I have watched Rhonda Thurman for years as she served on the School Board, and Joe Smith and I grew up together. I haven't read all of the UnifiEd APEX report, but I did talk with Joe about it and heard his concerns before he and Rhonda said what they said last Friday.
But really, that doesn't matter to me. What bothers me is that the politics of UE includes slandering Joe and Rhonda. Joe is a man who has dedicated more than three decades of his life to saving struggling middle school boys with no father figure to love them. My goodness, I have been in his house when the 19 foster kids he and Paula raised were given a chance.
UE sent out a fundraiser email last Friday saying that what Rhonda and Joe thought about UE was "unacceptable, dangerous and hateful." What is unacceptable, dangerous and hateful is whatever UE's politics are. The UE Board lives here. They should have known better, and that Board owes Rhonda Thurman and Joe Smith a public apology.
Charlie Hunt
Soddy-Daisy