The news cycle for Richland One has been a perpetual downward spiral for the last 30 days. It’s shocking, but not surprising given the track record of the current board and administration. Here are the highlights:
Fiscal mismanagement
On July 30, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) elevated Richland One from “fiscal watch” to a “fiscal caution” status following the State Inspector General’s report detailing financial mismanagement and violations of state laws surrounding the Vince Ford Early Learning Center project. The new escalation to “fiscal caution” means the state department is watching closely for any missteps and expects significant improvements and changes to financial management processes. If the past is any indicator, we can only anticipate that our current Richland One leaders will continue down the path toward full-blown “fiscal emergency.” In the case of a fiscal emergency, the Department of Education could take over Richland School District One, which is a risk we should not be willing to take.
Troubling test results
In mid-August, SCDE released 2023-2024 SCREADY scores, and the story for our district is troubling. Looking at Richland One’s 8th graders, only 23% met or exceeded math expectations and only 45% met or exceeded English Language Arts (ELA) expectations. That means regardless of subject area, more than half of all Richland One students in 8th grade are significantly underperforming in math and ELA. These educational deficits will limit our students’ ability to succeed and impact our entire community in terms of workforce readiness, economic opportunity, and public safety.
Another lawsuit
And then, on August 19, Richland One Board member Jamie Devine and the Richland One board as a whole were named in a new lawsuit alleging Commissioner Devine took inappropriate photos of a teacher attending one of the board meetings. The eleven complaints include claims of negligence, voyeurism, and First Amendment violations, among others.
With this many stories swirling in just the last few weeks, it’s no wonder the public has little confidence in the current administration and school board.
