Richland Two board approves property purchase, contracts and personnel actions; minority utilization plan adopted

The Richland County School District Two Board of Trustees on Aug. 26 unanimously approved a set of motions that included authorizing the superintendent to purchase property at 501 Spears Creek Church Road in Elgin, ratifying an emergency restoration contract for Westwood High School’s gym floor, approving multiple employment recommendations and certified releases, admitting several applicants into the district’s adult education program and adopting a minority utilization plan.

The board approved each item by a 7–0 vote. Miss Washington made the motion to authorize the property transaction; Mr. Gary Dennis seconded it. Mr. Dennis moved to ratify the emergency contract for services at Westwood High School; Miss Washington seconded that motion. Other motions — including approval of student admissions into the adult education program, authorization of employment recommendations and certified releases, and adoption of the minority utilization plan — were likewise approved by recorded votes of 7 yes, 0 no.

Why it matters: The property authorization gives the superintendent authority to complete a negotiated purchase and to make the transaction documents public after closing. The contract ratification clarifies the board’s post‑fact approval of emergency repair work at a district high school gym. The personnel and admission votes complete several routine administrative actions required after items were discussed in executive session.

Details of the motions and outcomes

• Property purchase: The board “authorize[d] the superintendent to proceed with the property transactions discussed in executive session to purchase the property and improvements at 501 Spears Creek Church Road, Elgin, South Carolina,” as shown in Richland County tax records. The motion was made by Miss Washington and seconded by Mr. Gary Dennis; the board voted 7–0 in favor. The motion text specified that “all documents [will] be made available to the public once the transactions have been completed.”

• Contract ratification: The board ratified a contract with a restoration firm for services performed at Westwood High School in response to an emergency involving the gym floor. The motion was made by Mr. Gary Dennis and seconded by Miss Washington; vote 7–0.

• Student admission (adult education): The board approved a student admission request into the district’s adult education program for students 1 through 5. Miss Washington moved the motion; Miss Porter seconded it. Vote 7–0.

• Employment recommendations and certified releases: The board approved employment recommendations and certified releases as presented. The motion was made by Miss Williams and seconded by Dr. Elkins Scott. Vote 7–0.

• Minority utilization plan: The board voted to approve the minority utilization plan as presented. Miss Washington moved the motion; Mr. Gary Dennis seconded. Vote 7–0. During discussion, a board member requested a future public presentation of the plan rather than relying solely on board documents.

• Calendar authority: The board granted district administration authority to reconvene the calendar committee to revisit the 2026–27 school year calendar to implement parts of the newly adopted Educator Assistance Act requiring two self‑directed teacher workdays before students’ first day. Miss Porter moved the request; Dr. Elkins Scott seconded. Vote 7–0.

Board procedure and voting context

Several of the items voted on Aug. 26 had been discussed in executive session earlier in the meeting. After the executive session, each motion was called, seconded and placed to vote; the chair announced a unanimous 7–0 outcome for the motions described above. The board also approved its consent agenda and adjourned by unanimous vote.

What the board did not decide tonight

The motions gave specific, limited authority (for example, to complete a negotiated real‑estate purchase or to ratify an emergency repair contract). The board made no additional policy changes or detailed funding allocations tied to the property purchase or the contract ratification beyond the authorizations recorded in the motions.

Ending note

Board members confirmed that documents for the property transaction will be made public once the closing is complete, as stated in the motion.