Amanda Kay Lee, speaks to the Bradley County Commission after being appointed to fill the District 6 seat of the Bradley County Board of Education. CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Bradley County Commission has appointed Amanda Kay Lee, a long-serving former president of the Black Fox Elementary PTO, to fill the vacant 6th District seat on the Bradley County school board.
The 6th District has been without representation on the board since Feb. 24, when Christy Critchfield abruptly resigned after the board voted 4-3 to buy out the contract of then-Superintendent Johnny McDaniel.
On Monday, Lee won out over Mel Griffith, who served several years on the county school board and the county commission, in a 11-3 vote by the commissioners.
“I promise I’m going to do everything I can — not just for the kids in my district — but for every kid in Bradley County,” Lee told county commissioners after the vote. “I have two kids in this school system, and I want to do them proud.”
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* Bradley County Commission will fill school board vacancy * ‘Vengeance is mine,’ swears battle-ready Bradley County school board member * Critchfield resigns, declares war on “unethical” Bradley County Schools directors * Bradley County Schools Superintendent Johnny McDaniel says he’s ready for a buyout * Bradley County Commission quiet on schools director * Bradley County education board to vote on booting director early through buyout
Lee, who was nominated by 6th District Commissioner Robert Rominger, will hold the school board seat until the 2016 general election.
Commissioner Bill Winters, who seconded Lee’s nomination, praised her service to the community, students and teachers.
“This is one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make in a long time,” said Commissioner Terry Caywood, who sided with Lee, citing the fact that she is the mother of schoolchildren as the key factor in his decision.
When it comes to school business, “there’s nobody more passionate than a mother with a child in school,” Caywood said.
Black Fox Elementary principal Kim Fisher called Lee’s PTO service a blessing to the school.
“She made sure that every cent they raised went to the children,” Fisher said.
Monday’s decision revealed a rift between Rominger and fellow 6th District Commissioner Dan Rawls, who interviewed six candidates for the school board appointment.
“I didn’t want to make this into a fight,” said Rawls, who threw his support behind Griffith and stated that he and Rominger “could not reach a consensus.”
Griffith also received votes from Commission Chairman Louie Alford and 2nd District Commissioner Thomas Crye, who placed him on the voting agenda after 6th District resident Charles Dotson recommended Griffith during the meeting.
“I feel he [Griffith] could hit the pavement running,” said Crye, citing Griffith’s high level of education and public service experience. “It’s what they [the school board] need at the present time. We need to focus on the children’s education.”
Commission Vice Chairman Jeff Yarber expressed concern over Crye’s support of the public nomination of Griffith, calling it a break with the traditional courtesy of letting affected district representatives put forward appointments in similar situations.
In a previous meeting, County Attorney Crystal Freiberg said that statutory law allows any county commissioner to nominate someone to fill a school board seat vacancy.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.