An Arizona school board meeting erupted in outrage after a secretary's crude comment about a teacher and a parent was caught on a hot mic. Seligman school secretary Lisa McNutt was heard spitting out profanities as she drove home from the board meeting on April 14, with officials stating the private conversation was protected under the First Amendment. The meeting drew students and parents rallying behind longtime teacher Miarj Wallace, whose job was on the chopping block. Wallace had created the agriculture department 16 years ago, but following a student survey the department and her job were set to be slashed, with the district citing budget cuts and the survey as reasons.
In Tennessee, a disturbing video captured the moment a Washington County School Board member put his arm around a female student during a meeting and called her 'hot,' with Keith Ervin under review for the comments and gestures on April 2. The student attended to present her research, and Ervin made the comment after her speech, leaving the room filled with discomfort. The district's superintendent, Jerry Boyd, noted the behavior made attendees uncomfortable but said the meeting continued as the girl was not in 'immediate danger,' adding the board will review the interaction.
God, you're hot, you know that? Where do you go to school at?
Public outrage has grown over both incidents. In Tennessee, an emergency meeting was scheduled for April 8 to address the matter, with expectations the board will consider a motion to censure Ervin. Parents were outraged over Ervin's comments, calling for his removal, and the video went viral on social media. Specific disciplinary actions against McNutt and Ervin remain unclear.
In all honesty, it certainly was an uncomfortable situation. You know, there’s a lot of nervousness in the room.
Our board expects a high level of professionalism, and certainly it’s being discussed and questionable whether or not the comment met that standard. And I believe the general belief is no.