School board seeks to protect teachers from unwarranted prosecution
By Dwight Otwell Editor

The school board is considering a policy that would not only protect students from criminal behavior by school personnel but would protect teachers from unwarranted prosecution.

School Board member Dr. Brian Mitchell Thursday said one policy would affect how school officials report criminal behavior. Another policy would spell out the relationship between law enforcement, school principals and School Resource Officers.

Mitchell pointed out that Murphy High School teacher Lonnie Oliver was exonerated after being accused of sexual contact with a student. The judge found Oliver not guilty, meaning the court validated Murphy High School Principal Jerry Brackett's investigation, indicating that it complied with state law.

"My review of our present policy (shows that Brackett"s) investigation complied with state law," Mitchell said.

"We want to protect our students' safety but also our staff against unwarranted prosecution," Mitchell said. "There has to be a correct approach with regard to a balance between students' safety and staff rights."

A sub-committee will look into the proposed policies.

In another matter, Board Chairman Dr. David Ackerman said there is erosion within three feet of the Murphy High School track beside the river.

"If a child would trip, he would go 100 feet down to the river. It is a hazard," said Board member Paula Watson.

School Administrator Gary Wright said they can get some dirt and correct the problem temporarily until a permanent solution is found. Ackerman said that the Hiwassee River Water Coalition is doing a project on the other side of the river and might be willing to work on the Murphy track side.

In other action High School instructors Alissa Cheek and Suzanne Deslauries gave a presentation on their trip to Denmark. Cheek was the McClure Scholarship recipient this year.

Cheek said that in Denmark, they don't give grades for students in grades K-5 but they evaluate children. Under this system, children progress quickly, Cheek said.

Early College students will be allowed to build models and later Viking boats that the students hope to sail or row. In this program, the teachers can use math (including trigonometry), social sciences, literature, science, etc.

The school board granted the Early College High School $500 for the Viking ship project.

Other action saw Mike Klein and Jim Duncan express concern for using the Murphy gym for youth basketball. Klein asked for use of one of the school gyms for Saturday games.

"We've outgrown our gyms," he said. "We don't have a lot of money to support cleanup and School Resource Officers."

Duncan said the odor at the rock gym is horrendous. It is a major health issue with bat feces and the gym leaking. He asked that they be allowed to use Murphy's facilities.