To report sexual harassment, contact the following DD4 Title IX The public is invited to submit questions for the candidates in advance at the District Office located at 500 Ridge St., St. George, SC 29477 or by 6 p.m. on May 12 prior to the community meeting. Board member Phyllis Hughes cited the need for legal consultation as reason for pulling the item from the public. You have permission to edit this article. Jenkins says those text messages were also sent to other board members and employees. The following is a typed rendition of the letter text read aloud at the Monday, Aug. 22, 2022 . Copyright 2021 WCSC. She currently serves as director of human resources. He will replace Dr. Morris Ravenell, who has served the district as superintendent since 2014. Board Chairman Dr. Kenneth Jenkins tells News 2 the investigation was launched after he received threatening text messages from Wymbs back on May 20th. He replaced Dr. Morris Ravenell who served the district as superintendent since 2014. WMES October Feature Teacher and Star staff. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. She graduated last year and was part of the superintendent advisory council. Updated March 4, 2023, 1 . Mon Dec 05 04:28 PM DD4 Mourns the Loss of Former Wolverine Remembering Lavel Davis Jr. Mon Nov 14 03:25 PM October is National Principals Month Happy National Principals Month! Wright named DCSD 4 interim superintendent. We call on Mayor Michelle Wu and BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper to . DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - The State Department of Education is investigating the school superintendent for Dorchester School District 4. Effort underway to mitigate flooding in medical dist. According to Dr. Jenkins, Wymbs accused him of leaking information from an executive session board meeting, which Jenkins denied. In January 2018, Wymbs called Woodberry to tell him there was a good person to take over football when the plaintiff left, according to the lawsuit. Dorchester School District Four Nondiscrimination Statement - Dorchester School District Four is committed to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, applicants for admission and employment, personnel, and community members who participate or seek to participate in its educational programs or activities. ", "The same thing that typically happens happened. Again, the metal detectors will . applicants for admission and employment, personnel, and community members Dorchester School District Four Board of Trustees at its October 18, 2022, Board meeting unanimously passed Board Policy JIH (Student Interrogations, Searches and Arrests). On March 2, 2018, Woodberry submitted his written resignation to Frasier for the athletic director position due to his frustration with having to fire the basketball and volleyball coaches, according to court documents. The plaintiff reportedly denied the interview was mishandled and identified the candidates interviewed for the job. Peter Ellis, the schools former varsity boys basketball coach, claimed Wymbs threatened his employment and pressured Ellis to resign from his coaching position. Two weeks later, the plaintiff claimed Wymbs and Frasier accused him of not being loyal and a part of their A-team. The defendant then threatened to fire Woodberry if he did not have a good season in 2018, court documents state. He said Dr. Wymbss texts became more agitated even calling him a liar at one point. Tue Dec 06 10:00 AM. 843-563-4535, Fax: 843-563-9269. Coordinators: Dr. LaToya Adams, Ed.D. The district announced Ravenells retirement in May and officials said he would remain in his post until a new superintendent was hired. Accordingly, DD4 does not discriminate against any individual WMES first graders learned about Fire Safety with the Dorchester County Fire and Rescue Team. That afternoon, Woodberry was placed on administrative leave for not having adequate interview information in regards to the volleyball coach position and for his comments to the local reporter, the lawsuit states. Several folks in the St. George community signed a petition and wrote to the State Department of Education asking for Wymbs' removal from his job. color, physical or mental disability, age (40 or older), ancestry, genetic DD4 Announces Interim Director of Transportation. Copyright 2020 WCSC. In addition, the board has agreed to not make any public comments regarding the resignation. publicfile@live5news.com - (843) 402-5555. At least two employees resigned and filed lawsuits again Wymbs. On March 22, 2018, Woodberry was told he was being removed from West Florence High and being reassigned to an elementary school, according to court documents. New documents reveal allegations of inappropriate conduct were levied against Dr. Kelvin Wymbs before he decided to resign on Oct. 8. Later that month, she was placed on administrative leave pending a review and investigation into her conduct and performance.. on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual Before coming to DD4, Wymbs was in Florence District 1 where he was accused of abusing his power and sending aggressive messages. Woodberry said he received a call on Feb. 14, 2018 from the schools assistant principal who gave him a deadline of Feb. 16 to choose which position he wanted to keep athletic director or head football coach. CHES hosted its first Hero Day on The Hill. As part of the separation agreement between Wymbs and the district, a formal letter was sent to State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman informing her that Wymbs offered his resignation following allegations of inappropriate conduct, something the district is required to report by law. ST. GEORGE, S.C. (WCSC) - Dorchester District Four schools will be starting the new year with a new superintendent who was hired amid a lawsuit battle involving his former district. : (ladams@dd4.k12.sc.us), Director Last year, Wymbs was accused of sending threatening messages to a DD4 board member and a complaint was filed with the State Department of Education. Phone: 843-563-2298 Email: phughes@dd4.k12.sc.us of Human Resources, 500 Ridge Street, St. George, SC 29477, Office: Tyler Tidwell. Showing the faculty and staff members how much they are appreciated. Another former West Florence High coach also filed a lawsuit against both the district and Wymbs over the handling of their resignation. The day Woodberry fired Pratt, Wymbs scolded him, claiming the interim principal heard other people knew about the plans to terminate the coaches employment. 843-563-4535, Fax: 843-563-9269. Dorchester School District Four Nondiscrimination Statement - Dorchester Even board policies that should be open to the public are being moved to executive session. However, Wymbs salary puts him above that average of about $125,000. Dorchester District 4 community divided on superintendent being investigated, Lowcountry men accused of possessing child porn, 1 dead, 1 hurt after Georgetown Co. crash, VIDEO: Investigators search for cause of West Ashley weekend apartment fire. To report sexual harassment, contact the following DD4 Title IX Shannon Marler is the 2022 DDTwo Teacher of the Year Learn more about Mrs. Marler COVID-19 Updates Get the latest information on COVID-19. School District Four is committed to nondiscrimination and equal The pending investigation is a serious concern, but opponents also say there is a transparency issue. Contracts reveal Ravenells successor will be making about $20,000 more than he did. Accordingly, DD4 does not discriminate against any individual Both the chairman of the board and the superintendent declined to comment on this story. A spokesman for the Department of Education also declined to comment. CHES has its first Safety Patrol Team! York District 4/Fort Mill. The district, and those named, denied all accusations in their response to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina Charleston Division. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. DORCHESTER, S.C. (WCBD) - Dorchester District 4 Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Wymbs resigned Friday following a board meeting. Dorchester School District Four Nondiscrimination Statement - Dorchester The lies are catching up with you your license is next! of Human Resources, 500 Ridge Street, St. George, SC 29477, Office: This co-workers insubordinate and threatening behavior" caused Harriott to believe she was in a hostile work environment, the lawsuit claims. The previous superintendent, Dr. Rose Wilder, will move to a consultant position with the district. Help us cheer and give high fives to our dynamic team of principals. Several residents in the St. George community sent a petition to the State Department of Education calling for Dr. Wymbs to be removed from his job. All rights reserved. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. A pedestrian died after being struck by a vehicle in Orangeburg County on Saturday night, according to S.C. Highway Patrol Cpl. Wymbs had only been with the district since January of 2020. who participate or seek to participate in its educational programs or The board chairman said he then shut his phone off for several hours, and when he turned it back on there were several missed calls from Wymbs and more text messages. Jenkins says it all started when the superintendent sent him a text back in May, accusing him of leaking information to the public that was discussed in executive session at a board meeting. ST. GEORGE Dorchester School District 4 Superintendent Dr. Mary Rice-Crenshaw resigned her position at the regular school board meeting on Nov. 17. I feel like they suppress our freedom of speech. She later claims the superintendent and the co-workers conduct was so extreme and outrageous as to exceed all possible bounds of decency and must be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community. She adds their actions have also caused severe emotional distress.. alleged text messages he sent to school board chairman Kenneth Jenkins. Dr. Chuck Epps, Superintendent Meanwhile, the two educators are both facing pending civil lawsuits filed by former employees. Kelvin Wymbs, superintendent of Dorchester School District 4, is being investigated for allegedly threatening board Chairman Kenneth Jenkins, WCSC reported Friday. CHES has its first Safety Patrol Team! Dr. Shane Robbins. The plaintiff protested because he didnt believe the two had done anything to warrant being fired and was then told to tell them the programs needed to go in a different direction, the lawsuit states. Copyright 2021 WCSC. 4128 Highway 78, Dorchester, SC 29437 Phone: 843-563-5956 | Fax: 843-563-5997 Showing the faculty and staff members how much they are appreciated. Dorchester School District Four Nondiscrimination Statement - Dorchester Title VI, Title VII, Title IX or any other local, state, or federal law. color, physical or mental disability, age (40 or older), ancestry, genetic ST. GEORGE - The Dorchester District 4 board has narrowed the field of candidates for the superintendent position. Thats where sort of ticked me off because they were curse words, words that Im not going to use, Jenkins said. Before his stint on DD4, Wymbs had been named in a complaint filed by West Florence High Schools former athletic director and head football coach. Dixon is currently the assistant superintendent for the Colleton County School District in Walterboro. Investigators are seeking two people who allegedly assaulted an Orangeburg restaurant worker Monday. orientation, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical conditions, Students submitted an application and went through training to be selected. information, national origin, or any other applicable status protected by Wymbs, who was named interim principal for West Florence High in early 2018 following the resignation of former principal Pam Quick, encouraged Woodberry to reduce his duties to athletic director only after the plaintiff said he had no plans to leave his coaching position, the suit stated. CHES hosted its first Hero Day on The Hill. activities. The Dorchester Four school board invites the community to meet the three finalists beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, May 12. Copyright 2019 WCSC. Leading the way, every student, every day, through relationships, relevance and rigor. opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, No decision was made on either topic. REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.- Rehoboth Beach is expected to begin replacing up to 700 water meters on the north side of town next week. The finalists are Gerald Wright, Dr. William Dixon and Dr. Morris Ravenell. Meanwhile, the complaint Ravenel is facing was moved to federal court in September. A police vehicle passed the Henderson K-12 Inclusion School in Dorchester in November 2021. . In the separation agreement, the board agreed to pay Wymbs through the end of the year. One of the board members said he was name calling. I personally believe the superintendent has done some pretty amazing things for being here for such a short amount of time, said former student Sydney Carreira. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Dorchester School District Four Nondiscrimination Statement - Dorchester School District Four is committed to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, applicants for admission and employment, personnel, and community members who participate or seek to participate in its educational programs or activities. Ellis complaint was dismissed from the courts permanently on Thursday. During the Governor's Press Conference, we were notified by Dr. Karen Salmon, Maryland State Superintendent, that all . activities. In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, Live 5 News requested a copy of Wymbs personnel record from Florence One School District for review. Copyright 2020 WCSC. Four days later, Woodberry submitted his resignation later stating, At your request, I regretfully resign, the lawsuit states. Jenkins told the TV station that . DORCHESTER, S.C. (WCBD) - Dorchester School District Two (DD2) on Monday selected Dr. Shane Robbins as the new superintendent. #BREAKING DD4 Superintendent Kelvin Wymbs has resigned his position after a specially called board meeting tonight in which board members received legal advice on an staff matter. Dr. Jenkins said he turned his cellphone off for several hours following that incident and stated that when he turned it back on, there were many missed calls and more text from Dr. Wymbs. Woodberry was contacted by a member of the local media about accusations that Quick changed grades to keep athletes eligible and had mishandled the interview process when she hired the volleyball coach, court documents state. Copyright 2023 Dorchester County School District 4, 2023 Annual Title I Meetings Announcement, Student and Parent Technology Support Request Form, 2021-2022 Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan. #chsnews @live5news. Coordinators: Dr. LaToya Adams, Ed.D. I think there are two sides to every story. Are you an educator? Please subscribe to keep reading. Some were holding signs demanding the superintendent be removed from his position. District News DDTwo Hosts Internet and Social Media Safety and Awareness Nights Board of Trustees to Meet Monday, February 27 DDTwo Announces Co-District Counselors of the Year 1002. To report sexual harassment, contact the following DD4 Title IX orientation, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical conditions, That evening, Wymbs sent Woodberry a text message that included a link to that online article as well as a message that said, according to the lawsuit, I guess that you have seen the story on WMBF. However the nature of those allegations remain a mystery. publicfile@live5news.com - (843) 402-5555. Title VI, Title VII, Title IX or any other local, state, or federal law. Wymbs contract confirms hell make a salary of $140,000, while Ravenell was about $119,000 by the end of his contract. All rights reserved. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. You have permission to edit this article. He began his teaching career in Orangeburg Consolidated School District 3, where he served as a teacher, coach, athletic director, guidance counselor, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. DD2's Board of Trustees met . Dorchester School District Four is pleased to announce Ms. Caroletta LaToya Felder as the next Interim Director of Transportation. Harriott claims the district provided better treatment to [her] non-Indian and male colleagues, according to court documents. Merry Christmas. It was followed by emojis of a Christmas tree and a wrapped present. Happy National Principals Month! Quick told him the student had made up the missed classes and the failure-to-attend status had been changed. who participate or seek to participate in its educational programs or Dixon spent several years teaching in public schools and also served as a head basketball coach. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? Lucky Leg Day at CHES. applicants for admission and employment, personnel, and community members Another opponent of the superintendent says the accusations are troubling, if true. who participate or seek to participate in its educational programs or New documents show resigned superintendent was accused of inappropriate conduct, Lowcountry men accused of possessing child porn, VIDEO: Investigators search for cause of West Ashley weekend apartment fire, the board voted to extend his contract through June of 2023, sending threatening messages to a DD4 board member and a complaint was filed with the State Department of Education, publicfile@live5news.com - (843) 402-5555. Green says she has been trying to get documents from the district, specifically the minutes from a meeting back in May, but has run into roadblock after roadblock. Several supporters showed up at the Thursday meeting to speak on his behalf. Green said. activities. On March 18, another assistant principal, Randy Jackson, emailed Woodberry about a media request and told him that all information provided needed to be truthful with 100% transparency. Any and all false or misconstrued information would be looked into by the district, according to the lawsuit. After some issues with a co-worker, she claims she reported that co-workers actions to no avail to Ravenel. Dr. Andrea Sturkey will take over as interim Superintendent. One those lawsuits was dismissed. The plaintiff guessed the volleyball coach had told others after she was let go, according to court documents. Murdaugh judges own legal story unfolded in SC, Nikki Haley to campaign in Myrtle Beach this month, SC woman arrested after 9 puppies found in trash, Murdaughs attorneys to file appeal after guilty, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant, After Murdaugh trial circus, Walterboro welcomes, Storms roll east after slamming South; 10 deaths, SCDOT receives project permit to continue I-526 corridor, Some California mountain residents could be snowed, Utah man who killed family was investigated by child, Defense lawyers in Idaho killings case want gag order, Lawsuit: Muslims praying at Missouri prison pepper-sprayed, Next steps for Alex Murdaugh after guilty verdict, Fmr. DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) - Dorchester District 4 Superintendent, Dr. Kelvin Wymbs, is under investigation by the South Carolina Department of Education for "unprofessional behavior . Nevertheless, Plaintiff was warned that his actions over the next week would determine his fate at West Florence High School, the lawsuit states. 203 Schoolhouse Road Dorchester, SC 29437. opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Its been exactly a month since the superintendent of Dorchester District 4 abruptly resigned his position. I think the state can decide what they want to do with him but he certainly shouldnt be superintendent anywhere, not with that kind of attitude that he has, Jenkins said. Woodberry is asking the court for an unspecified amount of damages. All rights reserved. Their contracts also differ term lengths. DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - The Dorchester School District 4 community is divided on Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Wymbs. The investigation was launched after school board chairman Kenneth Jenkins claimed Dr. Kelvin Wymbs sent him threatening text messages. information, national origin, or any other applicable status protected by If yes, click the icon below to view monthly events that may interest you! A message from Superintendent of Schools Dave Bromwell: We all have been navigating uncharted territory as our county, state, and nation has grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Updated: Apr 4, 2022 / 10:42 PM EDT. [Wymbs] has already said he is not going to work with our board chair at all unless there is a designated person there.. I feel like they make it difficult for the community to see whats going on in there. Last year, the board voted to extend his contract through June of 2023 with an annual salary of $140,000.