NELSON COUNTY, Ky. — The Nelson County Board of Education accepted Damon Jackey's resignation Tuesday in a 3-1 vote at a Special Called Meeting. The only nay vote came from Tracy Bowling.
Jackey submitted his resignation to the board one week ago, citing the problems faced during the months-long discussion of the proposed merger. Bowling and Jackey were the two votes against last Tuesday's merger vote.
"Whenever I started seeing there were certain board members that were doing things that made me scratch my head and go 'that doesn't seem right,' then something else happens, then we've got three board members that have apparently refused to listen to the overwhelming majority of the community on this topic of the one high school," Jackey said.
The merger, which passed 3-2, will combine Nelson County High School and Thomas Nelson High School.
Since last week's vote, protests have erupted around the county. Students, parents and teachers vocalized they are against the merger.
“I want my kid to be known, heard, seen, loved, and taken care of," Foster Heights Elementary School Secretary Carla McKay said. "You’re going to get that in smaller cohort sizes. That’s what I’m fighting for. I’m fighting for all of our kids."
McKay and other parents expressed their sadness that Jackey resigned, but said they understood.
"He sees the corruption on the board that is very obvious to anyone that’s reached out to the board," said Stephanie Johnson, a parent.
Another issue for parents is the lack of response from board members following the vote.
“We show up to work, we fight for our kids, we work for our kids," McKay said. "Our board leaders should respond to us. They should be asking questions, having conversations with those educators."
Jackey said the focus of the board should be on public education - and felt the needs of the students has gotten lost.
“It’s those connections that these students really need to have," Jackey said. "And that’s something that I think we’re starting to hear the community say: one high school is not going to do that."
The board has continued to ignore any request for comment, and left Tuesday night's special meeting without speaking to anyone.
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