Days after a contentious school board meeting, Easton Area School District’s top leaders are addressing calls for action against school nursing supervisor Kelly Keegan over her social media comments in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination.
A widely circulated post attributed to Keegan, who is also a Northampton County Council member, called Kirk a “monster” and said “his wife and kids are better off without him as is the rest of the world.”
In a Saturday, Superintendent Tracy Piazza and school board President Jodi Hess said the comments attributed to Keegan do not reflect the school district’s “core beliefs and values.”
“This matter is being handled diligently, responsibly, and in strict accordance with school district policy, state and federal law, and the advice of our legal counsel,” according to the statement.
However, Piazza and Hess noted that because it is a personnel matter, they cannot publicly comment further.
“We want to be clear: an outcome that is not publicly discussed does not mean the matter was left unhandled or ignored. We are committed to due process and following all legal requirements,” the statement read in part.
Piazza and Hess also thanked community members who spoke out on the controversy at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.
At that meeting, which saw occasional shouting matches in the audience, many speakers directed their frustration at the school board for what they view as a lack of action.
“I’m not playing around and neither are these parents,” said district parent Kathleen Harrison. “We will not stop until Kelly Keegan loses her job.”
After the meeting, Piazza told СŷƵ that she would issue a public statement on the district’s website within the next 48 hours. That statement was not posted until Saturday.
Saturday’s remarks come weeks after Piazza first addressed the controversy in a statement Sept. 13. In that statement, she said the remarks attributed to Keegan were “insensitive, without merit, and in conflict with all that we stand for as a district.”
“We will not condone or tolerate such behavior,” Piazza wrote. “We are actively reviewing the situation and will take appropriate action in accordance with district policies and laws.”
You can view the full text of the latest statement from Piazza and Hess below:
The recent school board meeting brought forth a significant number of our community members, and we want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your participation and for exercising your right to voice your opinions and concerns regarding school district affairs.
We want to assure the community that every voice was heard, and your words, which were spoken with passion and conviction, have been carefully considered and reflected upon by both the Administration and the School Board.
The social media statements made by the individual in question are not reflective of the core beliefs and values of our school district. We understand the deep concern and disappointment these posts have caused.
That being said, as a district, we must adhere to strict protocols when dealing with employee matters. Please understand that the specifics of this situation constitute a personnel matter and, as such, cannot be publicly discussed. This matter is being handled diligently, responsibly, and in strict accordance with school district policy, state and federal law, and the advice of our legal counsel.
We want to be clear: an outcome that is not publicly discussed does not mean the matter was left unhandled or ignored. We are committed to due process and following all legal requirements.
During this challenging time, our priority to remain student centered remains the same. As a district, we take immense pride in the fact that our students, their safety, and the experiences and opportunities provided within our schools remain the central focus of all we do. We are unwavering in this commitment and focus, even during times of adversity.
Respectfully,
Tracy Piazza, Superintendent
Jodi Hess, School Board President
