COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The superintendent of Richland School District One is resigning after two incumbent board members lost elections.

A newly elected board member said it was an opportunity for a “clean slate” after recent discussions.

The district board unanimously approved a separation agreement with Superintendent Craig Witherspoon Tuesday night, effective June 30, 2025.

Under the terms of the deal, he will be paid an annual salary of just over $258,000.

The move comes after several contentious school board races. With Two new board members running on change platforms won their electionsIt shifted the composition of the board from one that supported the current administration to one that was likely to criticize the current administration.

Richland One’s board of directors has not provided a timeline for hiring Witherspoon’s replacement, but the board will need to begin that process soon.

Some parents and teachers told WIS News 10 community involvement in this process is essential.

“We’ve done some great things in this area, and it continues to be a pleasure,” Witherspoon said at the board meeting Tuesday night.

Witherspoon is walking away after leading the district for nearly a decade.

Chris Wormley, a current Richland One parent and former district teacher, said he’s eager to turn the page.

“I am excited to introduce new policies,” he said. “I want to see every child at Richland One benefit from the new policies and new procedures.”

Witherspoon did not say why she decided to leave now.

WIS News 10 asked to speak with him Wednesday, but a district spokesperson said he was unavailable.

Several board members praised Witherspoon on Tuesday for her “innovative” leadership, including former board member Cheryl Harris, one of the longest-tenured.

“I just want to congratulate you for focusing on the baby, focusing on the kids, not being affected by the noise, sticking with the job and moving this district forward,” he said.

But his tenure was not without controversy.

Last fall the region I transferred a few teachers His departure to different schools in the middle of the year led to some protests.

this summer, a government investigation It found the South Carolina Department of Education wasted money, illegality and mismanagement related to the early learning center project. raise the level of financial oversight.

“I blame a lot of the problems on the imbalance between the superintendent and the school board,” Wormley said.

Former Lower Richland High School principal Ericka HurseyTrump, who beat Harris for a seat on the board, said in an interview Wednesday that he had heard from several district parents and some former teachers who were optimistic about the path ahead.

“People are happy there will be change and they look forward to it,” he said. “Not everything was done improperly in the past. But there is a sense of relief at the way things are going in the region. “I’ve already received a few messages this morning from people saying, ‘I can now go back to the area because there is light and we think there is hope for change.'”

Wormley said the move raises the possibility of returning to Richland One.

Hursey called for patience and said change will take time.

Under the terms of the agreement, Witherspoon can leave the area before June 30 with 30 days’ notice.

The Board may also ask him to resign by giving 60 days’ written notice.

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