Eversole responds to criticism over planned school budget meeting

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County Commission Chairman Jeff Eversole responded to criticism over a planned meeting concerning this year’s school budget.

This was during this week’s Hamilton County Commission meeting.

Chairman Eversole plans to discuss how the school board is planning to spend that money.

However, that has prompted criticism from the school board’s chair, Joe Smith, who says this flies in the face of that process.

Smith urged other school board members and superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson to not go to that meeting.

The Commission approves a set amount of money for Hamilton County Schools, in which they get to determine how to spend said money.

The school board passed a $577 million dollar budget last month.

Chairman Eversole says this is a necessary conversation for our county’s students.

He said, “I’ve sent the school, Mary Ellen, and I sent Dr. Robertson a list of questions last Friday as well, so it’s not about a “gotcha”, it’s about how do we work together to achieve a common goal… In the third grade, I could’ve cared less who my commissioner, I could’ve really cared less who my mayor was, I could’ve really care less who my superintendent was, those things as a third grader don’t really impress you but that teacher, that’s in the room with you? That’s where the rubber meets the road.”

This school budget hearing will be held after next week’s Hamilton County Commission meeting on Wednesday.