The entire school board in Northern California resigned on Friday after a video revealed they mocked parents during a virtual public meeting about reopening schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The district says board members Kim Beede, Erica Ippolito, Richie Masadas and Lisa Brizendine resigned.
8) While pres. of the school board resigned, Kim Beede, who used profanity to threaten parents, remains on the board.
Here's what she said about parents who criticize her online:
"Bit*h, if you're going to call me out, I'm going to f*ck you up."@nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/fGdKC0nQwQ
— Bigad Shaban (@BigadShaban) February 19, 2021
Schools Superintendent Greg Hetrick described the comments as ‘truly inappropriate’ and issued an apology on Thursday.
Watch:
‘Last night at the Oakley Union Elementary School District Regular Board Meeting there were unfortunate and truly inappropriate comments made that were heard by many. These comments are not typical and more importantly they are not what the community should expect from our school district,’ he said.
‘The comments made were not in alignment with our Vision and are definitely not what any of us stand for as leaders.’
Superintendent Greg Hetrick released a statement that read in part:
Dear Oakley Union Elementary School District Family,
I want to inform you that Board Members Kim Beede, Erica Ippolito, Richie Masadas and Lisa Brizendine have submitted their resignations from their position on the OUESD School Board.
The statement continues:
This was a difficult decision, but we hear the community’s concerns, and we believe yielding to your request that we step down will allow the District to move forward. Please do not let our failure in judgement cast a shadow on the exceptional work that our teachers, administrators and hard-working employees are doing for the students of this District. They deserve and will need your support as you move forward.
I want you to know that it is a tremendous privilege to serve as the Superintendent of the Oakley Union Elementary School District. Oakley is and has been a special place to me and it is truly a community that loves its children and wants what’s best for them. With that responsibility, I am committed to returning the attention to student learning and getting our students back in school. This unfortunate situation will not discourage or detract me from working to build back the trust in our community and return our students safely back to school as soon as possible.
I will be providing you with another update as to our next steps in the coming days. I want to say thank you for all that you do and I truly believe that working together, we do make a difference. Have a great day.
One distraught mom told ABC7:
‘ They see us writing letters monthly, weekly, to the board members, detailing our stresses and grief about distance learning. For them to say we are doing nothing and sitting home and smoking pot is far from the truth.’
‘I thought the board members were also advocates for my child and had her best interests at heart and after last night’s incident it really has me thinking that they don’t.’
H/T ABC7 News