Sen. Southworth’s involvement in Anderson school saga is ‘trial by Facebook’ | Opinion
As the Kentucky legislature returns for 2024, in Anderson County we continue to deal with a situation made more consequential after statements made both in person and on social media by our state senator, Adrienne Southworth.
On Nov. 13, hundreds of angry citizens packed the Anderson County school board meeting in response to Facebook-circulated allegations. Preacher Randy Adams had posted a video on Facebook in which Brad Briscoe, an ACS parent, alleged that a high school counselor and the superintendent had mishandled a situation involving his teen daughter.
An official investigation had been conducted, but the Briscoes had not signed a release so the counselor and superintendent could not respond. The public has no access to the investigation results, either, a key fact they seemed to care little about.
What the public did care about, what they did have access to, was Facebook. And based on Facebook posts, an estimated crowd of 300+ came and spoke against the counselor and superintendent, with some demanding they be fired.
Among the speakers was Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, who chose to read aloud from criminal statue 530.270 titled “Unlawful transaction with a minor in the third degree.” She then posted a photo of statute language on Twitter, adding, “I could count on one hand the people who were holding out in support of the counselor. The other 300+ attendees were looking for some swift action. Thanks to the HUNDREDS who attended and THOUSANDS watching live online.”
Swift action for what? Other than Facebook allegations and a video, what was the senator referring to?
A month went by. Allegations and rumors continued to circulate.
In early December the school counselor — unable to speak or defend herself because the release had still not been signed — resigned.
On Dec. 13, I asked Superintendent Mitchell if the Briscoes had signed the release. The answer was still no.
And because of this, Anderson Countians have continued to demand that our school board fire the superintendent — their elected senator, after all, gave weight to their claims — so I asked school board chair Jason Collins what he would like Anderson County parents/citizens to know. This was his response:
“I have not seen any signed release from the parents which would allow the Board to review any documentation or to receive any information from the Superintendent concerning this student matter under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Even if there was a release allowing Board members to receive any student documentation from the Superintendent, FERPA would still prohibit me from publicly commenting on it.”
He continued, “The Board of Education has no authority to override the superintendent on any personnel decisions, and the Board has no right to become involved in individual student matters other than the limited instances provided by statute such as expulsion hearings. Even student grievances which are brought to the Board do not always fall within the Board’s authority if the grievance relates to employee conduct or if the relief requested is some manner of personnel action.”
With regard to the current situation, Chairman Collins added, “As explained during the November Board meeting, even if the Board, after reviewing all available evidence, thought discipline of the superintendent was warranted, any such action requires approval by the commissioner of education. While no board needs prior permission from the commissioner to investigate a concern about their superintendent, our Board currently has no legal ability to investigate the matters which have recently been publicized. This is because it invites us to become involved in personnel and because of the lack of a signed release to even gather and review all relevant information and documentation about a student.”
Explaining legal standards at, as an attorney, Sen. Southworth should be knowledgeable of, he responded, “Importantly, there must be legal cause for the termination of a superintendent, not merely allegations. This underscores our commitment to fairness, ensuring that any actions taken are based on concrete legal grounds. There are always at least two sides to every story. Some community members are insisting that we take action based on the only side of the story which has been publicized. As a public agency, we must provide due process to students and employees alike, which requires us to receive and consider all available evidence before making any decision or taking any action.”
On Dec. 20 I asked the superintendent if Sen. Southworth had somehow been given access to the investigation in order to make her claims. The answer was no.
“I do not know what may have been provided to Sen. Southworth by the Briscoes or anyone acting on their behalf,” Superintendent Mitchell wrote to me in an email. “She did not access any of the investigation materials from me or anyone acting on behalf of the district.”
Hundreds of angry citizens packed our Nov. 13 school board meeting in response to Facebook allegations. Without due process, citizens demanded that school employees be fired. A state senator added the weight of her office to those demands. Rumors and allegations continue to spread on social media.
Welcome to trial by Facebook.
Teri Carter is a writer in Anderson County.
