A hearing April 2 might help determine the fate of Matt Theobald’s employment with the Martin County School District following his social media post last year about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.<\/p>\n
Theobald was a teacher at Spectrum Academy in Stuart and president of the district’s teachers union, the Martin County Education Association, when he allegedly posted that Kirk was a “racist, misogynistic, fear-mongering, xenophobic neo-Nazi.”<\/p>\n
Two days after Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10, the school district stripped Theobald of his teaching duties. Then, Oct. 21, the School Board \u2014 in a split 3-2 vote \u2014 decided to let an administrative law judge help decide whether he should be fired. Board President Marsha Powers and board member Brian Moriarty dissented in favor of having the decision made by the board.<\/p>\n
Superintendent Michael Maine has recommended termination.<\/p>\n
Powers declined to be interviewed about how soon the board will convene to decide Theobald’s fate and if a special meeting would be held for that purpose. Instead, a spokesperson for the school district, on behalf of the School Board, said no special meeting had been set.<\/p>\n
Board members cannot comment on a pending legal matter that may come before the board at a later time, the spokesperson said..<\/p>\n
Theobald was suspended without pay Sept. 26 following an investigation that led to Maine’s recommendation.<\/p>\n
Theobald requested an administrative hearing Oct. 8. Until then, the School Board had been poised to fire him Oct. 21.<\/p>\n
More: Martin County School Board rejects magistrate recommendation on union president leave<\/a><\/p>\n