COMICSANDS
percolately
georgetakei
secondnexus
george's picks
A San Francisco, California area school district kissed goodbye to it's entire board after the leaders made multiple profane remarks about parents and students during a virtual meeting they didn't realize was set to public.
In the days following the incident, all four members of the board resigned their positions, NBC News reported.
Moments before the Oakley Union Elementary School District virtual board meeting began, the four trustees laughed as they traded insults about parents who'd complained about pandemic-driven school closures.
After asking "are we alone," trustee Kim Beede launched into a tirade.
"Bitch if you're gonna call me out, I'm gonna f'k you up!"Board president Lisa Brizendine mocked parents' impatience with school-from-home.
"They want to pick on us because they want their babysitters back."
Then Beede realized the backroom taunts were being broadcast live to the entire district which serves 5,000 students.
"Uh-oh. We have the meeting open to the public right now."
Someone recording the virtual event passed the video along to Bigan Shabad—a reporter with NBC Bay Area—who posted the faux pas to Twitter.
2) Before she realized the public was listening in, School Board President Lisa Brizendine criticized parents who c… https://t.co/zmxkYfGXXr— Bigad Shaban (@Bigad Shaban) 1613691582.0
4) What school board officials thought was a private chat, also included Superintendent Greg Hetrick trying to sell… https://t.co/iy1BvPMQC1— Bigad Shaban (@Bigad Shaban) 1613691603.0
When Shaban first posted the clips to Twitter, people were outraged and demanded the resignation of the entire group.
@BigadShaban So unprofessional, they do not deserve to be in that position. I think Kim Beede needs to resign more… https://t.co/GHBeHK8F4s— HG (@HG) 1613768548.0
@BigadShaban ALL of these people need to resign because their effectiveness and people's trust in them has been tot… https://t.co/CPowm9bb6z— Steven Schuyler (@Steven Schuyler) 1613724926.0
@BigadShaban This reflects the boards disconnect from how these children are suffering & their lack of empathy. Men… https://t.co/Zr1CUaiba2— Marie (@Marie) 1613752243.0
@BigadShaban This makes you wonder what else was said in prior private meetings.— Pyewacket Service Dog (@Pyewacket Service Dog) 1613909082.0
It didn't take long for outrage to turn into action.
7,000 people signed a Change.org petition that called for the resignation of all four board members.
That growing anger led Oakley Union Elementary Superintendent Gret Hetrick to apologize on behalf of the board the day following the incident, according to a statement made to NBC Bay Area.
"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."
"The comments made were not in alignment with our Vision and are definitely not what any of us stand for as leaders. I know that we lost trust with the community. I will not make excuses for what happened or why it happened."
"I am the superintendent. I am responsible and accountable and I am truly sorry for what took place. ... I know that our students deserve better from us."
Two days after the accidental broadcast, Hetrick announced in a letter all four board members resigned.
In a joint statement included in the letter, the four put out a statement of apology.
"We deeply regret the earlier comments that were made in the meeting of the Board of Education earlier this week."
"As trustees, we realize it is our responsibility to model the conduct that we expect of our students and staff, and it is our obligation to build confidence in district leadership; our comments failed you in both regards, and for this we offer our sincerest apology."
The community's response to the announced resignation?
Good riddance.
Vanessa Gucho/Facebook
Beth Rouse/Facebook
Fiorella Scibetta/Facebook
Amy Smith/Facebook
And so in addition to navigating school reopenings and vaccinating teachers, Oakley Union Elementary must now add replacing an entire school board to its already difficult list of things to do.