Despite the fact that citizen speech at public meetings is a hot topic in Tennessee, and that most governing boards understand the value of citizen participation, there are two Jefferson County School Board members that voted against a policy change to allow citizen input at work sessions.
For a brief time, the board stopped allowing citizen commentary on general topics as the work sessions and business sessions were being reconfigured into two separate meetings on different days.
School Commissioners Bill Jarnigan and Randal Bradley both voted “no” on a motion to permit citizens to speak on topics at school board work sessions that are germane to the operation of the school system but may not be on the meeting agenda. Five other constitutional patriotic members of the school board voted in favor of allowing citizen speech.
Fortunately, citizen speech at work sessions was approved in a 5-2 vote at the February 6, 2025, voting meeting. A copy of the meeting minutes is linked HERE. (See Page 2, item V, 2)
Now citizens can continue the long-standing practice of addressing Jefferson County School Board members on items of concern that are not on the voting agenda. The framers of the Tennessee Constitution included protection for citizens to address, petition, redress, instruct, and apply for remonstrance.
Under declaration of rights, the Tennessee Constitution Article 1, Section 23 reads as follows. “That the citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by address or remonstrance.”
It is ironic that Jarnigan and Bradley and voted “no” on citizen speech just a few meetings after Chairman Josh Cameron opened his first meeting after being elected chair with Article 1, Section 23 as a guideline for respecting citizen input.
One concerned citizen, interviewed for this news report, commented on her interaction with one of the school board members that voted against citizen speech.
“I asked one school commissioner why he voted no and the only reason he could give me was that meetings could get too crowded on certain topics and sometimes people are rude when they speak.
One of the basic foundations of our Republic is that WE Citizens are the sovereigns who elect people to certain positions in order to govern. We do NOT relinquish our right to speak when they are elected. Rights of redress and grievance are basic foundational principles that are enshrined in our First Amendment and in our TN Constitution.”– said Michelle Jinnette, Jefferson County Citizen
The proposed, now approved, policy is highlighted below in yellow.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level.David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award& has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
2 Jefferson County School Board Members Vote To Squelch Citizen Speech At School Board Work Sessions
2 Jefferson County School Board Members Vote To Squelch Citizen Speech At School Board Work Sessions
Image Credit: Jefferson County Schools
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] –
Despite the fact that citizen speech at public meetings is a hot topic in Tennessee, and that most governing boards understand the value of citizen participation, there are two Jefferson County School Board members that voted against a policy change to allow citizen input at work sessions.
For a brief time, the board stopped allowing citizen commentary on general topics as the work sessions and business sessions were being reconfigured into two separate meetings on different days.
School Commissioners Bill Jarnigan and Randal Bradley both voted “no” on a motion to permit citizens to speak on topics at school board work sessions that are germane to the operation of the school system but may not be on the meeting agenda. Five other constitutional patriotic members of the school board voted in favor of allowing citizen speech.
Fortunately, citizen speech at work sessions was approved in a 5-2 vote at the February 6, 2025, voting meeting. A copy of the meeting minutes is linked HERE. (See Page 2, item V, 2)
Now citizens can continue the long-standing practice of addressing Jefferson County School Board members on items of concern that are not on the voting agenda. The framers of the Tennessee Constitution included protection for citizens to address, petition, redress, instruct, and apply for remonstrance.
Under declaration of rights, the Tennessee Constitution Article 1, Section 23 reads as follows. “That the citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by address or remonstrance.”
It is ironic that Jarnigan and Bradley and voted “no” on citizen speech just a few meetings after Chairman Josh Cameron opened his first meeting after being elected chair with Article 1, Section 23 as a guideline for respecting citizen input.
One concerned citizen, interviewed for this news report, commented on her interaction with one of the school board members that voted against citizen speech.
“I asked one school commissioner why he voted no and the only reason he could give me was that meetings could get too crowded on certain topics and sometimes people are rude when they speak.
One of the basic foundations of our Republic is that WE Citizens are the sovereigns who elect people to certain positions in order to govern. We do NOT relinquish our right to speak when they are elected. Rights of redress and grievance are basic foundational principles that are enshrined in our First Amendment and in our TN Constitution.” – said Michelle Jinnette, Jefferson County Citizen
The proposed, now approved, policy is highlighted below in yellow.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.