By SAMANTHA SARACINO
6 News Reporter
HARROGATE (WATE) - A mother told Claiborne County school board members Thursday night a board member paid students to collect political information about school employees.
Sherri Moore, a mother of two boys, attended Thursday's school board meeting to voice her concern about 4th School Board District member Dave Chesney.
Moore claimed Chesney approached students in early May after a baseball game at Forge Ridge School.
Moore told the board Chesney asked her sons to take pictures of employees cars in the parking lot with a cell phone camera. She claimed Chesney bribed the kids by telling them he would pay them five dollars to do it, but told them they were to never mention it to anyone.
Chesney told the boys which cars to take pictures of, Moore said, adding the cars had election decals supporting Chesney's opponent, Brian Pendleton.
Moore said her sons told her why they went along with Chesney's plan.
"'Mom, he's a school board member. Why would he lie to us?'" she said her sons told her.
"So the person who is supposed to be for them sitting as board member is the one paying them off to take pictures of employees cars? That don't sit right with me," she added.
Forge Ridge School Principal Marty Cosby told 6 News, "We are aware of the situation and it is under investigation."
NOTE: A previous version of this story identified Dave Chesney as the school board chairman. He is a board member, but not chairman.
"So the person who is supposed to be for them sitting as board member is the one paying them off to take pictures of employees cars? That don't sit right with me," Sherri explained.
