12/03/2020
Here we go again with Patti Bounds, Knox County School Board District 7 and Knox County Schools...
As COVID numbers rise in Knox County, parents, teachers, and students have been begging that the district move to virtual learning. One parent sent such an email to all the members of the Board of Education and the response they received from Patti was basically a nice way of saying, "F- you, I'll do what I want." Now, I - the author of this post, not speaking on behalf of the organization for a quick moment - typically would appreciate such an anarchist response; However, in this context, it is absolutely 100% inappropriate.
Patti, we'd like to remind you, once again, that you are an elected official and your responsibility is to listen and try to understand the position of your constituents because you are not there to serve your own purposes. You are there to serve us. To brush one of your constituents off in such a manner was beyond disrespectful. You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself. The rest of the Board of Education should be ashamed of you as well. You have repeatedly shown that you do not care about anything while sitting up there aside from your own wants.
Currently, in Knox County, there are many schools that are down 10 or more teachers with only one to two substitutes. IEP's for some students are being ignored because the staff is overwhelmed and unable to meet these needs. When IEPs get ignored, for some students that means increased behavioral problems which can put both students and teachers at risk of being injured. Teachers are so overwhelmed right now that the city has opened up an emotional support line designed for first responders to them as well. That's right, teaching in Knox County is so emotionally taxing that they need the same type of support as those who see murder victims and other gruesome scenes. That is where we are at in Knox County.
None of that even addresses the growing risk of catching a disease that may be harmless for many but may also result in death or lifelong complications for many others. The worst part is we don't know who this will affect in what way. Many previously healthy people now have health conditions that may last the rest of their lives.
From being the only board member to vote against requiring masks in our schools, to dismissing the concerns of her constituents, and in her personal life, according to her page, going around mask-free as if there is no pandemic, Patti Bounds proves all she cares about is herself. Why is she one our Board of Education if she is unwilling to think of anyone else? What about the safety and well-being of our children?
The reality of the situation is it is not safe for children to be in school right now. It's not safe for teachers to be in school right now. Many teachers are aware of this too but unfortunately, due to state laws, teachers have no recourse at all. If they speak out, they could lose their jobs. Many of our teachers are at a breaking point right now and we need to do whatever we can to help them get their voices heard since they are unable to.
Please continue to write the Board of Education to ask them to move to virtual schooling for the rest of the year. The safety of our children and everyone else in the community requires it at this point in time. You can find all of their email address here: https://www.knoxschools.org/Page/2094
Please send any rude responses received from ole' Patti to us. We'd love to post more for you all to see.
