Sumter County Schools Superintendent Logan Brown on Monday morning outlined the previous school superintendent unethical conduct which was revealed in a report from the Office of Inspector General.
Brown explained that the Office of Inspector General released a report this past week substantiating serious allegations of misconduct under the former leadership of Sumter County Schools which began in 2023.
Brown explained that the report confirms that the former Superintendent of Schools, Richard A. Shirley and former Assistant Superintendent Deborah Moffitt engaged in systemic falsification of student data by establishing so-called “shell schools” at various campuses across the county dating back to 2016. This deliberate manipulation removed low-performing students from school grade calculations in an attempt to artificially inflate performance metrics for the Districts schools. Brown indicated that the shell school scheme cost the school district between $400,000 to $500,000.
Additionally, the investigation found that students were withdrawn from their zoned schools and enrolled — without their knowledge or parental consent — in a district-run virtual school under a separate school code.
“This misrepresentation not only violated the public trust but also deprived students and families of the transparency and choice they rightfully deserve,” Brown said. “Transparency is not optional — it is the foundation of effective leadership. Every child in Sumter County deserves an education system that puts their learning and their future first, not one that treats them as data points to be manipulated. I remain committed to restoring the community’s confidence in Sumter County Schools, and I will not shy away from the hard work that must be done to earn and keep your trust.”