SC Legislative Black Caucus questions criticism of Richland 1, and one of its members
The South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Friday voiced concerns over criticism of the Richland 1 School District, but in turn, questioned one of the caucus’ own members.
Earlier this week, four members of the Richland County Legislative Delegation, state Reps. Heather Bauer, Beth Bernstein and Seth Rose, and state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, called for an inspector general investigation into the district after 11 teachers were transferred a quarter into the school year.
They said it also follows other concerns they’ve had with the school district.
The Black Caucus said the move by Richland 1 to reassign teachers within the district to balance student-teacher ratios does not warrant an investigation.
“We find it surprising that some fellow members of the Richland County Delegation, known for their commitment to equality and empathy, have embarked on a path that appears to lack caution and responsibility, particularly when the issue of race is involved, especially given the challenging times we face nationally and globally,” the Black Caucus said in a news release.
But Bauer is one of four white legislators who are members of the legislative Black caucus.
State Rep. Ivory Thigpen, D-Richland, who chairs the Black Caucus, said scrutiny on school districts should be applied evenly and said the school board also has the role of holding administrators accountable for decisions.
Holding administrators accountable is “outside of the role of legislators,” Thigpen said.
Bauer, in an op-ed published in The State, said the district is in crisis. She pointed to test scores, a drop in the percentage of money going into student instruction and unhappy teachers.
“There are legitimate questions about student performance, teacher treatment, and financial management in Richland One,” Bauer said in a statement on Friday. “Playing the race card instead of responding to the substance is an attempt to silence critics and end the conversation. I am not going to be bullied by politicians weaponizing race to avoid accountability. I published a detailed op-ed in this paper outlining specific areas of concern. These politicians haven’t disputed a single fact that I’ve put forward about Richland One, and they’ve proposed no solutions. Our children deserve more.”
Bauer, who is a freshmen lawmaker, joined the Black caucus this session.
“The issues that impact the quality of life for South Carolinians impact the Black community the most,” Bauer said in an interview with The State on Friday. “I care and that’s why I joined. I know that education matters. I know that getting food in neighborhoods matters. Safe communities matter, particularly in these communities.”
Thigpen said he did not believe Bauer to be racist.
However, the caucus noted no Black lawmaker was part of the group that called for an inspector general’s investigation, even though the Richland County delegation is predominantly Black.
“This context raises questions about the role of race in these developments,” the news release said. “The SCLBC remains steadfast in its mission to denounce any attempts by politicians to manipulate, divide, or perpetuate unjust actions. We are equally committed to investigating instances of racial bias or discrimination, regardless of how thinly veiled or heavily cloaked they may be in political rhetoric.”
Bernstein said race is not an issue in the complaints she, Bauer, Rose and Harpootlian have heard about the district and her concerns are with the management of Richland 1. Bernstein pointed out that 50% of teachers at Burton-Pack Elementary did not renew their contracts in May to come back this school year.
“Every student in District 1 is entitled to quality education no matter which school you attend,” Bernstein said.
“I think the concerns we addressed the other day speak for themselves,” Bernstein added. “I have a lot of respect for my colleagues in the Black caucus and have no further comment.”
Richland 1 school board member Barbara Weston criticized the timing of the teacher transfers and their treatment. She said the school district needed to have better planning because it already knew of the teacher shortage issues.
“I think now the parents and the teachers are more on the same line. It’s not anything to do with Black or white or anything else, it’s to deal with children, and we must do what’s best for them,” said Weston, who is Black. “Moving teachers around at this late date is not best for the children and it’s not best for the teachers either.”
