1K Sign Petition For Abington School Board Member's Resignation

ABINGTON, PA — A petition for the resignation of an Abington School Board member has drawn over 1,000 signatures in the wake of her controversial comments, even as police struck an optimistic note following a meeting over the weekend.

Abington Police Chief Patrick Molloy met with the school board member, Tamar Klaiman, on Sunday to discuss her comments and the future of the relationship between the police department, the school district, and the rest of the community.

"We feel the conversation was extremely productive," the police department said in a joint statement with Klaiman and Marshall Mitchell, the pastor of Salem Baptist Church who hosted the meeting. "Dr. Klaiman reiterated her regret for her divisive and offensive comments made regarding law enforcement. Chief Molloy accepted her apology and looks forward to addressing the community’s concerns through productive conversations."

>>Abington School Board Director Under Fire For Police Shooting Remarks

But Klaiman remains the subject of controversy ever since her comments at a Jan. 23 board meeting addressing school safety and arming school resource officers.

"There's a lot of evidence that anyone carrying a firearm in a district building puts kids at risk," Klaiman said. "Particularly students of color. We know that black and brown students are much more likely to be shot by police officers, especially school resource officers, than other students. And I have serious concerns about anyone in the buildings having firearms, regardless of whether or not they're police."

The remarks ignited fury from law enforcement groups both locally and around the country, including the National Fraternal Order of Police, and underscored one of the most sensitive and divisive issues in America today.

As of Monday morning, nearly 1,400 people had signed a Change.org petition demanding Klaiman's resignation.

"We, the people of Abington, are calling for the resignation of Dr. Tamar Klaiman from the Abington School Board on the basis of her inflammatory remarks towards police," the petition reads. "Abington rejects her radical anti-police agenda. We formally ask that Dr. Klaiman step down immediately."

Molloy seemed optimistic that he and Klaiman could have a productive relationship into the future.

"Dr. Klaiman is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about Abington Township Police Department’s community policing initiatives," the statement reads. "We look forward to continuing these fruitful conversations and working together for the best interests of all Abington students and citizens."

Molloy also added that Willow Grove N.A.A.C.P. president Valerie Ward has been instrumental in the talks.

The incident has raised intense public interest in the next school board meeting, which is open to the public and is scheduled for Feb. 4. This has prompted police to ask that residents "consider sharing comments and concerns" via email (board@abington.k12.pa.us) instead of in person. It's also led the school district to change the meeting location twice; it will now be held in the Abington Senior High School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Molloy will speak at the meeting.

School board member Melissa Mowry praised both Klaiman's apology and the police department's service and professionalism.

"From time to time we may offer opinions with which many of you disagree," Mowry said in part of a statement. "It is an important component of the democracy in which we live that we be willing to engage in informed, rather than inflammatory, discussions about these disagreements however difficult or uncomfortable they may be. Most important, it is the best example we can set for our students."

Klaiman, a 39-year-old Democrat, has a PhD in public health and also works as a professor and researcher.

The Abington School Board meeting from Jan. 23 can be watched in its entirety here.