COLUMBIA – As Richland Two school leaders grapple with ethical and legal challenges, three of them are being feted with statewide awards and distinctions.
Board chair Amelia McKie, who’s facing nearly $52,000 in fines over previously unfiled ethics forms, has been elected Region 8 Director of the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA).
McKie was elected at the association’s annual business meeting in December. Voting consisted of delegates from most of the state’s 81 school boards, according to a news release.
Region 8 includes Richland One and Richland Two school districts.
The meeting was held Dec. 7-9, several days after The Voice published a story that said McKie hadn’t filed required Statements of Economic Interest, or SEI, forms from 2015-2018.
Additionally, in July 2018, the S.C. Ethics Commission had already fined McKie $41,000 for failing to file multiple quarterly campaign disclosure reports. That fine increased to $51,750 on Jan. 1.
Several Richland Two parents and at least one school board member have called on McKie to either step down as chair or resign from the board altogether.
Monica Elkins-Johnson
Also receiving accolades in the wake of legal challenges is Monica Elkins-Johnson, board vice-chair.
At the Feb. 26 board meeting, she was recognized for achieving Level 6 board certification through the S.C. School Board Association Boardsmanship Institute, the highest level.
The institute “offers a year-round training curriculum focused on leadership skills for board members on state and national educational issues,” according to the group’s website.
The SCSBA awarded the Level 6 certification nearly a month after Elkins-Johnson was charged with disorderly conduct in relation to an altercation after the Jan. 22 board meeting, where tensions flared following a discussion of board member ethics.
A police report filed after the meeting states that Elkins-Johnson was cursing loudly and threatened the husband of board chairwoman Amelia McKie in the foyer of the Richland Two Institute for Technology.
A second report states that Elkins-Johnson shoved Erica Davis, state Sen. Mia McLeod’s sister, during the altercation.
Change of Venue
Pontiac Magistrate Andy Surles was originally assigned to preside over the Elkins-Johnson case, but it has since been transferred to the Hopkins office and reassigned to Hopkins Magistrate Valerie Stroman.
A Richland County magistrate office representative told The Voice that Judge Surles requested the recusal, prompting the change of venue.
An exact reason for the transfer wasn’t provided, though one explanation would be to avoid a conflict of interest since one of the victims is Davis, sister of state Sen. Mia McLeod.
McLeod’s senate district includes Pontiac, and state senators play a significant role in selecting magistrates.
In South Carolina, governors appoint magistrates “upon the advice and consent of the Senate,” according to the S.C. Judicial Department website.
In addition to the disorderly conduct charge, Elkins-Johnson also didn’t file several quarterly campaign disclosure reports due in 2016 and 2017 until Dec. 27, 2018, ethics commission records state.
Reports due in April 2018 and October 2018 were also filed late, ethics records show.
Dr. Baron Davis
Though not as serious as the penalties McKie and Elkins-Johnson presently face, Dr. Davis paid a $200 fine to the ethics commission after self-reporting late filings, namely his Statements of Economic Interest, or SEI, forms.
Davis disclosed the ethics fine during the Feb. 12 board meeting.
Eight days later, at the 5th Annual Columbia Impact Awards, Davis received The Cathy Novinger Trailblazer Award, which “honors an individual who has shown exemplary leadership in his/her industry, advocates for business, and positively impacts our community” according to a news release.
“In Richland Two, we talk about the pursuit of premier being relentless and unflinching. Trailblazers dare to chart their own paths even against conventional wisdom. But through challenging ourselves we often discover our purpose,” Davis said in prepared remarks.
COLUMBIA – A Richland Two school board member has been criminally charged for her role in an altercation that involved a state senator, the senator’s sister and spouse of the school board chairwoman.
Elkins-Johnson
Monica Elkins-Johnson, 51, of Columbia, was charged Thursday with disorderly conduct, according to online police and court records.
On Jan. 31, Elkins-Johnson turned herself in to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where she appeared for a bond hearing.
Elkins-Johnson posted a $237.50 personal recognizance bond. Her next scheduled court date is March 18, according to the Richland County Public Index.
As a condition of her bond, Elkins-Johnson has been ordered to have no contact with any of the victims, identified in court records as Sen. Mia McLeod; Erica Davis, McLeod’s sister; and Stacy McKie, husband of board chair Amelia McKie.
A Richland County Sheriff’s Office news release says Elkins-Johnson “did attack several individuals,” and cursed and threatened them.
The incident was caught on video, the release said. A police report said the altercation occurred around 9:30 p.m., shortly after the board meeting adjourned.
Footage released to The Voice shows a scrum of individuals in the foyer of the Richland Two Institute for Technology, moments after the Jan. 22 school board meeting adjourned.
The footage shows security guards separating Elkins-Johnson from the group.
Shortly before 10 p.m., The Voice observed Elkins-Johnson and another board member in the parking lot standing near a vehicle. Two security guards stood close by.
Two police reports were filed in relation to the altercation that followed the Jan. 22 board meeting at the Richland Two Institute for Technology.
One report stated that as McLeod and her sister were leaving the meeting, the suspect aggressively approached one of the sisters.
A second report stated the suspect called Stacy McKie several “offensive words,” and threatened to kill him.
Elkins Johnson filed a petition for a restraining order against Stacy McKie, claiming in court records that he cursed at her and alleged harassment. A magistrate denied Elkins-Johnson’s petition.
Things turned heated after the Jan. 22 board meeting, a meeting in which the board discussed proposed policy revisions that would make it easier to remove board members from officer positions, such as board chair, vice-chair or treasurer.
The proposed policy changes come following an investigation by The Voice into Richland Two board members failing to file required ethics forms with the S.C. Ethics Commission.
McKie was fined $51,750 for failing to file several campaign disclosure reports.
Elkins-Johnson didn’t file several quarterly campaign disclosure reports from the 2016 campaign – dating back to April 2017 – until Dec. 27, 2018, according to the ethics commission online database.
It is unclear what ethics fines, if any, Elkins-Johnson faces. An ethics commission spokesperson couldn’t be reached for comment.
COLUMBIA – Richland Two school board Vice Chair Monica Elkins-Johnson (seen in the surveillance video wearing a pink jacket) was arrested Thursday and charged with disorderly conduct. The altercation occurred Jan. 22 following a school board meeting at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation on Fashion Drive in Columbia.
School Board Vice Chair Monica Elkins Johnson arrested
COLUMBIA – A Richland Two school board member has been criminally charged for her role in an altercation moments after a recent board meeting.
Elkins-Johnson
Monica Elkins Johnson, 51, of Columbia, has been charged with disorderly conduct, according to online police and court records.
Elkins Johnson was charged Thursday. Bond information was unavailable as of Thursday afternoon.
The charge comes following a heated exchange that also included State Sen. Mia McLeod and Stacy McKie, husband of Richland Two chairwoman Amelia McKie.
A Richland County Sheriff’s Office news release says Elkins-Johnson “did attack several individuals,” and cursed and threatened them. The incident was caught on video, the release said.
Elkins-Johnson turned herself in at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where as of Thursday afternoon she was awaiting a bond hearing, the release continued.
Two police reports were filed in relation to the altercation that followed the Jan. 22 board meeting at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation.
One report stated that as McLeod and her sister were leaving the meeting, the suspect aggressively approached one of the sisters.
A second report stated the suspect called Stacy McKie several “offensive words,” and threatened to kill him.
Elkins Johnson filed a complaint a petition for a restraining order against Stacy McKie, claiming in court records that he cursed at her and alleged harassment. A magistrate denied Elkins-Johnson’s petition.
Things turned heated after the Jan. 22 board meeting, a meeting in which the board discussed proposed policy revisions that would make it easier to remove board members from officer positions, such as board chair, vice-chair or treasurer.
The proposed policy changes come following an investigation by The Voice into Richland Two board members filing to file required ethics forms with the S.C. Ethics Commission.
McKie was recently fined $51,750 for failing to file several campaign disclosure reports.
Elkins-Johnson didn’t file several quarterly campaign disclosure reports from the 2016 campaign until Dec. 27, 2018, according to the ethics commission online database.
It is unclear what ethics fines, if any, Elkins-Johnson faces. An ethics commission spokesperson couldn’t be reached Thursday.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
Updated: R2 Board meeting ends in melee
COLUMBIA – An altercation involving a state senator, the spouse of the Richland Two school board chair and a second board member, erupted following a recent board meeting, according to public records obtained by The Voice.
The skirmish resulted in two separate police reports being filed against the subject (the reported school board member), whose name is redacted in the report, and a petition for a restraining order against Stacy McKie, spouse of board chair Amelia McKie.
A heavily redacted Richland County Sheriff’s Office report lists the incident type as “simple assault” in one report and “all other offenses” in the other. One report states the subject “was threatening to kill” McKie’s husband.
Although the police report contained significant redactions, Richland Two board member Monica Elkins-Johnson is named in the restraining order petition.
Elkins-Johnson sought a restraining order against Stacy McKie, alleging harassment, court documents state.
“I felt threatened and would ask that he not be allowed to come near me,” Elkins-Johnson wrote.
Daniel Coble, associate chief magistrate for Richland County, sided with Stacy McKie, and denied Elkins-Johnson’s petition.
Elkins-Johnson couldn’t be reached for comment. Amelia McKie, board chair, also couldn’t be reached.
In one of the police reports, McLeod and her sister are identified as saying they wish to prosecute. Attempts to reach McLeod have been unsuccessful.
Reports redacted
Sen. McLeod’s name is unredacted in the narrative. McKie, the school board chair, is also identified in the report by her elected post.
All other names of subjects, victims and witnesses were blackened. The only redactions in the restraining order petition were the plaintiff’s (Elkins-Johnson) and defendant’s (Stacy McKie) addresses and contact information.
Jay Bender, an attorney with the S.C. Press Association, of which The Voice is a member, said there’s no legitimate reason to redact the names of elected officials in any incident report, especially if they’re involved in an altercation following a school board or other public meeting.
“Taking the names out doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” Bender said. “The law is very clear, when you’re involved in a matter of public interest and at a public meeting getting into a fracas, there is no right of privacy.”
Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Capt. Maria Yturria said the names were redacted because the investigation is ongoing. Yturria said no arrests have been made.
Bill Rogers, executive director of the S.C. Press Association, disputed the sheriff office’s interpretation of state law.
“I think this is an example of over-redaction. This is not something that’s going to hinder an investigation, it’s just covering up,” Rogers said. “These are public officials and the public has a right to know what they’re doing.”
Board members react
Things turned chippy shortly after last Tuesday’s meeting in which the board discussed proposed changes in board policy that would allow for the removal of the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary with cause.
The policy change comes in response to investigative reports by The Voice into board member ethics violations.
In June 2018, the S.C. Ethics Commission fined McKie $41,000 for failing to file several ethics reports. The fine jumped to $51,750 on Dec. 31 when she failed to pay the first $21,000 in fines.
Several other board members also failed to file various ethics reports on time during the 2018 election cycle, public records show.
At last week’s board meeting, but before the filing of police reports and restraining order petitions, board member Lindsay Agostini publicly called for McKie to step down as the board’s chairman, but not from her board post.
“After being informed by media of missing documents which took over a month for the chair to complete, she has taken no ownership of any wrongdoing,” Agostini said from the dais. “As you try to straighten things up for you and your family, I at a minimum ask that you step down as chair. A premier district deserves a premier board.”
Reached by phone Monday, Agostini declined to comment on the altercation described in the two police reports, or whether the proposed board policy changes should apply to last Tuesday’s incident as well.
Agostini would only say she’s saddened by the attention that’s being drawn to board member conduct.
“It saddens me that we are going through this experience,” she said. “I’m grateful that our administration is continuing to focus on our students and our teachers.”
Board member James Manning, who said he had no knowledge of the altercation beyond media reports, said the proposed board policy changes aren’t aimed at a specific individual or type of conduct.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s an ethics issue or some sort of police report,” he said. “The issue is when does one of our officers become ineffective in carrying out their roles and responsibilities?”
Documents detail drama
According to one incident report, as McLeod and her sister were leaving last week’s board meeting, the subject had an altercation with McKie’s spouse.
The subject, the report said, then aggressively approached one of the sisters whose name is redacted, while the other (also redacted) moved between them, the report continues.
The subject then pushed one of the sisters and cursed at McLeod and others according to the incident report. There were no injuries, but McLeod said she was in fear for her safety, and security had to restrain the subject, the report stated.
In the parking lot after the meeting, The Voice observed board member Monica Elkins-Johnson and at least one other board member near a car. Two security guards stood nearby.
Superintendent Dr. Baron Davis was present too, though he is not named in any of the police reports or court documents obtained by The Voice.
A second police report filed by a man who sources say is McKie’s spouse stated that the subject called him several “offensive words” and threatened to kill him. He said in the report that the subject also punched another person.
The altercation continued into the parking lot. When the subject approached McKie’s spouse a second time, she had to be restrained, the report continued.
“[Complainant/Victim] is concerned about the subject possibly approaching him again in a volatile and confrontational manner,” the report states.
On the following day, Elkins-Johnson sought a restraining order against Stacy McKie, saying in court records that the two were involved in a confrontation following the Jan. 22 school board meeting.
The confrontation occurred around 9:30 p.m. at the Richland Two Institute for Innovation, where board meetings are held.
“The defendant’s wife has been accused of ethics violations,” Elkins-Johnson wrote in the complaint. “Therefore, she invited her allies (about 30) to attend the meeting.”
Elkins-Johnson goes on to say in the complaint that she was speaking with some church members when she noticed Stacy McKie standing off to her left.
“I spoke to him. He loudly said to me, [expletive], don’t speak to me. I don’t [expletive] with you like that,” the document states. “The discussion continued and then he came closer to me and asked ‘what do I want to do?’”
