USD 383 board requests resignation of member after social-media comment; vice president post filled

The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education voted to request the resignation of Dr. Katie Allen after a social-media comment that members and many community speakers said celebrated the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

On the motion passed by the board, members voted to request Allen's resignation by a tally the board recorded as passing (5 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention). The board later formalized the action as Resolution 25-26-9. The board also accepted Allen's resignation from the office of vice president and unanimously appointed Greg Hoyt to fill the vice president vacancy (7-0).

The board opened the meeting by describing options available to a governing body when a member's conduct draws public complaint, and it said the board cannot remove an elected member from office. The president described five options, including removing a member from board office or committees, prohibiting future office-holding, passing a resolution requesting a resignation, or taking no action.

Dr. Katie Allen addressed the board before public comment. "I take full responsibility for the words and actions that had led to this…