Overview

• The board took no vote on whether to terminate or retain band teacher Steve Aylward and social studies teacher Rachel O’Connor.
• Speakers overwhelmingly backed the educators, with students and parents asserting Aylward avoids politics in class and describing O’Connor’s assignments as academically challenging.
• State Rep. Phil Plummer urged the board to weigh conduct carefully and suggested retraining or lesser discipline instead of firing.
• O’Connor’s in-class remark calling Charlie Kirk “an absolute terrible person” drew more than 2 million views on X.
• Petitions reflect the split, with students reporting 1,800-plus signatures to keep Aylward and a parent-led effort seeking both teachers’ removal, as the board continues reviewing public communications.