Board picks Proffitt as its new president

SOUTH COVENTRY » The Owen J. Roberts School Board on Monday unanimously accepted the resignation of Karel Minor.

Minor, who was serving as board president, announced his resignation June 3 after a community uproar over a post he made on Facebook. In the post, which he said was a joke, Minor made reference to how George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer.

“Racial equity matters,” board Vice President Leslie Proffitt said as the meeting got underway.

Superintendent Susan Lloyd thanked “the parents of our black

and brown students who emailed me their stories of injustice. Your stories made me sad, and then they made me angry,” she said.

“I am going to take my outrage and using it to fuel my commitment to right these wrongs,” said Lloyd, who also reported the initiation of professional development training for teachers and administrators “to have those uncomfortable conversations about race and inequality.”

Later in the meeting, the board voted unanimously to name Proffitt, as the new board president and John Diehl as the new vice president.

“I want to thank you for all the work you’ve put in over the last four or five days, Diehl told Proffitt. “It’s been a whirlwind and I appreciate your leadership and responsiveness at this time.”

After being named vice president, Diehl said “I’m still learning,” adding “I ask for an ounce of patience in a very inpatient time.”

The board also decided how it will go about filling Minor’s seat on the board.

An advertisement seeking resumes of those interested in the post will be placed in The Mercury and posted on the district website. Applicants will have a week to indicate their interest by contacting the board secretary and chief financial officer Jaclin Krumrine.

The last time the board had to pick a replacement 13 people applied, and they were all interviewed at a public meeting, said Melissa Booth, who was board president at the time.

If too many people apply, the board will have to discuss publicly how to reduce the number before conducting interviews.

The board has 30 days to make a selection. After that, the post can be filled by a judge.