Sullivan named Florence School District 2 superintendent

Robert Sullivan, assistant superintendent for Florence School District 2, has been named the new superintendent for the Pamplico-based district.

Members of the Florence 2 Board of Trustees made the announcement during a called meeting Monday at the district office.

No official notification was made to the media about the meeting.

Bill Rogers, executive director of the S.C. Press Association, said the state’s Freedom of Information Act states that the school district must give written notice of the meeting.

“The law (states) that you must give the public and the press 24-hour notice, and it doesn’t appear to be done here for whatever reason,” Rogers said.

Board chairman Thad Calcutt and current Superintendent Dr. Steve Quick both said they thought the Morning News was aware of the the called meeting.

Calcutt said the board made the announcement after the executive session at the board’s regular board meeting Sept. 22.

During an open session at that meeting, board member Robert Carter made a motion to identify both Sullivan and Hyman as finalists for the position and that the board schedule interview times with both at a mutually agreeable time.

Board member Johnny Jenkins seconded the motion, which the board unanimously approved.

Calcutt said the lack of notification wasn’t done on purpose.

“I’ve never withheld anything and had anything to withhold,” Calcutt said. “I definitely have no objection to giving the (public and media) information that we have.”

During Monday’s called meeting, the board met in executive session to interview both Sullivan and the district’s other assistant superintendent, Charles Hyman.

Hyman also was named a finalist for superintendent.

Calcutt said while in open session, board member Mona Lisa Andrews made the motion to allow the board’s chairman to contact the board’s attorney, Vernie Williams of Childs & Halligan P.A., who would then give sample contracts for Sullivan to the board.

The board would vote on the contract at a “newly scheduled board meeting,” Calcutt said.

The motion was seconded by board member David Poston and was unanimously approved by the board.

Calcutt didn’t give a date of the meeting and couldn’t say whether it was supposed to be determined at the board’s next regular meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 27.

The board’s attorney, Vernie Williams, didn’t return a telephone call Friday seeking comment about the announcement.

Sullivan, who spoke with the Morning News during a telephone interview Friday, said no contract agreement has been reached and no official date has been set for when he will take over as head of the district.

No date has been determined for Quick’s last day as superintendent.

In the meantime, Sullivan said, he is honored to have been chosen to lead the district after Quick, who has served as district superintendent for the past 15 years.

“I’m excited about the opportunity that the Florence School District 2 Board of Trustees has offered me,” Sullivan said. “I’m delighted in this stage of my career.

“Florence School District 2 has been a great school district for many years, even when I worked in Lake City,” he said. “This has always been a competitive place to strive to be like. I look forward to working with all of our district administrators, our teachers and our students here.”

Sullivan said he will continue to build on the district’s strengths and continue to work diligently on areas that need improvement.

Sullivan began his educational career as a science teacher at what was then Olanta High School. He later became a biology teacher at Lake City High School and assistant principal before becoming principal at Hannah-Pamplico High School in 1990. He became assistant superintendent in 2001 after serving as director of secondary education.

Sullivan attended the University of South Carolina where he earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master of Education in secondary education. He also has a master’s degree, plus 30 certificate in educational administration from the state Department of Education.

On the Web

Florence School District 2, http://www.florence2.k12.sc.us