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Public comments press board over custodian pronoun use and call for trustee’s resignation; trustee apologizes for social-media remark
Summary
Multiple public speakers said a custodian asked students to use she/her pronouns and criticized a trustee’s social-media comment; Trustee Dana Howey apologized and denied making a threat.
Several community members used the public-comment period to raise objections after a parent posted online about a custodian at an elementary school asking students to use she/her pronouns.
Jeanette Ward of Casper told the Natrona County School District #1 Board of Trustees that a custodian had required elementary students to address the employee with she/her pronouns. Ward said a parent posted concerns on social media and that an article reported Trustee Dana Howey as saying, “I can't believe all the people I know that agreed with her,” and then described an on-paper comment the trustee made that Ward characterized as a threat; Ward called for Howey’s resignation.
Other speakers demanded the trustee resign or criticized the trustee’s remark as a threat. A man who identified himself as Dustin called the remark unacceptable and demanded Howey’s resignation. Tony Locke, a Casper resident, also urged the board to act and said allowing what he described as “indoctrination” in schools was unacceptable.
Trustee Dana Howey addressed the board later in the meeting and apologized for a Facebook comment in which she wrote, “God help her or me the next time I see her.” Howey said the post was not directed at the parent, that she did not intend a threat and that she regretted the wording. “I deeply apologize,” Howey said, adding that her comment reflected fear and anger rather than an intention to harm.
Several trustees and board members defended Howey’s character while also noting the need for civility. Trustee Bollinger, Trustee Perino and others praised the district’s nondiscrimination policy and urged respectful discussion.
The meeting record shows no formal board sanction, vote, or disciplinary action against any trustee during this session.
Clarifying details: Public commenters described a social-media post and a newspaper article that quoted the trustee; the transcript records direct public comment alleging the custodian asked students to use she/her pronouns. One public commenter later stated that “state law is compelled speech, and that is a law effective July 1,” but the board did not take a statutory interpretation or policy vote during this meeting.
The board did not make a formal determination about personnel policy or discipline at this meeting. Trustees discussed civility and nondiscrimination and noted community concerns.
