School Ethics Committee Meeting 27 July 2010
The School Board Ethics Committee, made up of Board members Rhonda Turner and Don Storey along with a private citizen Mr. Haskell Mayes, met last night at the School Board offices. The purpose of the meeting was to determine actions to be taken involving an ethics complaint filed against the School Director Mr. Tee Jackson.
The complaint filed by School Board member Beverly Murrey stated in part that the complaint was being filed as a result of primarily two actions reportedly taken by Mr Jackson. The letter states these actions as, "going into Pulaski Elementary School Giles County High School soliciting signatures for a school board member" in violation of school board policy 5.606. "Mr Tee Jackson took qualifying papers into the above mentioned schools and had Pulaski Elementary principal and secretary to sign the qualifying papers. He also carried the papers into Giles County High School and had the principal solicit signatures from a teacher and school nurse. He took the administrators and staff away from their jobs of teaching our students and caring for them. All this took place close to the deadline of April 1, 2010, to qualify. I am also disturbed over the list of accusations Mr. Jackson gave me during our meeting about the above issue. I feel that he was threatening me and my position as a Board member."
At this meeting of the Ethics Committee Mr. Jackson was represented by Attorney Joe Henry who spoke in his place.
An issue was raised by Mr. Henry concerning the appropriateness of the Ethics Committee hearing a violation of Board Policy instead of the full School Board. After much discussion it was decided that the Ethics Committee would adjourn and allow the School Board to deal with the matter. Plans were being formulated last night to call a special meeting of the School Board and have this matter resolved prior to a new School Board being impaneled.
The complaint filed by School Board member Beverly Murrey stated in part that the complaint was being filed as a result of primarily two actions reportedly taken by Mr Jackson. The letter states these actions as, "going into Pulaski Elementary School Giles County High School soliciting signatures for a school board member" in violation of school board policy 5.606. "Mr Tee Jackson took qualifying papers into the above mentioned schools and had Pulaski Elementary principal and secretary to sign the qualifying papers. He also carried the papers into Giles County High School and had the principal solicit signatures from a teacher and school nurse. He took the administrators and staff away from their jobs of teaching our students and caring for them. All this took place close to the deadline of April 1, 2010, to qualify. I am also disturbed over the list of accusations Mr. Jackson gave me during our meeting about the above issue. I feel that he was threatening me and my position as a Board member."
At this meeting of the Ethics Committee Mr. Jackson was represented by Attorney Joe Henry who spoke in his place.
An issue was raised by Mr. Henry concerning the appropriateness of the Ethics Committee hearing a violation of Board Policy instead of the full School Board. After much discussion it was decided that the Ethics Committee would adjourn and allow the School Board to deal with the matter. Plans were being formulated last night to call a special meeting of the School Board and have this matter resolved prior to a new School Board being impaneled.
posted by Allen Barrett | 11:01 AM
