Richland 1 board requests forensic audit after state places district on fiscal caution
January 07, 2025 | Richland 01, School Districts, South Carolina
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The Richland 1 Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 on Jan. 7 to ask the South Carolina Department of Education to conduct a full forensic audit of the district after the agency placed the district on fiscal caution, board members said at a called meeting.
Board Chair Lomenick told members the department had notified the district that, pursuant to state law, it would require an audit and that the state would likely issue a request for proposals in January to identify an auditor.
The board’s request grew out of discussion about the timing and scope of any state-ordered review and the desire of some members to ensure a thorough audit is completed before a new superintendent takes office. “I move that we request that the State Department of Education do a full forensic audit,” Commissioner Weston said when he offered the motion. Commissioner Moore seconded the motion.
Board members asked whether the district would be billed for a state-directed audit. Board members asked staff for clarification; the board received a recent letter from the department and several members said that letter suggested the district would bear audit costs. The district’s administration and staff told the board that the state would run an RFP process and that timelines for selecting an auditor, performing fieldwork and issuing a report remain uncertain.
Commissioner Hersey urged members to view an audit as potentially beneficial and not inherently negative. “Let’s look at it as being something beneficial to the district and to taxpayers,” Hersey said. Other members emphasized that a full review could clear questions before a new superintendent begins work.
The motion to request a full forensic audit passed with five ayes and two noes. The board also adopted its meeting agenda unanimously and voted earlier to enter executive session at the start of the meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to enter executive session (mover: Commissioner Weston; second: Commissioner Clyburn): passed, unanimous (6–0 on the motion to go into executive session). This vote occurred at the start of the called meeting as recorded by the chair.
- Motion to adopt the meeting agenda (mover: Commissioner Bishop; second: Commissioner Devine): passed, unanimous (7–0).
- Motion to request that the South Carolina Department of Education conduct a full forensic audit of Richland 1 (mover: Commissioner Weston; second: Commissioner Moore): passed, 5–2.
What happens next
Board members were told the state department intends to issue an RFP in January to select an auditor; the district does not yet have final dates for fieldwork or report completion. The department’s letter and state law were cited as the basis for the audit requirement; the board did not receive a definitive staff determination at the meeting about whether the district will pay for a state-directed audit.
Board Chair Lomenick told members the department had notified the district that, pursuant to state law, it would require an audit and that the state would likely issue a request for proposals in January to identify an auditor.
The board’s request grew out of discussion about the timing and scope of any state-ordered review and the desire of some members to ensure a thorough audit is completed before a new superintendent takes office. “I move that we request that the State Department of Education do a full forensic audit,” Commissioner Weston said when he offered the motion. Commissioner Moore seconded the motion.
Board members asked whether the district would be billed for a state-directed audit. Board members asked staff for clarification; the board received a recent letter from the department and several members said that letter suggested the district would bear audit costs. The district’s administration and staff told the board that the state would run an RFP process and that timelines for selecting an auditor, performing fieldwork and issuing a report remain uncertain.
Commissioner Hersey urged members to view an audit as potentially beneficial and not inherently negative. “Let’s look at it as being something beneficial to the district and to taxpayers,” Hersey said. Other members emphasized that a full review could clear questions before a new superintendent begins work.
The motion to request a full forensic audit passed with five ayes and two noes. The board also adopted its meeting agenda unanimously and voted earlier to enter executive session at the start of the meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to enter executive session (mover: Commissioner Weston; second: Commissioner Clyburn): passed, unanimous (6–0 on the motion to go into executive session). This vote occurred at the start of the called meeting as recorded by the chair.
- Motion to adopt the meeting agenda (mover: Commissioner Bishop; second: Commissioner Devine): passed, unanimous (7–0).
- Motion to request that the South Carolina Department of Education conduct a full forensic audit of Richland 1 (mover: Commissioner Weston; second: Commissioner Moore): passed, 5–2.
What happens next
Board members were told the state department intends to issue an RFP in January to select an auditor; the district does not yet have final dates for fieldwork or report completion. The department’s letter and state law were cited as the basis for the audit requirement; the board did not receive a definitive staff determination at the meeting about whether the district will pay for a state-directed audit.
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