By Javar Juarez (CUBNSC) Columbia, S.C. - Updated: 7:17pm Richland One School District is on the brink of a major reckoning as political power plays, nepotism, and administrative failures unravel at the hands of a powerful family network rooted in the Lower Richland community. With the surfacing of new information, concerned citizens are calling for a full-scale investigation into the ties between Ericka Hursey, former principal of Lower Richland High School, and Barbara Weston, a member of the Richland One School Board of Commissioners, demanding accountability for what they see as a systematic cover-up of misconduct and abuse.
The Rise and Fall of Lower Richland High School
Under Ericka Hursey's leadership, Lower Richland High School underwent a shocking transformation, shifting from a thriving institution to one troubled by violence and academic failure. Previously held in high regard, Lower Richland experienced a rapid decline during Hursey’s tenure. Within her first two years as principal, South Carolina's Board of Education placed the school on its highest-priority list for academic failure—a designation it continues to hold. Critics contend that Hursey’s leadership lacked both the vision and capability to ensure a safe and academically rigorous environment, leaving a lasting negative impact on the school and its students.
The Kronos Misuse Allegations and a Web of Nepotism
One of the most troubling aspects of this scandal revolves around the alleged misuse of Kronos, the district's timekeeping software, and the involvement of Barbara Weston's sister, Cynthia Flemming-Tyler, a former career specialist at Lower Richland. According to a 2022 audit by Kelvin Washington, CIA, the investigation found Flemming-Tyler completely circumvented the district’s clock-in and clock-out procedures. She allegedly did not log her hours in Kronos for multiple fiscal years, raising the specter of unauthorized pay and potential payroll fraud. Notably, her continued employment despite these findings raises serious questions about the district’s accountability practices and the influence of nepotism in shielding staff from consequences which
The audit’s findings are damning. They reveal that Lower Richland’s administrative leaders, particularly Hursey, were aware of Flemming-Tyler’s non-compliance yet failed to address it effectively. Despite concerns raised by the Paymaster, an administrative assistant at the school, both the principal and district executives turned a blind eye to these violations. Astonishingly, Flemming-Tyler was even observed working irregular hours without official authorization—a clear violation of district policy that should have prompted immediate corrective action.
The Complicity of Leadership and the Call for Accountability
At the heart of this scandal is a web of influence extending beyond the walls of Lower Richland High School. Barbara Weston, a member of the school board, is both Hursey's and Flemming-Tyler’s close relative, intensifying concerns about conflicts of interest and favoritism within the district. This familial network appears to have effectively shielded Hursey and Flemming-Tyler from accountability, allowing a culture of neglect and misconduct to take root.
The district leadership's failure to act decisively is evidenced by Superintendent Craig Witherspoon's hesitancy in addressing Hursey’s repeated misconduct. While Witherspoon initially placed Hursey on administrative leave, citing her lack of professionalism in public statements, she was later reassigned to a newly created, off-site role. Critics argue that this reassignment was a transparent attempt to sideline Hursey without genuine accountability—a move that only deepened the sense of injustice among district employees and parents.
From Hursey vs Richland School District One, and Cheryl Harris:
“on July 14, 2022, the District “transferred” Plaintiff from her role as Principal of Lower Richland High School and instead assigned her a newly created role (which in the past had not been a certified position) in which she is working as coordinator of student hearings at an off-site location that is neither in a school building or a district Office.”
A Pattern of Litigation and Grievance
Adding fuel to the fire, Hursey has gained a reputation for filing a frivolous lawsuit against the district, including a recent case that, critics argue, is grounded more in rumor and conjecture than in substantive grievance. Hursey’s lawsuit against the district claims she was retaliated against for comments made during a commencement speech. The suit includes allegations of defamation made against school board member Cheryl Harris, but insiders close to the matter contend that Harris lacked the authority to suspend Hursey in the first place. Moreover, Hursey’s claims of suspension appear to be based on community hearsay rather than documented fact.
From Hursey vs Richland School District One, and Cheryl Harris:
“Plaintiff heard in the following weeks from members of the community that Cheryl Harris
was telling people that she had “suspended Hursey.”
The Burden on the Community and a Call to Action
While Hursey, Weston, and their network maneuver within the district, it is the children of Richland One who bear the brunt of this scandal. The Lower Richland community now grapples with the fallout of what some are calling a “family cartel”—a group that has prioritized its personal agendas over the educational welfare of students. The situation is particularly alarming in light of ongoing systemic challenges faced by Black students in South Carolina, who have already been disproportionately impacted by changes in state education policies. The idea that these issues are compounded by unchecked nepotism and administrative malfeasance within Richland One is both infuriating and unacceptable.
Community members are no longer willing to stay silent, and calls for an investigation have intensified. Many are demanding the involvement of the South Carolina Inspector General to conduct a comprehensive review of district practices, focusing on nepotism, payroll fraud, and dereliction of duty. Given the longstanding issues with compliance and the clear evidence of misconduct, only a full investigation will suffice to restore public trust in Richland One.
In conclusion, the current school board, dominated by members resistant to accountability, faces a profound crisis of legitimacy. Transparency and accountability must be reintroduced into the district’s governance to prevent Richland One from spiraling further into dysfunction, especially with a State Superintendent seemingly intent on manipulating the board’s new members to serve her own agenda.
The future of our children’s education depends on it.
#ErickaHursey #BarbaraWeston #CraigWitherspoon #RichlandOneSchoolDistrict #RichlandOne #Education #SouthCarolinaEd #EllenWeaver
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