Watch your pets more closely
If you have small pets please do not let them stay outside unattended especially at night. Friday night I was driving down Humston Dr. after dark on the way to Wendy’s and my headlights illuminated a little white cat sitting on the side of the road and little white dog next to it. The dog proceeded to run across the road right in front of me. Suddenly I saw the very bottom edge of a very large bird wing, belonging to either an owl or hawk, brush across the top edge of my windshield. That bird did not want the little dog to get away! Folks, birds of prey are very happy to relieve you of your little pet! Make a new year’s resolution to watch your pets more closely.
Sandra Mckaig,
Lawrenceburg
Trial by Facebook
On Nov. 13, hundreds of angry citizens packed the Anderson County school board meeting in response to Facebook-circulated allegations.
Preacher Randy Adams had posted a video on Facebook in which Brad Briscoe, an ACS parent, alleged that a high school counselor and the superintendent had mishandled a situation involving his teen daughter. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s3Sste5 6fQpe1F-CScinKJj3wwYTx1Sa/view?usp=sharing
An official investigation was conducted, but the public had no access to the results and seemed to have little interest. The Briscoes had not signed a release.
But what the public did have access to was Facebook. And based on Facebook-circulated allegations, the angry crowd came and spoke against the counselor and superintendent, with some even demanding they be fired.
Among the speakers was state senator Adrienne Southworth who read aloud from criminal statue 530.270 titled “Unlawful transaction with a minor in the third degree.” Sen. Southworth then posted a photo of statute language on Twitter, adding, “I could count on one hand the people who were holding out in support of the counselor. The other 300+ attendees were looking for some swift action. Thanks to the HUNDREDS who attended and THOUSANDS watching live online.”
Swift action for what? Other than Facebook allegations and a video, was everyone referring to? A month went by. Allegations and rumors continued to circulate.
On Dec. 13, I asked Superintendent Mitchell if the Briscoes had signed the release.
The answer was no.
And yet, Anderson Countians continued to demand that our school board fire the superintendent, so I asked board chair Jason Collins what he would like Anderson County parents/citizens to know. This was his response:
“I have not seen any signed release from the parents which would allow the Board to review any documentation or to receive any information from the Superintendent concerning this student matter under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Even if there was a release allowing Board members to receive any student documentation from the Superintendent, FERPA would still prohibit me from publicly commenting on it.”
He continued, “The Board of Education has no authority to override the superintendent on any personnel decisions, and the Board has no right to become involved in individual student matters other than the limited instances provided by statute such as expulsion hearings. Even student grievances which are brought to the Board do not always fall within the Board’s authority if the grievance relates to employee conduct or if the relief requested is some manner of personnel action. As explained during the November Board meeting, even if the Board, after reviewing all available evidence, thought discipline of the superintendent was warranted, any such action requires approval by the commissioner of education. While no board needs prior permission from the commissioner to investigate a concern about their superintendent, our Board currently has no legal ability to investigate the matters which have recently been publicized. This is because it invites us to become involved in personnel and because of the lack of a signed release to even gather and review all relevant information and documentation about a student. Importantly, there must be legal cause for the termination of a superintendent, not merely allegations. This underscores our commitment to fairness, ensuring that any actions taken are based on concrete legal grounds. There are always at least two sides to every story.
Some community members are insisting that we take action based on the only side of the story which has been publicized. As a public agency, we must provide due process to students and employees alike, which requires us to receive and consider all available evidence before making any decision or taking any action.”
On Dec. 20 I asked the superintendent if Sen. Southworth had somehow been given access to the investigation in order to make her claims.
The answer was no.
“I do not know what may have been provided to Sen. Southworth by the Briscoe’s or anyone acting on their behalf,” Superintendent Mitchell wrote to me in an email. “She did not access any of the investigation materials from me or anyone acting on behalf of the district.”
Hundreds of angry citizens packed our Nov. 13 school board meeting in response to Facebook-circulated allegations.
Without due process, they demanded employees be fired.
Rumors and allegations continue to spread.
Welcome to trial by Facebook.
By Teri Carter