Residents press Tullahoma board on transparency and cultural issues as candidate presents

At the Feb. 24 special called meeting, three residents and parents used public comment to press the Tullahoma City Schools Board about the hiring process for director of schools, urging an open search and asking how the district would handle cultural controversies and student protests.

Jim Burns, who identified himself as a resident of Linda Lane and a parent, said he opposed hiring a director without “full and open competition,” asked the board to slow the process and submitted suggested interview questions on STEM, international baccalaureate and vocational education. "I speak in opposition tonight to the hiring of a new director of schools without full and open competition," he said.

Maureen Burke said citizens’ attempts to speak about the selection had been suppressed and that she received no acknowledgement after submitting questions in person and by email. "I feel that citizens attempts to speak concerning the selection have been suppressed in the process to date," she said, and pressed for clarity on policies, the district's strategic plan, curriculum emphases including social-emotional learning, and fiscal priorities such as bond use.

Greg Sandlin told the board he had heard strong recommendations for Dr. April Norris from other districts and praised her record, while asking how the district would respond to cultural controversies such as LGBTQ materials in schools and to student absenteeism during protests. He said he wants assurances about classroom exposure to "more adult materials" and asked whether students who skipped school for an immigration protest would face consequences.

Board members addressed the concerns during the candidate Q&A and the subsequent discussion of next steps. Several board members voiced support for Dr. Norris's record in multiple roles within the district; the board ultimately authorized negotiators to begin contract talks with her.

What was not resolved at the meeting: Community commenters said they had submitted questions that were not acknowledged and asked for a more open selection process; the board proceeded with a negotiation authorization and did not hold a separate open search during the meeting.

The transcript records the speakers and their remarks; the board did not provide an explicit roll-call tally for the motion to negotiate, and compensation and contract terms will be negotiated and returned to the board for public consideration.