Advise School Board Members re 2020-2021 Officers

To the Public:

You have a final chance to influence the Richland 2 School Board in its election of officers for the coming school year.

The Board will elect three officers at its next meeting on June 30. The officers are Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. The officers must be selected from board members, and the officers are elected by the board members. Three trustees will serve as officers for the 2020-2021 School Year.

First, who should not be a board member? This will help you narrow your choice.

An officer should not owe a judgment of $51,750 in unpaid fines and penalties to the South Carolina Ethics Commission. This eliminates Amelia McKie.

An officer should not have multiple unpaid income tax liens against his business or himself. This eliminates James Shadd.

An officer must be a legitimate member of the board. This eliminates Amelia McKie and Teresa Holmes. Neither has ever taken the oath of office after becoming eligible to do so on December 4, 2018.

McKie and Holmes did repeat the oath of office, improperly, before they filed their Statements of Economic Interests (SEI) on December 4, 2018. State law reads that the SEI is to be filed (first) and then the oath of office is to be taken. If they take the oath of office before Tuesday night's meeting, they will finally become legitimate members of the board.

An officer should have a history of actively participating in meaningful ways at school board meetings, by demonstrating attentiveness and organization. This eliminates Cheryl Caution-Parker.

Who is left?

Lindsay Agostini
Monica Elkins-Johnson
James Manning

There is the best slate. Contact the board members you know now and ask them to elect these three trustees as officers for School Year 2020-2021.