By Javar Juarez| Op-Ed
Columbia, S.C. - Black parents of Richland School District One received an alarming wake-up call after a recent community Zoom meeting, exposing the unsettling truth behind the candidates endorsed by The State newspaper and Grow SC. These endorsements represent far more than neutral political choices—they reflect an organized effort, backed by conservative ideologies and Republican strategists, to infiltrate and destabilize one of South Carolina’s largest Black-led school districts. The consequences for the 22,000+ students of Richland One—where 18,000 are Black and over 70% live in poverty—are dire.
The Ice Cream Truck and the Agenda Behind It
Parents discussed the disturbing tactics being used to manipulate the community. One example involved Grow SC-endorsed candidate Steven Diaz, driving an ice cream truck through neighborhoods to court votes, a move seen by many as a cynical ploy. Adding to the outrage, The State newspaper recently published endorsements for these same candidates, further stoking fears of a conservative takeover.
This scheme mirrors efforts across South Carolina where Republicans have strategically targeted school boards. Their goal is not just political control but a full-scale push toward school privatization. If they gain power, they can extract top Black talent through school vouchers and shift public education funds toward private institutions—a direct challenge to a recent South Carolina Supreme Court ruling that public dollars cannot be used for this purpose.
The state and federal endorsements were made by South Carolina Opinion Editor Matthew T. Hall, letters editor Allison Askins and regular columnist Matt Wylie, a Republican strategist and analyst, in consultation with Brian Tolley, president and editor of The State Newspaper.
The Vince Ford Early Learning Center Sabotage
Parents were particularly angered by the State Department of Education's obstruction of the Vince Ford Early Learning Center, an ambitious early childhood initiative by Richland One. Despite verbal assurances that the project was greenlit, the state unexpectedly changed permitting rules midway through construction. Commissioner Cheryl Harris exposed this interference:
“They told us the permit was coming, so we started building. This is standard in construction. But midway, they moved the goalposts—something that didn’t happen with other districts.” Harris shared with us that the district had permits for everything until it was time to start building on top of the foundation, when walls began to take shape, the state department of education went on an aggressive mission to obstruct the progress of the center.
Although an investigation by the state inspector general found no misuse of funds, the editorial board of The State Newspaper failed to acknowledge this in its endorsement of candidates like Angela Brown, Richard Moore, and Steven Diaz.
Who Is Beatrice King?
Beatrice King, a former school board member leading Grow SC, has become a lightning rod for criticism. Described by parents as someone who “got nothing done” in her decade on the board, King now uses her 501(c)(4) organization to wage a personal vendetta against Dr. Craig Witherspoon, the current superintendent through her efforts to reshape the board of commissioners. Her campaign to oust him is viewed as part of a broader conservative agenda to disrupt the district’s leadership and block programs that serve vulnerable Black students.
King’s rhetoric also echoes the misleading narrative that Richland One faces unprecedented teacher shortages, an accusation echoed by Beatrice King in a video embedded on her Grow SC organization website. In reality, the district has roughly one teacher vacancy per school—far below what these critics claim.
King has emerged as a polarizing figure, leading aggressive fundraising efforts and rallying some of the most aggrieved voices in her orbit to spread misinformation.
The community's concern is not just with King’s actions but with the broader landscape of political neglect and resource inequality. Black parents feel underfunded and unsupported, while Democrats have done little to bolster the campaigns of incumbent candidates fighting for public education. Meanwhile, conservative factions—including The State newspaper—have galvanized their efforts, targeting Black voters with misleading narratives, leaving many parents frustrated and feeling abandoned.
A significant source of frustration for many parents and community members is the glaring lack of non-partisan Black organizations actively raising funds to counter the misinformation flooding the district. Conservative movements, well-funded and organized, have weaponized these falsehoods to sway public opinion. This financial disparity leaves Black parents and educators fighting on uneven ground, with limited resources to push back against the strategic onslaught.
Without meaningful investments in community advocacy and public education defense, incumbents and district officials are vulnerable to the political attacks waged by King and her allies. This lack of coordination leaves Black voters exposed to deceptive narratives that obscure the true agenda of these conservative movements: the privatization of public education and the dismantling of school districts serving low-income Black communities.
Chronic Absenteeism and Parental Responsibility
One of the biggest challenges facing Richland One is chronic absenteeism, with more than 30% of students frequently missing school. Commissioner Devine emphasized that while the district offers support, parents also bear responsibility:
“We can’t teach kids who aren’t in school. If parents don’t step up, truancy laws are in place to hold them accountable.”
Devine further criticized the "one-size-fits-all" testing model imposed by the state, arguing it fails to accommodate students who learn at different paces.
The Conservative Playbook: A National Pattern of Privatization
The attack on Richland One fits within a national strategy to dismantle public education. As Steve Bannon, one of the most alt-right MAGA figures in Donald Trumps obit infamously stated, “The path to save the nation goes through the school boards.” This ideology aligns with South Carolina’s Superintendent Ellen Weaver, who champions privatization efforts through her Palmetto Promise Institute, echoing policies promoted by Betsy DeVos during the Trump administration.
Weaver, along with state Republicans like Tom Davis, pushes for school choice programs designed to divert public funds to private institutions. Meanwhile, figures like Matt Leber advocate for eliminating South Carolina’s Blaine Amendment, which prohibits the use of public money for religious schools, thereby paving the way for further privatization.
The Stakes for Richland One
Richland One, with its high concentration of low-income Black families, represents a major target for this conservative movement. If the district falls, it could set a precedent for undermining public education statewide, siphoning resources from public schools, and reducing accountability in favor of market-driven alternatives.
The stakes for Black families could not be higher. As communities across the nation push back against similar attacks, it is essential for Richland One’s parents to recognize what’s at risk. The fight is not just about school board seats—it is about preserving equitable education and resisting an agenda that seeks to dismantle public institutions at the expense of marginalized students.
Black parents must remain vigilant and actively engage in the ongoing struggle for control over their children’s future. This is not just a political battle—it is a fight for the soul of public education and the future of the next generation.
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#MAGA #PrivateSchool #Schoolchoice #Republicans #RichlandCounty #RichlandOneSchoolDistrict #StevenDiaz #AngelaBrown #RichardMoore #EllenWeaver #TheStateNewspaper #BeatriceKing
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