The head of a Northern California school board resigned after she and several of her fellow trustees were caught making disparaging comments about the district’s parents during a Zoom meeting that was accidentally broadcast to the public.
“They want to pick on us because they want their babysitters back,” said President Lisa Brizendine during Zoom’s Wednesday meeting of the Oakley Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees, a recording that was posted on Twitter by NBC News Bay Area reporter Bigad Shabad.
“We are alone,” asked curator Kim Beede before beginning a speech: “B —-, if you’re going to call me out, I’m going to screw you.”
“Sorry, it’s just me!” Beede said while other board members laughed.
“My brother had a medical marijuana delivery service and his clientele were parents with their children at school,” curator Richie Masadas said.
Superintendent Greg Hetrick released new technology in a district that reduced public comments to exactly three minutes, after which others said “we need this” and “good idea”.
“Uh-oh,” said Beede, when she realized that her meeting was open to the public. “We have the meeting open to the public now.”
“Nuh-uh,” said Brezendine.
The meeting was then moved to private.
Brezendine resigned on Thursday and Hetrick apologized for his statement, according to the NBC News Bay Area.
“Last night, at the regular Oakley Union Elementary School District board meeting, there were unfortunate and really inappropriate comments that were heard by many,” said Hetrick in a statement quoted by the NBC affiliate. “These comments are not typical and, more importantly, are not what the community should expect from our school district.”
He continued: “The comments made were not in line with our Vision and are definitely not what any of us represent as leaders. I know we have lost the trust of the community. I will not make excuses for what happened or why it happened. I I am the superintendent. I am responsible and accountable and I am really sorry for what happened. … I know that our students deserve better from us. “
Beede, Masadas and Brezendine did not immediately respond to requests for comment from NBC News on Friday.
The Oakley Union school is located east of San Francisco and serves approximately 5,000 students.
In a January 29 letter to families in the district, Hetrick said he was preparing for a continuation of “full distance learning” in the coming weeks before two more board meetings – on Wednesday, as well as another on March 10 for a board discussion “about a plan to come back from the break.”
A petition calling for the trustees to resign won more than 5,000 signatories on Friday afternoon.
“A recall would cost the district money that should go to the children. I am asking council members to resign immediately because of their shocking behavior,” said the petition. “They should no longer represent parents, teachers and children in this school district.”
