The Panther Valley School District is looking for a junior/senior high school art teacher in the wake of community reaction to social media posts following death of activist Charlie Kirk.

School board President Daniel Matika opened Wednesday’s board meeting with a statement acknowledging the social media comments made by one its teachers.

“While these comments were made on the employee’s personal time and personal Facebook page, we understand and acknowledge the concerns expressed by members of the community,” he said.

“The district does not condone the contents of these posts. We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive learning environments for all our students,” Matika said.

The district is reviewing the matter in accordance with school board policies, he said, and in consultation with legal counsel, he said.

“We will continue to take appropriate steps necessary to support our students and staff while are respecting the constitutional and legal rights of our employees,” Matika said.

“We will not be addressing any discipline matter,” he said. “We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we address this sensitive issue.”

Matika did not name the employee, but the widely circulated social media comments expressed distaste for Kirk’s oratory, calling him a Nazi and his supporters Nazi sympathizers.

Community members filled the board’s meeting room with a few choosing to express their own views on the teacher’s comments and seeking some action from the board and district.

Resident Maria Capello called the use of the term Nazi demoralizing for the Jewish community, inappropriate and reprehensible, saying it doesn’t belong around children.

“As a previous HR director, I understand personal Facebook, personal time,” she said. “I had to fire people because of what they posted on their personal Facebook page. It’s not about personal Facebook. It’s not about personal time.

“It’s about the level of unprofessionalism that’s shown.”

She also supports the employee’s freedom to express her opinion, one that would have been more appropriate in the privacy of her home among family and friends, she said, as there is no privacy on social media.

“This is about the fact that a man is murdered senselessly, brutally in front of his family and is now gone,” Capello said. “It doesn’t matter if I agree or not, you are to mourn and be respectful of somebody who has lost their life.”

She said that everyone is entitled to their opinions, but it would be a disservice to the community, if there were no repercussions in this case.

Resident Lorenzo Maldonado told the board that he fought for this country and supports free speech, but teachers need to be held to a higher standard. He did not wish to see the teacher lose her job, but said it would be unjust if there were no repercussions.

Resident Margaret Allen asked for a public apology from the teacher on social media and in school.

“No matter what your beliefs are, disrespect is not an option,” she said. “Would you like if something happened to your family and something was said about them? I don’t think so.”

Resident Donald Allen told the board that the community needs to be able to trust the teachers that are educating their children.

“I really believe that this woman, this art teacher that made these comments, really didn’t know what she was saying,” he said. “She didn’t really understand, when you call someone a fascist or Nazi.

“I follow Charlie Kirk,” Donald Allen said. “He was very, very open to discussion. He let people give their opinions. Hitler never did that. He was the fascist that she’s talking about. He was the Nazi that they’re talking about.

“I really believe this teacher needs to be reprimanded for this. I feel sorry for her,” he said. “I hope someday she will understand and see the reality of God and how He teaches us to be kind and be open to discussion.”

Those in attendance applauded after each speaker, and the board then moved onto its agenda with the first item being posting the position of junior/senior high art teacher. The motion carried with no one opposed.

Lauren Edsall is listed as the junior-senior high school art teacher on the district website.