New detailed report alleges former Jasper County Superintendent’s ‘shocking and disheartening’ misconduct

JASPER COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - When the Jasper County School District parted ways with their superintendent within the last year, rumors swirled around the Lowcountry.

SEE: Jasper County Superintendent placed on administrative leave pending investigation

We’re finally getting answers on what could have led up to that. Thanks to a new state report that details potential criminal and ethical violations of her contract.

See full report below:

WTOC’s Tyler Manion has been following this for years and Lowcountry reporter Aaron Dixon is pushing for answers from the school district.

Our team has combed through the nearly 40 pages of this report.

The South Carolina Office of the Inspector General writes that there was an extreme high risk of fraud when Dr. Rechel Anderson was superintendent of Jasper County. Not only that, but they also claim she was involved in possible criminal activity too.

From 2018 to 2025 Dr. Anderson acted as superintendent for Jasper County.

But now a state report told us she also raked in $48,000 working for the district’s accreditation agency at the same time. The report says Dr. Anderson didn’t disclose that income and called her role with that company a “substantial conflict of interest.”

SEE: Former Jasper Co. Superintendent paid more than $300,000 in separation agreement

It goes on to say there were “Multiple instances of conflicts of interest whereby Dr. Anderson placed her personal interests above her fiduciary duties to the JCSD.”

The Inspector General report also details fiscal mismanagement.

It says at one point “A replacement CFO was needed... Dr. Anderson filled the position... with an individual experienced in information technology.”

The report mentions Dr. Anderson’s contract with the district, and possible violations of it.

Specifically, it details three different L.L.C.s Anderson started and a book she wrote as “several outside business ventures of Dr. Anderson” that “diluted the attention and availability of Dr. Anderson to adequately perform.”

Those business ventures also led the Inspector General to conclude the former superintendent did not reside in or near the Jasper County School District.

That, a direct breach of her contract and lead to potential criminal actions. The report shows a lease Anderson put forward as proof she did live in the district. The report says, “the validity of the “lease” document was immediately suspect” and then confirmed the lease contained “forged notary... signatures.”

Details like that are spread throughout the report, which doesn’t just mention misconduct by Dr. Anderson. It also discusses the School Board’s role in all of this, saying the board failed to supervise their former Superintendent or hold her accountable.

Jasper County community responds to new state report detailing potential violations of contract

WTOC reached out to every member of the current Jasper County School Board who were on the board when Dr. Anderson was acting superintendent.

A state report about Dr. Anderson came as a surprise to many people in Ridgeland.

“It’s kind of shocking and disheartening, you know the way you fraud our kids and our school system to build yourself up and yet you brought our kids down in Jasper County,” said Rose Green, who worked for the Jasper County School District.

Some feel vindicated.

“I’m just happy that she has been exposed and it’s finally out. I’m praying and hoping that she is prosecuted to the highest extent of the law,” said concerned Jasper County parent, Bridgette Jones.

Others feel Dr. Anderson hurt not just the school district, but the county.

“You have to think about people actually wanting to move to your county. The thing they look at is your school system and when your school system sucks, nobody wants to move.”

Bridgette Jones was a part of a group of parents that started investigating Dr. Anderson after a school bus driver was fired from the district.

She said in addition to Dr. Anderson, the school board should be investigated too.

According to the report, the board did an internal investigation into Dr. Anderson and was supposed to send their findings to local or state law enforcement.

The inspector general asked the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division if they had ever been contacted about the investigation, but they were not.

“Had findings and they terminated her with cause. Then you put a motion to actually pay her out, who does that for somebody they terminated. That says a lot for the majority of the board members.”

Rose Green worked with the school district for over 30 years and said she never saw anything from previous superintendents like what Dr. Anderson is accused of doing.

“They were all good to me. I don’t know the reason a lot of them got rid of, but I wish they would bring that back.”

Now both women say that the school system should try to move forward by hiring someone local who has a passion for the students.

“We need to build our system back up with a good superintendent who can help our kids get back on track.”

The Jasper County School Board held a special-called meeting last week to discuss its search for a new superintendent, and it will meet again in August.