UPDATE July 2, 7:25 PM
The Vance County Department of Social Services Board of Directors has voted to dismiss DSS Director Sandy Weaver.
Weaver was appointed to the role on Oct. 1, 2024. County Attorney Jonathan Care confirmed the board’s decision took place on Wednesday, June 18 in an interview with WIZS News Tuesday.
“The county’s official statement is ‘This is a DSS personnel matter,’” Care said, adding that the DSS board is the hiring authority of the director.
“She was within her nine-month probationary period, and they voted before the expiration of that probationary period not to continue her employment,” Care said.
But DSS Board Chair Leonard Frieson said, “Because of pending matters, I can’t say anything. You need to contact the county attorney or the county manager – they will speak for me.”
The newly adopted county budget for 2025-26 includes $10,225,717 for administrative costs at DSS, according to County Manager C. Renee Perry. Perry told WIZS News Wednesday that Cassandra Hart is the interim director.
Perry referred other questions to the DSS Board Chair. WIZS reached out to Frieson Wednesday for comment. “Due to pending legal action I cannot comment at this time,” Frieson stated.
In May 2025, the state notified the county that it would be taking over part of the DSS child welfare services, citing numerous safety violations and social work practices that didn’t align with law, rule or policy – despite having been under a correction action plan since June 2024.
Then last week, a cybersecurity breach occurred at Vance County DSS that is currently under investigation.
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UPDATE July 1, 4:56 PM
The Vance County Department of Social Services Board of Directors has voted to dismiss DSS Director Sandy Weaver.
Weaver was appointed to the role on Oct. 1, 2024. County Attorney Jonathan Care confirmed the board’s decision took place on Wednesday, June 18 in an interview with WIZS News Tuesday.
“The county’s official statement is ‘This is a DSS personnel matter,’” Care said, adding that the DSS board is the hiring authority of the director.
“She was within her nine-month probationary period, and they voted before the expiration of that probationary period not to continue her employment,” Care said.
But DSS Board Chair Leonard Frieson said, “Because of pending matters, I can’t say anything. You need to contact the county attorney or the county manager – they will speak for me.”
In May 2025, the state notified the county that it would be taking over part of the DSS child welfare services, citing numerous safety violations and social work practices that didn’t align with law, rule or policy – despite having been under a correction action plan since June 2024.
A cybersecurity breach occurred last week at Vance County DSS that is under investigation by state and federal authorities.