School official shares sexist post

CASTALIA — A Margaretta Schools board member is under fire for sharing a sexist post online this week. Last Sunday, Andy Warner, who has served on the school board since 2015 and as board president, shared a post that appeared to suggest Vice President Kamala Harris and female leaders are providers of oral sex. "They made a statue to honor Kamala Harris," the post says. The post was removed on Monday. Before it was deleted, multiple community members contacted the Register with concerns. On one social networking site, some people called for his resignation. Warner, a Margaretta graduate, was elected to a second term on the board in 2019. He is a farmer and has two children enrolled in the district. After the Register sent questions to Warner about why he shared the inappropriate post, he apologized. "It was brought to my intention that I offended some people. If I did, I apologize and it was not the intention of doing so," Warner said Thursday. This isn't the first time Warner made questionable decisions online. On March 17, Warner posted a photo of a tractor with the message "Don't worry people, the American farmer won't stop for your stupid virus that way when you pull your head out of your a--, you can eat." Another post he shared said, "Hey Trump haters, don't be accepting that money he sends out, remember not your president!" And last May, he shared a post by former Ohio Senate candidate Melissa Ackison appearing to depict Gov. Mike DeWine as Nazi Germany dictator Adolph Hitler. "About true," Warner commented. The Register also sent questions about Warner's post to board president Kent Miller. In his response, Miller said the board doesn't endorse the post or any board member's opinions shared online or on another platform. "While the members of the board retain their First Amendment right to free speech during their term of office, they are encouraged to consider the impact that their speech may have on (1) the public's positive perception of the district; and (two) the district's ability to effectively provide a quality education to the community's children," Miller said. Miller said he'd prepare a statement for the board's next meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Margaretta Elementary, to address this incident. Miller continued: "I will not pass judgment on the board's behalf about your hypotheticals concerning the 'appropriateness' of online statements made by another board member (or by students or staff) which do not reflect the views of the board itself." Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood