In fall 2023, we heard testimony directly from students who were concerned about the dysfunction and discrimination coming from the school board, and who felt unsafe and uncared for by this district’s leadership. We also heard from many members of our community and organization who expressed concerned about the school board’s leadership.
In September 25, we witnessed the majority members of this school board ignore and manipulate their own policies and procedures over and over again. They pushed out the Black superintendent that they themselves had selected, tried to stifle an inclusive and diverse sexual health curriculum by getting rid of members of the Health Advisory Council, and made a Black woman go through a rigorous process to become the permanent Chief Academic Officer, and then, in stark contrast, they practically gave the superintendent position to a white woman with no process whatsoever.
On April 15, 2024, more than 1,100 people demanded ethical governance from the Charleston
County School Board at CAJM’s 12th annual Nehemiah Action.
Rev. Patricia Bligen Jones, CAJM Co-President and Pastor of Hebron Zion Presbyterian Church, and
Penn Doucher, a high school student and co-chair of CAJM’s education committee, presented Monday
night’s demands to Charleston County School Board Chair Keith Grybowski, Superintendent Anita
Huggins, and Board Members Courtney Waters, Daron Calhoun, and Darlene Roberson.
Grybowski was asked to champion the following requests:
● Support a motion for the board to conduct an audit of the current school board’s compliance with
policies and ethical governance performed by an outside entity.
● Support a motion to change and/or add policy language to ensure audits of the board are
continuous.
● Increase required training for school board members around ethics, conduct, conflict resolutions,
Robert’s Rules of Order, and restorative practices.
● Conduct a 360-degree evaluation of the superintendent’s performance within 90 days, focusing on
student priorities and management/engagement.
Grybowski said “no” to each of them.
Concerning the question around increased training around Robert’s Rules of Order, Penn Doucher
reminded Grybowski that the question was based upon a research meeting the education steering
committee held with Grybowski, when at the time, Grybowski gave the board a “D” letter grade on how
well they had been following ethical principles from the state school board association. Grybowski also
said in the meeting that he believed the board had not been properly trained.
Grybowski changed his position before Monday’s Nehemiah Action.
Superintendent Huggins was asked to support the following requests:
● Advocate for an assessment of the board’s policy compliance and ethical governance within the
next 90 days by an outside entity.
● Propose an independent audit of the district’s HR, Finance and operations departments to begin
within the next 90 days by an outside entity.
● Will you advocate that the board work to hire an outside firm to conduct a 360-degree evaluation
of the superintendent’s performance as superintendent
Superintendent Huggins said yes to the first, and no to the final two, adding that she wants to be held
accountable by the community. Doucher responded, “When you say you want to be held accountable,
we’re giving you the opportunity to back that up with action.”
Waters, Roberson, and Calhoun were asked:
● To support a motion for the district to conduct an audit of the board’s compliance with its policies
through an outside entity
● Ensure that the audit results are available to the community within 30 days of completion.
● Support allocating funding in the budget to ensure recommendations from the assessment are
implemented.
● Support a motion to change and/or add policy language to ensure audits are continuous.
● Support changes in the board policy to increase training that board members are required to
attend, specifically around ethics and conduct, conflict resolution, Robert’s Rules of Order and
Restorative Practices
● Support a motion for the board to work with CAJM and the community to hire an outside firm to
conduct 360 evaluations of the superintendent’s performance.
Waters, Roberson, and Calhoun answered yes to all five. Dr. Carol Tempel, a longtime CAJM member,
wanted to be present but gracefully agreed not to attend this meeting in order to avoid any potential
conflict with FOIA laws about a board quorum. Though she was not able to attend last night, we are
grateful for her commitment to the process and the intentional work of Justice and equity for all students.
Tempel issued a press release in support of all questions. The board members called on all in attendance
to actively attend school board meetings held at 75 Calhoun Street.