Tburg BOE president resigns amid social media controversy

On Jan. 11, Trumansburg Board of Education President Scott Sherwood resigned in a Zoom BOE meeting. The resignation came after 846 people signed an online petition calling for his resignation due to a post he made on Facebook the previous week.

The post in question was an opinion Sherwood shared on the riots happening at the Capitol that day.

It read, “While I certainly don’t agree with what went on in the Capital today, it is notable that the protestors are leaving peacefully, nothing is burning, no cars of innocent people have been targeted, no businesses have been looted, and no police are being spit on. Just my observations.”

He deleted the post shortly after it went up, but a screenshot was shared widely on Facebook. Many people expressed outrage that Sherwood’s observations seemed to applaud the nonviolence of an event that was very violent. The post also seemed to compare the event to the months of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, a comparison that many felt was inaccurate.

After an executive session at the beginning of the Board meeting, Sherwood read a statement (for those watching the recording, it begins at 32:00 minutes). He expressed that at the time of posting, he was unaware of the violence that happened and said that he realized now that the post was hurtful and not factual.

“In hindsight, I used a serious lack of judgment not considering my role on this school board,” Sherwood said. “And for that, I apologize for letting the administration, the teachers, the staff, this Board and the community of this district down with my social media comment.”

Sherwood also spoke for a few minutes about the abuse he and his family had endured online after the post began to circulate. He choked up as he explained his decision to leave.

“I am not one to back away in the face of adversity,” Sherwood said. “However, given the set of circumstances, largely due to the impact this has had on my family, as well as the needs of the district going forward, I will resign from this Board effective immediately so that the very important work can continue without distraction.”

The petition for Sherwood’s resignation was created by Molly Wadzeck Kraus, a member of Antiracist Trumansburg, a coalition made up of community members concerned about local racial justice. The coalition released a collaborative statement on Facebook after the resignation.

The end reads, “Those of us in support of his resignation have no interest in harassing him or his family, and we absolutely do not condone personal attacks and harassment. Our goal is to ensure that people in leadership positions within TCSD are supporting the commitment the district has made to antiracism.”

Active member Kim Knight said that Trumansburg, like much of the country, is divided. She also said she believes that the school district does not serve all students equitably.

“All you need to do is ask a student from a marginalized population, such as students of color or LGBTQ students, about their experience, and it will be painfully obvious that this district serves some students much better than others,” Knight said.

On Jan. 7, the district put up a message on the school’s live feed page of its website. The district pledged to support the staff as they facilitate discussions around the recent incidents.

“We look to our staff to help children understand our government through active listening and constructive dialogue honoring multiple perspectives, experiences and backgrounds while emphasizing that acts of violence are not representative of how our government works,” the message reads. “As a District, it is always our responsibility to educate our students in a way that reflects our evolving history without taking sides on politics or religion. That said, we maintain an obligation to promote ideals of non-violence, justice, anti-racism, and equity.”

After Sherwood’s resignation statement, some Board members expressed support for his decision, while others said that he should stay. Jhoanna Haynes expressed her appreciation for Sherwood’s time on the Board while also criticizing his post.

“Those comments were very hurtful, and I hope this is something we can all learn from,” Haynes said. “It does not reflect the school’s ideas promoting inclusivity and belonging and equity.”

After Sherwood signed off (at the 46:20 mark), the Board had a brief discussion about how and when to replace him, ultimately deciding to wait for the time being.

Find the YouTube recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvMt5LGiZU8.