Cindy Elsberry celebrates last board meeting as Horry County Schools Superintendent

Cindy Elsberry, Horry County’s exiting superintendent, said Monday that she did not want to leave the position.

Elsberry made the comment after her final Horry County Board of Education meeting Monday – the school board’s final for the year.

“It’s a little sad because I’ve been going to board meetings as superintendent for 12 years now, and it’s odd to think of doing something different.”

Elsberry, who has not commented much about her departure since resigning on Nov. 17, would not say what sparked the resignation, but did say she wanted to stay superintendent.

“I didn’t want any money, I wanted to continue to be the superintendent,” Elsberry said Monday. “But there was a parting of ways – it’s just a natural occurrence.”

She said her nearly $440,000 severance package was because her contract ran until 2017, and she was expecting to have a job until that time.

Elsberry said she was frustrated by the board’s decision to slow down design plans for five new schools, but said her frustration was not the reason for resignation.

“The superintendent/board relationship is like a marriage,” Elsberry said. “Sometimes they do things that I don’t like and vice-versa.”

Chairman Joe DeFeo, responding to a question about whether the resignation was a payoff, called it just an agreement between all parties.

“You have a negotiated agreement, and we gave her severance,” DeFeo said. “I understand why the public would be upset about it, but it was part of her contract.”

So what’s next for Elsberry?

“Lots of exciting things,” she said. “I’m not going to have a lot of downtime – there are several things I’m looking into.” She said she was not yet employed elsewhere, but “will definitely stay in education.”

Neil James, school board vice chairman said, “I have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Elsberry in a number of situations. Over those six years I have found Cindy to be a true professional and one who was truly dedicated to her job.”

Jeffrey Garland, district 11 representative, publicly thanked Elsberry for her service.

“You’ve done a lot to help Horry County Schools and the children of Horry County,” Garland said, “and we’ll be forever grateful of your service.”

Elsberry, who teared up at board members’ remarks, was awarded a standing ovation from the board and everyone in the audience.

“In all of her dealings, I found her to be straightforward and compassionate, but also deeply caring of each child,” James said.

Almost 100 people packed into the district office’s meeting room for Monday’s meeting, including several to receive various recognitions, and some to wish exiting school board members goodbye.

Karen McIlrath, district 2, and Jimmy Washington, district 3, were not re-elected and will give up their seat at the end of the month. Harvey Eisner, district 1, also is not returning to the board.

Also Monday school board members learned that the district will use the same budget parameters and formulas in the 2015-16 budget as they did this year, with one important increase: student growth, according to John Gardner, chief financial officer of the district.

“Folks, we are growing,” Gardner said. “It looks like we need to get those schools up quickly so these students have somewhere to go.”

Horry County Schools is expecting an increase of about 1,229 students but shouldn’t need to hire more assistant principals, Gardner said. The county is planning to hire more teachers to keep up with student growth, which should somewhat increase operational costs.

Five architectural firms were chosen to complete several remodeling projects on area schools – including security check-in buildings at four high schools and planning/design for Myrtle Beach Primary and Waccamaw Elementary – and will begin contract negotiations soon, according to Matt Dean, executive director of facilities.

“These five firms will be hired for these modification jobs, and just put wherever they fit best,” said DeFeo.

The firms are: UWPD Architecture, Inc.; Quackenbush Architects & Planners, Inc.; SGA Architecture, LLC; Pike – McFarland – Hall Associates, Inc.; and Pegram Associates, Inc.

The board also voted to give Rick Maxey, interim superintendent, a monthly increase of $3,200 while serving in the temporary position. He also will be given an $850 monthly automobile allowance for travel within the district. In 2014, Maxey earned $132,938.39. With an extra $38,400 a year, he'll be making more than $170,000 a year.

“The pay increase was recommended by our lawyers, who deal with superintendent contracts all the time,” DeFeo said. “He might be the lowest paid superintendent in the state.”

The board voted to relocate Conway Middle School Principal Margaret Sordian to another position in the district after Jan. 1. Sordian has been on paid leave. It hasn’t been determined where she will be placed.

Daryl Brown, executive director or athletics for the district, requested an additional $18,500 in funding for the three new lacrosse teams at Carolina Forest High, Myrtle Beach High and St. James High schools. The teams already have an initial $2,500 for start-up money, so the additional cash will be used for uniforms, equipment and supplies, Brown said.

The board will meet next on Monday, Jan. 12. Three new board members, representing districts 1, 2 and 3, will be seated.

This story was originally published December 15, 2014 at 11:01 PM with the headline "Cindy Elsberry celebrates last board meeting as Horry County Schools Superintendent."