Many attendees of the meeting carried signs saying, “We support Xenia employees.”
Two separate instances were topics of conversation Monday evening. The first involved social media comments made by Xenia teachers regarding the death of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conversative activist who was shot and killed while on stage at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Xenia teachers Kevin Keefe and Jenn Davis were the subject of a social media firestorm over the last two weeks after they posted comments on their personal Facebook pages about the death of Kirk. Both have been educators in Xenia schools for more than 20 years. A third teacher was also disciplined, though their comments were not as widely publicized.
Anna Russell, a parent, compared the idea that parents can choose which books their own children read—but not those of other children—to the notion that parents “have every right to request your student not be taught by a certain teacher, but you do not have the right to say that teacher can’t teach my child.”
“We have some amazing teachers in our district,” Russell added, to applause from many in attendance. “I haven’t always agreed or even liked a teacher or administrator. But I have always respected and supported the teachers and staff, and made my children do the same.”
Davis’ son also spoke at the meeting, saying his mother has experienced “horrific” levels of racial harassment over the past few weeks, which he had viewed on social media.
Others who spoke were more critical. Navy veteran Aaron McCray said that teachers are leaders in their classrooms, and therefore, are inextricably tied with the morals they impart to their students.
“These educators should be guided by and rely upon the values that promote the common good, especially for our children and our community,” he said. “The irony is not lost on me tonight that we celebrate children of character...and yet we don’t hold our teachers to the same conduct in this case, and that is shameful.”
Some residents who spoke slammed attempts by the 1776 Project — a Washington D.C.-based conservative political action group — to influence the outcome of Xenia’s board race in the wake of the controversy, in addition to publicizing the issue.
“There’s only one reason for outsiders to come in and cause havoc in Xenia — it’s money and an agenda,” said Bobbi Young.
“There is only a one-letter difference in those words: are we going to be bitter or are we going to be better?” Young said. “The teachers were reprimanded, and the fight to take away their livelihood is against everything Charlie Kirk stood for...Those who respond to hate with hate, you lose every fight that you’re fighting.”
The second issue many spoke about on Monday regarded Coach Jessica Threats, who coaches Varsity Girls Volleyball and Basketball at Xenia. A video shared on social media showed a negative interaction Threats had with a student. The recording was widely shared on Facebook last week, though the incident was investigated and resolved more than a month ago, board members said.
Members of Central State University’s men’s basketball team attended the meeting in support of Threats, as she is employed by the university in addition to coaching at Xenia. Marauders head coach Travis Lewis said he sent his children and his adopted nieces to Xenia because of extensive research on the quality of its teachers.
“I fully support the employees and the teachers of Xenia High School,” he said. “On top of that...I have a huge respect for what Coach Jessica Threats is doing with volleyball.”
No votes were taken Monday, either regarding the three teachers or regarding Threats, but a few board members voiced their thoughts in response to those who spoke. Board member Bill Richey was absent the meeting.
Board member Jeremy Cox said the board cannot terminate the teachers “without (subjecting) the school district to three unwinnable lawsuits.”
“For these reasons, I will not vote for termination,” he said. “After discussion with the board president, I will support the superintendent’s determination.”
The superintendent’s determination means those teachers will be placed on unpaid administrative leave for two weeks, required to sign a “last chance” agreement and must issue a public apology, Cox said.
Board member Mary Grech rebuked Cox for sharing the determination publicly, saying personnel disciplinary issues are “nobody’s business.”
Board member Joshua Day said that while initially he had been in favor of pursuing termination, he had changed his mind for several reasons, including the fact that Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s wife, had chosen to forgive her husband’s killer.
“If we’re not willing, as the leaders of this community to stand up against the hate and act like adults, then who is? We are the role models of this community, and we need to act like it,” Day said. “There’s an addiction right now to dehumanize and villainize anyone who disagrees with you, and frankly it has to stop.”
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