Waste, Fraud, Human Resources Department, Abuse of Power, Superintendent and Board Leadership negatively affects Community Affairs 

Taxpayers of Richland School District One in Richland County SC, continue to demonstrate support for all Richland District One students’ success. However, it is evident that ongoing fiscal mismanagement and lack of HR controls is rampant within the School Board and Administrative leadership of Richland County School District (RD1).  

It is clear that the district’s internal fiscal reporting, loose controls and accounting protocols, and human resources oversight are ineffective and insufficient to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in all levels of the district. Examples include:  

● Waste:   

○ Missed Title One Funding upward of $5 million dollars  

○ P-Card spending ie. misappropriation of tax dollars  

○ Top heavy management- multiple layers of new positions since the hiring of Dr. Witherspoon   

● Fraud:   

○ Covid spending, ESSR funds  

○ P-card abuses, tax dollars being used for personal use  

○ No bid contracts, IDIQ contracts  

● HR: 

○ Inability or refusal of HR staff to report exact vacancies to Board  

○ Inability or refusal of HR staff to fill positions with permanent employees  

○ Inability or refusal of HR staff to justify removals, transfers or termination of proven successful Principals and Assistant Principals  

○ Inability or refusal of Administration to provide exit interviews requested on multiple occasions by Board Members  

○ Abuse of power on all levels starting with the Superintendent, Board Chair, and the Board.

We are asking for the Governor to request an investigation by the Inspector General into Richland One. It is clear that this school district, just like Richland 2 which is now under investigation, is not working in the best interest of students. These two districts are so intertwined it is impossible to not address issues in Richland One as well.   

We, your constituents, are also expressing “significant concerns pertaining to Richland One’s financial status and Human Resources department including assertions that Richland One’s leadership-related issues have negatively impacted the district’s ability to conduct, manage, and oversee its fiscal, and community affairs in an appropriate and effective manner,” as stated in the RD2 formal request.

We ask for your help in urging the Governor to invoke the new laws S202 and S203 that recently passed.  

Thank you for supporting our efforts to make Richland School District One a place where we train the future leaders of tomorrow.