Parents urge independent review after alleged mishandling of Saint James High complaint

Several family members and a parent addressed the Horry County Board of Education on May 18, urging independent review and accountability after what they said was mishandling of complaints by a Saint James High School student.

At the start of public comment, Zoria Barksdale described her son's report of repeated unwanted physical contact by a wrestling teammate and said the district’s records and explanations were inconsistent. "When adults tell other wrestling parents nothing happened to him, they're not minimizing the incident — they're painting him as a dishonest person," she said, adding that she wants "an independent review of how the matter was handled" and a written accounting of who reviewed video, who interviewed students and what supportive measures were put in place.

Steven Barksdale, who said he brought binders of evidence and correspondence, told the board the family will escalate the matter if needed and asked how to get the documents to board members. "Until Horry County Schools can prove the 'see something, say something' actually means protection, accountability, and action, then take those signs down," he said.

Zoe Barksdale, the student’s sister, described her brother Caleb as a high-achieving student and said bullying on the Saint James wrestling team escalated until her brother reported unwanted contact. "He spoke up, he trusted the adults; instead he was treated like the problem and essentially labeled a liar," she said, and she urged the board to "look honestly at the administrative failures of Saint James High School and Horry County Schools officials."

Board chair David Cox acknowledged the comments and said the public comment period was limited by time; several speakers asked for follow-up documentation and for the board to direct staff to produce an independent accounting. The board did not provide a district response to the specific allegations during the meeting.

The family’s requests at the meeting included an independent review, a written accounting of notifications and evidence reviews, identification of who interviewed students and what supportive measures were taken, and clarity about any conflicts of interest among staff who participated in the inquiry.

The board heard these comments during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal vote or action on the allegations was recorded at the May 18 session.