Washington County school board member Keith Ervin has been charged with one count of assault stemming from an April 2 incident in which he put his arm around a student board member, hugged her from the side, and told her, "God, you're hot," Ervin said. Ervin is scheduled to appear in Washington County court on August 7.

The board censured Ervin at its April 8 meeting. Under Tennessee law, school board members are independently elected officials and the board does not have authority to remove them. Ervin has been a member of the school board since 2006, and was previously censured in 2009 for making a lewd sexual gesture in front of a high school student after a child said they held a job paying $8 an hour.

At the April 8 meeting, Ervin said his comment was intended to mean that the student board member was performing well and had nothing to do with her appearance. "She was on a roll," he said. "I didn't mean nothing by anything. I just was proud of her."

In a statement, the Washington County Board of Education said, "The Board reiterates that Mr. Ervin's actions do not reflect the standards, policies, or values of the school district." The board added that it "will defer to law enforcement and the judicial system for the resolution of these charges" and "remains committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and appropriate environment for all students and staff." The school district confirmed it was made aware of Ervin's indictment.

At a May 7 meeting, Hannah Campbell, a high school senior who serves as the student board member, called the adult members of the school board "cowards" for what she characterized as their "failure to act." "To begin, I want to address Ervin's actions, which were not only unwelcome, but sexist and derogatory," Campbell said. "I know this because he has not behaved this way with any of our male members, nor do I believe that he ever would."

Campbell rejected the apology Ervin offered following public outcry. "I do not forgive you, and I do not accept your fake apologies used to protect yourselves. I do not believe that you deserve that peace of mind," she said. "Every time that you feel a little bit of discomfort from the public, I want you to remember that it isn't even a fraction of what I felt on April 2nd," she added.

According to court records, no lawyer was listed who could speak on Ervin's behalf. The Washington County School District confirmed it was made aware of Ervin's indictment.