Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
CHARLESTON — After more than two hours of closed-door discussion at a meeting Nov. 10, the Charleston County School Board voted 8-1 to extend Superintendent Anita Huggins’ contract by five years. The new contract runs from Feb. 6, 2027, through June 30, 2031. A salary increase and other contract details have not yet been finalized, district spokesperson Andy Pruitt said. Huggins said she was grateful for the opportunity to continue serving children and families in Charleston County. “Our progress is the result of dedicated educators, strong community partnerships, and an unwavering belief in what’s possible for every child,” Huggins said. “There is still important work ahead, and I remain fully committed to ensuring that every student in Charleston County has access to the highest-quality education and the opportunities they deserve.” The contract extension follows Huggins’ recent annual evaluation, in which she earned an exemplary rating of 30.98 out of 33 possible points. In the review, the board commended Huggins for progress in improving student outcomes, noting outstanding performance in the district’s fiscal management, community relations, overall graduation rate, and college and career readiness. Pamela McKinney, the board’s chair, said in a statement that the contract extension demonstrates board members’ confidence in Huggins’ leadership and the momentum they are seeing across schools. Board member Darlene Roberson was the only dissenting vote. She told The Post and Courier she did not think it was appropriate to extend the contract at this stage because she believes the superintendent’s evaluation is not finalized. The board only provided the superintendent with the tallied results and comments, but didn’t discuss those results with her or offer written feedback, Roberson said. And Huggins did not respond to what was provided, Roberson added. What’s more, she said, the board did not discuss any contract extension or compensation adjustments with Huggins. District spokesperson Michelle Mills said the evaluation has been completed following established procedures. The process began in October, when each trustee independently reviewed Huggins using the board-approved evaluation instrument developed by McKinney and trustee Carol Tempel earlier this year, Mills said. On Oct. 27, board members submitted sealed, anonymous evaluations following the board’s executive session. On Nov. 3, the board met in a special-session meeting to review results and finalize a unified evaluation report, which was presented to Huggins that night, said Mills. Huggins released her written response to the board during a press conference on Nov. 5 and was sent to board members the following day, Mills said. “All actions were conducted according to established timelines and procedures; the evaluation process is now complete,” Mills said. Huggins has worked for the district for over 25 years in roles including teacher, principal, executive director of teacher effectiveness and deputy superintendent. She assumed the role of superintendent in the fall of 2023, following the ousting of former superintendent Eric Gallien two months after he was hired. Board members voted 5-4 to formally hire Huggins in January 2024.
