District 5 Board Member Proposes Plan to Protect Against Legal Action

A Lexington-Richland 5 school board battle over growth at Chapin High School continues to grow.

Board member Ed White requested on Monday the board approve first reading of a resolution to draft a letter to the S.C. School Boards Association asking them to review a restraining order against fellow board member Kim Murphy.

He also suggested the board consider assisting Maggie Stroud and the D5 Citizens Ensuring the Implementation of the Referendum in their efforts to stop Murphy’s appeals. The group is fighting Murphy's appeals.

During the district’s board meeting Monday at Dutch Fork Middle School, White read his resolution as it relates to the appeals made by Murphy concerning Chapin High School.

The Chapin High project has been at a standstill since 2010 because of Murphy's lawsuit against DHEC, who approved permits for the project, and District 5.

The public voted in 2008 to approve a bond referendum that called for the high school to be renovated among other projects, but that has been delayed because of Murphy's appeals over plans to fill in part of a stream for a sewer line.

A circuit judge recently, however, ruled Murphy couldn't make any new challenges to the $45 million renovation and expansion project at Chapin High. The current appeals are still pending.

The judge's ruling was the catalyst for White's resolution.

The letter, should the board agree to send, also would ask the state association to consider “sponsoring legislation that prohibits a school board member from instituting any legal or administrative proceeding before a court or governmental agency to oppose a school board action.”

White also asks that a letter be written to “the entire legislative delegation representing the district asking them to review the temporary restraining order and consider adopting legislation to the same affect.”

Board member Jim Turner said he didn’t have a problem with the resolution in terms of the board asking the delegation and state board association to look at the issue, but in reading it for the first time that night he said the resolution appeared to be personal.

“In the spirit of this, I do support it,” Turner said.

White said the resolution is an effort to ask for help beyond the board and community and that it’s not personal. He said the proposed legislation would not only protect District 5, but all boards across the state.

Murphy said she began the process as a citizen and as a citizen her rights shouldn’t be taken away when she became a board member.

Board member Jan Hammond said she didn’t like the tone of the resolution, but if it were the only way that the district can move forward then she would have to go with the board.

After much discussion, the board voted 6-1 in favor of White’s resolution. Murphy opposed it.

In other news, the board:

Received an update on the D5 Foundation for Education Excellence. A video presentation was made about the foundation’s $5 for Five campaign. The group is raising money for its Back Pack program, which assists students with getting healthy food for the weekend.

Approved first and second readings of several items including proposed revisions and additions to school-related programs and health-related policies.

A report on the 10^th day enrollment was also presented.