Richland School District Two votes: contracts, student appeals, admissions, personnel and committee actions

The Richland School District Two Board of Trustees approved a series of executive-session items and related motions during its Jan. 28, 2025 meeting, including hiring outside counsel for a property matter, upholding one student appeal, admitting adults to the district’s adult-education program and approving multiple personnel actions.

Board members authorized the superintendent to retain Richardson, Plowden & Robertson, P.A., to handle a district property matter and real-estate transactions pursuant to the firm’s agreement. The motion to retain Richardson, Plowden & Robertson was made by Mr. Dennis and seconded by Ms. Nash; the board voted 7–0 to approve the contract authorization.

The board voted on student-related items it had discussed in executive session. By motion of Ms. Williams, seconded by Ms. Nash, the board voted to uphold the administration’s decision in “student number 1;” the roll-call/hand tally recorded 6 yes, 1 opposed and the motion passed. The board also approved admission requests into the district’s adult education program for three applicants (motion by Mr. Trapp, second Mr. Dennis; vote 7–0).

On breach-of-contract matters discussed in executive session, the board directed administration not to file a formal complaint with the State Board of Education against two identified professional employees. Both motions (one for “professional employee number 1” and one for “professional employee number 2”) were made by Ms. Washington, seconded by Ms. Nash, and each passed 7–0.

Personnel motions included approval of an individual employment recommendation described as “employee number 1 on page 2.” Ms. Nash moved and Ms. Washington seconded that motion; Doctor Scott announced she would not support it and the board approved the recommendation 6–1. A subsequent motion to approve the remaining employment recommendations and certified releases (pages 1–6) was made by Ms. Nash, seconded by Ms. Washington, and carried 7–0.

The board approved the superintendent’s evaluation goals — including stated objectives, evidence and targets — on a motion by Ms. Nash, seconded by Ms. Williams; the motion passed 7–0.

Governance and committee actions: the board voted to convene (reconvene) a Safety and Security Committee for the year (motion by Ms. Washington, second Ms. Nash) and later approved the committee membership as presented (motion by Ms. Williams, second Ms. Washington); both votes were 7–0. The board also voted to add “Blythewood Academy” to a future meeting agenda (motion by Ms. Williams, second Ms. Washington; 7–0).

Routine items also passed by unanimous votes earlier in the meeting, including approval of the meeting agenda and the consent agenda.

Votes recorded in this article match the tallies the board announced on the public record during the Jan. 28 meeting. When a named board member’s individual vote was not stated in the transcript, the article reports only the board’s announced tally and outcome.

Ending note: all actions in this summary reflect motions, seconders and final tallies recorded during the public meeting and the separate votes the board took on items discussed in executive session.