Below is an op-ed I wrote for my hometown paper over the county board of education’s decision to reinstate the local superintendent of schools after suspending him with pay because of a felony indictment for carrying a firearm on school grounds.

By a vote of 8-2, the Hardin County Board of Education rescinded a previous
decision to temporarily suspend Superintendent John Thomas after his
indictment on a single felony charge of carrying a weapon on school
property.

In an earlier admission to the board and in a telephone conversation taped
by local citizen Jerry Fowler, Thomas admitted to carrying the weapon on
school grounds and said he has done so for the last several years. The issue
only came to light when a school security officer noticed the weapon on
Thomas and notified authorities.

The board voted 6-4 to temporary suspend Thomas on March 22 with pay when a
temporary replacement was found. Until then, Thomas would remain on the job.
During that same meeting the board appointed a committee to find and name
the interim and that is exactly what they did.

But in some behind the scenes maneuvering, several members of the board
apparently got together and decided instead to rescind Thomas’ suspension
and not act on a replacement from a neighboring county who was willing and
able to serve.

I hope that didn’t happen because that would have violated the state’s open
meeting rule, commonly known as the “sunshine law.”

After asking permission to make a motion to reverse Thomas’ suspension in
last week’s meeting, board member Olga Turnbow gave two reasons for keeping
Thomas.

First, the board could not afford to pay the salaries of two superintendents
and Thomas’ name was already on a couple hundred diplomas for graduating
seniors.

I doubt you have the slightest notion where your high school diploma is, but
nonetheless, do you have any idea who signatures are at the bottom of your
sheepskin? And what difference has it made in your ability to ever find a
job?

Here are the issues still facing the board. First, Thomas knowingly violated
a state law. Second and more importantly, he’s under indictment for a
felony.

Tennessee state law prohibits anyone from carrying a weapon on school
property and there is no exemption for teachers or administrators. In
addition, the school system has what is known as a “zero tolerance” policy
for students carrying weapons on school grounds.

What type of example are we setting for the graduates on whose diplomas
Thomas’ signature will reside if the board allows him to stay on the job?
That it’s okay to break the law if you are in a position of authority?

I’ve never met Mr. Thomas but from what I’ve heard, he’s a kind and
well-qualified leader. While he came into the position under controversial
circumstances, many teachers and administrators appear to like him.

From a political perspective, Thomas’ indictment left the board with little
choice but to take action on the issue, but you would have never known it
from the initial 6-4 vote.

A $27 million dollar budget can be challenging, but if the system is
dependent upon one person to navigate it through such fiscal decisions, then
they have much bigger problems. In fact, isn’t that what other
administrators are hired to do with the board’s oversight?

Neither the board nor the citizens of this county asked for this issue and
the responsibility lies completely with Mr. Thomas. In the meantime, the
suspension should have remained intact until the legal system has run its
course.

If a jury finds Mr. Thomas not guilty or if his case is downgraded to a
misdemeanor (which is what I predict will happen), then he could have
returned to his job.

If convicted, the board would have had no choice but to permanently remove
Thomas from his position and find another replacement.

Board member Jeanell Dennis made a wise, but misguided observation in her
defense of Thomas when she said there is a difference between teachers and
students; and she is right.

Teachers should know better. So should elected board members.