Another legal action has been taken against Richland School District 1, alleging that the felling of trees for the district’s early learning center project has resulted in flooding that has damaged homes in Lower Richland.
According to a report from the state inspector general, Richland 1 has violated the law by commencing the construction of an early learning center and utilizing public funds without proper legal authorization. The lawsuit claims that the partially developed land on Caughman Road, which has now been cleared, is causing an enormous amount of stormwater to flow into the Creekside neighborhood where Meaghan and Aleni Ilimaleota reside.
In 2021, the neighborhood became the proud new home of a couple who purchased a property there.
In April 2025, Meaghan Ilimaleota, a dedicated member of the United States Army stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C., received deployment orders for a multiyear assignment overseas. Her family has decided to move with her, and as a result, they had planned to sell their home.
According to the lawsuit filed on July 31st, the couple claims that they would have been able to recover their investment and make a profit if it wasn’t for the “repeated” flooding caused by Richland 1. The lawsuit further notes that the flooding has continued unabated and as a result, the value of their property has significantly decreased. The couple’s yard, shed, and fence have also been damaged due to the flooding.
According to the lawsuit, the family is enduring a continuous hardship and is now seeking compensation and damages.
In October 2023, the Ilimaleotas’ property was surrounded by trees until Richland 1 clear-cut it to construct the $31 million Vince Ford Early Learning Center. However, construction on the project came to a halt in January when Richland County issued a stop work order due to the school district’s lack of permitting. As of now, construction is yet to resume.
The Creekside neighborhood has been hit hard by the massive stormwater diversion caused by the clear-cutting, according to the lawsuit. The Ilimaleotas, who had never encountered flooding in their property before, were also affected by this.
According to the lawsuit, the family is set to face immediate financial harm in a matter of months as they prepare to relocate overseas to serve their country.
According to the lawsuit, Meaghan and her family are not in a position to wait and hope that Richland One will resolve the situation as they are following the Army’s orders. The lawsuit states, “The mess created by Richland One needs to be fixed immediately.”
The lawsuit was met with silence from the district spokesperson who declined to offer any comments.
The district has faced another complaint from the Ilimaleotas, who have filed a lawsuit citing damages caused by flooding.
On July 8, Johna Wilkes, a Creekside resident whose home is situated next to the Vince Ford Early Learning Center site, filed the initial complaint.
According to the complaint filed by Wilkes, her home has become “unlivable” due to the repeated flooding caused by stormwater diverted from the early learning center construction site. The flooding has caused extensive damage to her furniture, cabinetry, flooring, walls, and even her pool. Wilkes has been living on her property since 1997 and had never encountered any flooding issues before the construction site was cleared of trees.
The district is facing lawsuits that claim it neglected to anticipate or prepare for stormwater, and did not establish a sufficient drainage system to safeguard nearby properties, as per both legal complaints.
The South Carolina Inspector General’s Office conducted an investigation into the district’s efforts towards constructing the learning center, leading to heavy criticism.
In a report dated July 25, it was revealed that Richland 1 had violated state law and caused financial loss to the taxpayers by starting construction without obtaining the required permits. Additionally, the district proceeded with the second phase of the project without the approval of the school board. The findings of the office highlight the importance of adhering to proper procedures and obtaining necessary permissions before initiating any project to avoid legal and financial repercussions.
Inspector General Brian Lamkin wrote that the District’s actions could result in wasteful expenditures, contractual liabilities, costs related to project delays, reputation damage, and insurance issues.
According to state law, the initial step for constructing a public school building requires approval from the state superintendent. However, in December, John Tyler, who serves as the general counsel and deputy superintendent for the state Department of Education, informed the district that the center, which would cater to infants, could not be considered a public school building. Unfortunately, construction had already been in progress for several months. Despite the education department’s objections, the construction was carried on until the Richland County intervened and issued a stop work order on January 19th.
According to the report, Richland 1 spent $352,078 on expenses related to building without a permit. The district had earlier revealed that the project had already incurred a cost of $813,000 for site inspections, stabilization, and security after halting construction, as reported to The State in May.
Issues related to unauthorized or illegal procurement were also highlighted by the inspector general.
After state superintendent Ellen Weaver expressed concerns about possible “malfeasance” surrounding the early learning center project, an investigation into the district was conducted for over six months. It’s worth noting that Richland 1 had been on fiscal watch since 2022 due to issues with its procurement card system, according to the state Education Department.
According to Jason Raven, the spokesperson for the State Department of Education, the concerns raised by the department regarding violations of state law and wasteful spending have been validated by the inspector general’s report.
Raven stated that the Vince Ford Early Learning Center’s construction should not have commenced without the necessary permit, and the SIG report exposes additional unlawful conduct concerning procurement. “We are taking all the findings seriously and will carefully evaluate them to determine the best course of action,” Raven said in a statement. The Department is expressing profound concern regarding the matter.
