News

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is moving forward with a series of immediate actions in response to the August 2026 State Inspector General (SCOIG) report, including engaging an independent, qualified firm to conduct an audit related to Next Level Educational Services and the Circle of Life Foundation.

The Board of Trustees’ Audit & Finance Committee was briefed this morning on the administration’s work to engage a firm to conduct the review. The District’s action plan specifically calls for an independent auditor to examine all Next Level and Circle of Life invoices and payments; the firm will also review whether CCSD should seek reimbursement for services that may not have complied with applicable ethical or contractual standards.

“The administration is taking the findings of the State Inspector General seriously,” Superintendent Anita Huggins said. “Our responsibility is to respond with facts, accountability and action. We are moving deliberately to examine the financial issues identified in the report and ensure that the public can have confidence in how CCSD conducts its business.”

The review is one component of a broader corrective action plan developed by the Superintendent. The plan assigns an executive owner, deadline and evidence of completion to each recommendation stemming from the SCOIG report.

Among the additional actions underway or directed by the administration are:

• Financial accountability and recovery. In consultation with counsel, CCSD will develop a plan to recover any improper payments identified through the review. Procurement and Legal will also evaluate whether debarment proceedings are appropriate for vendors that may have willfully violated procurement requirements.
• Enhanced vendor safeguards. CCSD is reviewing vendor background-check procedures, including regular checks for vendors entering schools during school hours, particularly those interacting with students. 
• Conflict safeguards. The administration is advancing policy measures addressing Board oversight versus operations, fiduciary responsibilities, confidentiality, procurement and vendor lobbying, and Board-Superintendent roles. The action plan also calls for an annual conflict/vendor-affiliation attestation process for board members and CCSD employees involved in purchasing decisions. Small group sessions are already tentatively scheduled for the Board post-election November 12 and publicly, November 16, 2026.

CCSD will continue to work with legal counsel and the Board as appropriate as these actions move forward. “Our focus is not simply on responding to a report,” Huggins said. “It is on making the changes necessary to strengthen our systems, protect our students and employees, safeguard public resources, and reinforce the standards of accountability our community expects from Charleston County School District.”