Richland 1 wants to restart early learning center construction after SC investigation

Richland School District 1 is taking steps to restart construction of its early learning center in Lower Richland after a state investigation into the project said the district violated state law when it began construction last year.

The Richland 1 school board held a special meeting Friday to discuss recommendations from the state Office of Inspector General that were released July 25.

“The district re-emphasizes its intent to construct (the) Vince Ford Early Learning Center in a fully compliant, efficient and expeditious manner, and will utilize the SIG report as guidance in moving the project forward with appropriate approvals and in cooperation with all stakeholders,” the district said in a statement.

The board voted to ratify a building services contract 4-2, with board members Barbara Weston and Robert Lominack voting against.

In December, the South Carolina Department of Education refused to issue a permit for the Vince Ford Early Learning Center, a facility planned for Caughman Road. Given that the center was initially intended to serve children as young as babies, it could not be considered a school, the Department of Education said.

Richland 1 had already begun construction, and when Richland County officials noticed, they issued a stop work order. State Superintendent Ellen Weaver then asked the State Inspector General to investigate the project.

The department again denied the district a license in February when the district attempted to change the age range for preschool- through second-grade children, citing the ongoing investigation.

Eight months later, without the necessary permits or approvals to resume construction, the site is waiting. Over the past month, Richland 1 has been the target of two separate lawsuits from neighbors who claim the district’s negligence in maintaining the property caused stormwater damage to their homes.

Richland 1 is beginning to restart the permitting process with the state Department of Education’s Office of School Facilities, Superintendent Craig Witherspoon said. But the district wants to make sure everything is in order. As it stands, Witherspoon said the building will be dedicated to preschool through second grade, although he said that could change.

“What we don’t want to do is confuse programming with facilities,” Witherspoon said. “Our intention is to build a building.”

The Inspector General’s report noted that the district’s public 3K and 4K programs, and similar programs statewide, are not in compliance if they operate without oversight from the Department of Social Services.

But district early childhood education director Rhonda Wiley said certain 4K programs designed for at-risk students were considered exempt from DSS oversight. Otherwise, the district will continue to ensure these classrooms are Department of Education compliant and work with the state legislature to determine which programs need DSS oversight.

The district addressed other issues presented by the Inspector General. Bob Grant, director of operations for Richland 1, said that although the Inspector General said about $300,000 was wasted because the project was halted, that money would have been spent on it anyway. The district previously told The State in May that $813,000 has been spent at the construction site since Richland County issued a stop-work order in January.

The council also discussed the recent “fiscal caution” designation from the state Department of Education. They have not yet decided whether to appeal.