The Knox County School Board took an unprecedented move two years ago to have their own swearing in for their elected school board members. In all previous years all school board members were sworn in as part of the total Knox County ceremony. Two years ago, Board Member Bill Phillips was the only new addition. Indya Kincannon, Cindy Buttry and Karen Carson were incumbents that were sworn in for another four year term.

This year, Thomas Deakins is the only incumbent to be sworn in for a term that began on September 1. However, there are 5 new members, Gloria Deathridge, Lynn Fugate, Kim Sepesi, Mike McMillan and Pam Trainor that were to begin serving but have not taken the oath of office and will not take the oath of office until Tuesday September 7th. So, a constitutional quorum of the school board are not sworn in. So, if an emergency were to occur, a school become flooded, a school burn to the ground or explode then the board can not convene to take appropriate action. In addition, what kind of co existing relationship can they hope to have with the new County Mayor or County Commission when they say, we do not want to take our oath of office on September 1, 2010 when you take your oath. We would rather wait, 6 days and expose the taxpayers to liability and no representation on the school board. Because if you live in the First, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth or Ninth district your former school board member stopped representing you on August 31, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m. and your new representative does not begin representing you until taking the oath of office on Tuesday September 7, 2010 after taking the oath of office.