Parents and residents call on Benicia Unified board to act after trustee’s social-media posts

Kathleen Smith, speaking as a parent and community member, told the Benicia Unified School District board on Sept. 19 that silence in the face of inflammatory conduct is ‘‘complicity’’ and urged trustees to ask Trustee Miceli to resign.

‘‘When one of your members publicly celebrates death, mocks suffering and spreads hate and nothing happens, it's not just his failure,’’ Smith said during the public-comment period, calling the conduct incompatible with the oath a trustee takes.

Greg Smith, who identified himself as a public servant and BUSD parent, said he had screenshots of social-media posts he described as ‘‘political hate speech’’ and urged the board to pursue removal if Miceli would not step down. ‘‘Trustee Miceli should be held to a much higher standard,’’ Greg Smith said.

Kevin Altman, a longtime resident and parent, also urged removal, describing a Facebook post he said included a Nazi image that called for violence. ‘‘When you're directly threatening to kill people and you're posting that on your Facebook page, that makes me not want to turn my back on him, nor my child that has to go to the school,’’ Altman said.

Board members did not take a disciplinary action or vote during the public-comment period. Trustees later proceeded with the published agenda, approving consent items, budget documents and memoranda of understanding.

The speakers asked the board to apply its bylaws and policies to hold an elected trustee accountable. The speakers referred repeatedly to social-media screenshots and urged removal or resignation; the board did not announce any investigation or formal next step at the meeting.

What happens next: The speakers asked trustees to act under board policy. The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 2, when trustees could place an item on a future agenda for formal consideration.