Darlington County Board of Education names chief financial officer, thanks outgoing principals
DARLINGTON, S.C. – The Darlington County Board of Education announced today the hire of a new district chief financial officer (CFO) as well as the retirement of two long-serving principals.
Renee Douglas, who served most recently as a tax analyst for Sonoco Products Company, will be the district’s new CFO. Douglas will begin her new role with the Darlington County School District (DCSD) by the end of February.
Dr. Bill Boyd, interim superintendent, said the district is excited about Douglas leading the district forward.
“Renee Douglas brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Business Office,” Boyd said. “The Board has the utmost confidence in her ability, and we are thrilled for her to join our team.”
Douglas, who is a certified public accountant, has worked for Sonoco since 2012, preparing extensive quarterly and year-end tax provisions. She served as the director of finance and information technology for the city of Hartsville from 2005-2012. Before working for the city, she accumulated 18 years of service in public accounting in Hartsville, Darlington and Florence. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis on Accounting from the College of Charleston, and she has completed 40 hours of continued professional education per year to retain her certification. She also completed the Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina training program offered by the University of South Carolina, which included classes in financial planning and budgeting, capital planning and forecasting, financial management, governmental accounting and financial reporting and auditing.
DCSD also announced today the resignations of Donna Barrett and Garry Flowers, two longtime principals in the district.
Barrett, who has served as principal of Carolina Elementary School for 20 years, and Flowers, principal of Lamar Elementary School for the past 18 years, will both retire at the end of the school year.
Boyd thanked Barrett and Flowers for their many years of service to the district.
“We are extremely fortunate to have had Mrs. Barrett and Mr. Flowers educating and preparing the children of Darlington County for so many years,” Boyd said. “Their leadership and guidance will be missed, but we appreciate and thank them.”
Barrett began her career in DCSD as a resource teacher at West Hartsville Elementary before transitioning to Washington Street Elementary as a coordinating teacher. She has 30 years of service in DCSD.
Flowers taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade students and worked as assistant principal at the former Darlington Junior High School before taking over at Lamar Elementary. He has more than 20 years of service in the district.