Monday night, the Horry County School Board voted on the contracts of the more than 3,000 teachers and support staff that work for the district.
Of those, four teachers and one nurse were on a high-risk list of not being asked back. The list is based on reduced class numbers and school needs, as well as budget cuts. All five were retained, as passed by an 8-2 vote. John Poston and Will Garland were the two dissenting votes.
"Our charge as a board is to reduce as much as we can and to cut as much waste out. I don't consider good teachers bad waste," Joe DeFeo, Board Member and Vice-Chair said.
The Horry County School Board has been whittling down the budget deficit since January.
DeFeo says last year one teacher was on the high risk list, but the board voted to let him or her remain teaching with the district.
The teachers will now remain in the district, either as a long-term sub or filling in other positions where they are qualified.
Horry County Schools Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Elsberry says often by the time August rolls around, positions open up for those retained.
"We're a constantly growing district," she said.
Also at the meeting, the school board announced the new principal of Conway High School. Steven Fitch, a principal at Courtland High School in Spotslyvania, Virginia is taking over the role.
