When “On a Roll” Becomes a Gross Excuse

The drama started during a Washington County school board meeting when member Keith Irvin was caught on a live stream leaning into a student and wrapping his arms around her. While doing so, he was heard saying, “God you’re hot, you know that?”. When the backlash hit, Irvin tried to claim that the whole thing was taken out of context and that he simply meant the student was on a roll with her presentation. However, many community members and parents are not buying it, arguing that there is absolutely no reason for a board member to be putting their hands on a student during a meeting.

“There is no context or situation where it’s appropriate to call a minor hot or to put your arm around them in that gesture.”

A Systemic Failure to Protect Students

One of the most disturbing parts of the video is the reaction (or lack thereof) from the other adults in the room. Instead of stopping the behavior, the superintendent appeared to smile and the meeting just kept going as if nothing happened. This has led to accusations of a “good old boy” culture where inappropriate behavior is laughed off rather than addressed. To make matters worse, this is not Irvin’s first time in the hot seat. Back in 2009, he was accused of making a lewd, sexual gesture in a classroom and was censured by the board then too. The fact that he is still in a position of power over students has many people questioning if the school system is actually prioritizing child safety.

“It’s a culture of people not realizing necessarily what they’re seeing during the moment of when they’re seeing it. It’s good old boy stuff as they say.”

Censure is Not Enough

While the board has voted to censure Irvin again, which basically stops him from talking during meetings, many feel this is just a slap on the wrist. Thousands of people have signed a petition for him to step down, and the Washington County Commission even passed a symbolic “no confidence” vote against him. Because he is an elected official, the board cannot technically fire him, and he is currently up for re-election. The student’s father has been vocal on social media, stating that Irvin’s refusal to take accountability only makes the situation worse and that he should not be anywhere near students.

“His actions, lewd gestures, and grossly inappropriate comment and unwanted physical contact with a student are unacceptable under any circumstance. Intent does not excuse impact.”

Want to see the footage for yourself and hear the full breakdown of this “Good Old Boy” mess? Check out the original video below to see why the community is so fired up.