Explosive

Two families have filed complaints in the aftermath of an "explosion" in a science lab at Merrol Hyde Magnet School in May of 2018, the Tennessean reports:

The school, at 128 Township Dr. in Hendersonville, was evacuated on May 9, 2018 when a science experiment caused a hazmat issue. Seventeen students and a teacher were injured. The teacher and eight students were taken to nearby hospitals.

The Hendersonville Fire Department’s investigation found that the incident was caused by mixing boric acid — a white, odorless substance — and ethyl alcohol. Investigators deemed the incident “unintentional,” according to a previous report.

The complains were filed by the families of two students who suffered injuries as a result of the accident. The claim is that the supervising teacher was negligent. In response, the Board of Education has suggested that:

In its separate answers to the complaints filed May 6 and May 13, respectively, the Sumner County Board of Education “is without sufficient knowledge to admit or deny” many of the allegations but denies any negligence.

“The minor may have been sitting too close to the experiment,” the Board of Education suggested in the filing.

The Board of Education aims for both complaints to be dismissed and reimbursement for attorney fees, according to the May 6 and May 13 answers, signed by Sumner County Law Director Leah May Dennen.

“It is possible the Daughter Doe was sitting on top of a table, instead of in her chair, when the event occurred," the Board of Education's amended answer filed June 19 states. "Had she been sitting in her chair, as she should have been, the accident could have been avoided."

As teachers and first responders were working to secure the building and ensure student safety, County Commissioner Paul Goode -- neither a trained first responder nor a school system employee -- rushed to the scene for a moment of self-aggrandizement. Never missing an opportunity to get in front of a camera to boost his image, Goode posed for pictures with emergency personnel on the scene. He then posted his antics on Facebook:

Assault at the Taj Mahal

County Commissioner Paul Goode claims he was assaulted by County Commissioner Merrol Hyde outside a recent meeting of the Sumner County Commission, according to a story in the Hendersonville Standard:

The simple assault allegation stems from a reported confrontation that took place between 10th District Commissioner Paul Goode and 8th District Commissioner Merrol Hyde inside the Sumner County Administration Building shortly after midnight on Tuesday, June 18.

Goode and Hyde have long been at odds, with the former Director of Schools (Hyde) resisting efforts to fund Sumner County Schools and other government entities with new revenue. Former Goode associate and former 45th District state representative Debra Maggart was also embroiled in the conflict between the two men at one time, attempting to push a different financial management scheme on the county by way of her position in the legislature.

It's not clear whether Goode will pursue prosecution or whether filing the report was just one more attempt to embarrass the already has-been Hyde.

What is clear is that the county is in the early stages of a potential financial crisis reminiscent of the one (led by Hyde's inaction) that caused the closing of Sumner County Schools in 2012.

Perhaps instead of bickering in the papers, Goode and Hyde could hold a WWE-style wrestling match and use the proceeds to fund volunteer fire departments?

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

County Commission Candidates 2014

From information provided by incumbent County Commission Baker Ring of Gallatin

2014 Elections, County Commission

First District:
Mike Akins (running)
Moe Taylor (running)

Second District:
Billy Geminden (running)
*Shawn Utley (not running)
...

running:
Jennifer Briley Anderson (running)
Larry Hinton (running)




Third District:
Steve Graves (running)
David Satterfield 
running:
Alan Driver


Fourth District:
*Joe Matthews (running for Circuit Court clerk) (not running for CC)

Frank E. Freels 

Fifth District:
Ben Harris (running)
Baker Ring (running)

Sixth District:
Jim Vaughn (running)
*Paige Brown Strong (not running)
Kevin Pomeroy

Seventh District:
*Trisha LeMarbre

Kirk Moser (running)
Eighth District:
Paul Decker (running)
Merrol Hyde (running)

Ninth District:
*Chris Hughes (not running)
*David Kimbrough (not running)
running:
Jerry Becker
Chris Taylor
Mark Nodini
Benjamin McCroskey


Tenth District:
Jo Skidmore (running)
Paul Goode (running)
running:
Caroline Shoemaker Krueger (running)


Eleventh District:
Paul Freels
Jerry Stone (running)

Twelfth District:
Bob Pospisil (running)
Michael Guthrie (running)


* denotes not running
bold deotes running again
italics denotes has voted against school funding in 2011-2012

Strong Schools Holds Candidate Forum

From the Press Release:

Last night, grassroots advocacy organization Strong Schools held a forum for candidates interested in the District 5 School Board seat recently vacated by the resignation of Shannon Dunn.

 

Both Janet Arnold and Leslie Schell indicated interest in the seat and both were invited to participate. Ms. Arnold declined the invitation citing a scheduling conflict. 

 

Schell attended and was asked 15 questions that had been crafted by members of the Strong Schools community. 

 

The replacement for Dunn will be voted on by the County Commission on August 19th and will fill the remainder of Dunn's terms, which expires in August, 2014. 

 

Five County Commissioners attended the event, including David Kimbrough, Paul Decker, Paul Goode, Paige Brown Strong, and Michael Guthrie. 

 

The event's organizers arranged for live-streaming of the event via the StrongSchools.org website and have also emailed and mailed the survey questions to allow both candidates the opportunity to submit written responses ahead of the Commission vote. 

 

Strong Schools Director Andy Spears said, "We organized this event because we believe in transparency.  We want every member of the community to have a chance to hear from those who wish to serve on the School Board.  We're pleased that a number of County Commissioners came out to hear directly from the candidates. We'll also follow up with a written survey so the Commissioners and community members can see what these two interested individuals have to say about our schools."