Procurement

A three-person South Carolina panel held a first-of-its-kind hearing to consider whether Charleston County School Board member Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson should be removed from office by Gov. Henry McMaster. The Sept. 28 session addressed three charges stemming from an August inspector general report: improperly disclosing executive session information, sharing confidential emails with reporters and district vendors, and helping her former campaign manager, Aaron White, secure district work for his nonprofit, Circle of Life.

Dunmeyer-Roberson and attorney Kambrell Garvin argued Inspector General Brian Lamkin lacked sufficient evidence, saying she believed White sought only a volunteer meeting and had no role in the later procurement process. Lamkin countered that her introduction gave the nonprofit an unfair advantage. Garvin conceded she inadvertently forwarded some privileged emails but disputed claims involving a separate address tied to her former consulting firm. Lamkin also declined to confirm whether Dunmeyer-Roberson was the unnamed board member referenced in a related federal indictment against ex-member Kevin Hollinshead.

The panel must recommend action to McMaster by Oct. 5; removal would be the first under South Carolina's 2022 law allowing governors to oust school board members for willful misconduct.

Businessmen James "Jeb" Balise and Dinesh Patel, whose competing proposals to replace Springfield's Roderick Ireland Courthouse were passed over, have expanded their lawsuit challenging the selection of developer Liberty Junction for the $1.94 billion project. The amended suit, filed in Hampden Superior Court, now names the Massachusetts Asset Management Board, DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke, and Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowski as defendants, alleging conflicts of interest and an unlawful procurement process dating back to the board's original decision to fast-track the courthouse through a private developer.

Judge David M. Hodge previously denied the pair's request for an emergency injunction to block a contract with Liberty Junction, a ruling now under appeal, though the broader lawsuit continues. Liberty Junction called the amended claims a rehash aimed at delaying construction, noting its bid was hundreds of millions of dollars cheaper than Balise's proposal. DCAMM says it intends to finalize a contract with Liberty Junction this fall despite continued opposition from local officials, including the Hampden district attorney, clerk of courts, and Springfield's mayor.

A South Carolina Office of Inspector General investigation into the Charleston County School Board has found evidence of "malfeasance, misfeasance, conflicts of interest, policy violations, misconduct in office, and neglect of duty" tied to an unnamed board member referred to as "Trustee X" in the 27-page report released Aug. 27. Gov. Henry McMaster had requested the probe in January, covering the period since November 2022.

The report alleges the trustee wrongfully disclosed confidential information to media and a district vendor, used the position for personal gain, and failed to report roughly $248,000 in taxable income earned as operator of Next Level Educational Services LLC — a company previously linked to board member Darlene Roberson, who confirmed being its CEO but denied conducting business in that role while serving on the board. The report also questioned the trustee's residency eligibility at the time of election.

Recommendations include board ethics training, a forensic audit of vendor payments, and consideration by the governor of removing the trustee. District officials and board chairwoman Pam McKinney called the findings serious and pledged cooperation with authorities.