County Commissioners Sabrena Smedley and Greg Beck on Wednesday expressed concerns about county school leadership.
Commissioner Smedley said, "It seems the public has lost confidence in a system that is broken."
She said a number of members of the public had asked her if there was anything the commission can do about the school situation. She asked County Attorney Rheubin Taylor to comment.
Attorney Taylor said the County Commission has no authority to hire or fire the county school superintendent. He said its only involvement with the schools is providing the funding.
Commissioner Smedley, who went to Ooltewah High School, said the case in which three Ooltewah High basketball players are charged in the rape of a 15-year-old teammate is "just a heart-breaking situation."
She said, "I have been contacted by many, many people asking if we can do something." She said, "I will do anything I can to better educate students and keep them safe."
Commissioner Beck said, "We don't have the authority, but we do have this microphone."
He said, "It is amazing the silence of the people who are in high places at the schools. Things have not gone well over there and there is silence.
"When there are three years of failing grades nobody says anything - not even the School Board."
Commissioner Greg said when a student died suddenly at an East Ridge school that former Supt. Jim Scales visited the family and spoke at the funeral." He said Mrs. Scales "got out of her sick bed and went to visit the family. These are the kinds of thing you do when you are in charge."
He said, "Many families are now suffering and kids are failing - but there is no proper response."
Commissioner Beck said, "I hope the School Board will come to the realization that something needs to be done."
He said, "My support for the school leadership is beginning to fade. I have nothing to hold onto. I don't have any faith."
Commissioner Warren Mackey said the Ooltewah High incident is one of three black marks against the community, including the July shooting and the Volkswagen emissions scandal.
He said he believes the School Board "is about to undergo a crisis."