R2 ethics debate smolders

Residents: Some R2 Members Could Face Charges COLUMBIA – Calls for the resignation of Richland Two board members once again punctuated an otherwise mundane agenda filled with student appeals, a diploma petition and votes on policy revisions. And this time, one resident says some board members could face criminal charges for failing to comply with […]

State board honors R2 board members

Change of Venue for Elkins-Johnson’s Day in Court COLUMBIA – As Richland Two school leaders grapple with ethical and legal challenges, three of them are being feted with statewide awards and distinctions. Board chair Amelia McKie, who’s facing nearly $52,000 in fines over previously unfiled ethics forms, has been elected Region 8 Director of the […]

Editorial: Long, Ineffective Meetings Mark R2 Board

Richland Two board members spent almost half an hour debating how items are placed on the agenda. And that was before the agenda itself was even approved. After that, the Feb. 26 board of trustees meeting followed a familiar pattern – an overstuffed agenda, persistent questioning and complementing of each other and lengthy executive session […]

New calls for R2 Chair’s resignation

Parent Asks Board If Daughter Can Ignore Her Detention COLUMBIA – Calls for Richland Two board chair Amelia McKie to step down continued Tuesday night, with three residents saying she should step down, citing nearly $52,000 in ethics fines she owes. Local Realtor Gary Dennis also criticized the board for shooting down a policy revision […]

Richland 2 Board awash in discord

Members Vote 4-3 Against Removing Officers For Cause COLUMBIA – Despite several members facing ethical and criminal sanctions, the Richland Two Board of Trustees voted against a policy designed to increase their accountability. On Tuesday night, the board voted 4-3 against a board policy revision that would have empowered the board to discharge office holders […]

Update: R2 Board member arrested

COLUMBIA – A Richland Two school board member has been criminally charged for her role in an altercation that involved a state senator, the senator’s sister and spouse of the school board chairwoman. Monica Elkins-Johnson, 51, of Columbia, was charged Thursday with disorderly conduct, according to online police and court records. On Jan. 31, Elkins-Johnson […]

Surveillance video of arrested Richland Two School Board Vice Chair Monica Elkins-Johnson

COLUMBIA – Richland Two school board Vice Chair Monica Elkins-Johnson (seen in the surveillance video wearing a pink jacket) was arrested Thursday and charged with disorderly conduct. The altercation occurred Jan. 22 following a school board meeting at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation on Fashion Drive in Columbia.   School Board Vice Chair Monica […]

Updated: R2 Board meeting ends in melee

COLUMBIA – An altercation involving a state senator, the spouse of the Richland Two school board chair and a second board member, erupted following a recent board meeting, according to public records obtained by The Voice. The skirmish resulted in two separate police reports being filed against the subject (the reported school board member), whose […]

State Senator and Richland Two School Board member involved in melee

COLUMBIA – An altercation involving a state senator, the spouse of the Richland Two school board chair and a person who sources have told The Voice is a Richland Two School Board member, erupted following Tuesday night’s Richland Two school board meeting, according to police records obtained by The Voice. The skirmish ended with two […]

Public puts pressure on R2 chair

Board Opens Door for Removal of Members from Office COLUMBIA – Calls for the resignation of Richland Two school board chair Amelia McKie grew Tuesday night, with a fellow board member joining in those calls. Meantime, two other board members are suggesting publicity of missing school board ethics forms has been “racially motivated.” During the […]

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