Several community members urged the Overton County school board to review disciplinary action taken against a Livingston Academy student, saying the punishment is excessive and may bar a senior from playing basketball.

Theresa Carlisle, who identified herself during public comment, said the student named Rocco Carwell "was not even in the building when all of this happened" and is nevertheless being "held to the same standards" as other students present. "He is not being able to play ball," Carlisle said, adding she believed the student faced "45 days of alternative school" but prefaced that with uncertainty about the exact sanction.

A board speaker responded that it is not appropriate for the board to comment on individual student punishments in public. The speaker said the board takes the issue seriously and asked that the information be passed to "Miss Kim" for follow-up.

Zach Lewis, who identified himself as a recent Livingston Academy graduate and current sophomore, asked whether public comment rules allowed speaking about discipline of faculty or staff; the board replied that comments about staff punishment were not permitted at that time.

Ralph Robbins, another public commenter, said local reporting suggested law enforcement would not pursue charges and described the school punishments as disproportionate. "I think he's been discriminated against," Robbins said, calling on the board to reconsider the consequences.

The record in the meeting transcript shows community members' accounts and concerns but does not include a formal request by the board to reopen or alter the disciplinary decision. The board's public reply emphasized limits on discussing individual student discipline in open session and indicated staff would receive the commenters' information for any follow-up.

Next steps: the transcript records that board staff (referenced as "Miss Kim") would receive the information; the meeting did not show a formal vote or directive in open session to change the student's status.