In the wake of the arrest of three Ooltewah High School basketball team members for the rape of a 15-year-old teammate, a County School Board committee next Thursday will discuss topics that including bullying and hazing, field trips and supervision of students.
The board is to meet in work session at 5 p.m. in the board room at 3074 Hickory Valley Road to review the upcoming agenda for the Jan. 21 meeting.
Officials said, "Immediately following the agenda review work session the board will adjourn into committee meetings, as necessary. Policy Committee Chairman Greg Martin will hold a Policy Committee meeting. This meeting will also be held in the Board Room. The purpose of this committee meeting is to review existing policies pertaining to extracurricular activities, field trips and excursions, rights and responsibilities, procedural due process, student discrimination/harassment/hazing and bullying/intimidation, supervision of students, suspension/dismissal of teachers, and to conduct a frank discussion regarding whether they are clear and current."
Work sessions and committee meetings are not open for public comment. However, the public is welcome to attend, it was stated.
The incident happened at a rental cabin in Gatlinburg three days before Christmas. The team was in Sevier County to play in the Smokey Mountain Tournament.
The team continued to play games after the incident, but the season has now been canceled.
Officials have not said where Coach Andre "Tank" Montgomery or three adult chaperones were during the incident or what they knew about team hazing and bullying.