Ooltewah High School sign
Scott Bennett
School board members Rhonda Thurman, left, and Karitsa Mosley listen as the Hamilton County Board of Education meets to rework their 2016 budget request Monday, June 1, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. In the wake of the alleged rape of an Ooltewah High School freshman, the Hamilton County school board discussed having an external review of individual schools’ culture and ensuring board policies are being implemented across the district.
During Thursday night’s board of education meeting, Chairman Jonathan Welch asked the board to consider commissioning a districtwide audit of schools.
“I think in an effort to be proactive instead of reactive about what comes forward in the coming months it would be wise to open this audit,” Welch said.
He also told the board the school district is required by law to conduct an internal investigation of the Ooltewah incident within 60 days of the Dec. 22 attack, regardless of a criminal investigation. Records from Sevier County Juvenile Court state that two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old are charged with aggravated rape and aggravated assault of a 15-year-old during a basketball trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn., in December.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, schools have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to allegations of sexual harassment or sexual violence with an investigation.