Parents, teacher urge Knox County Schools to hire music therapist and clarify protections for English-language learners

Two members of the public used the board’s allotted three minutes to press the district on student services and safety concerns.

Theresa Baugh, who identified herself as a Knox County resident, urged the district to consider hiring a full-time, board-certified music therapist to meet growing special-education needs. Baugh said multiple IEP teams have recommended music therapy and that at least seven students already have agreed-to services; she asked the district to post a position so the district can attract qualified candidates. "Please look at the rising need for change as soon as possible so our district could post a position and attract music therapist candidates from all over the nation," Baugh said.

Laura Bean Allen, an English-language learner teacher at Fulton High School, described heightened fear among ELL families after a recent public statement related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She said families understood the statement to mean ICE would be allowed into schools, creating widespread fear and decreased attendance. "Our students and families feel hunted, hated, and scared," Allen said. She asked the board for clearer communication about students’ protections, more counseling resources in students’ home languages, and practical steps to reassure families.

Board members thanked the speakers; the transcript records no formal staff commitment at the meeting to create a music-therapy position or to change counseling allocations. The public forum closed and the board adjourned.

Why it matters: Both requests touch services for vulnerable student groups — students with IEPs who may need specialized therapy and ELL students experiencing trauma and enrollment impacts. The music-therapy request implicates hiring and budget decisions; the ICE-related concerns implicate communication and multilingual counseling capacity.

Next steps: No formal board action recorded at this meeting; topics would require staff follow-up to translate requests into hiring or service proposals.