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Tennessee Student Rebukes School Board Over Member’s ‘Hot’ Remark

Censure highlights the limits on disciplining elected school board members.

Overview

  • Hannah Campbell, a student representative in Washington County, denounced the board for keeping member Keith Ervin after he hugged her and called her “hot” during a meeting.
  • The exchange was captured at an April 2 school board session where Ervin put his arm around Campbell and said, “God, you’re hot,” before asking where she went to school.
  • The board voted to censure Ervin, issuing a formal reprimand that leaves him in office because elected members are not subject to firing by the board.
  • Community pressure has swelled through a Change.org petition that has collected about 6,775 signatures calling for Ervin’s removal and for the superintendent to resign.
  • Ervin has denied wrongdoing and said his words were taken out of context, while any removal would now hinge on his resignation or future electoral action rather than internal discipline.