COLUMBIA – Weeks after brushing aside adopting greater accountability measures for their own conduct, the Richland Two school board voted 6-0 for similar conduct rules for district staff. On March 26, board members combed through the five-page policy, which lists numerous behaviors classified as “misconduct.” Many behaviors focus on teacher-student interactions. Board vice-chair Monica Elkins-Johnson […]
Supers take home top pay, benefits
March 28, 2019 By
COLUMBIA – Public education isn’t the most profitable profession in South Carolina. For a select few, however, the field can be quite lucrative. In a state where the governor earns $106,078 a year and agency heads like the state superintendent of education make $92,007, many district level school superintendents rake in two to three times […]
Update: R2 board member claims harassment
March 28, 2019 By
Bender: “Public officials have to expect feedback from constituents.” COLUMBIA – Another spat involving a Richland Two board member and law enforcement is further fueling criticisms of elected officials already marred by mounting ethical and legal issues. Columbia area resident Gus Philpott is identified as the subject in a harassment complaint he says Richland Two […]
R2 ethics debate smolders
March 14, 2019 By
Residents: Some R2 Members Could Face Charges COLUMBIA – Calls for the resignation of Richland Two board members once again punctuated an otherwise mundane agenda filled with student appeals, a diploma petition and votes on policy revisions. And this time, one resident says some board members could face criminal charges for failing to comply with […]
BHS teacher finalist for SC’s top teacher
March 14, 2019 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood High School English teacher Sue Weems got a big surprise Tuesday morning when State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman made an unexpected stop at the high school to announce that Weems has being named one of five finalists for the South Carolina Teacher of the Year award. Richland Two School Superintendent Barron […]
Letters: McKie illegally seated
March 7, 2019 By
According to South Carolina Code of Laws, Amelia McKie was not eligible to be sworn in as a Richland 2 School Board member for the term 2018-2022. The election was Nov. 6, 2018, and she was sworn in on Nov. 13, 2018. (Title 8, Chapter 13) Section 8-13-1110 (A) “No public official … designated in […]
Editorial: Long, Ineffective Meetings Mark R2 Board
March 7, 2019 By
Richland Two board members spent almost half an hour debating how items are placed on the agenda. And that was before the agenda itself was even approved. After that, the Feb. 26 board of trustees meeting followed a familiar pattern – an overstuffed agenda, persistent questioning and complementing of each other and lengthy executive session […]
New calls for R2 Chair’s resignation
February 28, 2019 By
Parent Asks Board If Daughter Can Ignore Her Detention COLUMBIA – Calls for Richland Two board chair Amelia McKie to step down continued Tuesday night, with three residents saying she should step down, citing nearly $52,000 in ethics fines she owes. Local Realtor Gary Dennis also criticized the board for shooting down a policy revision […]
Blythewood Middle Honors Chorus
February 28, 2019 By
BLYTHEWOOD – BMS Honor Chorus at R2i2 for the District’s Retirement Luncheon. Front Row Stairs: Zhanaya Casteal, Katherine Connor, Annabelle Manville, Emily Stack, Sidney Powell, Sarah Chaneyworth, Alex Raileanu, Caroline Martin Second Row Stairs: Emerson Hood, Brooke Witmer, Vivian LeBron, Anna Sparrow, Sanders Pitts, Caprice Aspland, Julia Friedman, D’ara Bolt Third Row Stairs: Emma Sauls, […]
