The Knox County School Board met tonight, Knox County Fifth District School Board Member and Chair of the Board Susan Horn began a discussion about changing the current protocol of quarantine with Knox County Health Department. Dr. Martha Buchanan was present and encouraged the board not to make a change due to the rise of the current situation in Knox County. In an unrelated note, Horn is a relative to State Rep. Jason Zachary, who has introduced a bill for next year for the TN Legislature to strip the authority of the 6 large communities board of healths and giving that authority to the elected County Mayors instead.
School Board Members Patti Bounds, Mike McMillan, Kristi Kristy seated with Dr. Martha Buchanan at the podium.
Nearly every board member had comments and questions and Dr. Buchanan was currently walking back to podium. School Board Member Mike McMillan clearly agitated and was at a minimum disrespectful and could be (by a reasonable woman or man) considered to be hostile toward Buchanan. McMillan must have recognized his tone as he apologized to Buchanan at least once. He went on to address the School Board and asked the law department if the School Board had the total control for the operation of the school system and not the Health Department or the Board of Health. Ultimately, the board concluded a lengthy discussion without doing anything.
Dr. Martha Buchanan answering School Board Member Patty Bounds
Also, as the Board was prepared to approve the schematic design for a new Lonsdale Elementary School. The schematic design had a design to expand another 10 additional classrooms if/when needed. School Board Member Evetty Satterfield who represents the Lonsdale community made an amended motion to add 6 of the 10 classrooms to the construction. It was mentioned that a storm shelter is now required which is also an additional cost as well.
