Lawmakers Demand Audit of South Carolina’s Largest Charter School District

Concerns Over Charter Institute at Erskine’s Management and Operations

In South Carolina, state lawmakers are raising serious questions about the operations, management, and financial undertakings of the Charter Institute at Erskine, one of the state’s biggest charter school districts. This week, a cross-party group of legislators, from both the House and the Senate, urged for state audits of the charter school district, amidst concerns that state funds may have been mishandled or even laws violated.

Allegations of Mismanagement and Waste

“We are in receipt of information about and allegations against (the Charter Institute at Erskine) which, if true, indicate a culture of mismanagement, waste, fraud and abuse at the agency,” reads a letter issued by five state senators. The lawmakers stressed the importance of safeguarding public funds, especially those allocated for the state’s children’s education. The letter was subsequently sent to the governor’s office, requesting an inquiry from the inspector general.

Another letter, penned by six House members, appealed to the Legislative Audit Council. They sought an investigation into claims that the Charter Institute had entered into inappropriate financial dealings with for-profit management companies that run many of the charter schools under its supervision.

Charter Institute at Erskine Under Scrutiny

The Charter Institute at Erskine did not provide an immediate response to the requests for these investigations. Its CEO and Superintendent, Cameron Runyan, has consistently denied any wrongdoings. Several lawmakers have credited their call for an investigation to a series of revelations that uncovered worrying actions by Charter Institute leaders, raising ethical concerns.

Seeking Clarity and Oversight

State Sen. Brad Hutto, one of the five senators who signed onto the inspector general audit request, voiced his support for the review. His aim is to gain a clearer understanding of the Charter Institute’s finances and potential conflicts of interest. He emphasized the need for proper oversight of the charter school system.

Changes to the State Budget

In recent months, both the House and the Senate have added temporary measures to the state budget in response to concerns about the Charter Institute’s spending and compliance with South Carolina’s charter schools law. These additions, known as provisos, are designed to address some of these concerns. However, lawmakers agree that more needs to be done to strengthen the Charter Schools Act.

Proposed Reforms and Amendments

Sen. Nikki Setzler proposed an amendment to cap the amount of taxpayer money that can be retained by college and university authorizers for the supervision of the schools they oversee. Setzler expressed his hope that the Senate will pursue the issue in the coming legislative session.

Pledge for Accountability

Sending a strong message to his colleagues, Setzler urged them to take this issue seriously and consider making reforms to the law when they reconvene next year. He suggested possibly forming a task force during the off-session to delve deeper into the matter. The call for an inspector general audit of the Charter Institute signals an attempt by state lawmakers to honor Setzler’s wishes and guarantee accountability of public funds.