SC

Feds Launch Probe Of Jasper County Schools

IT’S ABOUT TIME … S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s administration refused to do its job … and now the feds are getting involved. We’re referring of course to the Jasper County government-run school district – which is the worst-performing district in the entire Palmetto State, home to the nation’s worst government-run…

IT’S ABOUT TIME …

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s administration refused to do its job … and now the feds are getting involved.

We’re referring of course to the Jasper County government-run school district – which is the worst-performing district in the entire Palmetto State, home to the nation’s worst government-run school system.

As FITS exclusively reported last September, the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) – part of Haley’s cabinet – was provided with extensive evidence of fraud, waste and mismanagement in the troubled district. SLED received this information after Haley’s second Inspector General – James Martin – declined to launch an investigation of his own.

“While this office finds these allegations of fraud, waste and mismanagement to be extremely concerning and this matter begs to be further investigated, unfortunately, the scope and authority of the current Office of Inspector General does not permit it to investigate the various school districts within the state,” Martin wrote to S.C. Superintendent of Education Mick Zais last June.

Ah, yes … that’s called a “punt.”

Now agents of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have stepped in, according to WTOC TV 11 (Savannah – CBS).

“Investigators are asking for the district to turn over all financial documents, including contracts, invoices, travel vouchers, credit card statements, transparency reports and minutes of all board meetings,” the station is reporting.

Good …

It’s about time this brood of vipers was exposed …

Jasper County’s government-run district – like many of its counterparts across the state – is as corrupt as it is incompetent. It deserves to be pilloried – and the children trapped in its failing schools deserve real market-based choices.

Accordingly, we hope the hammer falls hard and fast …

 

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23 comments

Bible Thumper March 5, 2014 at 6:09 pm

Will, I bet the taxes are low in Jasper. Think about it.

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GrandTango March 5, 2014 at 6:11 pm

Based on the level of gov’t you’re paying for…taxes of through the F*#king roof in Jasper County…That’s true for any democrat H#!!-hole…

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euwe max March 5, 2014 at 9:05 pm

is “of through” a journalistic phrase where you were trained?

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BeaufortTiger March 6, 2014 at 12:57 pm

Yeah, not so much. Jasper taxes are actually very high in comparison to Beaufort County and other surrounding Lowcountry areas. The big reason is because much of the county’s lands are taxed at an agricultural level (most of those lands are actually forests and swamps used by private hunt clubs), AND the high number or heirs properties. Therefore, actual private property is taxed disproportionately higher to make up the difference for those parcels of land that are exempt or greatly reduced from the tax rolls.

But don’t take my word for it: http://sccommerce.com/sites/default/files/document_directory/property_tax_rates_by_county_in_south_carolina_2012.pdf

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GrandTango March 5, 2014 at 6:10 pm

I thought democrats LOVED the children…and were the saviors of education…

Why is it democrats that are so @$$-backward, and corrupt in education????

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euwe max March 5, 2014 at 9:04 pm

It takes an education to understand the meaning of education. Explaining to you what education is, would be calculus in kindergarten. You are still at the ‘share’, ‘submit to authority’ and ‘play nice’ stage.

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CNSYD March 5, 2014 at 6:51 pm

It is obvious that Howie Rich has gotten pissed about all the time and space Sic Willie has been spending on his bff T-Rav. Sic Willie is trying to make amends (and keep those checks coming) with a bunch of uses of “government-run”.

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vicupstate March 5, 2014 at 7:25 pm

Good luck getting ‘market based’ schools in Jasper.

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Nyuk, Nyuk! March 5, 2014 at 8:38 pm

They’ve already got a ‘market based’ school, it specializes in bail bonds.

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sally March 5, 2014 at 9:11 pm

the bottom line is people diverting/stealing/acquiring money regardless of public or private entity is wrong and people suffer. in this case if proven to be true, children, students have had their education stolen from them. and by whom?????

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OhShitinJasper March 5, 2014 at 10:04 pm

Bet you toss and turn tonight Senator Pinckney. You will have to move back to your district. I mean with the fed’s poking around and all that stuff. Somebody is going to jail and I have a feeling you will go with them.

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Grays Boy March 6, 2014 at 9:57 pm

I betcha the Cadillac will never leave its present ownership status. Whatcha Bet?

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Sambo March 6, 2014 at 12:09 am

A tad wealthier district and a shade trickier, those Feds ought to look deeply into Lexington-Richland 5.

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Lauren March 8, 2014 at 6:50 pm

This is an understatement for sure. And Lexington-Richland 5 is getting away with all their stuff because of an uninformed or unconcerned electorate. They need new school board members. This District is run by White and Gantt and anyone who doesn’t support them is hushed.
Recent developments at River Springs Elementary involved a visit by board members Loveless and Baumgardner. They complained the staff at River Springs wasn’t friendly enough and this resulted in two terminations to date. Both of these employees had been employees for some time but the Princilpal, Melanie Cohen, wanted to get rid of them. It is a bad situation in this District for all employees .And the District office, which does nothing but put out propaganda, went along with this.

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Just sayin March 6, 2014 at 3:18 am

“…home to the nation’s worst government-run school system…”

Note to Will, they’re all government run!

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Anonymous March 6, 2014 at 6:34 am

Democrats investigating Democrats. Nothing is going to happen here. This is much like when Robert Stewart’s SLED group investigated Jean Toal his last year. Everyone knew it was a joke from day one.

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Irishguy March 6, 2014 at 7:35 am

It’s no surprise that this was coming. For a school district that prides itself on nepotism and that can’t even get payroll correct, it’s about time. The schools are a horror show for the teachers and those students who are there to learn. What else can you expect when the “head of human resources” was fired from his previous post for embezzling funds from a school fundraiser

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cbh1961 March 6, 2014 at 8:02 am

Maybe Jasper schools can take a lesson in fiscal responsibility from Hampton #2. They are only $2.5M in the hole!

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Centrist View March 6, 2014 at 10:56 am Reply
Lewis March 6, 2014 at 9:59 pm

The powers that be have had plenty of time to destroy the bad documents and cover their tracks. Democrats protecting each other for votes. Nothing is going to happen.

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what about the kids???? March 10, 2014 at 10:13 am

it is well known that the queen of the school district not-so-doctor vashti Washington’s
secretary doubles as the queen’s personal servant. i guess many people would if your son’s tuition is being paid by the district. how do you spell perk….TUITION!!

this same ms. Sandra woods, drives from the district to deliver mail to vashti’s house, she drives vashti to physical therapy (compliments of the district) and the public information officer is her 2nd maid servant, preparing her dinner plate at a local dining establishment. vashti walks along the buffet line and tells this ground level employee what she wants on her plate.

she only has a cane, not one or two broken arms.

it appears she is going to maintain her lavish lifestyle until……

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anonymous March 22, 2014 at 10:49 pm

well gee look she also has Christy Thompson … remember her…Edisto and later taking funds from a school pta Bout time

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Kel Champlin November 24, 2014 at 3:53 am

Anything new on this one? We’re in limbo out here – District is the same old muddy water clear, and NOBODY is saying ANYTHING…..

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