CONWAY — Horry County Schools Superintendent Rick Maxey plans to retire by the end of June, according to a letter he sent to the Board of Education earlier this month.
Maxey notified the board through an April 13 letter of his desire to leave the position he's held since 2015. HCS is the state's third-largest school district, serving more than 48,000 students, and the county's largest employer.
Maxey wrote that he came to the retirement decision during the district’s spring break while he reflected on his career and family.
“It has been an incredible journey that has given me the opportunity to have a positive impact on students and to develop life-long friendships that I will always treasure,” Maxey stated in his letter to the board. “The Bible states that to every thing there is a season, and for me, I believe that time has come to conclude my career with Horry County Schools.”
Maxey has worked for the district for 35 years, starting as an English teacher at Loris High School. He has also been named the S.C. Superintendent of the Year by the S.C. Association of School Administrators.
Maxey wrote that he wants to retire at the end of this fiscal year — June 30 — but if necessary, he will stay until Dec. 31 to ensure a smooth transition. Maxey has asked the board to mutually end his employment contract, which was set to conclude June 30, 2027. He noted that it can be ended through a mutual agreement between the superintendent and the board.
Board Chairman David Cox declined to discuss the letter or Maxey’s contract.
“That’s a little premature,” he said. “If he wants to resign, that’s a big deal. It’s the board corporately, not just my decision, if that’d be the case. That should be up to him to announce his intentions at a time that’s convenient for him.”
In the letter, Maxey wrote that when he retires, he hopes to relocate with his wife to the Upstate to be closer to his children and grandchildren.
“As I announce my retirement, I want everyone to know that I am thankful for the years that I have been able to live and serve here in Horry County," he wrote. "I will continue to cherish every encounter with our board, students, faculty, staff and community members. I am confident that you all will work together to make our school system even more successful in the future.”
Maxey has received strong reviews — and significant raises — in recent years. In 2021, the school board increased Maxey’s salary from $227,304 to $260,000. They also boosted his monthly car allowance to $1,000 per month and raised the district contribution to his annuity to 15 percent.
Maxey didn't see his compensation increase in 2022, but the board added a year to his contract. Then in November, the board rated Maxey "highly effective," gave him another one-year extension and added $10,000 to his salary.
But in recent months, district officials have faced tough questions about campus security after a student brought a gun inside Myrtle Beach Middle School. No one was harmed during the incident, though it prompted an outcry from concerned parents.
The school board later gave a vote of no confidence to the district’s security department.
HCS has more than 6,300 employees, including over 3,000 teachers.
