Citizen Removed After Attempt to Address School Board
Katina Mays, a resident of Hardeman County, was peacefully removed by law enforcement from the Hardeman County Schools board meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, after she attempted to address the board during the public comment period. It was not clear, specifically, before she was removed as to the content of her comment.
“You are not on the agenda, you will not be allowed to speak . . . I will have to ask you to step down or I’ll have someone remove you . . .,” said Bobby Henderson, Hardeman County Schools board chairman, who asked for a police officer to remove Ms. Mays from the meeting when she did not step down. “We have our policy. We go by our policy and it’s just the best way to do it.”
“It’s not over,” said Ms. Mays before stepping away from the podium and voluntarily leaving the building.
Shortly after, Ms. Mays returned to the meeting and shared she wanted to discuss school board policy. As Ms. Mays began to share her public comment, Mr. Henderson made a motion for the September 2025 board meeting to be adjourned, which was seconded by board member Patricia Carter.
Previously, during the August 2025 Hardeman County Schools board meeting, Ms. Mays along with other citizens shared their concerns during the public comment period about the behavior of some of the board members and its treatment of past and current Hardeman County Schools employees.
“ . . . Our director of schools, Dr. Smith, and some board members have engaged in actions that are not just and ethical . . .” said Ms. Mays at the August 2025 school board meeting.
Ms. Mays is the wife of Bolivar Middle School Principal Brian Mays, and they are both parents of graduates from the Hardeman County Schools. Mr. and Mrs. Mays expressed their concerns at the August 2025 school board meeting and Mr. Mays later shared his concerns about the school board with the Hardeman County Commission during its August 2025 meeting.
“I will say that I hope the community listens and I hope the community realizes there are two sides to every story,” said Dr. Smith at the end of the August school board meeting.
Hatchie Press reached out to the Hardeman County Schools on August 12, 2025, and September 10, 2025, in an attempt to share the other side of the story, but had not yet received a formal response by the time of publication.
Please watch the full board meeting video.
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