Top recent storylines from Sumter School District

CROSSWELL DRIVE WINS BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE BEACON AWARD

Small-group, high-intensity learning combined with steps taken in establishing core belief systems in teachers and students have allowed Crosswell Drive Elementary School to move up this year to another national award level.

This summer, a national education nonprofit group focused on assessment, Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, awarded Crosswell Drive with its Beacon Award for meeting all key markers for school success based on performance metrics. The recognition was a step up from a Points of Light Award granted one year earlier by the group.

The school has now won four national or regional awards for its post-COVID-19 academic recovery and enrichment efforts with children.

WRIGHT ADMITS, APOLOGIZES FOR STATEMENT IN GEORGETOWN

After initially denying that he said he was ready to leave Sumter soon for a superintendent position in Georgetown, William Wright Jr. admitted at the Oct. 7 Sumter School District board meeting that he did actually say it.

In September, Wright was a finalist for the Georgetown County School District superintendent opening, and his comments in question were made at a meet-and-greet there with the four finalist candidates.

After he was not selected for the post, Wright said in a Sept. 25 statement with his attorney present that he always wanted to stay in Sumter. He also added that a reporter from the Coastal Observer newspaper misquoted him on wishing to leave Sumter for the Georgetown County district leader position.

However, a Facebook video of the meet-and-greet where all four finalists' comments were recorded surfaced afterward, and it confirmed Wright did say that he wanted to leave Sumter for the new job.

In his introduction at the meet-and-greet, Wright specifically told the public in attendance, "I am Dr. William Wright, superintendent of Sumter School District hopefully for a few more days because I want to come here and do this work here."

At Sumter School District's Board of Trustees' meeting on Oct. 7, Wright admitted in a prepared statement that the comments made in Georgetown were true.

"Unfortunately, I did make the statement," Wright said. "I do not remember making the statement at all. I would imagine many of you are aware and have seen it, and I have always said and practiced that if I did something, I would admit it.

"For that reason, I need to apologize to each of you."

Wright also said at the time that he was still recovering from brain surgery eight days earlier after a brain bleed that occurred after a fall and that he considered not completing the interview process in Georgetown.

DISTRICT PROJECTS BUDGET SURPLUS

Sumter School District is in the middle of its audit process currently, and Chief Financial Officer Shatika Spearman projects the district will have a positive change to its fund balance for fiscal year 2024. At the Oct. 7 board meeting, she estimated the district will have in the range of a $5.7 million to $10.2 million contribution to the fund balance for the year. As of June 30, 2023, the district's general fund balance was $51.4 million.

The official, annual district audit is being conducted by Columbia-based Mauldin & Jenkins and must be completed by December, according to state Department of Education.