14 Commissioners Vote for Janet Arnold for School Board

At last night's Sumner County Commission meeting, 14 County Commissioners voted in favor of appointing Janet Arnold to replace Shannon Dunn on the Sumner County School Board in District 5. 

9 speakers addressed the Commission before the vote.  8 of the 9 spoke in favor of candidate Leslie Schell.  Supporters spoke of her involvement in schools (4 children at Beech Elementary, serves a substitute teacher, on the PTO Board) and her engagement in the community. 

Additionally 15 or so audience members wore "Schell for School Board" shirts. 

While Schell attended a forum hosted by grassroots organization Strong Schools, Arnold did not.  Schell also attended a meet and greet hosted by the Mayor of Goodlettsville and two City Commissioners.  Arnold also opted not to attend. 

Both candidates were given a survey of questions from parents developed by Strong Schools.  Schell answered the survey and Arnold did not.

Both Schell and Arnold addressed the full Commission and Schell presented Commissioners with a petition of 350 supporters asking for her to be appointed. 

Once the vote was called, 14 Commissioners voted in favor of Arnold to only 10 for Schell.  No Commissioner spoke on behalf of Arnold or offered a public explanation of their vote.

The 14 voting in favor of Arnold were:

Hyde, Matthews, Skidmore, Paul Freels, Moser, Vaughn, Pospisil, Stone, Frank Freels, Satterfield, Taylor, Akins, Geminden, and Graves.

These are the same 14 that voted time and again last year against a fully-funded school budget.