The Elk Times has reported that two members of the Lincoln County Board of Education have potentially violated Tennessee’s Sunshine Law through their email discussions regarding the selection of a new director of schools. In October, the board convened and established a search committee composed of five of its members. Following this, the board received a total of ten applications, from which five candidates were chosen during a meeting held on December 9. This selection was later ratified in a subsequent full board meeting.
The alleged breach of the Sunshine Law reportedly took place on the same day as the December 9 meeting and continued through the interview sessions scheduled for December 16 and 18. During these email exchanges, the board members discussed the qualities of the applicants and expressed concerns about the opinions of their fellow board members regarding the decisions being made. Tennessee law mandates that discussions concerning public matters must occur in a public forum, particularly when it pertains to a publicly announced meeting. Engaging in such discussions via email, rather than in the designated public meeting, raises significant concerns regarding compliance with open meeting laws.
Dr. Bill Heath, who previously served as the Director of Schools in Lawrence County and is now in the same role for Lincoln County, expressed disappointment over the actions of the elected officials. He noted that the Tennessee School Board Association provides training to all school board members, emphasizing the importance of understanding the open meetings statute. Dr. Heath remarked, “In the last election, the concept of transparency was highlighted multiple times. This situation is particularly disheartening from my perspective.” The board is expected to deliberate on the next steps regarding this matter in an upcoming vote.
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