to have a higher draw, which may be used on an annual basis to support the ongoing progress of the school.

"To have a single campaign double the amount that any school can access on an annual basis is huge, particularly when you are talking about smaller HBCUs. A million dollars here and there for a school like Morris is not a small amount of money. This will be a tremendous boon to the college."