There are calls for members of a California school board to be recalled after they were caught on camera making disparaging comments a...
There are calls for members of a California school board to be recalled after they were caught on camera making disparaging comments about parents.
The Oakley Union Elementary School Board conducted an online meeting via Webex on Wednesday afternoon so parents could dial in to discuss plans for their children to return to school amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the meeting began, several of the board members allegedly believed that no parents were on the call and proceeded to poke fun of them.
'Are we alone?' board member Kim Beede asked her colleagues, according to ABC7, who obtained vision of the meeting.
When the other members replied that they were, Beede jokingly imitated herself threatening parents who had written letters about school re-openings.
'B**ch, if you are going to call me out I am going to f**k you up! Sorry! That's just me,' Beede can be heard stating as the other board members laugh.
There are calls for members of The Oakley Union Elementary School Board to be recalled after they were caught on camera making disparaging comments about parents. Lisa Brizendine then implies that some parents think of teachers as babysitters
Board members Kim Beede and Richie Masadas were also caught on the call making disparaging comments
Board member Lisa Brizendine then implied that some parents think of teachers as their personal babysitters.
'They don't know what goes on behind the scenes. It's really unfortunate they want to pick on us. They want their babysitters back,' she stated.
During the conversation, a third board member, Richie Masadas, chimed in, alluding that parents wanted their kids back in the classroom so they could take drugs uninterrupted.
'My brother had a delivery service for medical marijuana and he delivered to parents while their kids were at school,' Masadas stated in the video, to the amusement of the other board members.
But parents who have obtained footage of the meeting certainly aren't laughing.
Board members Kim Beede and Lisa Brizendine are pictured
During the conversation, a third board member, Richie Masadas, implies that parents want their kids back in the classroom so they can take drugs uninterrupted
Irate parents have now signed a Change.org petition titled 'Oakley Union Elementary School District Board Members - Resign immediately or be recalled'.
'Parents were tuned in to learn if we will be sending our kids back to school soon and if not, why. There has been a lack of communication from the board and this was the first communication we heard,' the petition states.
'A recall would cost the district money that should be going to the kids. We are asking that the board members to resign immediately due to their egregious behavior. They should no longer represent the parents, teachers, and children in this school district.'
Several parents left comments, with one stating: 'My kids deserve better than this violent and uncaring bunch of bullies.'
More than 2,250 people have now signed the petition.
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.'
Irate parents have now signed a Change.org petition titled 'Oakley Union Elementary School District Board Members - Resign immediately or be recalled'
School Superintendent Greg Hetrick has since released a statement addressing the scandal.
'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 stated.
'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. I pledge to work collaboratively with stakeholders and community members to begin doing the important work that is needed to rebuild community trust in our district.'
The Oakley Union School District is located in Northern California
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