MARLBORO COUNTY — Deputy General Counsel Henry Gunter released a seven-page document on October 29, 2025, giving a detailed, scathing, and itemized explanation for why ties with former Superintendent Helena Tillar were severed. Gunter is South Carolina’s highest ranking education official and in the released documents shared his concerns over Tillar range from how finances were managed during her most recent tenure, the former Superintendent’s professionalism with the board, to her hiring practices.
A tense and emotionally charged school board meeting unfolded Wednesday night, with officials voting 6 to 1 in favor of a severance agreement with the former superintendent which will see the district paying her salary out to her for the rest of the year, plus three months, or roughly a lump sum of $110,833. Once it was decided to part ways with Tillar, the district had three pathways to move forward: separation by mutual agreement, unilateral termination, or termination for just cause, which Gunter recommended.
According to documents, the matter of Tillar improperly using a purchase card to buy a $47,153 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee for apparent personal use remains undecided. On October 31, 2025, the Board voted to “Convey the vehicle to Dr. Tillar upon the conclusion of her contract. After the SCDE raised concerns that the significant expenditure was never reviewed or approved, the board rescinded its earlier decision during its October 20,2025 meeting,” wrote Gunter, also noting the board is awaiting further legal council on the matter before taking additional action.
Gunter further stated, “SCDE is particularly concerned the MCSD Board was not fully apprised of the district’s precarious financial condition prior to October 20, 2025 — represents a clear failure to exercise the level of care required under Dr. Tillar’s contract to the Board, teachers, students, and the taxpayers of Marlboro County.”
Pointing out the district has been operating under a tight budget, Gunter wrote, “The District has operated under a budget deficit since fiscal year 2019. Its fund balance declined from $14.85 million in FY 2022 to an estimated $5.5 million as of June 30, 2025.”
Should the current year’s budget continue this trend, Gunter stated he expects a further depletion of reserves. Also continuing to decline, according to Gunter, are district facilities and enrollment numbers.
Shining a light on enrollment in relation to the budget and Tillar’s hiring practices, Gunter stated, “Enrollment continues to decline while non-instructional staffing has increased 37% since FY 2022 — reflecting serious lapses in fiscal and personnel management.”
Rounding out his concerns about Tillar, Gunter cited in his released statement deteriorating facilities and “substantial” unused capital project funds, delayed payments to the state Public Employee Benefits Authority [PEBA], that Tillar made district hirings without prior state approval and displayed a lack of candor and professional conduct toward the board.
Gunter also wrote, “Readily available evidence points to clear, multiple breaches of her contractual obligations to her employer.” He added, “As a matter of principle, subpar performance or willful insubordination should not be rewarded with severance payments funded by taxpayers.”
After voting to make the separation with Tillar official and final, it was announced State Technical Director Michael Thorsland will be stepping in as interim superintendent. Tillar will remain at the helm of the MCSD until December 1, 2025, while her departure agreement with the district is finalized.