843-991-2695Free Consultation Request
Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in Aiken or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
Service Areas
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Aiken
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Aiken is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Aiken, SC
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer senior Medicare Advantage Plan insurance in Aiken. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 82 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Latest News in Aiken, SC
How Aiken County could spend $127.6 million. Staff shares CPST V spending recommendations
Dede Biles dbiles@aikenstandard.comhttps://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/local-government/cpst-v-aiken-county-staff-priorities/article_4870eca8-cb4b-11ee-91f8-0beb7b5f464f.html
Purchases of vehicles and equipment along with the renovation and construction of facilities should be the top priorities when spending the proceeds from Capital Project Sales Tax V, according to Aiken County staff.County Administrator Brian Sanders presented an A list and a B list of recommendations to ...
Purchases of vehicles and equipment along with the renovation and construction of facilities should be the top priorities when spending the proceeds from Capital Project Sales Tax V, according to Aiken County staff.
County Administrator Brian Sanders presented an A list and a B list of recommendations to County Council’s CPST V ad hoc study committee during a meeting Feb. 13 at the Aiken County Government Center.
Staff also ranked improvements for roads among the most important issues that should be addressed by using the money.
“This is not the end-all, but we’ve put a lot of thought into it,” Sanders said.
County Council Chairman Gary Bunker told his fellow ad hoc committee members, Sandy Haskell and Mike Kellems, that the panel would have “the opportunity to poke them, prod them and change them (staff’s suggestions).
“This is not the gospel,” Bunker added. “This is a staff recommendation. This committee will vote on a list to send to County Council [as a whole], and obviously the full Council will have the opportunity to make amendments, etc.”
If local voters approve CPST V in November, it will generate more than $260 million for the county and its 10 municipalities, based on population and point-of-sale data.
The county’s share will be $127.6 million.
The A list created by county staff was divided into nine categories: vehicles and equipment, buildings, solid waste, parks, information technology, emergency management, transportation, engineering and the Carrol H. Warner Savannah River Research Campus.
The amounts allotted to each category ranged from a low of $1.8 million for information technology to a high of $36.6 million for vehicles/equipment.
The latter figure included $10.1 million to replace vehicles and equipment for the Public Works Department’s general fleet and $1.75 million to add and replace heavy equipment for the department’s Solid Waste Division.
Among the other amounts listed were $9 million for the Emergency Medical Services Department for ambulances and related equipment and $2 million for other equipment.
County staff also proposed funding of $7 million for the sheriff’s office for vehicles and equipment, and $5.5 million for volunteer fire departments for communications upgrades, including an 800-megahertz radio system.
In addition, there was a recommendation to spend $1.25 million for a hazardous materials heavy rescue vehicle for the Emergency Management Department.
County staff allotted $29 million to pay for items in the buildings category.
The recommendations included $5 million for the construction of existing stations and/or the expansion of existing ones for the Emergency Medical Services Department.
There also was a proposal for the sheriff’s office to receive the same amount for the construction of a new office complex.
CPST IV, which was passed by voters in 2018, included an $11-million allocation for the complex, but ground hasn’t been broken yet.
Another staff proposal in the buildings category was a $3-million expenditure for a roof replacement at the county’s Judicial Center and various upgrades.
County staff recommended spending $23.1 million on items in the transportation category.
The proposals included $7.8 million in funding for Whiskey Road intersection improvement efforts at Powderhouse Road, Chime Bell Church Road and Citadel Road.
There also was an allotment of $10.3 million for three phases of Bettis Academy Road intersection and corridor improvement projects in Graniteville.
County staff proposed funding of $16.7 million for items in the engineering category, where there are projects to pave dirt roads, resurface already paved roads and improve drainage.
Staff also would like for $4.2 million to be spent on upgrades to Boyd Pond Park, which is southwest of Aiken.
“A lot of people use it, and there are not a lot of amenities out there,” Sanders said. “It is a really gorgeous piece of property that I think could be fantastic.”
The proposed funding for all items in the parks category was $7.5 million.
Among the items on the B list for CPST V expenditures were a fourth phase of Bettis Academy Road intersection and corridor improvements that would cost $8 million and additional heavy equipment for Public Works that would cost $3.7 million.
We Are Aiken County: Eudora welcomes annual stream of visitors to wildlife park
Bill Bengtsonhttps://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/local/eudora-wildlife-safari-park-salley-sc/article_f5203534-c223-11ee-bce8-e77392fe132c.html
Editor’s note: We Are Aiken County is a series of articles that will run through March 16. It celebrates people, places and events that shaped Aiken County.Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are not options, but the rest of the year is fair game on Salem Lane, near Salley, for anybody looking for a face-to-face encounter with dozens of creatures with roots from halfway around the world....
Editor’s note: We Are Aiken County is a series of articles that will run through March 16. It celebrates people, places and events that shaped Aiken County.
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are not options, but the rest of the year is fair game on Salem Lane, near Salley, for anybody looking for a face-to-face encounter with dozens of creatures with roots from halfway around the world.
Bison, emus and Texas longhorns are among the residents of Eudora Wildlife Safari Park, open seven days a week and covering about 240 acres of eastern Aiken County, near the Orangeburg County line. The hilly acreage received about 250,000 visitors in 2023, according to Mark Nisbet, Eudora’s owner and founder.
The data, he said, come from having about 62,500 vehicles visit the facility during that year, with an average occupancy of four looking for a chance to see such neighbors as water buffalo, lemurs, camels and wallabies. Visitors have a variety of backgrounds.
“A high percentage are coming from the Charleston market, Bluffton, Savannah, Florence … all the way up from Rock Hill and Gaffney,” Nisbet said. “A lot come from Augusta, so when they’re coming, they’re doing what you want as far as tourists.”
It all means a boost for the local economy through visits to Aiken County restaurants, convenience stores and the like, he added.
“They just say it’s a great day trip, so they come, and they spend the day … so I’m excited about that. Even though it’s a … tiny little piece of tourism that brings people here, we do contribute to that, and for our little community, that’s a lot.”
The groups, whether arriving in small cars or as entire busloads, encounter some creatures that are relatively commonplace in American zoos. Zebras and parrots are part of the menagerie, while visitors may face a challenge in looking to identify some others, such as addaxes (African antelope) and Tibetan yaks.
Some can rise to particular prominence. Elliot, a giraffe, is said to enjoy removing visitors’ hats, and Larry, an ostrich, is prone to reach into vehicles and grab an entire food bowl rather than waiting to be fed one carrot slice at a time.
Larry is “kind of the sheriff of the park,” Nisbet said. “Just knowing his personality, if there’s anything new out there, he’s going to come and check it out and make sure it meets his approval, and he’ll follow them around until they leave.”
Plans on the near horizon include construction of a boardwalk and an observation deck next to the giraffe enclosure — a major asset when looking to interact with a long-legged animal with a potentially deadly kick and a height of about 15 feet (with potential to grow taller yet).
Nisbet’s creation is known to some by its original name of Eudora Farms, due to its relatively small starting base of operations, largely as a petting zoo. The name comes from Nisbet’s time, in the early 1980s, of living in northwestern Mississippi, in the town of Eudora, just south of Memphis, Tennessee, where he worked for Labcorp as a salesman.
Hours vary by season, in accordance with available light, and admission prices range from $18 to $45 (depending on the number of passengers in a vehicle). Those who prefer an entirely open-air experience have the option of a wagon ride with a tour guide.
Feed buckets, with either carrot slices or exotic hoofstock cubes, are $5 each, and admission covers the drive-through route as well as the petting zoo and a walk-through safari.
Familiar face will be new leader of Aiken Chamber of Commerce
Dede Biles dbiles@aikenstandard.comhttps://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/business/aiken-chamber-of-commerce-president-ceo-jim-tunison/article_686e7106-cc0e-11ee-9512-476bbdd82e51.html
J. David Jameson couldn’t be happier that a valued member of his staff will be succeeding him as the president and CEO of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce.In a telephone interview Thursday morning, Jameson described the selection of Jim Tunison by the Chamber’s board of directors as an “excellent choice.”Tunison is the Chamber’s director of membership services.“Jim and I have worked together for the last five years,” said Jameson, who is retiring at the end of the month. “He l...
J. David Jameson couldn’t be happier that a valued member of his staff will be succeeding him as the president and CEO of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce.
In a telephone interview Thursday morning, Jameson described the selection of Jim Tunison by the Chamber’s board of directors as an “excellent choice.”
Tunison is the Chamber’s director of membership services.
“Jim and I have worked together for the last five years,” said Jameson, who is retiring at the end of the month. “He laughingly says that’s 10 years worth of mentoring in five years. I know that he is going to take the Chamber to new heights.”
Tunison is “the next generation in Aiken,” Jameson continued. “He’s young, he’s smart and he’s innovative. He engages very well with the business community and the community at large. He just exemplifies the same values the Chamber has and the community has.”
The Aiken Chamber of Commerce announced Tunison as Jameson’s replacement in a news release issued Thursday morning. It stated that the selection by the Chamber’s board was unanimous.
Board Chairman Charlie Hartz said in a prepared statement that Tunison has the energy and the experience as an Aiken Chamber leader and collaborator that the Chamber’s search committee was seeking.
“His confidence, professionalism and enthusiasm are precisely what we need to elevate our 5-star Chamber to new heights of service for our membership and community,” Hartz added.
Tunison is a graduate of Misericordia University in Pennsylvania. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a Master of Business Administration degree.
In addition, Tunison has completed his first year of work in the professional development program offered by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management, according to the release.
“The opportunity to serve as president [and CEO] of the Chamber and be part of the dynamic Aiken community is very exciting for me and my family,” Tunison said. “I look forward to building upon the solid foundation laid by David Jameson over the last 18 years. Together with the board and membership, my first goal is to establish a next generation strategic plan that reflects the evolving needs of our growing Aiken business community.”
Aiken Corporation takes step on downtown mixed-use building
Matthew Christian mchristian@aikenstandard.comhttps://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/local-government/aiken-corporation-downtown-mixed-use-buiilding/article_54b3f84e-cb54-11ee-8b69-3f880d19e6b8.html
The Aiken Corporation took a step Wednesday morning that allows the city to build a downtown mixed-use building in which the Savannah River National Laboratory could lease space.The corporation’s board voted unanimously to approve an agreement with the city that outlines the role the corporation will play in the construction of the building.Aiken Corporation is a nonprofit geared toward expanding the economic base of the city and improving the quality of life of the city’s residents, according to its website....
The Aiken Corporation took a step Wednesday morning that allows the city to build a downtown mixed-use building in which the Savannah River National Laboratory could lease space.
The corporation’s board voted unanimously to approve an agreement with the city that outlines the role the corporation will play in the construction of the building.
Aiken Corporation is a nonprofit geared toward expanding the economic base of the city and improving the quality of life of the city’s residents, according to its website.
The agreement calls for the corporation to sell property it selected for the building, 133 and 141 Newberry St. N.W., to the city.
The lots are vacant but were previously the location of a law firm.
LED Corporation, the Aiken Corporation’s for-profit arm, paid $650,000 to acquire the properties July 18, 2022, according to Aiken County property tax records.
The city needs to purchase the property from the Aiken Corporation in order to comply with the state law provision allocating the funding, City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said Wednesday.
A separate agreement approved by the corporation’s board Wednesday calls for the city to pay $752,000 to purchase the properties.
The purchase price includes the amount the Aiken Corporation spent to buy the property and its expenses on maintaining the property and preparing it for the building to be constructed, Bedenbaugh said.
Once the building is constructed, the city will transfer it back to the Aiken Corporation’s control.
If the building remains under the ownership of the city or is owned directly by the Aiken Corporation, there are no property tax revenues generated for the city, Aiken County or the Aiken County Public School District. Transferring the building to a to-be-formed for-profit generates property tax revenues.
Next steps
Aiken City Council will need to approve both the agreement outlining the Aiken Corporation’s role and the purchase of the property.
Bedenbaugh said the city council could consider the transaction agreement Feb. 26 and the sale agreement March 11. He added the city council will consider approval of the agreements via resolution, meaning they will only be heard once by the council.
Buzz Rich, chair of the Aiken Corporation, said the corporation’s accountant, Joel Stewart of SME CPAs, recommended it establish a new for-profit entity to control the building.
The for-profit entity to be formed would also be structured to return the proceeds to the Aiken Corporation, as the LED Corporation does, but it would have a different corporate structure to ease the Aiken Corporation’s federal tax burden.
Jason Rabun, Aiken Corporation treasurer, said LED is structured as an S Corporation and the new for-profit would be structured as a single-member limited liability company.
Board Vice Chairman Pat Cunning said the Aiken Corporation would need to work with the Aiken County tax assessor’s office to make sure the property is assessed based on income and not the value of the building.
He said if the county assesses the building at its value, estimated around $15 million, the taxes would be over $200,000. If, however, the building is assessed on income potential, the immediate tax burden would be reduced.
National Lab lease
The Aiken Corporation also needs to reach an agreement allowing the national lab to lease space in the building.
The national lab received permission from the Department of Energy to begin negotiating the lease in December, according to a memorandum Bedenbaugh sent to the Aiken City Council.
“As far as the lab is concerned, we had a meeting with some representatives from them a few weeks ago, and it went really well,” Rich said. “I think we’re kind of in general agreement as to the outlines of the lease.”
The details of the lease agreement still have to be worked out, but the two parties are pretty much on the same pages as far as the basics of the agreement, Rich said.
Architect selected
The building must also be designed.
An architectural firm, Cheatham Fletcher Scott of Augusta, has been selected to design the building, Rich said.
“We met with them this morning and the city development team,” Rich said.
The meeting took place in Room 315 of the Municipal Building located at 111 Chesterfield St. S.W. A sign was posted on the room’s door indicating the room was unavailable due to a meeting. The meeting ended around 10 minutes before the Aiken Corporation board meeting began at 10 a.m.
“The discussion I thought went very well,” Rich said. “Mostly it was between Mark Chostner of Capstone [Services] and the different departments for the city.”
Rich later added the Aiken Corporation would have plenty of opportunity for input on the building’s design and features.
The Aiken Design Review Board will need to approve the design.
The properties are located in the Downtown Overlay District, giving the Design Review Board jurisdiction over the building’s design.
Rich indicated the Design Review Board could consider approval at a mid-April special-called meeting.
Aiken County Public School District names new superintendent
Staffhttps://www.wrdw.com/2024/02/13/aiken-county-schools-names-new-superintendent/
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Aiken County Public School District board unanimously approved Corey Murphey, Ph.D. as the school system’s superintendent on Monday.Murphy will step into the position on July 1.“I consider this to be the honor of my life,” Murphy said in a statement.Murphy currently serves as chief officer of operations and student services in the district, a role he has held since 2020.He earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree, Educational Specialist Degree, Master of Education and ...
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Aiken County Public School District board unanimously approved Corey Murphey, Ph.D. as the school system’s superintendent on Monday.
Murphy will step into the position on July 1.
“I consider this to be the honor of my life,” Murphy said in a statement.
Murphy currently serves as chief officer of operations and student services in the district, a role he has held since 2020.
He earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree, Educational Specialist Degree, Master of Education and his Bachelor of Science in Biology degrees from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C.
Murphy says he truly believes Aiken County is a good school district poised for greatness.
“I will build on the stalwart leadership of King Laurence to push the boundaries of public education,” he said. “I will be ready from day one to take charge and continue to work to maximize every child’s potential in safe and functional educational spaces.”
OTHER FINALISTS:
On Feb. 3, parents had the opportunity to meet the meet the finalists.
The reception was held in Aiken High School’s new auditorium and was open to employees, parents, students and community members.
There was an opportunity for stakeholders to spend time with each candidate during an informal reception in the atrium.
“For myself personally, its not how long your resume is or how many letters you have after your name, I think its about you find out what the superintendent is about what value they could bring and how does that fit the current needs of the district now - this year,” said Chairman Cam Nuessle.
“The reception gives the three finalists a chance for them to introduce themselves to the public, and the opportunity in a casual setting for the public to talk to the finalists and get to know them a little bit,” said Nuessle.
In August, Laurence announced his retirement for the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
After Laurence announced his upcoming retirement, the board contracted with the South Carolina School Boards Association to conduct its superintendent search.
As the nationwide search began, the association held community input meetings on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6. and also gathered feedback through an electronic survey.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
