Members of the Hamilton County Board of Education on Thursday praised Tyner Academy seniors who walked out of school Wednesday afternoon, agreeing the county should take steps toward constructing a new building or buildings for the deteriorating school.
The walkout brought attention to the condition of the school and the recent closure of the 400 building, which houses the school’s Freshman Academy, because of water leaks.
“None of us would walk in there and go to work in Tyner every single day, yet we have students and teachers that go in every single day while the roof leaks on them, they can’t eat lunch because of water on them,” board member Tucker McClendon of East Ridge said.
“So yeah, they’re fed up, I’m fed up and I commend them and I am proud of them for what they did yesterday because someone’s got to listen, someone has to listen to them, and we have to do better.”
As he spoke, Tyner Academy senior Kaylea Moore bumped elbows with the person seated next to her, who was wearing a maroon T-shirt. A handful of students and adults in the boardroom also wore maroon and gold, Tyner Academy’s colors.