Tenn. School Board Member Tells Student ‘God, You’re Hot’ During Public Meeting

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• A community in Tennessee is calling for the removal of a school board member who made an “inappropriate comment” to a minor

• Keith Ervin is heard calling a female student “hot” as he puts his arm around her during a livestreamed public meeting

• “There’s a lot of context missing,” Ervin later said during an interview

A school board member in Tennessee is facing backlash after he was heard calling a female student “hot” during a public meeting.

Parents and community members are calling for the resignation of Washington County school board member Keith Ervin after he put his arm around a teenager after referring to her as “hot.” live streamed meeting on Thursday, April 2.

The identity of the student was not disclosed because he is a minor.

In the livestream, the student sits at a large table lined with adults, Ervin on one side and Washington District Superintendent Jerry Boyd on the other. After she shared some thoughts, Ervin touched her and intervened.

“God, you’re so hot, you know that? Where do you go to school?” he asked.

The minor told him he went to Crockett.

Ervin has since defended his comments, claiming his actions were taken out of context.

“There was a student council member next to me and we were talking and he was getting up and asking questions and [she] It totally impressed me and the other board members,” Ervin said. WJHL on Friday, April 3. “I was. He was a top-notch student body member and he was asking really smart questions. So I reached out and tapped him on the shoulder and said, ‘You’re so hot. You’re good. You’re one of the best I’ve ever seen.’

Board members discussed potential school restructuring, CTE education and curriculum during the meeting.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. He was just hot. He asked good questions and I was bragging about him,” Ervin told WJHL.

“There’s a lot of context missing,” he later added. “You have to watch the entire meeting to see how impressive the student body member is. I don’t know what to say. I’m just impressed.”

“When it comes to a board member’s comment, just like any board member, whether it’s their vote or the comments they make, they should be the ones answering questions about what their intent was in their comments, or if it’s about a vote, they do that,” Boyd said in a statement. he said. “As elected officials, they need to explain what is behind their votes or comments.”

The Washington State Board of Education will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday, April 8, to discuss Ervin’s “highly inappropriate comment.” WCYB. The board is expected to approve a resolution condemning Ervin, leaders told the press.

“Mr. Ervin knows his intentions, but the rest of us must judge his words and actions. What we saw was shocking. He publicly objectified and belittled a young woman. No explanation can justify this,” board president Annette Buchanan said in a press release, according to WCYB. he said.

Society is calling for more to be done.

“As a member of the school board, she is responsible for the health, welfare, safety and education of our children,” said parent Hillary Haley. WCYB reported. “The image he shows tells me he shouldn’t be around our children.”

There is also one planned protest The protest “Demanding Keith Ervin’s resignation” is planned to be held on Wednesday, April 8, at 16:00 local time.

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There is a link to the same article change.org Petition demanding the firing of Boyd and Ervin. There are over 3 thousand signatures on the petition. But Ervin is already seeking re-election, and removal of a school board member can only be possible through a successful recall election under Tennessee law. WCYB.

PEOPLE reached out to Boyd and Washington County Schools for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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