The Bledsoe County Board of Education in a recent called meeting voted to extend already existing sanctions against one of its own members by six months and to begin the process for seeking an ouster.
In a 4-2 vote Tuesday, the board approved a move to seek an ouster of board member Vince Pendergrass and, in a separate 5-1 vote, extended sanctions for six months barring Pendergrass from school property. The recent action stems from a censure about eight months ago after he was said to have violated those sanctions by attending a school play.
Pendergrass did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment Thursday. Likewise, the school board’s attorney in the matter, Mark Raines, could not be reached for comment on when the matter would be sent to the district attorney.
In September 2018, Pendergrass was publicly censured over an ethics violation and ordered to stay off of school property and to have no contact with any school employees, staff or students outside of his role as a board member or parent. He was allowed to be on school property to pick up and drop off his children for school and sporting events, and to attend parent-teacher conferences and school board meetings.
That censure stemmed from an Aug. 23, 2018, incident involving Pendergrass and a Bledsoe County Middle School football coach in which Pendergrass was said to have “entered the field house and was trying to instruct the coach on what players to play and on what plays to run,” Bledsoe County director of schools Jennifer Terry said in 2018.
In the 2018 action, Pendergrass himself voted in favor of the finding that he had committed an ethics violation as well as voting for the sanctions taken against him. Pendergrass remained in his board seat after the action.
On Thursday, school board chairman Vincent Boring said Pendergrass since that time has not missed a regular board meeting and has “made sure to participate in the board meetings.”
But early this month, that all changed.
“On Sunday, May 5, [Pendergrass] attended a high school play on school property,” Boring said Thursday of the incident provoking the most recent board action. “His oldest son was in it.”
At that time, Pendergrass was allowed on school property only for specific reasons outlined in the original sanctions, he said.
“The board deemed that was not an acceptable appearance” on school property, Boring said.
12th Judicial District Attorney General Mike TaylorBoring said the original sanctions were to end on June 30, but recent board action on sanctions extended the period for six more months, and now Pendergrass is also barred from being on school property for any reason, he said.
Board votes on the two matters were not unanimous, and officials said Pendergrass this time didn’t weigh in.
Don Snow voted no on the extension of sanctions, and Stacy Farmer and Jacob Frady voted against the motion to seek Pendergrass’ removal, officials said. Farmer, Frady and Snow could not be reached Thursday for comment on their votes. Frady attempted to return the call but it was missed.
Meanwhile, the district attorney’s office on Thursday was unaware of the board’s recent action.
“I have not received any information from the school board or their attorney as of today,” 12th Judicial District Attorney General Mike Taylor said. He said he’d determine whether any elements presented to him meet criteria for removal from office.
Pendergrass was first appointed to the school board in 2013 to fulfill the term of a member who died, according to officials. He was re-elected to the seat in 2014 and again in 2018.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.