COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Richland School District 1 officials are asking the board to approve funding so they can finish construction on a struggling early childhood education center that is under oversight from the South Carolina Department of Education.
State Superintendent Ellen Weaver warned in a letter last week that she could again increase the level of financial oversight of the district if it continues to build the Vince Ford Early Learning Center, paving the way for possible state control over the district's finances.
The agenda for Tuesday night's meeting shows Richland One's director of procurement and warehouse services is seeking approval of more than $24.9 million in contracts to complete construction of the Vince Ford Early Learning Center. The action item will be presented to the board, who will decide whether to take a vote, whether to discuss it and whether to approve or reject it.
Richland One is currently in a state of fiscal alert, the second of three budgetary alert levels the state can place on a district, and Weaver has warned that he will put Richland One in fiscal emergency if construction on the project continues without the district essentially starting over from scratch.
Weaver sent a scathing letter to Richland One leaders on Thursday, accusing the district of a “tendency to ignore its legal authority” and saying it is “difficult to imagine a scenario in which it would be fiscally prudent” to continue building the center.
The total cost for all three phases of the early childhood education center's construction was more than $29 million, according to a memo attached to the agenda.
“The contractor will resume construction as soon as proper qualification certificates and documentation are in hand,” the memo said.
Superintendent Craig Witherspoon signed the request, according to the memo.
The memo makes no mention of obtaining the proper permits through the Richland County Planning Commission, a point Weaver emphasized in his letter.
School Committee Chairman Aaron Bishop said the committee plans to discuss Weaver's letter at its meeting on Tuesday.
Council members will receive legal advice on the early childhood education centre at the start of Tuesday's meeting, according to the agenda.
Contractor Construction, the contractor on the project, has a track record of building several K-12 schools, according to the company's track record. The company also built River Bluff High School's athletic facilities and Segura Park.
Tuesday's board meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will be held at AC Flora High School.
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