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Parents press Trousdale County board for clear notification protocol after noncredible threat; board says director follows state law
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Summary
Residents pressed the Trousdale County Board of Education for a written parent-notification protocol and accountability after a noncredible online threat and what several called mocking treatment of a parent at a prior meeting; the board said the director of schools has discretion under state law and no policy was changed tonight.
Residents and parents pressed the Trousdale County Board of Education for a clear, written protocol to notify families about safety incidents, saying the district’s reliance on a late Facebook post left many parents uninformed.
“That is why clear, immediate communication is not optional. It's critical,” Michelle Dahlman, a parent and public school teacher, told the board during public comment. Several speakers said they did not receive a text message and first learned of the incident through social media or neighbors.
Keith McMorant, who asked the board to address what he described as “unprofessional” conduct at a prior meeting, told trustees the community wants not just an apology but a timetable and accountable steps for reviewing the board’s code of conduct. “The response that followed was unprofessional. It was, interruptive. It was confrontational. It's just completely unacceptable,” he said.
Chair (speaking for the board) cited state guidance and the district’s policy assigning the director of schools responsibility for developing the notification process. As the chair read from the policy, “the director of school shall develop a process for providing parents, guardians, information on credible threats of violence or significantly disruptive behavior directed toward or occurring on the grounds of the school their students attend.” The chair said the director may choose the method—text, social media or other—based on the situation.
Board members and commenters debated trade-offs: parents urged routine, multi-channel notices (text plus social media and website) so families know where to look; the board emphasized legal limits and repeatedly said they would review policies according to their calendar rather than adopt an immediate rule change tonight. No formal change to the parent-notification policy or to the board code of conduct was adopted; multiple speakers said they expect the item to be placed on a future agenda for formal review.
What’s next: Trustees agreed to review relevant policies per the board’s policy calendar and to discuss improved, plain-language guidance that explains how the director will communicate in different incident types. Community members left the meeting urging the board to set a clear, public protocol so parents know how the district will notify them in future safety incidents.
