COLUMBIA, S.C. — Richland One Superintendent Craig Witherspoon gave his annual State of the District address on Thursday night. During his 40-minute speech, he highlighted budget growth goals and obstacles.
This comes as the district is dealing with pushback over the Vince Ford Learning Center, which is being investigated by the state.
"As I often say, continuous improvement is a journey; it's not a destination," he said. "We continue to move forward despite setbacks and lack of acknowledgment of this growth; this does not deter our resolve, our efforts, or our determination.
A parent is currently suing Richland One for an alleged Freedom of Information Act violation. The lawsuit argues that during last week's board meeting, the board discussed details of the Vince Ford Learning Center and the Inspector General's investigation at length in executive session.
The lawsuit claims that they then held a vote after returning without any public discussion. The suit argues that this action goes against the State's Freedom of Information Act.
Several days later, one member of the board made an online post saying the board made a mistake and recommended the board call a meeting and correct it. The board has not yet addressed the concerns. Now, the lawsuit aims to hold the district accountable and prevent similar actions in the future.
No details for a hearing on the lawsuit have been released.