Rick Smith to stay Hamilton County School Board Superintendent

Smith’s contract buyout was voted on at a specially-called school board meeting.

It all comes in the wake of the Ooltewah basketball team rape scandal.

The vote was 5 to 4 against.

Hamilton County School Board members shared their thoughts on what led up to Monday’s decision to not accept the $269,000 dollar buyout deal for Superintendent Rick Smith.

Many Hamilton County community members and board members were upset about the way Superintendent Smith handled the alleged Ooltewah rape.

Board member Rhonda Thurman, said Smith’s actions were unacceptable.

“The situation at Ooltewah…it took 10 days for the Superintendent to give us an official word, which is totally unacceptable. 20 days to make a statement to the public, which is totally unacceptable.”

School Board members have agreed to buy outs in the past, but say this one they couldn’t accept.

“We couldn’t see spending tax payer money on another buy out.”

Board member, Donna Horn, said she and the other board members no longer want to be left in the dark.

“Communication is a key asset for us on the board. I have found that communication has been very weak at times.”

School Board Attorney, Scott Bennett said he wants to continue to work with board to devise a better system of evaluations and goals.

“This is an opportunity for you and I to try to develop a different evaluation instrument that has some targeted goals and objectives.”

Thurman said she’s ready to move on and continue to work towards making the Hamilton County School system better.

“There’s a lot of things we have to do and I am ready to get back to talking about the kids. which is what we should be talking about.”

The Hamilton County school board will meet for a work session Thursday.

They are also scheduled to have a “special called session” at 5 to further decide the contract of Superintendent Smith, as of right now there is no word yet if that meeting is canceled.