CCSD staff interviewed during discrimination investigation

The investigation continues into allegations of discrimination in the closing of five predominately African American schools in Charleston county.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights received the complaint six months ago.

An attorney for Charleston County School District says the OCR is in the process of conducting telephone interviews with some CCSD employees this week.  He says next week they plan to meet in-person with county and constituent board members.  The district has been assisting OCR investigators by scheduling the meetings at district offices. 

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education says the racial discrimination allegations remain under investigation.  He says as a rule, they refrain from discussing the details of the investigations, including site visits, interviews and document collection requests.

During the investigation, the Charleston County School District released this statement from their attorney.  We will share all of the information that we have, openly and willingly, with OCR.  The recommendations were based on objective criteria; school enrollment, performance data, capacity and per-pupil expenditures.  He says the decisions were in no way driven by race or any other discriminatory intent—rather, they were designed to increase the flow of resources to schools and improve outcomes for students.