School Trustee Resigns Over Controversial Facebook Posts

BREWSTER, NY — Krista Berardi has resigned her post on the Brewster Board of Education.

Members of the community had been calling for her ouster for two days. They were outraged by Facebook posts in which she said the death of George Floyd May 25 after a police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes was a hoax, and said people who blocked I-84 while protesting in Connecticut over Floyd's death should be "hosed."

The conspiracy theory was shared last week among several GOP leaders in Texas, which infuriated Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who demanded several committee chairs resign, according to The Texas Tribune. "These comments are disgusting and have no place in the Republican Party or in public discourse," Abbott spokesman John Wittman said in a statement last week.

On Saturday, Superintendent Dr. Laurie Bandlow said, "I would like to send a clear message that it is inhumane and unconscionable to urge the use of fire hoses on peaceful protesters who are exercising their own First Amendment rights. We are not Bull Connor and this is not 1963 Alabama. It was wrong then and it’s wrong now."

An online petition calling for her ouster started Thursday and had garnered 3,508 signatures by Saturday afternoon.

Not everyone agreed. Commenters on Southeast-Brewster Patch's Facebook page argued that Berardi's posts weren't racist, that she was exercising her freedom of speech, and that people who didn't like her should vote against her during the election process.

In a joint letter Saturday, the school trustees said they would like to acknowledge Berardi for her service and for making the decision to step down to help the community heal.

"We recognize the events of the last few days have been painful for many. As a Board, we have an unbending obligation to the well-being of every child in our community. Toward that end, we will be working with our students, parents, administrators, faculty, staff, and community residents to promote positive and caring relationships, trust, and understanding.

"The District will be holding a public forum as soon as the Governor's executive order is confirmed for larger gatherings of residents to come and be heard in person."

SEE ALSO:

• Board of Ed Letter to the Brewster Schools Community
• A Message from Brewster's Board of Education
• Brewster Schools to Host "Building Our Future" Public Forum
• Brewster Rally Calls For District Trustee To Step Down
• Brewster Board Won't Ask Trustee To Resign For 'Racist' Posts
• Calls For Brewster Schools Trustee To Resign Over Facebook Posts