The call for the resignation of a Bartow County School Board member came during a recent work session.

Resident Kim Wagnon spoke to the board during the public participation segment of the session and asked for “a certain board member” to “step down and do the right thing” following statements made at last month’s business meeting.

Wagnon said the statements “publicly humiliated” a former employee and that students in the school system deserved better representation.

“I do the right thing, I don’t use any names, but somebody who’s on this board … broke those rules,” Wagnon said. “I was embarrassed to be a Georgia resident in Bartow County because of a certain board member.”

Several residents in attendance stood up and applauded following Wagnon’s comments to the board.

Wagnon did not name a board member directly, but her address to the board comes on the heels of comments made by School Board member Angie Cornett during last month’s business meeting.

During the September meeting, Cornett named a former school system employee as she made comments regarding a personnel matter during the public meeting.

After naming a former school system employee by name in regards to her job performance, School Board attorney Boyd Pettit interrupted to caution Cornett but Wagnon said the damage had already been done.

She also cited alleged inappropriate text messages and a voicemail message involving Cornett.

Wagnon said she has been in contact with Gov. Nathan Deal, state school board Superintendent John Barge and Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta, U.S. House of Representatives about possible violations.

“And let me tell you, it’s not over,” Wagnon said. “[The Board] needs to start educating our children, stop the politics as usual, the same old, same old, and take care of our children.”

The husband of the former employee named during last month’s meeting, Todd Barnett, also spoke to the board during its work session.

Barnett pointed out what he called violations of the open meeting act with regard to personnel matters.

“What’s the penalty for violating the open meetings act?” Barnett asked.

Barnett also took the time to defend the job performance his wife did while employed with the school system.

“That’s what a person ought to be judged on, not rumors,” Barnett said.