In an extraordinary meeting last Tuesday, Richland County School District One board members took a significant step. They voted to ask the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) for a comprehensive forensic audit of the district. This was the first gathering of the year for the newly elected board members.

"We can at least try to guide the state department to conduct a specific type of audit based on the board's preferences, " commented the newly appointed Board Chair, Robert Lominack.

The SCDE had previously ordered an audit, deeming the district's recovery plan insufficient and incomplete. This plan was created after a report from the South Carolina Inspector General revealed that millions of taxpayer dollars were wasted on a controversial early learning center. This incident escalated the district's fiscal status from "fiscal watch" to "fiscal caution. "

Lominack emphasized the need to start the audit process promptly, saying, "At least we should begin soon, identifying an auditor. "

The motion for a full forensic audit came from the newly named Vice Chair, Barbara Weston. It was supported by newly elected school board commissioner, Richard Moore. The motion passed 5-2, with commissioners Aaron Bishop and Jamie Devine voting against it.

"We just had an audit by the state and the district a few months ago, " Bishop contended. "What else can be found out? What more are we asking to be discovered? " He also raised concerns about the yet-unknown cost of a full forensic audit.

Lominack also updated the board on the search for a new superintendent. He estimated the process to find a replacement could take four to six months.

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Richland One Board Kicks Off 2025 with a Request for Full Financial Scrutiny

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