R2 school board member Lindsay Agostini resigns as secretary. James Shadd, right, was elected to replace Agostini as board secretary. | Barbara Ball
COLUMBIA – Chairwoman Amelia McKie’s ongoing ethics problems have prompted another member of the Richland 2 Board of Trustees to resign her officer position.
Lindsay Agostini stepped down as secretary of the Richland Two board, but still remains on the board as a voting member. Agostini notified McKie and Superintendent Dr. Baron Davis of her decision via email Friday.
In a prepared statement read at Tuesday’s meeting, Agostini said she consulted her personal attorney after raising concerns about two documents she says she was asked in her position as secretary to sign.
Both documents alluded to lingering legal and ethics issues that have haunted McKie for months.
“With these questions in mind and under advice of legal counsel, my principles would not allow me to sign these two documents,” Agostini said. “Therefore, I felt it was in the best interest of the district for me to resign as board secretary but continue in the capacity as a member of the Board of Trustees.”
Neither McKie nor other trustees at Tuesday’s meeting responded to Agostini’s statement.
One document, titled “Certificate of Incumbency,” asked Agostini to confirm McKie as the board chair. It also stated the dates of McKie’s chairmanship are July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, Agostini said.
The “Signature and No Litigation Document,” which related to the recently passed $468.4 million bond referendum for school building upgrades, was modified to include verbiage inferring that McKie is legally allowed to serve on the board in spite of failing to follow state ethics law.
“The School District is aware that members of the public have called for the resignation of the current Board Chair because of fines owed by the Board Chair to the South Carolina State Ethics Commission because the Board Chair did not have on file a current Statement of Economic Interest prior to being sworn in to a second term as a member of the Board,” the document stated.
“The School District is not aware of any litigation, regulatory effort, or official proceeding challenging the Board Chair’s right and title to serve as a Board member or Board Chair,” the document continues.
Agostini said she refused to sign both documents since she said she cannot, in fact, verify that McKie is legally allowed to serve.
“This presented several questions to me. Is this normal wording? Why is an extra paragraph needed? Have we ever included wording like this in a Richland Two bond document?” Agostini asked. “We are asking our community for half of a billion dollar bond and we need to include this language?”
McKie owes nearly $52,000 in ethics fines for failing to file various campaign disclosure reports.
She also didn’t file statements of economic interest, or SEI, forms from 2015 to 2018 until December 2018, the S.C. Ethics Commission’s online database states.
McKie did not file the forms until after The Voice sought comment from her about the missing forms. March 31 is the deadline to file SEI forms in a given year, according to the Ethics Commission.
Section 8-13-1110 of state law says no public official “may take the oath of office or enter upon his official responsibilities” unless an SEI form is filed.
McKie has been serving on the board since her re-election in November 2018. She didn’t file her SEI forms until Dec. 4, nearly a month later.
McKie’s apparent ineligibility to serve has prompted several residents to call for her and other non-compliant trustees to step down.
“The proper action is for Ms. McKie and [board trustee Teresa] Holmes to stand up now and step away from the board immediately,” Richland County resident Gus Philpott said at a Richland Two meeting in March. “Ms. McKie is not legally a board member and so cannot be chair of this board.”
In January, when The Voice asked the state ethics and election commission spokespersons which agency is tasked with enforcing the eligibility statute, each agency punted the issue back to the other.
“I would think compliance would be a question for that body [the ethics commission],” Chris Whitmire, spokesman for the S.C. Election Commission, told The Voice in January.
Meghan Walker, the ethics commission’s director, said only the election commission has the power to remove a candidate from the ballot. She said the ethics commission only fines candidates for non-compliance.
“We don’t file an injunction or anything,” Walker said.
Section 8-13-1520 further says violations of the ethics chapter are misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in prison, a $5,000 fine or both, though there’s been no indication that charges will be filed.
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 said she thought the staff conduct policy might discourage students from confiding with teachers who they trust.
“Not all students have a relationship with school counselors,” Elkins-Johnson said. “This [policy] is stating that they can only have these conversations with a school counselor.”
Superintendent Dr. Baron Davis said the district always encourages dialogue between students and staff. He said the policy is aimed at students in crisis situations, such as suicide.
“Advice is absolutely not counseling,” Davis said. “We just want to encourage a student, [who] for example is having suicidal [thoughts] or harming themselves, we need to immediately get that student to a trained professional to de-escalate that situation.”
Board member Teresa Holmes expressed another definition of misconduct, which includes “refusing to follow a supervisor’s instructions and directions.”
“It’s too subjective that you have to follow instructions without them being clarified,” Holmes said. “You could tell me to go down the hall and if I don’t go, I didn’t follow your instructions. It’s too subjective.”
Discussion of staff conduct comes on the heels of an ethics controversy involving a quorum of the board.
At least three members have been fined by the S.C. Ethics Commission. Board chair Amelia McKie owes the most at $51,750.
In February, board members voted 4-3 against the policy revision that would’ve authorized stripping board members of officer titles “for cause,” provided a supermajority approves.
Board members found in violation would still retain their elected post.
Those voting in the majority to reject the measure took issue with the phrase ‘for cause,’ calling it vague.
Board member James Shadd III, who was fined $13,000 by the ethics commission in 2014, took issue with the proposed misconduct policy’s “for cause” terminology, voting against the proposed policy on Feb. 12.
He suggested the policy proposal was reactionary, saying sanctions for legal troubles some board members face already exist in state law.
“What does ‘just cause’ mean?” Shadd III asked.
A search for the phrase “probable cause” in the state ethics statute generated 19 results. The phrase “just cause” appeared three times.
Many of the board members voting down the policy were themselves in violations of various state ethics laws.
“Because of recent events, I have made sure that I’m a stickler to policy now. I’ve become a policy guru,” McKie said in February.
McKie would’ve been impacted by the policy change had it passed.
“I would greatly shun having a nebulous policy,” she said. “If you want a policy that tightens things up a bit, I’ve got that.”
Richland Two board members voted against the policy revisions following an investigation by The Voice that numerous board members violated state law by going months, and in some cases, years without filing campaign finance and/or conflict of interest forms.
Also at the March 26 meeting, the board discussed language of the district’s profanity policy.
Elkins-Johnson, the board’s vice-chair, asked if the policy applies to coaches. District staff said it does.
Violations of the policy are “grounds for placing an employee on administrative leave, with pay, pending an investigation and possible recommendation for termination of employment,” the policy states.
Ironically, Elkins-Johnson is facing a disorderly conduct charge following an obscenity-laden outburst after a recent school board meeting.
At the Feb. 22 board meeting, while reading from a prepared statement, Elkins-Johnson apologized “for the language that I used” during an altercation at the Jan. 22 board meeting.
A Richland County Sheriff’s Department incident report states that Elkins-Johnson cursed and made threatening comments during a dispute involving McKie’s husband and the sister of state Sen. Mia McLeod.
Elkins-Johnson was charged with disorderly conduct. She’s tentatively scheduled to appear back in court later on April 29, according to Richland County court records.
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 board member Teresa Holmes recently filed with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
In recent public meetings, Philpott has called for Holmes and board chair Amelia McKie to step down from their seats for failing to file Statements of Economic Interest, an ethics form required by state law.
South Carolina elected officials are required by law to file SEI forms before taking the oath of office. Violations are punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $5,000 fine, according to the S.C. Code of Laws.
Instead, it was Philpott who recently found himself facing a potential legal entanglement.
“I was home Thursday afternoon around 3 o’clock when the phone rang,” Philpott said. “[A sergeant] called me from the sheriff’s department and he told me that he had a report about harassment that had my name in it.”
Philpott met deputies at the sheriff’s office. After hearing Philpott’s side, deputies told him that he didn’t commit harassment, Philpott said, and was not charged.
Holmes declined to comment when asked why she filed the report.
“When there are legal issues or potential pending further legal issues or additional actions pending, I have been advised not to comment by my attorney,” Holmes said. “The public needs to know that I am in compliance with the State of South Carolina and I am not now or never have been in danger of going to jail nor facing a $5,000 fine as alleged.”
In a post on The Voice’s website, Philpott wrote: “While filing her Statement of Economic Interests on Dec. 4, 2018, did get her into good standing with the S.C. Ethics Commission, it did not validate the oath of office that she took on Nov. 13, 2018. She must now take the oath of office.”
In response to a request from The Voice for the police report that Holmes filed, the sheriff’s office provided a heavily redacted report that shielded virtually all information about the complainant and subject from view.
Asterisks fill the fields normally reserved for the complainant’s and subject’s name, phone number, age, gender and ethnicity.
Jay Bender, a media law attorney representing the S.C. Press Association, said there’s no legitimate reason to redact an elected official’s name from an incident report, especially when it’s the official who filed it.
“You don’t lose all of your rights when you become a public official, but you certainly lose the right to be anonymous,” Bender said. “You certainly lose the right to file a criminal complaint because you don’t like what someone is saying.”
Bender further said it’s “nonsense” for a public official to file a harassment report against a constituent attempting to discuss public policy matters.
“All he’s doing is calling on a public official to follow the law,” Bender said. “When you offer yourself for public office, you have to expect feedback from your constituents.”
Legal issues have haunted Richland Two board members since December 2018 when The Voice began investigating unfiled ethics reports by a majority of members.
Six of seven board members failed to file either quarterly campaign finance reports or SEI forms, public records state.
A Richland Two board member has also been criminally charged following an altercation that occurred shortly after the Jan. 22 board meeting adjourned.
Board vice chair Monica Elkins- Johnson has been charged with disorderly conduct. She remains free on bond and a trial date hasn’t been set.
Police reports state that the suspect was yelling, cursing and issuing threats. A sheriff’s office news release stated that Elkins-Johnson “did attack several individuals,” and cursed and threatened them.
At the March 12 board meeting, a week before the harassment report was filed, Holmes said she has taken responsibility for not filing her SEI forms on time.
She went on to say she thinks board member ethics issues have become sensationalized.
“I’m not going to be one of those board members that sits by idly and accepts when things are done for personal reasons, or things are being done to be sensationalized,” she said. “I don’t like being used for personal reasons of other people.”
The harassment report states the incident occurred between March 11 and March 20. The report does not specify how anyone was harassed.
“C/V (School Board Member) came into the RCSD to report that a man that has approached her at several Richland County School Board meetings is harassing her,” the report states. “C/V said she feels threatened by subjects [sic] behavior.”
The report accuses Philpott of approaching the board member at meetings and also by sending her several emails that attack her.
Philpott said he’s personally spoken to Holmes only once at a board meeting and described the conversation as cordial. He noted he only emails the entire board, and not any member individually.
“If they are in a public place and at a public meeting, they have no expectation of privacy,” Philpott said.
Philpott said ethics compliance is important because board members handle heaps of taxpayer money. He also said their votes impact non-monetary matters, citing recent 4-3 board votes on student appeals.
At a meeting in February, the board also voted 4-3 against a proposed policy that would sanction board members when there’s “cause.” Holmes and McKie voted against the measure.
Philpott said those votes would’ve flipped the other way had the board followed state law by not allowing Holmes or McKie to serve for not filing 2018 SEI forms by the March 30 due date.
Neither filed their forms until December 2018, S.C. Ethics Commission records show.
R2 board member files harassment report with Sheriff’s office against Blythewood resident
COLUMBIA – A female member of the Richland Two school board has filed a harassment complaint against a private citizen who’s previously criticized board members for violating state ethics laws.
Blythewood area resident Gus Philpott said the Richland County Sheriff’s Office telephoned him last week to notify him of the complaint.
“I was home Thursday afternoon around 3 o’clock when the phone rang,” Philpott said. “[A sergeant] called me from the sheriff’s department and he told me that he had a report about harassment that had my name in it.”
Philpott said he went to the sheriff’s office, where he spoke with two deputies who asked him to give his side of the story. He said they later told him he didn’t commit harassment and he wasn’t charged.
All information about exactly who filed the report is hidden from the public in the report. Asterisks fill the fields normally reserved for the complainant’s name, phone number, age, gender and ethnicity.
Philpott believes Richland Two board member Teresa Holmes filed the report.
At previous board meetings, Philpott, among others, has called for Holmes and board chair Amelia McKie step down from the board for failing to file Statements of Economic Interest, an ethics form required by state law to be completed before a person elected to the school board can take office.
Jay Bender, a media law attorney representing the S.C. Press Association, said there’s no legitimate reason to redact an elected official’s name from an incident report.
He said it’s especially egregious when an elected official files a report against a constituent over political disagreements.
“You don’t lose all of your rights when you become a public official, but you certainly lose the right to be anonymous,” Bender said. “You certainly lose the right to file a criminal complaint because you don’t like what someone is saying.”
Holmes declined to comment when asked why she filed the report.
“When there are legal issues or potential pending further legal issues or additional actions pending; I have been advised not to comment by my attorney,” Holmes said.
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 state ethics laws.
Gus Philpott, a frequent critic of the Richland Two board, said during Tuesday night’s board of trustee’s meeting that board chair Amelia McKie and board member Teresa Holmes should step down immediately.
Speaking during public participation, Philpott said both McKie and Holmes are serving illegally.
Philpott said neither McKie nor Holmes filed Statements of Economic Interest, or SEI, forms until after they were sworn in, and pledged to keep publicizing their ethics woes until they step down.
“It’s going to continue to come up until the problem is resolved. I believe that there are two board members not legally entitled to sit on the board,” he said. “I believe you must leave your seats immediately. I hope the attorney for the school district is here to advise you now.”
State law says it’s illegal for public officials to be sworn in if they’ve not filed their SEI forms. McKie and Holmes filed their SEI forms on Dec. 4, 2018, nearly a month after the November election.
Citing another section of state law, Philpott said violating the ethics law is a misdemeanor crime.
“The proper action is for Ms. McKie and Ms. Holmes to stand up now and step away from the board immediately,” Philpott said. “Ms. McKie is not legally a board member and cannot be chair of this board.
“If she does not immediately leave the board, then all of you become complicit in the illegal functioning of this board,” Philpott added.
Section 8-13-1520 of the state law says violations of the ethics chapter are misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in prison, a $5,000 fine or both.
McKie didn’t comment on Philpott’s demand.
Holmes said she’s taken responsibility for not filing her SEI forms on time, and repeated prior explanations that nobody informed her of the requirement.
“No one comes to even tell you that you have to file a Statement of Economic [Interest form] by a certain amount of time or anything like that,” Holmes said. “I had no clue, no clue at all.”
Meghan Walker, the ethics commission’s director, has previously said the onus of complying with the state’s SEI form mandate falls to the candidate.
“It is the duty of every candidate to understand the law when filing,” Walker told The Voice.
Holmes went on to say she thinks board member ethics issues have become sensationalized.
“What bothers me is that I’m not going to be one of those board members that sits by idly and accepts when things are done for personal reasons, or things are being done to be sensationalized,” she said. “I don’t like being used for personal reasons of other people.”
Ethical and legal issues have haunted Richland Two board members and the district’s superintendent since early December.
Six of seven board members were late filing either SEI forms or quarterly campaign disclosure reports.
Dr. Baron Davis, district superintendent, reported last month that he also was late with an SEI form. He has since paid the fine.
McKie, however, has garnered the most attention.
She owes nearly $52,000 in ethics fines stemming from multiple violations of failing to file campaign disclosure reports.
She had been fined $41,000 previously, but the fine increased to $51,750 after she missed a December deadline to make a partial payment, according to public records.
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.
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 that, with cause, could have stripped board members of officer positions, such as chair or vice chair.
Dennis called the board a “laughing stock” in the state, likening recent events to a “comic strip.” He said one homebuyer interested in moving to Richland County now wants to move to Lexington or Chapin instead.
“As parents we must hold school board members to strict rules and regulations,” Dennis said. “I call on the chair to resign over the public issues that face her. Nothing is gained and everything is lost by staying on the board.”
Richland Two parent Dennis Rabon asked the board if his daughter could ignore the detention she received as punishment for a dress code violation as McKie ignored her ethics fines. He, too, called for McKie to step down.
“Character and accountability are just as important as GPAs and SATs,” Rabon said. “How can you hold your superintendent accountable when you can’t hold your board members accountable?
“In a county so rife with corruption and mismanagement, you had an opportunity to rise up and say enough,” Rabon continued.
Richland Two parent Rhonda Meisner not only called for McKie to step down, but she also accused the chair of manipulating the public input schedule in her (McKie’s) favor. She also said some of McKie’s supporters have harassed her for speaking out.
“After the [Jan. 22] meeting, several people supporting Ms. McKie verbally attacked me on several occasions,” Meisner said.
McKie did not respond to calls for her resignation, and during board member comments, she and other board members generally thanked each other and staff for their hard work.
Ethics did not get raised specifically by board members, though Lindsay Agostini thanked residents who have come to board meetings to voice their concerns. She urged others to do the same instead of resorting to posting on social media.
McKie has faced intense political pressure amid revelations in a series of investigative reports by The Voice that she owes $51,750 in unpaid ethics fines.
The S.C. Ethics Commission fined McKie for failing to file several campaign disclosure reports and statements of economic interest, or SEI, forms.
At the Feb. 12 meeting, the board voted 4-3 against a policy that would make it easier for the board to boot the chair, vice-chair or secretary from their board officer positions, but not from the board itself.
McKie would have potentially been impacted by the policy. She, Holmes, Cheryl Caution-Parker and James Shadd voted against it. Agostoni, Monica Elkins-Johnson and James Manning voted for the policy.
Earlier in the meeting, the board spent 20 minutes debating an agenda item concerning board policy about adding agenda items.
Board member Agostini asked the board to table discussion of the policy, which empowers the superintendent and board chair to develop the agenda. Her motion failed 5-2 after substantial debate.
Agostini and board member Teresa Holmes voted for tabling the discussion. However, only Agostini voted against approving the agenda with the board policy discussion left intact.
Superintendent Dr. Baron Davis said the new policy is designed so agendas aren’t unilaterally decided. He also said nothing prevents board members from suggesting agenda items.
According to the policy, other board members and the public can suggest agenda items, but ultimately the work of crafting the agenda rests with the superintendent and board chair.
“This removes one person from driving the agenda. It also removes the superintendent having complete autonomy over the agenda,” he said.
Holmes, however, said the policy was unclear.
“I’m concerned, like Ms. Agostini, because I don’t see where it says we can vote to put a policy in. As it stands right now, it does not say that,” Holmes said.
Later in the meeting, board member Monica Elkins-Johnson tried to amend the motion to approve the policy.
She wanted board members to have the ability to help craft the agenda, but her proposed amendment wasn’t taken up. The board voted 4-3 for the policy, with Agostini, Holmes and Elkins-Johnson voting against.
Members Vote 4-3 Against Removing Officers For Cause
COLUMBIA – Despite several members facing ethical and criminal sanctions, the Richland Two Board of Trustees voted against a policy designed to increase their accountability.
On Tuesday night, the board voted 4-3 against a board policy revision that would have empowered the board to discharge office holders by a supermajority vote.
“The board may, with a vote of five members, remove a board officer from his/her office, for cause, as determined by the board,” the proposed policy change states.
“In such a case, or in any case where there is a vacancy in a board office, the board may as soon as practical elect a member to fill the vacated office for the remainder of the term.”
Board chair Amelia McKie and board members James Shadd III, Cheryl Caution-Parker and Teresa Holmes voted against the policy change.
Board members James Manning, Lindsay Agostini and Monica Elkins-Johnson voted to support the policy.
The vote comes in the wake of a disorderly conduct charge filed against board secretary Monica Elkins-Johnson.
A Richland County Sheriff’s Office report states Elkins-Johnson was involved in a shoving match with Erica Davis, the sister of state Sen. Mia McLeod, following the Jan. 22 board meeting.
A second report states that Elkins-Johnson threatened Stacy McKie, husband of Amelia McKie.
It also comes amid the S.C. Ethics Commission fining Amelia McKie $51,750 for failing to file numerous campaign disclosure reports.
Several other board members failed to file various ethics reports, doing so only after a series of investigative reports by The Voice.
Elkins-Johnson issues statement
Elkins-Johnson, 51, turned herself in to the sheriff’s office on Jan. 31 and was charged with disorderly conduct. She was released on a $237.50 personal recognizance bond, and the next court date is scheduled for March 18, according to Richland County court records.
At Tuesday’s board meeting, Elkins-Johnson read a prepared statement, her first public remarks since Jan. 31.
In her statement, she apologized for “the language that I used” following the Jan. 22 board meeting, and also thanked friends and family for their support.
However, she also placed some blame on “the misconduct of others,” though she didn’t identify those people by name. She said her behavior after the meeting was out of character.
“When several people violated my space, it took me to an unfamiliar level, which I am not proud of as a servant leader and as a result I ask for your forgiveness,” Elkins-Johnson said.
“As always I have learned from this and will certainly use this as a teachable moment. Therefore, one moment out of my character does not and will not define me.”
Caution-Parker also addressed board behavior, saying all board members are responsible for their own actions.
“When we’re going to criticize a board member, take everybody into consideration, not just one,” Caution-Parker said. “We’re responsible for our passions, no matter what we do, no matter the circumstances. We are fully grown people and we are responsible for what we do and what we don’t do.”
Board member Teresa Holmes summed up her own comments with, “Let’s just all hold hands and say kumbaya.”
Board members mull policy
Those voting against the policy Tuesday night said it was too vague. McKie took issue with the phrase “for cause.”
Shadd III, who was fined $13,000 by the ethics commission in 2014, also took issue with the “for cause” terminology.
He suggested the policy proposal was reactionary, saying sanctions for legal troubles some board members face already exist in state law.
“What does ‘just cause’ mean?” Shadd III asked. “Failing to file reports with the ethics commission; there is a consequence to that. Failure to pay fines; there is a consequence to that.”
Caution-Parker said she would only support the policy revision if it went into effect July 1. She vehemently opposed any application of the policy that went into effect immediately.
“I have a major, major problem about how this all came about,” Caution-Parker said. “It’s almost like a mob mentality. Somebody did something, so we’re going to pass this.”
Manning said all policies the board has ever passed went into effect immediately upon approval and asked why this one should be different. He also disputed assertions that the policy targets anyone. He said it has many hypothetical applications, including absenteeism, misrepresentation or other actions.
“It’s made us review the policy and realize there’s a gap in the policy that needs to be addressed,” he said. “We have a gap that needs to be corrected, not a mob mentality about any individuals.”
Agostini emphasized the policy wasn’t designed to remove a member from the board, only to strip them of officer positions, which include chair, vice-chair and secretary.
“This policy is not removing somebody from the board,” she said.
Later in the meeting, Agostini read aloud an email from a constituent who expressed embarrassment over McKie’s ethics fines amid the recently approved $468 million bond referendum funding various school construction projects.
“How can I reasonably expect that our chairwoman can manage nearly a half billion dollar bond when she cannot manage a simple ethics filing,” Agostini said, reading from the letter.
Superintendent addresses ethics
In related matters, Dr. Baron Davis, district superintendent, acknowledged a blemish existed in his own ethics filings.
Reading from a prepared statement, Davis said shortly after his hiring in 2017, he was unfamiliar with an ethics commission requirement that superintendents file Statements of Economic Interest, or SEI, forms.
Davis said while filing his 2019 forms, he noticed that he didn’t file his 2018 form (for the 2017 year) within 10 days of officially becoming superintendent.
“I did not know that and I did not file. I admitted those things once I started overlooking the process of our filings,” he said. “After realizing my oversight I quickly alerted the commission who never contacted me about the oversight.”
Davis said he’s since filed an amended SEI form and paid a $100 fine.
“I share this information on my own free will and in an effort to remain transparent and honest in my community,” he said. “That’s something I wanted to share publicly so we can close the chapter and move forward with the day to day operations of this outstanding district.”
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?’”
Richland Two board member Monica Elkins-Johnson, right, was denied a restraining order against Board chair’s husband. | Barbara Ball
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?’”
