Were you in South Carolina when Operation Lost Trust broke open the issues of corruption and lobbyists' vote-buying in South Carolina government almost 30 years ago?
Recently I began reading the 600-page book titled Operation Lost Trust, by John V. Crangle. Crangle was the Executive Director of Common Cause/South Carolina from 1986 to 2016.
As I work my way through this tale of intrigue, I find myself thinking of the unresolved questions at the Richland 2 School District about the legitimacy of the School Board.
Operation Lost Trust quotes former S.C. House Speaker Bob Sheheen: "When you've got people involved in leadership who are under scrutiny, that reflects not only on them but on the institution." In the same paragraph on Page 43, Sheheen is further quoted: "you don't know what's coming next."
Sheheen's words ring true in 2019, not about the S.C. House, but about Richland 2 School District.
I have found myself at times becoming impatient with the wheels of justice and, at the same time, admiring the investigation and preparation skills of others who prepare such cases.
Thorough preparation often means that charges are announced and very quickly guilty pleas are entered. How does this happen? Defendants know that prosecutors have them "dead to rights".In other words, there is no way out of it for them.
The whole story will end up here one of these days.
An important decision was made by the School Board when it elected James Manning as the Board Chair for the 2019-2020 School Year. Manning is the longest-serving member of the Board, and he has been on the Board since 2010. His term as trustee runs to 2022.
The Board and the public are likely to see a noticeable change in leadership style. It may take him a month or two to institute changes. Meetings should be much better organized, smoother and shorter.
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
2019-2020 Officers
At the June 25, 2019 Richland 2 School Board meeting the officers for the next school year were elected. Their terms-of-office are July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. They are
James Manning, Chair
Teresa Holmes, Vice Chair
Cheryl Caution-Parker, Secretary
The length of last night's meeting, chaired for the last time by Amelia McKie, was not a record, but it was 2 hours 17 minutes. That was about 1 hour 17 minutes longer than it should have been.
Monica Elkins-Johnson was not present in person, but she did attend by telephone conference call.
You would think that Richland 2 would figure out how to conduct a meeting when one member so attends. Maybe it will learn from last night.
The volume was so low that most of what Dr. Elkins said could not be heard in the meeting room. I wondered whether even those at the board seats could hear what she was saying. The phone equipment appeared to be one of the high-quality and expensive Polycom desk models, which typically cost $200-$300.
Toward the end of the meeting the volume on the phone got turned down, and it appeared that Dr. Elkins telephoned Amelia McKie to say that she wasn't being heard.
Teleconferencing-in a board member creates a special set of legal circumstances.
A major problem at every board meeting is that attendance is not taken. The record shows up in the Minutes, but only because the note-taker puts it there.
McKie stated that Elkins-Johnson would be attending by telephone hook-up. Such attendance is apparently already anticipated and allowed under Board Policy. But proper procedure would have been to have a Motion to permit Elkins-Johnson to attend by telephone and a vote. Just one of those picky rules that the Board sometimes slides past so conveniently.
It was inexcusable that no procedure was set up to amplify Dr. Elkins' voice, so that she could be heard clearly by all Board members and the public. She brought up some excellent points during discussion of the Policy revisions, and her words were lost in the room. Her long comments also were ignored by several board members, who from time-to-time engaged in side conversations. McKie was observed scanning her cell phone and swiping through screens. This is clearly prohibited by Board policy.
The simplest arrangement would have been an additional microphone by the internal speaker of the Polycom. Another solution would have been to turn the microphone of either McKie or the Superintendent to be closer to the Polycom. But I'll bet that Polycom has a port for a direct connection. After all, why spend $300 for a top-of-the-line piece of electronic equipment and not use all its technology?
Too often during last night's meeting the speaker on the Board did not turn on his/her microphone before speaking. Hopefully, their comments will be audible on the YouTube recording.
The only person at the front of the room to lean forward and speak clearly into the microphone was Teresa Holmes. By doing so, she assures that her voice can be heard throughout the room.
I urge the Board to hire a voice coach,, who will explain that a low, soft monotone does not carry through the microphone into the room. When speakers run their words together or mumble downward or sit well back from the microphone and turn their heads away from the microphone, they cannot be heard in the room. The microphones pick up for the YouTube recording and not for amplification in the room during the meeting, unless the microphone is close to the speaker's mouth. It shouldn't be necessary to wait 2-3 days for the YouTube recording to know everything that was said.
Stay tuned for more on the election and the meeting.
James Manning, Chair
Teresa Holmes, Vice Chair
Cheryl Caution-Parker, Secretary
The length of last night's meeting, chaired for the last time by Amelia McKie, was not a record, but it was 2 hours 17 minutes. That was about 1 hour 17 minutes longer than it should have been.
Monica Elkins-Johnson was not present in person, but she did attend by telephone conference call.
You would think that Richland 2 would figure out how to conduct a meeting when one member so attends. Maybe it will learn from last night.
The volume was so low that most of what Dr. Elkins said could not be heard in the meeting room. I wondered whether even those at the board seats could hear what she was saying. The phone equipment appeared to be one of the high-quality and expensive Polycom desk models, which typically cost $200-$300.
Toward the end of the meeting the volume on the phone got turned down, and it appeared that Dr. Elkins telephoned Amelia McKie to say that she wasn't being heard.
Teleconferencing-in a board member creates a special set of legal circumstances.
A major problem at every board meeting is that attendance is not taken. The record shows up in the Minutes, but only because the note-taker puts it there.
McKie stated that Elkins-Johnson would be attending by telephone hook-up. Such attendance is apparently already anticipated and allowed under Board Policy. But proper procedure would have been to have a Motion to permit Elkins-Johnson to attend by telephone and a vote. Just one of those picky rules that the Board sometimes slides past so conveniently.
It was inexcusable that no procedure was set up to amplify Dr. Elkins' voice, so that she could be heard clearly by all Board members and the public. She brought up some excellent points during discussion of the Policy revisions, and her words were lost in the room. Her long comments also were ignored by several board members, who from time-to-time engaged in side conversations. McKie was observed scanning her cell phone and swiping through screens. This is clearly prohibited by Board policy.
The simplest arrangement would have been an additional microphone by the internal speaker of the Polycom. Another solution would have been to turn the microphone of either McKie or the Superintendent to be closer to the Polycom. But I'll bet that Polycom has a port for a direct connection. After all, why spend $300 for a top-of-the-line piece of electronic equipment and not use all its technology?
Too often during last night's meeting the speaker on the Board did not turn on his/her microphone before speaking. Hopefully, their comments will be audible on the YouTube recording.
The only person at the front of the room to lean forward and speak clearly into the microphone was Teresa Holmes. By doing so, she assures that her voice can be heard throughout the room.
I urge the Board to hire a voice coach,, who will explain that a low, soft monotone does not carry through the microphone into the room. When speakers run their words together or mumble downward or sit well back from the microphone and turn their heads away from the microphone, they cannot be heard in the room. The microphones pick up for the YouTube recording and not for amplification in the room during the meeting, unless the microphone is close to the speaker's mouth. It shouldn't be necessary to wait 2-3 days for the YouTube recording to know everything that was said.
Stay tuned for more on the election and the meeting.
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Do You Even Care?
The Richland 2 School Board manages almost a billion dollars in assets, employs hundreds (thousands?) of teachers and staff, and has the responsibility for more than 27,000 students.
Voters elect Board members every two years. In some even-numbered years three are elected; in other elections, four are elected. There were four elected in 2018.
Every June the Board itself elects its officers for the following school year. This year's election will be this Tuesday, June 26, 2019.
Voters, taxpayers, parents and students are stuck with the current board until November 2020. But voters can insist on the best of the board for the Board officers.
How?
Contact Board members today, tomorrow and Tuesday, and insist on the highest caliber of officers from the choices available. Their email addresses and telephone numbers are on the District's website.
Should Richland 2 School Board tolerate a Board Chairman who owes $51,000 to the South Carolina Ethics Commission?
Will the Board nominate and elect a popular but inexperienced "freshman" to a position as an officer?
Will any Board member be willing to accept a nomination as Board Secretary, knowing that he or she might risk personal or civil liability by signing future bond documents, if they contain false and/or misleading information?
Will the Officers of the Richland 2 School Board for 2019-2020 have the backbone to demand that future bond documents be 100% true?
Voters elect Board members every two years. In some even-numbered years three are elected; in other elections, four are elected. There were four elected in 2018.
Every June the Board itself elects its officers for the following school year. This year's election will be this Tuesday, June 26, 2019.
Voters, taxpayers, parents and students are stuck with the current board until November 2020. But voters can insist on the best of the board for the Board officers.
How?
Contact Board members today, tomorrow and Tuesday, and insist on the highest caliber of officers from the choices available. Their email addresses and telephone numbers are on the District's website.
Should Richland 2 School Board tolerate a Board Chairman who owes $51,000 to the South Carolina Ethics Commission?
Will the Board nominate and elect a popular but inexperienced "freshman" to a position as an officer?
Will any Board member be willing to accept a nomination as Board Secretary, knowing that he or she might risk personal or civil liability by signing future bond documents, if they contain false and/or misleading information?
Will the Officers of the Richland 2 School Board for 2019-2020 have the backbone to demand that future bond documents be 100% true?
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Officers to be elected this Tuesday, June 25.
On Tuesday, June 25, the Richland 2 School Board will elect its officers for the coming school year. The term of office is July 1 - June 30. The positions to be elected are Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary.
The School Board elects from its own. Officers must be members of the board. Only board members can vote for officers.
Board Policy BD Organization of the Board provides guidance for the election.
The Chairman is elected first; then the Vice Chairman; then the Secretary.
If there is only one nominee, the vote is by show of hands. If there are two (or more) nominees, the vote is by secret paper ballot. You can see an example of the voting by viewed the YouTube recording of the nominations and voting for officers for the 2018-2019 school year, which was held on June 26, 2018. On YouTube fast-forward to 58:55 for the action.
During this past year there has been a "majority" on the board that has run things. And not for the best. Not in the best interests of the District. Not in the best interest of students. Nor of the voters. Or fairness. Or observation of law.
Will this "majority" attempt to maintain control of the board in the next school year?
For each office to be elected, the majority can be expected to nominate a candidate for the office. The "minority" group should nominate a second person. This will force a secret paper vote. There is always a slim chance that a board member voting in secret will display some backbone that will likely not happen during a show of hands.
The backbone was displayed at the June 2018 election of officers. Amelia McKie was nominated as Chairman by Trustee Caution-Parker, and no second person was nominated. This meant that voting was by a show of hands. The vote was five in favor. Trustees Agostini and Elkins-Johnson did not vote "For".
My guess is that this caught Supt. Davis by surprise. He seemed unsure how to proceed after he realized two had not voted. He then asked if there were any votes Against or Nay, and then he added Abstentions. He should have separated Nay from Abstentions. Only Dr. Elkins-Johnson raised her hand, and it was not determined whether she was voting Nay or abstaining. Mrs. Agostini did not indicate whether she was voting Nay or Abstaining.
For more detail on the June 2018 election of officers, click here.
Because of the way the board has been run for the past year, at this year's election, if a person with poor qualifications for an officer's position is nominated, then a second person should be nominated.
Should nominees not be allowed to vote? If they weren't, that would mean a majority of the others would elect the officer. Because of the small number on the board, this will result in additional problems.
I am reminded on the 1969 movie, Putney Swope. The opening is classic. The Chairman of the Board drops dead during a board meeting, and the board decides it must elected a new chairman. Nobody on the board wants to elect Putney Swope as Chairman of the Board. Several members of the board believe no one else will vote for him, and they think Swope ought to get at least one vote. He ends up with seven votes and becomes the Chairman.
The School Board elects from its own. Officers must be members of the board. Only board members can vote for officers.
Board Policy BD Organization of the Board provides guidance for the election.
The Chairman is elected first; then the Vice Chairman; then the Secretary.
If there is only one nominee, the vote is by show of hands. If there are two (or more) nominees, the vote is by secret paper ballot. You can see an example of the voting by viewed the YouTube recording of the nominations and voting for officers for the 2018-2019 school year, which was held on June 26, 2018. On YouTube fast-forward to 58:55 for the action.
During this past year there has been a "majority" on the board that has run things. And not for the best. Not in the best interests of the District. Not in the best interest of students. Nor of the voters. Or fairness. Or observation of law.
Will this "majority" attempt to maintain control of the board in the next school year?
For each office to be elected, the majority can be expected to nominate a candidate for the office. The "minority" group should nominate a second person. This will force a secret paper vote. There is always a slim chance that a board member voting in secret will display some backbone that will likely not happen during a show of hands.
The backbone was displayed at the June 2018 election of officers. Amelia McKie was nominated as Chairman by Trustee Caution-Parker, and no second person was nominated. This meant that voting was by a show of hands. The vote was five in favor. Trustees Agostini and Elkins-Johnson did not vote "For".
My guess is that this caught Supt. Davis by surprise. He seemed unsure how to proceed after he realized two had not voted. He then asked if there were any votes Against or Nay, and then he added Abstentions. He should have separated Nay from Abstentions. Only Dr. Elkins-Johnson raised her hand, and it was not determined whether she was voting Nay or abstaining. Mrs. Agostini did not indicate whether she was voting Nay or Abstaining.
For more detail on the June 2018 election of officers, click here.
Because of the way the board has been run for the past year, at this year's election, if a person with poor qualifications for an officer's position is nominated, then a second person should be nominated.
Should nominees not be allowed to vote? If they weren't, that would mean a majority of the others would elect the officer. Because of the small number on the board, this will result in additional problems.
I am reminded on the 1969 movie, Putney Swope. The opening is classic. The Chairman of the Board drops dead during a board meeting, and the board decides it must elected a new chairman. Nobody on the board wants to elect Putney Swope as Chairman of the Board. Several members of the board believe no one else will vote for him, and they think Swope ought to get at least one vote. He ends up with seven votes and becomes the Chairman.
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
U.S. National Debt
Are Richland 2 students learning anything at all about the U.S. National Debt?
Are they learning anything at all about personal finances, budgeting, borrowing money, avoiding payday loan scams, high interest rates on credit card debt? Saving money? Investing money?
Are they falling for the vote-buying pitch of the Democrats for the government to forgive or pay off student loans? Your student loan is your debt, not mine. I am not going to pay off your debt!
Watch this PragerU video.
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Critical Election June 25
On June 25, 2019 the Richland 2 School Board will elect its officers for the next school year. This election occurs annually, and it was placed on the Agenda for the June 25, 2019 School Board meeting.
The three officers to be elected are Board Chair, Board Vice Chair and Board Secretary.
Should the "high school club" atmosphere of the current "majority" be allowed to continue?
The impact of last year's election has been felt through this school year. Last June Amelia McKie was elected by the board to serve as Board Chair from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. That choice has resulted in long, disorganized school board meetings; dissension among board members; constant calls for compliance with State law; resignation by the Board Secretary (officer); failure to sanction a board member who violated Board Policy by launching a personal and false claim of harassment against a community member with the Richland County Sheriff's Department.
It is the Board Chair and the Superintendent who set the agendas for future meetings. Dissenting board members find it very difficult to get unpopular issues on the agenda for a meeting.
Did the board bother to conduct any due diligence before electing McKie?
If it had, it should have uncovered that she had failed to file required annual Statement of Economic Interests Reports with the South Carolina Ethics Commission for 2015, 2016 and 2017. Those were violations of Board Policy and a violation of State law. A search of the Public Index of the Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit would have revealed personal information that should have been taken into consideration.
Will McKie seek a second term as Board Chair? She owes $51,750 in fines and penalties to the South Carolina Ethics Commission (as of 6/11/2019). The Ethics Commission should be turning that debt over to the S.C. Department of Revenue for collection.
If she does seek re-election as Chair, what significance with the board give to her current debt to the South Carolina Ethics Commission, on which no meaningful payments have been made?
The board tried to adopt a new Board Policy earlier this year that might have caught up McKie. That proposed policy would have given the board authority to remove an officer; not remove the person from the board, but remove that person as an officer. The vote was 3-4 (including Nay votes of McKie and Holmes). Without those two votes (and there is good reason to omit both votes), the result would have been 3-2 - a Passing vote!
The board could, but won't, remove her from the board. S.C. Code of Laws §59-19-60 reads,
"School district trustees shall be subject to removal from office for cause by the county boards of education, upon notice and after being given an opportunity to be heard by the county board of education. Any such order of removal shall state the grounds thereof, the manner of notice and the hearing accorded the trustee, and any such trustee shall have the right to appeal to the court of common pleas, as provided in Section 59-19-560. Vacancies occurring in the membership of any board of trustees for any cause shall be filled for the unexpired term by the county board of education in the same manner as provided for full-term appointments.
There is no "county board of education" for Richland County. Richland 2 is that board of education. Richland 2 School Board Policy is that a vacant trustee position will be filled by special election conducted by the the Richland County Council. There have been two vacant positions since November 6, 2018.
What "cause" could the board use? How about failure to file required annual forms with the State Ethics Commission? Former Gov. Nikki Haley removed a Richland County Councilman for failure to pay S.C. income taxes for three years. Mrs. Haley referred to that as an act of moral turpitude.
When the school board gets ready to elect its officers for the coming year, it must select three with impeccable integrity, character, honesty, ethics, principles and responsibility.
As it happens, there are three on the board with those qualities who will be eligible for election as an officer for 2019-2020. And it's not the majority that McKie refers to so often as supportive of the superintendent.
The three officers to be elected are Board Chair, Board Vice Chair and Board Secretary.
Should the "high school club" atmosphere of the current "majority" be allowed to continue?
The impact of last year's election has been felt through this school year. Last June Amelia McKie was elected by the board to serve as Board Chair from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. That choice has resulted in long, disorganized school board meetings; dissension among board members; constant calls for compliance with State law; resignation by the Board Secretary (officer); failure to sanction a board member who violated Board Policy by launching a personal and false claim of harassment against a community member with the Richland County Sheriff's Department.
It is the Board Chair and the Superintendent who set the agendas for future meetings. Dissenting board members find it very difficult to get unpopular issues on the agenda for a meeting.
Did the board bother to conduct any due diligence before electing McKie?
If it had, it should have uncovered that she had failed to file required annual Statement of Economic Interests Reports with the South Carolina Ethics Commission for 2015, 2016 and 2017. Those were violations of Board Policy and a violation of State law. A search of the Public Index of the Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit would have revealed personal information that should have been taken into consideration.
Will McKie seek a second term as Board Chair? She owes $51,750 in fines and penalties to the South Carolina Ethics Commission (as of 6/11/2019). The Ethics Commission should be turning that debt over to the S.C. Department of Revenue for collection.
If she does seek re-election as Chair, what significance with the board give to her current debt to the South Carolina Ethics Commission, on which no meaningful payments have been made?
The board tried to adopt a new Board Policy earlier this year that might have caught up McKie. That proposed policy would have given the board authority to remove an officer; not remove the person from the board, but remove that person as an officer. The vote was 3-4 (including Nay votes of McKie and Holmes). Without those two votes (and there is good reason to omit both votes), the result would have been 3-2 - a Passing vote!
The board could, but won't, remove her from the board. S.C. Code of Laws §59-19-60 reads,
"School district trustees shall be subject to removal from office for cause by the county boards of education, upon notice and after being given an opportunity to be heard by the county board of education. Any such order of removal shall state the grounds thereof, the manner of notice and the hearing accorded the trustee, and any such trustee shall have the right to appeal to the court of common pleas, as provided in Section 59-19-560. Vacancies occurring in the membership of any board of trustees for any cause shall be filled for the unexpired term by the county board of education in the same manner as provided for full-term appointments.
There is no "county board of education" for Richland County. Richland 2 is that board of education. Richland 2 School Board Policy is that a vacant trustee position will be filled by special election conducted by the the Richland County Council. There have been two vacant positions since November 6, 2018.
What "cause" could the board use? How about failure to file required annual forms with the State Ethics Commission? Former Gov. Nikki Haley removed a Richland County Councilman for failure to pay S.C. income taxes for three years. Mrs. Haley referred to that as an act of moral turpitude.
When the school board gets ready to elect its officers for the coming year, it must select three with impeccable integrity, character, honesty, ethics, principles and responsibility.
As it happens, there are three on the board with those qualities who will be eligible for election as an officer for 2019-2020. And it's not the majority that McKie refers to so often as supportive of the superintendent.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Review: June 2018 Board Officer Election
At the last School Board meeting of the 2018-2019 School Year, the Board held an election for Board officers. That election was on June 26, 2018, and it was for the term beginning July 1, 2018 and ending on June 30, 2019.
The Officers are Board Chair, Board Vice Chair and Board Secretary.
If you care to view that election, go to Richland 2's website,
click on EXPLORE; then
click on School Board; then
click on BOARD MEETINGS; then
click on PAST BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS ARCHIVES; then
click on 2017-2018 School Board Meeting Highlights; then
scroll down to June 26, 2018 and
click on Click here to watch the entire meeting.
Fast-forward (drag) to 58:55 on the timer.
Supt. Davis chaired the nominations and the voting.
For Chair, McKie was nominated by Caution-Parker.
By a hand vote of 5-2 (Nay/Abstain by Agostini and Elkins-Johnson), McKie was elected to the office of Chair.
For Vice Chair, Elkins-Johnson was nominated by Manning.
For Vice Chair, Shadd was nominated by Caution-Parker.
By a paper vote of 4-3, Elkins-Johnson was elected to the office of Vice Chair.
For Secretary, Agostini was nominated by Elkins-Johnson.
For Secretary, Shadd was nominated by McKie.
By a paper vote of 5-2, Agostini was elected to the office of Secretary. *
* Mrs. Agostini resigned from the office of Board Secretary on April 26, 2019, after she refused to sign documents associated with a $26,000,000 Bond Notes sale. Mrs. Agostini would not affix her name to the Certificate of Incumbency (which stated Amelia McKie is the Board Chair and that her term of office as Chair is July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019), and she would not sign the Signature and No Litigation Certification (also related to McKie's position).
On April 30, 2019 the Board elected James Shadd as successor Board Secretary for the remainder of the term to June 30, 2019.
Mrs. Agostini continues to serve as School Board Trustee. Her term of office is 2016-2020.
The Officers are Board Chair, Board Vice Chair and Board Secretary.
If you care to view that election, go to Richland 2's website,
click on EXPLORE; then
click on School Board; then
click on BOARD MEETINGS; then
click on PAST BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS ARCHIVES; then
click on 2017-2018 School Board Meeting Highlights; then
scroll down to June 26, 2018 and
click on Click here to watch the entire meeting.
Fast-forward (drag) to 58:55 on the timer.
Supt. Davis chaired the nominations and the voting.
For Chair, McKie was nominated by Caution-Parker.
By a hand vote of 5-2 (Nay/Abstain by Agostini and Elkins-Johnson), McKie was elected to the office of Chair.
For Vice Chair, Elkins-Johnson was nominated by Manning.
For Vice Chair, Shadd was nominated by Caution-Parker.
By a paper vote of 4-3, Elkins-Johnson was elected to the office of Vice Chair.
For Secretary, Agostini was nominated by Elkins-Johnson.
For Secretary, Shadd was nominated by McKie.
By a paper vote of 5-2, Agostini was elected to the office of Secretary. *
* Mrs. Agostini resigned from the office of Board Secretary on April 26, 2019, after she refused to sign documents associated with a $26,000,000 Bond Notes sale. Mrs. Agostini would not affix her name to the Certificate of Incumbency (which stated Amelia McKie is the Board Chair and that her term of office as Chair is July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019), and she would not sign the Signature and No Litigation Certification (also related to McKie's position).
On April 30, 2019 the Board elected James Shadd as successor Board Secretary for the remainder of the term to June 30, 2019.
Mrs. Agostini continues to serve as School Board Trustee. Her term of office is 2016-2020.
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