The State Superintendent of Education has declared a state of emergency in a Florence school district due to chronic financial instability.
Molly Spearman says Florence School District 4 has lost 32 percent of its student population while still paying millions in administrative salaries and related costs.
"For each of the past three years, Florence Four has received the highest financial risk rating and once again was unable to submit a timely audit because of the state of its financial records. I am declaring a state of emergency in the district and will work quickly and diligently to find a sustainable solution to provide the students in Timmonsville with the opportunities they need and deserve for years to come."
According to Spearman, Florence District 4 has just over 600 students among its three schools.
For the past two school years, the state department of education has managed two of the three schools, Brockington Elementary and Johnson Middle. Timmonsville High School and the management and operation of the district office have been overseen by the local school board and a mutually agreed upon district superintendent.
Spearman says as part of the declaration of emergency, she will be pursing contracts with surrounding school districts and private providers for district services in order to create a sustainable level of operations and management for the future.