Chester superintendent returns; officials still quiet on reason for extended absence

Superintendent Agnes Slayman appeared to have returned to work at her Chester County School District office Wednesday, with district officials still not saying why she’s been absent from work the past few weeks.

Slayman, too, has not answered The Herald’s questions about her leave of absence this month. On Wednesday, the Chester school district’s spokeswoman forwarded a reporter’s questions to the superintendent. Slayman did not respond.

The day before Slayman’s return to the district office, The Herald reported the Chester County School District is under a state Department of Education investigation for alleged grade tampering. Chester County school board Chairwoman Denise Lawson said Tuesday any state probe comes months after the district’s own internal investigation into the unspecified claims.

Lawson said she could not provide details about the issue, but she told The Herald that one employee involved no longer works in Chester County schools. She said district leaders looked into the issue last school year and handled it appropriately.

Slayman could not be reached for comment this week about the state investigation.

The S.C. Department of Education has not yet finished its inquiry into the claim of grade “adjustments” or tampering. Officials have not indicated that the current investigation is tied to Slayman’s recent unexplained “personal leave.”

Still, several questions posed to the Chester school board and the district office have gone unanswered this month including whether Slayman’s recent absence was a choice or a request from supervisors, and whether the superintendent was paid while on leave.

This week, school board trustees spent more than two hours behind closed doors meeting with two attorneys to discuss Slayman’s employment. Two weeks ago, board members met privately for three hours with an attorney but would not say whose employment they talked about.

On Monday, during a brief public portion of a school board meeting, board members voted 6-1 to hear an employee or employees’ “grievance,” but would not specify who the complaint or complaints were filed against.

Lawson has said the day-to-day business of the school district has gone on in Slayman’s absence this month. She told The Herald on Tuesday the top priority of the district – to educate children – has not been affected by the board’s deliberations or the superintendent’s leave.

Chester County schools serve more than 5,200 students.

Slayman’s leave of absence this month came at a time of contention and uncertainty in the district over who would provide security at home high school football games.

Relations apparently became strained between the school district and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office this summer after district officials replaced deputies with private security guards on school grounds. District officials, the sheriff’s office, the City Council and the County Council all were involved in discussions this summer over whether city police officers could have legal jurisdiction to work as security at Chester High School games, though the football stadium sits outside Chester city limits.

Normally, sheriff’s deputies would be in uniform at home athletic events, but that arrangement seemed to be no longer a guarantee when the district swapped deputies for security guards as school security officers. Earlier this month, sheriff’s office and district employees drew up an agreement to have deputies at games – at least for the short term.

Slayman, who soon will reach her four-year anniversary with the school district as superintendent, has not publicly commented on the football game security issue.

Before arriving in Chester in January 2012, Slayman worked in the Kershaw County school district. Her career in education spans nearly 30 years, including time spent as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent.

The superintendent earns a $150,000 salary, paid for by taxpayers in Chester County.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Chester superintendent returns; officials still quiet on reason for extended absence."