School board vice president stepping down from officer role
Move comes following remarks during Sept. 23 Facebook Live event
An embattled member of Shepherd’s school board is stepping down from his executive post, but will remain on the school board itself.
Shepherd School Board President confirmed Friday afternoon that Matthew Showalter is resigning as board vice president, but will remain a trustee.
Showalter purportedly sent an email announcing it earlier in the day.
“I want to apologize for my words and behavior that were displayed during the Facebook Live event on September 23, 2020,” the email read. “I have reached out and apologized to the St. Charles Junior Varsity Football team and parents for my actions. I regret the embarrassment that I have caused our community, my family and myself and any resulting pain
from this incident.”
The email also said that Showalter will no longer call Shepherd football games.
Rumors that Showalter ridiculed the name of a St. Charles player during the game began to circulate shortly after the game ended. The actual stream that recorded them was removed from Facebook almost immediately, however.
The incident comes at a time of stirring controversy within the district’s community. The board was forced to hire an interim superintendent over the summer after Steve Brimmer resigned in late June.
In July, Brimmer was named a finalist for the job, prompting anger that the board would consider hiring as their top administrator someone who some people felt had f lat left them. The board ultimately went with current interim Superintendent Greg Mcmillan.
Nine people are running for three board positions in the 2020 November election, voting for which is already underway. Showalter is not one of them.
A text message was sent to Showalter seeking comment. He hasn’t responded.