An Arizona school board member is facing widespread criticism and calls for resignation after a controversial incident at a public meeting. The occurrence involved a gesture reminiscent of a Nazi salute, which happened during a disagreement with the board’s president.
Incident at the School Board Meeting
In a meeting of the Deer Valley Unified School District Governing Board on May 26, board member Kimberly Fisher was captured on video apparently raising her right arm while saying “Heil, heil.” This occurred during a contention with Board President Paul Carver Jr.
The conflict arose near the end of the meeting regarding the scheduling of a community session on district boundary discussions. Fisher expressed concern that scheduling the session in the afternoon would prevent community participation.
Repercussions and Reactions
Carver moved to adjourn the meeting, citing concerns about discussing agenda items not publicly posted, as per Arizona’s Open Meeting Law. This was when Fisher made the gesture and comment.
Carver later explained his decision to adjourn the meeting, emphasizing adherence to legal procedures and denying any dictatorial behavior.
“The point behind this post is that there’s a lot of noise being made… I was simply following the rules of the state of Arizona,” he stated.
District officials swiftly denounced Fisher’s actions, stating they did not represent the district’s values. The Deer Valley Unified School District issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to opposing hate and discrimination.
Community and Association Responses
The reaction from the community and the Deer Valley Educators Association was immediate. The association labeled Fisher’s conduct as unacceptable, calling for her resignation.
“Any leader who uses a Nazi salute during a School Board meeting is unfit for public service,” the association commented.
Fisher’s Response
Following the meeting, Fisher defended her views in a Facebook livestream. She described Carver’s leadership as dictatorial and urged voters against his re-election.
Her comments also touched on historical figures, implicitly aligning her thoughts with infamous dictators.
Limits on School Board Actions
In a separate video, Carver addressed community concerns on the board’s limited ability to discipline elected members under Arizona law.
“I need the community to understand that… the school district and the board do not have the ability to discipline board members,” Carver explained.
Carver labeled Fisher’s conduct as unacceptable and unprofessional, underscoring the seriousness of the incident within the district, which serves over 33,000 students.