School Board Censures Member Who Told Student, 'God, You're Hot'

A Tennessee school board member who told a student, "God, you're hot," is keeping his seat—but not without repercussions, NBC News reports. The Washington County Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to formally censure Keith Ervin over the remark, made to a female student board member seated beside him during an April 2 meeting that was livestreamed. The censure is a public rebuke, not a removal, and Ervin abstained from the vote. Video of the incident captured Ervin giving the girl a side hug after she wrapped up some questioning, while saying, "God, you're hot. Do you know that? Damn. Where do you go to school at?"

The emergency meeting at which the vote took place drew angry residents and calls for both Ervin and Superintendent Jerry Boyd to step down; a petition seeking their ouster has thousands of signatures. Ervin read a prepared statement saying his "hot" comment referred to the student being "on a roll," not her looks, and apologized while insisting the viral clip lacked context. He admitted he's "not always good with words," WCYB reports. Audience members shouted back that they had watched the full video and didn't believe him. One audience member received several warnings and was ultimately arrested for disorderly conduct, WJHL reports.

Several board members urged Ervin to resign, saying his actions were inappropriate and had damaged the district's reputation, though others cited his long tenure and said they didn't think he meant harm. The board had already labeled his comments "grossly inappropriate" and said he publicly "objectified and diminished" the student. Boyd, who was at the meeting, did not speak.