The school district serving the Swansea area will soon have a new leader.

At its regularly scheduled Feb. 12 board meeting,  the Lexington County School District 4 Board of Trustees unanimously voted to hire Justin Nutter, the district's associate superintendent, to assume the role of superintendent starting with the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.

The role is coming open with the retirement of Superintendent Robert Maddox, which he announced last month.

 "I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity to continue serving our Lexington Four family,” Nutter is quoted. “Each of our students, parents, faculty, and staff is valued and important to our collective success! Our team has been blessed with Dr. Maddox's leadership and we look forward to continuing to help our students succeed."

District 4 covers one elementary school, one middle school, one high school, one primary school, an intermediate school and one freshman academy in the Swansea area. It serves about 3,500 students.

According to the release, the board considered various options including a potential search, ultimately deciding Nutter’s qualifications, along with the cost savings of hiring internally, served the students and community best.

“Dr. Nutter’s qualifications and experience within the District will be tremendous assets for his continued service to the District,” the release reads. “More specifically, the Board believes that the community and its culture are essential. Dr. Nutter, who has spent his entire career in Lexington Four, will continue to build relationships and continue the culture in the right way.”

Nutter has been with the district 29 years, having served as associate superintendent since 2016 with a brief stint as interim superintendent. Nutter taught within District 4 for five years before becoming an assistant principal. He then spent 13 years as a principal with this time split between Sandhills Middle School and Sandhill Intermediate School.

Nutter and Maddox have worked hand in hand over the years, the release offers, adding that the incumbent will begin working with Nutter for a smooth transition.