Richland County School District One Faces SCDE Audit Over Financial Mismanagement Concerns

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Financial Troubling Times for Richland One

It seems like trouble is brewing for the Richland County School District One as the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has set its sights on auditing the district following a financial recovery plan that just didn’t cut it. After deeming the plan submitted last month as “deficient” and “incomplete,” the SCDE has decided stronger action is needed. What’s all the fuss about, you ask? Let’s roll it back to where it all began.

What Led to This Audit?

Back in early August, State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver took the bold step of elevating Richland One’s financial examination to fiscal caution, which is the second-highest level of scrutiny under state law. But this wasn’t just some random decision. Oh no, this came on the heels of a State Inspector General (SIG) investigation that dug into some pretty dicey matters surrounding a halted construction project for the Vince Ford Early Learning Center. A hefty sum of $31 million was found to have been mismanaged, not to mention the project was initiated without the proper permits! Yikes!

In December 2022, the district was already placed on a fiscal watch after another audit threw some red flags up about its purchase card, or p-card, system. With those kinds of vibes, it’s no wonder that Weaver felt a tighter leash was necessary.

What Happened Next?

According to the law, Richland One had a period of 60 days to come up with a recovery plan, which they did manage to get in just a few days shy of the deadline on October 11. However, the SCDE struck back with a letter dated October 31 from Chief Financial Officer Kendra Hunt, stating their concerns about the way Richland One handled the SIG findings were simply too concerning to overlook.

In their recovery plan, Richland One was keen to clarify that no criminal activity was uncovered during the investigation. They also mentioned that the board had voted to ratify the construction procurement for the learning center earlier in August. But according to the SCDE, it looks like Richland One was more interested in sidestepping the actual issues at hand, instead of addressing the deficiencies highlighted in the SIG report.

Time for an Audit

As if that wasn’t enough, SCDE expressed that Richland One’s responses were downright “cursory” and only served to increase worries about the district’s grasp of the serious issues at play. So, what’s the remedy? An audit is on the way! The SCDE is stepping in, hoping this review will shed light on the various financial concerns plaguing the district.

Here’s the kicker: while the audit will be initially funded by the SCDE, they’ve got the right to demand reimbursement from Richland One. That’s a little twist that might just send shivers down some spines!

Public Concern and School Futures

Local legislator Rep. Heather Bauer shared her fears that “it would be horrible for our schools to be taken over by the South Carolina Department of Education.” She emphasized that if Richland One doesn’t take the necessary steps to amend their course, a takeover might not be too far off.

In light of these twists and turns, a spokesperson from Richland One assured that the board is taking the matter seriously and will review the SCDE’s letter during an upcoming meeting. They seem committed to turning the ship around, but only time will tell if they’ve got what it takes.

For now, all we can do is stay tuned to see how this situation unfolds and hope for a brighter financial future for all the students in Richland County. After all, everyone deserves a safe and sound learning environment!