School board trustees accepted a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District art teacher’s resignation Wednesday after she posted a controversial message on social media last month.
Effective Monday, Connie Barber’s resignation was part of 18 personnel moves, including two other resignations, approved by trustees after a special-called meeting went into executive session.
District officials confirmed Barber’s employment contract was set to expire at the end of the school year but offered no further comments on the matter.
Barber, who taught at Henderson Ward-Stewart Elementary School, became the focus of scrutiny after using Facebook to share a Fox News story about celebrities previously saying they would leave the country if Donald Trump was elected President.
Along with sharing the link, she wrote, “So GO! Now you know how we felt 8 years ago. The White House needs a good Clorox scrubbing!”
That post, which occurred at 2:40 p.m. on Nov. 9 during school hours the day after the election, was shared numerous times by people alluding to perceived racial undertones within the message.
While school district officials have refused to comment on the incident, the school district’s personal social networking policy states all employees “shall not post any data, documents, photos or inappropriate information on any website or application that might result in a disruption of classroom activity.”
Employees may use educational websites or social media applications for educational purposes only as long as they follow the district’s TAP test, which states communication must be transparent, accessible and professional.
The policy does not outline the ramifications or punishments for violating those rules.
The school board also accepted the resignations of Sudduth Elementary and Henderson Ward-Stewart School Resource Officer Lyndon Carpenter and bus driver Riley Forrest.
The personnel items also included 12 status changes — transfers, additional assignments and new pay grades based on continuing educational efforts — a hire recommendation and two extended leaves.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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