HCS superintendent to seek early retirement
Horry County Schools Superintendent Dr. Rick Maxey will seek an early retirement, perhaps stepping aside as soon as June 30, the end of the current fiscal year.
Maxey reportedly revealed his intentions to members of the board of education in an email earlier this month, the contents of which were first reported by The Post and Courier on Monday, April 23.
School Board Chairman David Cox said Maxey had planned on making his official retirement request at the board’s scheduled April 29 meeting, but those plans were preempted by the news report.
“Because of an egregious breach of confidentiality, a highly sensitive email was leaked to a reporter,” Cox said.
Emails sent and received by public employees and elected officials are considered public records in South Carolina, according to the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
Asked about the news report after a special board meeting on Monday, Maxey would neither confirm nor deny that he intends to seek an early retirement. He termed the premature news report “unethical,” but didn’t explain why.
On Tuesday, Maxey sent a statement to HCS employees explaining his plans to retire. He said he planned to discuss a transitional proposal with the board during its next meeting on Monday, April 29.
“Being a part of Horry County Schools has been an incredibly fulfilling and memorable experience,” Maxey wrote. “I have had the privilege of working with dedicated and passionate teachers, support staff, administrators, and Board members who have shown an unwavering commitment to our students. I am confident that under the leadership of our capable and dedicated staff, Horry County Schools will persist in achieving excellence and providing the highest quality of education for all of our students.”
Maxey said he expresses gratitude toward his colleagues and previous co-workers and extends his appreciation to the community and parents who supported HCS throughout the years.
“As I retire, I leave with a sense of pride and confidence in the future of Horry County Schools. I know that the district will continue to thrive and uphold its commitment to providing the best possible education for all students,” Maxey said. “In closing, I want each of you to know that it has been an honor and a privilege working together with you to serve the children of our great school district.”
Maxey has worked for the school district for more than three decades, starting as a teacher at Loris High School. He has been superintendent, the school district’s top administrative position, since 2015.
His current employment contract runs through June 2027.
“Dr. Maxey has not requested to be released from his contract yet so that he may enjoy the rest of his life in quiet enjoyment. He planned on making that request Monday, and at the same time he was going to announce his retirement to 6,500 employees,” Cox wrote in a statement.