Humiliation and Outbursts at Public Meetings

[Embarrassed]

I just had occasion to visit THE HUNTER REPORT and view the videos of the outbursts at public meetings. It is obvious to me that the leaders in these videos feel that they are superior to the rest of us in some way. Do they not remember who voted them in to office? And we can and WILL most certainly vote them out. I don't care who you are...or who you think you are...you should conduct your business, both public and private with decency toward your fellow citizens. It sounds like intimidation (trying to make others feel small) is the way our county mayor makes himself feel tall. What a terrible shame and embarrassment to our county. All I can say is "What goes around, comes around..."

[Aunt Sammy]

Ain't that the truth Embarrassed? Hitting the old nail right on the pumpkin head!

[Uncle Homer]

vote'em out and start with that ignorant old goat Doyle Arp.

Speaking of ignorant... Bill marcus is one of the best educated people on the school board but he gets the award for the most ignorant statement, next to old Leroy that is. Hey Leroy, with all that education you got in the old buildings, you'd a thunk you learned how to talk properly.

[Aunt Sammy]

I couldn't understand a word he was saying hardly. He was slobbering all over the front row. Pounding those fist like he was going to tear the whole room down. Oh and Hugh Willett works for the Knoxville News Sentinel, not the Journal. Is that even in operation now? I can't believe he would actually be voted the chairman of that board. He needs to be hidden until he can be voted out. Now that is sad people. Keep up the good fight Van Shaver. You got a load and a half on your shoulders. I feel bad for you. Thanks for all you do!

[Embarrassed]

Yes, Keep up the good work, Van. You may not always agree with WHAT Van says, but you have to admit, when he speaks, he will have his facts straight and he will know what he's talking about...unlike some of the others in office who just speak straight from the top of their heads...right or wrong. The sad part is, people believe what they say...even when it is wrong. It's time we all wake up and pay attention...before it is too late.

[Alan]

I just saw the videos on THE HUNTER REPORT and Loudon County has a serious problem with the people that they elect to office.

Arp, Tate & Harrison appear to have nothing but contempt for the public. That is disgraceful behavior.

Its hard to believe the school board chair acting like that at a school board meeting and what about Arp's behavior and these are supposed to be the leaders of Loudon County!

To look at the videos just go to http://thehunterreport.com/

[Jack Frost]

Somebody told me that Leroy didn't even graduate from high school. Is this true? He sounds like an ignorant hick. Loudon county should be ashamed of these people.

Leroy says he aint askeered a no newspapers... he probably coundn't read one!

How bout da haints? Ere ya askeered a da haints Leroy? Booooooo Oweeee...ders haints in dem der ole buildins Leroy! Dem haints is a skeerin da kids!!!!!

[Upset Mom]

Intimidation is their game. Most people, when "attacked" the way Pat Hunter was attacked, slink off scared and intimidated. After all, who wants to come back for more of that....but not Pat. She gets a camera and records their behaviors, then posts them for all of us to see instead. Brilliant! Thanks Pat!

FYI-Chairman Tate is scheduled to be replaced at the next meeting. The position is (thankfully) only for one year. Maybe we'll actually be able to understand what the next person chosen is saying.

[Embarrassed]

A BIG THANK YOU to the Loudon County School Board and Mr. Honeycutt for not jumping on the band wagon to disallow cameras in the school board meetings. I really liked what Van Shaver said...If you don't want to look like an idiot...don't act like one ;-) That is my paraphrase...but it makes a lot of sense. Thanks to you all for supporting citizen information/inivolvement.

[Jack Frost]

We'll see just how enlightened the school board really is when they actually vote on the policy. I'll bet Marcus and Tate wish they could keep cameras out of the meetings.

[Cherokee Nation]

The fact is: the Loudon School Board has had a policy in place since 2000 that bans cameras and videorecorders without the permission of the board. The fact that they have not enforced this policy does not excuse the fact that it exists.

Members of the school board and the central office have atempted to downplay this issue and have actually lied to reporters about whether such a policy even exists.

There is a policy banning cameras, it was not discussed at the last workshop and it will remain in place even if the board does not adopt the recent TSBA policy to add the public to the ban.

the board needs to do more than just decide not to make the recent TSBA inspired changes to the policy. The board needs to rescind the unconstitutional policy in effect since 2000.

[lrussell]

The fact is the Legal Reference referred to in that policy refers to an Atty Gen OP #95-101. The TSBA had never updated the fact that the opinion was changed 2 months later and reflected in OP #95-126. I don't know who lied about the fact that the existing policy contains the wording that the PRESS could not bring a camera,camcorder or other photographic equipment without the board's consent. Anyone can go online and see what it currently says in the policy #1.502. It WAS discussed and recommended at the last board workshop by the director and other board members to remove that line from the existing policy and not to adopt the recent TSBA policy to add the public to the ban. It will be voted on at this Thursday meeting.

[Marvin]

To Upset Mom - The camera ban has received much press and I read in one the newspapers that the camera ban is supposed to be for people who might disrupt a meeting but when Tate lost his temper at the school board meeting, why wasn't he escorted out of the meeting?

I heard that another hot head will soon become the new school board chair. The lady from Greenback seems like a smart person who does her homework but will the rest of board vote to elect someone like that or will it be another good ol boy just like the one in the video; he's embarrassing? I couldn't understand half of what he said.

[Upset Mom]

Marvin wrote:

To Upset Mom - The camera ban has received much press and I read in one the newspapers that the camera ban is supposed to be for people who might disrupt a meeting but when Tate lost his temper at the school board meeting, why wasn't he escorted out of the meeting?
I heard that another hot head will soon become the new school board chair. The lady from Greenback seems like a smart person who does her homework but will the rest of board vote to elect someone like that or will it be another good ol boy just like the one in the video; he's embarrassing? I couldn't understand half of what he said.

Well Marvin...looks like Scott Newman is the new chairman and Gary Ubben is the vice chair. Lisa Russell, the lady you refer to, got a motion, but not a second. Funny, Bill Marcus left right after the vote and didn't even stay for the rest of the meeting. I understand having something else to do, but it seems like the only reason he showed up, was to vote for his buddy....hmmmm?!!!!

[Panther alumnus]

After seeing those videos and hearing about Doyle Arp's shenanigans, I understand why his son left home and took drugs in Tullahoma. Unfortunately it got him killed. If I was his son, I probably would have to stay on drugs to put up with him and leave town out of embarassment. There seems to be an arrogant feeling among most government leaders that they are there to do as they please; that we give them free reign to get rich and crap all over the people. The government is U.S. which is US not them.

[Jill]

Upset Mom:
Assuming some of the board members are familiar with Robert's Rule of Order, parliamentary procedures, which they may not be, the nomination need not be seconded.
It's a shame that Ms. Russell wasn't elected as Chair or Vice-Chair. I think that she was by far the best qualified for the job. If you watch the meetings on TV-3, she does her homework while some of the others act like a bunch of dummies. She is a very professional lady and she takes care of her school.

Too bad, the majority of the board went along with the Marcus ticket.

[Reality Check]

Jill wrote:

Upset Mom:
Assuming some of the board members are familiar with Robert's Rule of Order, parliamentary procedures, which they may not be, the nomination need not be seconded.
It's a shame that Ms. Russell wasn't elected as Chair or Vice-Chair. I think that she was by far the best qualified for the job. If you watch the meetings on TV-3, she does her homework while some of the others act like a bunch of dummies. She is a very professional lady and she takes care of her school.
Too bad, the majority of the board went along with the Marcus ticket.

Marcus appears to have one agenda and one agenda only: to torpedo a new school for Greenback.